Abstract
A spectacle lens (1) which has, on its outer edge (1A) and/or on its front or rear surface (1B), at least one functional layer (5A), the at least one functional layer (5A, 6, 7, 13, 14, 15, 16, 19, 20, 22) being formed by a substance that is applied in liquid form to the edge (1A) and/or the front or rear surface (1B) of the spectacle lens (1), is integrally bonded to the glass and is chemically cured or radiation-cured, and said at least one functional layer (5A, 6, 7, 13, 14, 15, 16, 19, 20, 22) having an optical function, magnetic function or electrical or electronic function. Also a method for producing a spectacle lens, in particular machined from a lens blank, wherein a material is applied in liquid form to the edge (1A) and/or the front or rear surface (1B) of the edged spectacle lens (1) and is chemically cured or radiation-cured, said material forming at least one functional layer (5A, 6, 7, 13, 14, 15, 16, 19, 20, 22) on the glass, which functional layer having an optical function, magnetic function or electrical or electronic function.
Claims
1. An eyeglass lens having an outer edge , a front surface, and a or rear surface and provided with a functional layer formed by a substance and applied to the edge, front, or rear surface of the eyeglass lens in liquid form and integrally bonded with the lens and cured chemically or by radiation, the functional layer having an optical, magnetic, electric, or electronic function.
2. The eyeglass lens according to claim 1, wherein the functional layer performs an optical function by a) forming a mechanical polish of the edge in that a roughness of the functional layer is smaller than a roughness of the edge on which the functional layer is applied, or b) forming a waveguide on or along part of the edge circumferentially of the lens or c) forming a thermochromic or electrochromic layer on or along part of the front or back eyeglass lens surface, or d) forming a light-emitting element.
3. The eyeglass lens according to claim 1, wherein the functional layer performs a magnetic function with a magnetic field generated by the functional layer or a magnetizability of the functional layer under action of a magnetic field on the functional layer by magnetic or magnetizable particles embedded in the functional layer.
4. The eyeglass lens according to claim 3, wherein a magnetically acting functional layer forms a holding element for fastening the eyeglass lens to another element.
5. The eyeglass lens according to claim 1, wherein the functional layer performs an electric or electronic function by a) electric conductivity of the functional layer itself or elements embedded therein, or b) providing a plurality of functional layers with respect to each other and one upon and/or next to each other so as to form by their arrangement with respect to each other together a electric or electronic component, or c) storing electric energy in the functional layer.
6. The eyeglass lens according to claim 1, wherein the functional layer comprises a coupling element for inputting an optical or electric signal into the functional layer.
7. A method of making an eyeglass lens machined from an eyeglass lens blank, the method comprising the steps of: applying a material in liquid form to an edge and/or the front/rear surface of the eyeglass lens, and is chemically or radiation-curing this material to form on the lens a functional layer that has an optical, magnetic, electric, or electronic function.
8. The method according to claim 7, further comprising the step, before application of the material, of: measuring the edge of the eyeglass lens with respect to its edge thickness at a plurality of measuring positions succeeding in the circumferential direction, and controlling an amount and/or position of the material application in response to the detected measured values in a controlled manner.
9. The method according to claim 7, wherein the material is applied in a plurality of parallel strands, in particular onto the eyeglass lens edge.
10. The method according to claim 7, further comprising the step of: inserting a coupling element into the not yet cured material upon the application thereof, the coupling element serving for inputting an optical or electric signal into the cured layer.
Description
[0043] Embodiments of the invention are shown in the figures.
[0044] FIGS. 1 [A-G] show the application of a volume depending on an edge thickness x, for example a drop volume V, of a liquid material onto an edge 1A of an edged eyeglass lens 1. For this, by an unillustrated sensor may detect the edge thickness Ax at the place of application and transmit it to a controller 2 that controls a metering device of an applicator 3, for example a nozzle.
[0045] FIG. 1B here shows that, when the eyeglass lens thickness is smaller than in FIG. 1A, the drop volume V is smaller. It is furthermore shown that the eyeglass lens 1 may be rotated about the optical axis 4 during application.
[0046] According to FIGS. 1C and 1D succeeding in time, the applied row of drops or strand 5 of the material form the functional layer 5A while being applied, in particular until the edge 1A is completely covered. Then, according to FIGS. 1E, the functional layer 5A may be formed into various shapes, for example outwardly convex or flat.
[0047] FIG. 1F shows the possibility of applying a plurality of strands 5 of material spaced one after another by shifting the applicator 3 along the optical axis 4. FIG. 1G in contrast shows, as an alternative, the possibility of applying the plurality of strands 5 simultaneously via a plurality of applicators 3. In this example, three strands are shown, but that does not restrict the invention.
