CN-121986288-A - Rotational alignment of combined lenses

Abstract

Apparatus and methods for use with a frame (21) of eyeglasses (18) are described. The combination lens (20) is placed within the frame (21) to define a horizontal axis configured to align with a horizontal meridian of the wearer's eye when the eyeglass is worn by the wearer. The combined lens includes an inventory base lens (22) and an inventory add lens (24). The additional lens (24) is coupled with the base lens (22), wherein the additional lens (24) and the base lens (22) are rotationally aligned relative to each other in a rotational orientation such that a functional plane of the base lens (22) and a functional plane of the additional lens (24) within the combined lens (20) are rotationally oriented in a first rotational orientation and a second rotational orientation, respectively, relative to a horizontal axis (25) of the combined lens (20). Other applications are also described.

Inventors

• HAIM ENGLER
• Jed Akin
• Yuval Carmon

Assignees

• 艾得安光学有限公司

Dates

Publication Date

20260505

Application Date

20241001

Priority Date

20231003

Claims (20)

1. 1. A device for use with an eyeglass frame to be worn by a wearer, the device comprising: a combination lens configured to be placed within the frame of the eyeglass such that the combination lens defines a horizontal axis configured to align with a horizontal meridian of a wearer's eye when the eyeglass is worn by the wearer, the combination lens comprising: An inventory base lens providing a first function in a first function plane requiring the function plane of the base lens to be rotationally oriented in a first rotational orientation relative to the horizontal axis of the combined lens, and An inventory of additional lenses providing a second function in a second function plane requiring the function plane of the additional lenses to be rotationally oriented in a second rotational orientation with respect to the horizontal axis of the combined lens, the second rotational orientation being different from the first rotational orientation, -The additional lens is coupled to the base lens, wherein the additional lens and the base lens are rotationally aligned relative to each other in a rotational orientation such that the functional plane of the base lens and the functional plane of the additional lens within the combined lens are rotationally oriented in the first rotational orientation and the second rotational orientation, respectively, relative to the horizontal axis of the combined lens.
2. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the functional plane of at least one of the stock base lens and the stock additional lens is required to be rotationally oriented with a non-zero rotational displacement from the horizontal axis of the combined lens.
3. 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein one of the stock base lens and the stock add lens is a cylindrical lens configured to provide cylindrical correction, and wherein the cylindrical lens is coupled to the other lens such that a functional plane of the cylindrical lens is configured to be rotationally oriented relative to the horizontal axis of the combined lens such that the axis of cylindrical correction matches an orientation of the wearer's astigmatism.
4. 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein one of the stock base lens and the stock add lens is a myopia control lens configured to provide myopia control to a wearer, and wherein the myopia control lens is coupled to the other lens such that a functional plane of the myopia control lens is configured to be rotationally oriented relative to the horizontal axis of the combined lens so as to provide a desired myopia control orientation to a wearer.
5. 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein one of the stock base lens and the stock add lens is a polarized lens configured to polarize light along a polarization direction, and wherein the polarized lens is coupled to the other lens such that a functional plane of the polarized lens is configured to be rotationally oriented relative to the horizontal axis of the combined lens so as to provide a desired polarization of light to a wearer.
6. 6. The device of claim 1, wherein the base lens is cylindrical and photochromic and the additional lens is polarized such that the combined lens is a polarized photochromic combined lens.
7. 7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein one of the stock base lens and the stock additional lens comprises a progressive color tint.
8. 8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein one of the stock base lens and the stock additional lens comprises a lens having a protective coating that requires different levels of protection for distance and near vision.
9. 9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein one of the stock base lens and the stock add lens comprises a lens that facilitates superimposing information on the lens using electronic projection.
10. 10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein one of the stock base lens and the stock add lens comprises a lens configured to provide compensation for optical power or cylinder so as to account for a combined lens having a concave front surface.
11. 11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the combined lens is not configured to provide the wearer with additional power for near vision correction.
12. 12. The apparatus of any of claims 1-10, wherein the combined lens is configured to provide an add power for near vision correction.
13. 13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the combined lens is further configured to provide a distance vision correction, and a transitional progressive corridor between a portion of the combined lens that provides the near vision correction and the distance vision correction.
14. 14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the base lens is configured to provide all distance vision correction of the combined lens.
15. 15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the combined optical characteristics of the base lens and the additional lens provide a fully desired optical correction of the combined lens, while neither the base lens nor the additional lens itself provide an optical distance vision correction.
16. 16. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the combined lens is configured to provide a near vision correction of up to 0.85 diopters.
17. 17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the combined lens is configured for use by a presbyopic wearer of a reading digital device.
18. 18. The device of any of claims 1-11, wherein the combined lens comprises one or more functional coatings that are pre-applied to at least one of the anterior surface of the combined lens and the posterior surface of the combined lens before the additional lens is coupled to the base lens.
19. 19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the one or more functional coatings comprise one or more functional coatings selected from the list consisting of hard coatings, anti-reflective coatings, water-resistant coatings, superhydrophobic coatings, antistatic coatings, oleophobic coatings, cleaning coatings, blue light filters, reflective coatings, anti-UV coatings, photochromic coatings, tinted coatings, and specular coatings.
20. 20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the combined lens comprises a first set of one or more functional coatings that are pre-applied to the front surface of the combined lens and comprises a second set of one or more functional coatings that are pre-applied to the rear surface of the combined lens before the additional lens is coupled to the base lens.

