Method of Making Optical Articles Having Gradient Light Influencing Properties

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018290408-A1
Application number	US-201515767370-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 30, 2015
Priority date	Oct 30, 2015
Publication date	Oct 11, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method of making an optical article having a gradient tint and a gradient polarization. The method includes contacting one or more dye compositions including at least one of a dichroic dye, a photochromic-dichroic dye, or any combination thereof, with an optical element having a continuous coating including at least one alignment zone. At least a portion of the dye composition diffuses into the coating at a predetermined concentration gradient along at least a portion of the coating.

First claim

1 . A method of making an optical article having a gradient tint and a gradient polarization, comprising:
contacting one or more dye compositions comprising at least one of a dichroic dye, a photochromic-dichroic dye, or any combination thereof with an optical element having a continuous coating including at least one alignment zone, wherein at least a portion of the dye composition diffuses into the coating at a predetermined concentration gradient along at least a portion of the coating.

2 . The method of claim 1 , 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 to provide the predetermined concentration gradient.

3 . The method of claim 1 , comprising:
contacting the coating with a dye transfer substrate comprising a 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.

4 . The method of claim 1 , comprising:
forming a first alignment region over at least a portion of the optical element; and applying an anisotropic coating composition comprising an anisotropic material over the first alignment region to form a first alignment zone.

5 . The method of claim 4 , comprising:
forming a second alignment region over at least a portion of the optical element; and applying a second anisotropic coating composition over the second alignment region to form a second alignment zone, wherein the anisotropic coating and the second anisotropic coating are the same or different.

6 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the first alignment region is formed by:
applying an alignment layer over at least a portion of the optical element; and exposing a first portion of the alignment layer to a first polarizing radiation having a first polarizing direction to form the first alignment region in the alignment layer.

7 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the second alignment region is formed by:
applying an alignment layer over at least a portion of the optical element; and exposing a second portion of the alignment layer to a second polarizing radiation having a second polarizing direction to form the second alignment region in the alignment layer.

8 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the alignment layer is applied by a method selected from the group consisting of spin coating, spray coating, dip coating, curtain coating, and inkjet coating.

9 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the alignment layer comprises at least one photo-alignment material.

10 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the anisotropic material comprises at least one crosslinkable liquid crystal material.

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

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

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the first 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 one or more dye compositions further comprises a photochromic dye.

Assignees

• Transitions Optical Inc

Inventors

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

Classifications

• B29D11/00009

  Production of simple or compound lenses · CPC title

• B29D11/00923

  on lens surfaces for colouring or tinting (printing or marking in general B41M) · CPC title

• G02C7/102

  Photochromic filters · CPC title

• G02B5/23

  Photochromic filters · CPC title

• B29D11/00644 Primary

  polarizing · CPC title