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

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11714220-B2
Application number	US-202117523273-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 10, 2021
Priority date	Oct 30, 2015
Publication date	Aug 1, 2023
Grant date	Aug 1, 2023

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 kit for making an optical article having a gradient tint and a gradient polarization, comprising:
a prefabricated optical element comprising a coating having at least one alignment zone;
a dye composition comprising at least one of a dichroic dye, a photochromic-dichroic dye, or a combination thereof; and
instructions for contacting the dye composition with the coating to form the predetermined concentration gradient.

2. The kit of claim 1 , wherein the dye composition comprises a pre-mixed solution.

3. The kit of claim 1 , wherein the dye composition comprises a dye transfer substrate comprising a gradient layer of the dye composition.

4. The kit of claim 3 , comprising a plurality of dye transfer substrates having a gradient layer of the dye composition to provide different gradients of tint and polarization.

5. The kit of claim 1 , wherein the dye composition comprises a photochromic-dichroic dye.

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

7. The kit of claim 1 , wherein the dye composition further comprises a photochromic dye.

8. The kit of claim 1 , wherein the instructions comprise one or more elements selected from the group consisting of types of optical elements comprising the coating having at least one alignment zone to use, types of dye compositions to use, how to prepare a dye solution from the dye composition(s), methods of contacting the dye solution with the coating of the optical element, duration of contact required between the dye solution and the coating of the optical element, and additional process steps to produce the optical article once the dye solution has contacted the coating of the optical element.

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

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

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

14. The kit 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 kit of claim 1 , wherein the coating is formed from a flowable composition applied over the optical element.

Assignees

• Transitions Optical Inc

Inventors

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

Classifications

• G02B5/3016 Primary

  involving passive liquid crystal elements (optical properties of liquid crystals G02F1/0063; polarising elements associated with active liquid crystal devices G02F1/133528) · CPC title

• B29D11/00644 Primary

  polarizing · CPC title

• B29D11/00653

  photochromic · CPC title

• B29D11/00865

  Applying coatings; tinting; colouring (printing, marking or copying processes B41M; identification in general G09F3/00; producing decorative effects in general B44C; positioning or marking of lenses B24B13/0055) · CPC title

• B29D11/00894

  colouring or tinting · CPC title