POLARIZING FILTER

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a polarizing filter (20), comprising a plurality of areas (25) for passing light, each area (25) being separated from the others, wherein each of the areas (25) is a linear polarizer and at least two of the areas (25) have a different polarization axis. The present invention is further directed to an apparatus (1) for determining an orientation of a lens polarization axis of a polarized lens (31) and using said polarizing filter (20) as well as a method of determining an orientation of a lens polarization axis of a polarized lens (31) using said apparatus (1).

Claims

1. Polarizing filter (20), comprising a plurality of areas (25) for passing light, each area (25) being separated from the others, wherein each of the areas (25) is a linear polarizer and at least two of the areas (25) have a different polarization axis.

2. Polarizing filter (20) according to claim 1, wherein the polarizing filter (20) is a polarizing filter disk preferably comprising a preferably solid and non-transparent disk body, wherein the plurality of areas (25) are preferably provided as windows in the disk body, wherein the windows preferably comprise and more preferred are closed with a linearly polarized filter element, like a foil, as the linear polarizer.

3. Polarizing filter (20) according to claim 1, wherein the polarizing filler (20) comprises an explicit or implicit reference based on which the polarization axes of the plurality of areas (25) can be derived, wherein the reference preferably comprises at least one of the group consisting of: a reference mark on the polarizing filter (20), preferably the disk body, the shape of the polarizing filter (20), preferably the disk body, the position of at least one or more or all areas (25), preferably the windows, with respect to each other and/or on the polarizing filter (20), preferably the disk body, and the shape of at least one, more or all areas (25), preferably the windows.

4. Polarizing filter (20) according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of areas (25) are arranged in a defined manner, preferably in a checkered manner or along a circle (C), and preferably in an evenly distributed manner.

5. Polarizing filter (20) according to claim 1, wherein at least some and preferably all areas (25), preferably the windows, have an identical shape, e.g., a circular, rectangular, square, arrow or segment of a circle shape, wherein an arrowhead of the arrow-shaped area (25) points in a direction along the polarization axis of the arrow-shaped area (25).

6. Polarizing filter (20) according to claim 1, wherein the polarization axes of the plurality of areas (25) arranged along a circle (C) are each oriented such that they cross each other in a defined manner, preferably in a center (X) of the circle (C).

7. Polarizing filter (20) according to claim 1, wherein the orientation of the different and distinguishable polarization axes is distributed, preferably evenly distributed, over a range of at least 90°, and/or wherein the polarization axes of the at least two areas (25) having a different and distinguishable polarization axis form an angle α of at least 15°, preferably at least 10°, more preferably at least 5°, and most preferably at least 2°, respectively.

8. Polarizing filter (20) according to claim 1, wherein the polarizing filter (20), preferably the disk body, comprises a round, preferably circular, or a polygonal, preferably rectangular or square, shape.

9. Apparatus (1) for determining an orientation of a lens polarization axis of a polarized lens (31), comprising: a light source (10) for emitting non-polarized light (11), a lens receiving section (30) for receiving the lens (31), polarizing filter (20) according to claim 1, wherein the lens receiving section (30) and the polarizing filter (20) are arranged such that light (11) emitted by the light source (10) successively passes through the plurality of areas (25) of the polarizing filter (20) and the lens receiving section

10. Apparatus (1) according to claim 9, further comprising a light intensity measuring device (41) for receiving light (31) of the light source (10) which has passed the plurality areas (25) of the polarizing filter (20) and the lens receiving section (30), wherein the light intensity measuring device (41) is configured to detect different light intensities related to the respective areas (25) of the polarizing filter (20), if a polarized lens (31) is positioned in the lens receiving section (30), wherein the light intensity measuring device (41) comprises a camera, a camera based system, an individual light detector and/or a multiple light detector.

11. Apparatus (1) according to claim 9, further comprising a control system (40) to control the apparatus (1), preferably at least the light intensity measuring device (41) for determining the orientation of the lens polarization axis of a polarized lens (31) positioned in the lens receiving section (30) based on the detected different light intensities of the respective areas (25) in correlation with their respective polarization axes, preferably upon use of a reference (sinusoidal) calculation.

12. Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the polarizing filter (20) and the lens receiving section (30) arc statically provided with respect to each other.

13. Method of determining an orientation of a lens polarization axis of a polarized lens (31), comprising the steps of: providing an apparatus (1) according to claim 9, placing a linearly polarized lens (31) to be detected in the lens receiving section (30), operating the light source (10) to emit non-polarized light towards and successively through the plurality of areas (25) of the polarizing filter (20) and the polarized lens (31) in the lens receiving section (30), detecting the different light intensities related to the respective areas (25) of the polarizing filter (20) of the light that has passed the areas (25) of the polarizing filter (20) and the polarized lens (31), and determining the orientation of the lens polarization axis of the polarized lens (31) based on the detected different light intensities of the respective areas (25) in correlation with their respective polarization axes.

14. Method according to claim 13, wherein the step of detecting the different light intensities is carried out by the light intensity measuring device (41).

15. Method according to claim 13, wherein the step of determining the orientation of the lens polarization axis is carried out by the control system (40), wherein the control system (40) preferably outputs the determined data and/or data received from the light intensity measuring device (41), preferably to be displayed on an output device and/or for use in another process step, e.g., in an edging step for edging the lens based on the orientation of the lens polarization axis and/or in a final inspection step preferably after the edging step.

Description

[0032] Further aspects, details and advantages of the present invention are described in the following with reference to the drawings of the enclosed figures.

[0033] FIG. 1 shows a schematical side view of an apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention,

[0034] FIG. 2 shows three different embodiments of a polarizing filter according to the present invention.

[0035] FIG. 1 shows an apparatus 1 for determining an orientation of a lens polarization axis of a polarized lens 31. The apparatus 1 comprises a light source 10 for emitting non-polarized light 11. Said light source 10 can be any kind of light source 10, such like a common light bulb, LED lamps, fluorescent lamps, or any other kind of light source 10 as long as emitting non-polarized light.

[0036] The apparatus 1 further comprises a lens receiving section 30 for receiving the lens 31. The polarized lens 31 has already been placed in the lens receiving section 30 in FIG. 1. The lens receiving section 30 can comprise any kind of structural features to receive and hold the lens in place, e.g. by clamping. The lens receiving section 30 preferably allows for easily and removably placing the polarized lens 31 therein to thus position the lens 31 within the apparatus in a defined manner. Preferably, the lens 31 is placed in the lens receiving section 30 such that its convex side is directed or bulges out towards the light source 10.

[0037] The polarized lens 31 to be detected as shown in FIG. 1 is a corrective lens being position in the lens receiving section 30 with its convex side towards the light source 10. However, the lens 31 to be detected can be of any size, material, colour, power and can comprise any kind of coating as long as it is a polarized lens 31. The lens 31 could also be a plano lens without prescription or a full shield lens. Also the outer contour/shape of the lens 31 or its final shape after edging is not limited by the invention.

[0038] Moreover, the apparatus 1 comprises a polarizing filter 20 according to the present invention. This polarizing filter 20 can be fixedly provided within the apparatus 1. However, it is also possible and preferred that the polarizing filter 20 is detachably provided in the apparatus 1 to thus allow removal or replacement of the polarizing filter 20 for maintenance reasons or for providing different kinds of polarizing filters 20 in the apparatus 1. The polarizing filter 20 also alone forms an individual part, i.e. subject-matter, of the present invention.

[0039] The polarizing filter 20 comprises a plurality of areas 25 for passing light there through. As can be seen in FIG. 2, each area 25 is separated from the other areas 25 so that they do not overlap in the viewing direction, i.e. an operating viewing direction, as shown in FIG. 2. The areas 25 preferably all extend in the same or parallel planes.

[0040] As depicted in the different embodiments of FIG. 2, all of the areas 25 can have an identical shape. In FIG. 2A, the areas 25 have an arrow shape, in FIG. 2B the areas 25 have a rectangular shape, and in FIG. 2C the areas 25 have a ‘segment of a circle’ shape. Of course, any other kind of shapes are possible for the areas 25. They may also have different shapes.