[0048] FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate the advantageous effect of a functional layer acting as a polish (FIG. 2B), compared to a classic polish of the edge 1A (FIG. 2A). In the known polish, incident light is transported to the eye of the wearer of the glasses. In the functional layer of FIG. 2B acting as a polish, the light, however, remains captured in the functional layer due to the total reflection therein and thus does not disturb the wearer of the glasses. Preferably, the index of refraction of the functional layer is larger than that of the eyeglass lens for this, as already shown with respect to FIG. 1E on the right.
[0049] On the left, FIG. 3 shows a waveguide 6 embedded in a functional layer 7 that seals the edge of the eyeglass lens 1. Here, at least the seal is formed by the running and cured applied material.
[0050] On the right, FIG. 3 shows the possibility of providing a waveguide 6 underneath a seal 7. Here, the waveguide 6 and the seal 7 may be generated by various materials applied in liquid form and then cured. The application may be effected both for the waveguide 6 and the seal 7 as shown in FIGS. 1 [A-G].
[0051] FIG. 4 shows, in various views, a waveguide 6 extending along the eyeglass lens edge 1A that may be a strand of material applied in liquid form and then cured. The waveguide 6 here connects the input element 8 for light at one end to a photo-sensor system 9 at the other end. These two elements 8 and 9 may each be inserted into the still liquid material before curing.
[0052] FIG. 5 shows a connection between a source of radiation 10 and an emitting element 11 by a waveguide 6 that is applied, in accordance with the invention, as liquid material and then cured. Here, too, the source of radiation 10 and the emitting element 11 are preferably inserted into the still liquid material before curing.
[0053] Light from the source of radiation 10 may thus be transported along the edge 1A to the emitting element 11, in particular from there directed to the eye of the wearer of the eyeglasses, so that signaling is possible.
[0054] FIG. 6 shows a further development of FIG. 5 according to which a sensor 12 is also associated with the source of radiation 10, for example to control the source of radiation 10 depending on sensor values. Thus, depending on detected sensor values, signaling to the eye may be effected.
[0055] FIG. 7 shows the stacked arrangement of a transmitter and a receiver, for example for electromagnetic waves (for example light) that are embedded in the material applied in liquid form and cured.
[0056] According to FIG. 8, material applied in liquid form and cured for forming functional layers is layered onto the optically effective surface 1B (through which light penetrates in the direction of the optical axis 4) of the eyeglass lens 1, and also onto the edge 1A. The surface coating may form for example an electrochromic layer 13 and the functional layer may form an electric conductor 14 on the edge 1A by which this electrochromic layer 13 may be electrically controlled. To this end, the two layers 13 and 14 are contacted with each other, for example coupling at the transitional edge between the surfaces 1A and 1B. Thus, for example a toning or in general a change of color of the eyeglass lens 1 may be generated.
[0057] According to FIG. 9, the functional layer applied onto the surface 1B forms a thermochromic layer 15 of which the color/absorption is changed depending on temperature.
[0058] According to FIG. 10, a plurality of layers applied in a stack one upon the other form for example an OLED arrangement. The lowermost and uppermost layer may form electrode layers for feeding current to layers of an emitter layer and a hole-guide layer therebetween. All these layers may be applied in liquid form by a material provided for this and then cure, in particular essentially as illustrated in FIGS. 1.
[0059] According to FIG. 11a, the material applied in liquid form and cured may form a magnetic or magnetizable layer 16, for example by magnetic/magnetizable particles 16A contained in a material.
[0060] FIG. 11b shows that such a layer 16 may serve as fastening means for example for a decorative element or in general for any other element 17 that may have a magnetic interaction with the layer 16. According to FIG. 11c, such accessories 17 may be embodied for example by frame elements (for example eyeglass bow, bridge, nose pad) of eyeglasses that are themselves magnetic or magnetizable and thus magnetically adhere to a magnetic/magnetizable functional layer 16.
[0061] According to FIG. 11d, a magnetic/magnetizable functional layer 16 may also be arranged on the front surface 1B of an eyeglass lens 1 and for example serve for fastening an add-on lens 18 that magnetically adheres thereto.
[0062] FIG. 12a shows the embodiment of an electrically conductive layer 19 covered by an insulating layer 20. Both layers are preferably applied in liquid form by respective materials that cure after application.
[0063] FIG. 12b shows that for the formation of a conductive layer electrically conductive particles 21 for example are bound in an insulating binder 22, here on the edge 1A of the eyeglass lens.
