Optical article with gradient light influencing properties and method of making the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11199653-B2
Application number	US-201515767372-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 30, 2015
Priority date	Oct 30, 2015
Publication date	Dec 14, 2021
Grant date	Dec 14, 2021

Abstract

A method of making an optical article having a gradient tint and a gradient polarization. The method includes providing an optical element including a coating having at least one alignment zone. A dye composition is contacted with the coating. The dye composition includes at least one of: a dichroic dye, a photochromic-dichroic dye, or a combination thereof to diffuse at least a portion of the dye composition into the coating at a predetermined concentration gradient along at least a portion of the coating to provide the gradient tint and the gradient polarization. A kit for making an optical article having a gradient tint and a gradient polarization. An optical article prepared from a method for making an optical article having a gradient tint and a gradient polarization.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method of making an optical article having a gradient tint and a gradient polarization, comprising:
providing an optical element comprising a coating having at least one alignment zone, wherein the coating is formed from a flowable composition applied over the optical element; and
contacting a dye composition with the coating, wherein the dye composition comprises at least one of a dichroic dye, a photochromic-dichroic dye, or a combination thereof to diffuse at least a portion of the dye composition into the coating at a predetermined concentration gradient along at least a portion of the coating to provide the coating with the gradient tint and the gradient polarization.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, prior to the step of providing the optical element, forming the coating with the at least one alignment zone on the optical element.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, prior to the step of providing the optical element, providing the optical element in a pre-fabricated form with the at least one alignment zone.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
dipping the optical element into a dye solution comprising the dye composition; and
withdrawing the optical element from the dye solution at a rate sufficient to provide the predetermined concentration gradient.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
contacting the coating with a dye transfer substrate comprising the gradient layer of the dye composition; and
heating the dye transfer substrate to cause at least a portion of the dye composition to diffuse into the coating at the predetermined concentration gradient.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
obtaining at least one desired product property from a consumer, the desired product property selected from the group consisting of a desired fixed tint gradient, a desired activated tint gradient, a desired fixed polarization gradient, and a desired activated polarization gradient; and
contacting the dye composition with the coating to provide the at least one desired product property.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, prior to the step of providing the optical element, obtaining the optical element and the dye composition from a single commercial source.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the dye composition is a commercially pre-packaged composition.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the coating comprises an alignment layer comprising at least one alignment region, and an anisotropic layer proximate the alignment layer and comprising the at least one alignment zone.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the anisotropic layer comprises at least one crosslinkable liquid crystal material.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the alignment layer comprises at least one photo-polymerizable alignment material.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the optical element comprises at least one major surface, and the at least one alignment zone is located over at least a portion of the at least one major surface.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the at least one major surface is a curved surface.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the optical article is selected from the group consisting of an optical lens, an ophthalmic lens, an optical filter, a window, a visor, a mirror, and a display.

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the concentration gradient is a continuous gradient or a non-continuous gradient.

16. The method of claim 4 , further comprising:
dipping the optical element into at least one additional dye solution comprising at least one additional dye composition; and
withdrawing the optical element from each of the at least one additional dye solution at a sufficient rate to provide the predetermined concentration gradient.

17. An optical article prepared from the method of claim 1 .

18. The method of claim 1 , wherein the dye composition further comprises a photochromic dye.

Assignees

• Transitions Optical Inc

Inventors

• Miller Philip
• Jackson Delwin S
• Kumar Anil
• Ligas John S
• Park David John
• Smyth Brian

Classifications

• B29D11/00644 Primary

  polarizing · CPC title

• G02C7/12

  Polarisers · CPC title

• B29D11/00894

  colouring or tinting · CPC title

• G02C7/022

  Ophthalmic lenses having special refractive features achieved by special materials or material structures (G02C7/049 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G02B5/3033

  in the form of a thin sheet or foil, e.g. Polaroid · CPC title