[0041] Each of the areas 25 is a linear polarizer and at least two and preferably more of the areas 25 have different and distinguishably (orientations of the/its) polarization axis to each other. Preferably, the polarization axes of the areas 25 a least partially but preferably all extend in substantially the same plane or (substantially) parallel planes. For instance, with reference to FIG. 2A, the arrow shaped areas 25 have an arrow head which—here—points in a direction along the polarization axis of the respective area 25.

[0042] The areas 25 may thus be arranged in a defined manner as exemplary shown in FIGS. 2A and 2C where the areas 25 are arranged along a circle. Moreover, the areas 25 may also be arranged in an evenly distributed manner. They may also be provided in a checkered manner. However, also an undefined arrangement of the areas 25 as shown in FIG. 2B is possible. In this regard, the polarization axis of the respective areas 25 may be oriented along their longitudinal extension of the rectangular layout.

[0043] Again, with respect to FIG. 2C, the polarization axes of the areas 25 arranged along a circle may each be oriented such that they cross each other in a defined manner and here preferably in a center X of the (imaginary) circle C.

[0044] In any case, the polarizing filter 20 may comprise an explicit or even implicit reference based on which the polarization axes of tie areas 25 can be derived. The reference may preferably comprise a reference mark on the polarizing filter 20. The reference could also comprise the shape of the polarizing filter 20, e.g. when having a rectangular shape. However, the polarizing filter 20 may also comprise any other shape which can be used as a reference or even not, like a round shape as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2C showing circular polarizing filter 20. It may also be provided in a polygonal shape, like a square shape as shown in FIG. 2B. The reference may also comprise the position of at least one or more or all areas 25 with respect to each other and/or on the polarizing filter 20. This position could be the arrangement of the areas 25 along a circle C as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2C or it could also be a known or clearly defined arrangement of the areas 25 as, for instance, shown in FIG. 2B. The reference may also comprise the shape of at least one or more or even all areas 25, like the orientation of the arrow-shaped areas 25 in FIG. 2A, the longitudinal extension of the rectangular areas 25 of FIG. 2B, or the orientation of the areas arranged along a circle C which polarization axis may all cross the center X of said circle C.

[0045] The orientation of the different and distinguishable polarization axes of the areas 25 can be distributed and preferably evenly distributed; preferably over a range of at least 90° to preferably cover the full range of relative orientation of the polarization axes of the polarization filter, i.e. its areas, with respect to a the lens polarization axis of a polarized lens to be detected therewith. The areas 25 in FIG. 2, for instance, have orientations of the polarization axis over a range of 180/360°. With respect to FIGS. 2A and 2C, this means that there will be two bright areas 25 being opposite to each other, two dark areas 25 being opposite to each other and arranged perpendicular (i.e. in a 90° angle with respect) to the bright areas 25, and several intermediate areas 25 in-between.

[0046] The polarization axes of the at least two areas 25 having a different and distinguishable polarization axis form an angle α of at least 15°, preferably at least 10°, more preferably at least 7.5°, even more preferably at least 5°, and most preferably at least 2°, respectively. The polarization axes of at least two of the areas 25 may preferably draw an angle α which allows to determine a difference in polarization between these two areas. Said angle α can preferably be between 1° and 45° and more preferred 1°, 2°, 5°, 7.5°, 10°, 15°, 20°, 215° or 45°.

[0047] The polarizing filter 20 preferably is a polarizing filter disk which may comprise a disk body 22 which can be solid and which could also be non-transparent. The areas 25 can then be provided as windows 23 in the disk body 22. The windows 23 could then comprise and more preferred could be closed with a linearly polarized filter element, like a foil 24, as the linear polarizer. The shape of the areas 25 is then given by the shape of the windows 23. The disk body 22 can have any shape and transparency and can be made of any material.

[0048] Now again turning to FIG. 1, the lens receiving section 30 and the polarizing filter 20 are arranged such that light 11 emitted by the light source 10 successively passes through the areas 25 of the polarizing filter 20 and the lens receiving section 30, wherein the sequence in which the light passes through these two elements is not limited by the present invention, i.e. light could pass first through the areas 25 and then the lens receiving section 30—here holding the polarized a lens 31 to be detected—, or through the lens receiving section 30 first and then through the areas 25, as long as the light successively passes both the areas 25 and the lens receiving section 30 (i.e. the polarized lens 31 if received by or positioned in the lens receiving section 30).