Description

Rotational alignment of combined lenses Cross Reference to Related Applications The present application claims priority from U.S. provisional patent application No. 63/542,103, entitled "Rotational Alignment of Combined Lenses (rotational alignment of combined lenses)", filed by Engler et al at 2023, 10, 3, which is incorporated herein by reference. Field of embodiments of the invention Some applications of the present invention relate generally to ophthalmic lenses. In particular, some applications relate to manufacturing a combined lens comprising two lenses coupled to each other. Background Lenses are typically placed within the eyeglass frame such that the lenses define a horizontal axis configured to align with a horizontal meridian of the wearer's eye when the eyeglass is worn by the wearer. Several examples of ophthalmic lens functions require that the functional plane of the lens be rotationally oriented in a particular orientation relative to the horizontal axis of the lens. For example, patients with astigmatism in which the cornea and/or lens (lens) of their eyes are malformed may be treated with lenses that provide cylindrical correction. The lens is designed such that the cylindrical correction power conforms to the strength of the astigmatism and also such that the axis of the cylindrical correction matches the orientation of the astigmatism with respect to the horizontal axis (which is configured to align with the horizontal meridian of the wearer's eye). Another example of a lens function requiring a functional plane of the lens to be rotationally oriented in a particular orientation relative to a horizontal axis is polarization. Typically, the polarized lenses are configured such that when the lenses are worn by a wearer within the eyeglasses, the polarization direction will be largely aligned with the ground horizon. In practice, therefore, the polarization direction is generally aligned with the horizontal axis of the lens. There are additional examples of lenses that have functions that may require the functional plane of the lens to be rotationally oriented in a particular orientation relative to the horizontal axis of the lens, e.g., lenses that provide some type of myopia control, lenses that include progressive color tinting, lenses with protective coatings (e.g., UV barriers) that require different levels of protection for distance vision and myopia, lenses that facilitate superimposing information on the lens using electronic projection (for smart glasses). Furthermore, for aesthetic purposes, there are spectacles made with toric (cylindrical) lenses having a concave front surface. Such lenses are typically non-prescription (and are used, for example, in sunglasses), although they may be prescription. The rear surface of such lenses is typically shaped to compensate for any unwanted power and/or cylinder created by the concave front surface. In this case, the rear surface typically needs to be oriented in a particular orientation relative to the front surface. Summary of the embodiments According to some applications of the present invention, a combination lens (for use with an eyeglass frame) is comprised of a base lens and an additional lens coupled to the base lens. As described in the background section above, lenses are typically placed within the eyeglass frame such that the lenses define a horizontal axis configured to align with the horizontal meridian of the wearer's eye when the eyeglass is worn by the wearer. For some applications, each lens performs a function in a functional plane that requires the lens to be rotationally oriented in a given orientation relative to the horizontal axis of the combined lens. (typically, a combined lens has a given three-dimensional shape, and a functional plane refers to the x-y component of the shape), typically, the base lens and the additional lens perform their respective functions within the functional plane that requires the lenses to be rotationally oriented in different rotational orientations from one another. Further typically, the functional plane of at least one lens within the combined lens (and optionally the base lens and the additional lens within the combined lens) requires that the functional plane of the lens be rotationally oriented at a non-zero rotational displacement from the horizontal axis of the combined lens. In some embodiments, the functional planes of both stock (stock) base lenses and stock additional lenses need to be rotationally oriented at a non-zero rotational displacement from the horizontal axis of the combined lenses. Typically, the base lens and the additional lens are rotationally aligned with respect to each other prior to coupling with each other such that, when coupled with each other, each lens is rotationally oriented in a desired orientation with respect to the horizontal axis of the combined lens. The combined lenses are then placed within the eyeglass frame such that when the eyeglass is w