[0049] As can be seen in FIG. 1, the apparatus 1 could preferably comprise a light intensity measuring device 41 for receiving light 32 of the light source 10 which has passed the areas 25 of the polarizing filter 20 and the lens receiving section 30. The light intensity measuring device 41 is configured to detect different light intensities related to the respective areas 25 of the polarizing filter 20, if a polarized lens 31—as shown—is positioned in the lens receiving section 30. Hence, the apparatus 1 can determine the orientation of a lens polarization axis of a polarized lens 31 by use of a corresponding light sensor element 41. The light intensity measuring device 41 could comprise any kind of light sensor, a camera, a camera based system, a light detector, like an individual light detector and/or a multiple light detector, and/or any other kind of light sensor/detector.

[0050] In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus 1 could further comprise a control system 40 to control the apparatus 1 and preferably at least the light intensity measuring device 41 for determining the orientation of the lens polarization axis of the polarized lens 31 positioned in the lens receiving section 30 based on the detected different light intensities of the respective areas 25 in correlation with their respective polarization axes. This preferably upon use of a reference (sinusoidal) calculation. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the control system 40 may also automatically determine the orientation of polarization axes of the areas based on, i.e. derived from, the explicit/implicit reference of the polarizing filter 20.

[0051] As the polarizing filter 20 comprises the plurality of areas 25, the polarizing filter 20 and the lens receiving section 30 (and thus also a polarized lens 31 when received in the lens receiving section 30) can be statically provided with respect to each other.

[0052] In the following, a method of determining an orientation of a lens polarization axis of a polarized lens 31 is described.

[0053] In a first step, an apparatus according to the present invention is provided.

[0054] In a second step, a linearly polarized lens 31 to be detected is placed in the lens receiving section 30 to be thus positioned in series with the polarizing filter 20. The lens may be positioned in the lens receiving section 30 such that its convex side is directed to or bulges out toward the light source.

[0055] In a third step, the light source 10 is operated to emit non-polarized light 11 towards and then the light proceeds successively through the areas 25 of the polarizing filter 20 and the polarized lens 31 in the lens receiving section 30. Here, the non-polarized light 11 is polarized for each of the areas 25 according to the respective orientation of their polarization axis when passing the polarizing filter 20 which light thus proceeds as polarized light 21 here towards the polarized lens 31 or lens receiving section 30. After having passed the polarized lens 31, the light intensities of the light with respect to each of the areas 25 differs due to the difference of the orientation of the polarization axes of the respective areas 25 with respect to the lens polarization axis of the polarized lens 31.

[0056] In a fourth step, the different light intensities related to the respective areas 25 of the polarizing filter 20 of the light 32 that has passed the areas 25 of the polarizing filter 20 and the polarized lens 31 are detected. In a preferred embodiment, the step of detecting the different light intensities can be carried out by the light intensity measuring device 41.

[0057] In a fifth step, the orientation of the lens polarization axis of the polarized lens 31 based on the detected different light intensities of the respective areas 25 in correlation with their respective (orientation of) polarization axis is determined, This determination can be done manually; e.g. by an operator simply comparing the light intensities of the respective light areas/spots with respect to the areas 25 and in correlation with the (orientation of) the polarization axes of the respective areas 25. However, at least the last step or even the whole method could also be carried out semi-automatic or automatic. For instance, at least the step of determining the orientation of the lens polarization axis can be carried out by the control system 40. The control system 40 may output the determined data and/or data received from the light intensity measuring device 41. The data may preferably be displayed on an output device and/or for use in another process step. Another process step could be an edging step for edging the lens based on the orientation of the lens polarization axis. The edging step can, for instance, be integrated in the method according to the present invention or could be a separate method step being performed later. In this regard, it could be helpful to somehow mark the lens to identify the orientation of lens polarization axis. Moreover, the data could also be used in a final inspection step, preferably after an edging step, which inspection step could also be integrated in the method according to the present invention.

[0058] The present invention is not limited by the embodiments described herein above as long as being covered by the appended claims. All the features described above in the embodiments can be combined and/or replaced in any given manner.