Temporary protective lacquer optical element

Abstract

A lacquer composition is provided, comprising 20%-79.9% by weight, based on the total weight of the composition, of a thiol compound having two or more thiol groups, 20%-79.9% by weight, based on the total weight of the composition, of a compound having two or more carbon-carbon double bonds and 0.1%-10% by weight, based on the total weight of the composition, of a separating agent having an alkyl radical having 4-20 carbon atoms, where the alkyl radical is unsubstituted or fluorine-substituted and the alkyl radical is bonded to a functional group. Also provided are the use of this lacquer composition as a protective lacquer on an optical surface of an optical element in the production of the optical element, and an optical element comprising the protective lacquer.

Claims

1. A lacquer composition, comprising: (A) 20-79.9% by weight, based on a total weight of the composition, of a thiol compound having two or more thiol groups; (B) 20-79.9% by weight, based on the total weight of the composition, of a compound having two or more carbon-carbon double bonds; and (C) 0.1-10% by weight, based on the total weight of the composition, of a separating agent having an alkyl radical having 4-20 carbon atoms, wherein the separating agent has a reactive functionality; wherein the alkyl radical is unsubstituted or fluorine-substituted, the alkyl radical is bonded to a functional group, the alkyl radical is an 1-alkyl-radical; the functional group is a thiol or mercaptan group (—SH) or a carbon-carbon double bond, and the separating agent is selected from a group consisting of alkyl mercaptan and alkene.

2. The lacquer composition of claim 1, wherein the thiol compound (A) is a mercapto ester having two or more ester groups and two or more thiol groups or a thioether having two or more thiol groups.

3. The lacquer composition of claim 1, wherein the thiol compound (A) is tris[2-(3-mercaptopropionyloxy)ethyl]isocyanurate or trimethylolpropane tri(3-mercaptopropionate) and/or component (B) is 1,3,5-triallyl-1,3,5-triazine-2,4,6-trione.

4. The lacquer composition of claim 1, wherein the thiol compound (A) is an oligomeric thiourethane obtained by reacting at least one mercapto ester having two or more ester groups and two or more thiol groups, where the oligomeric thiourethane has two or more free thiol groups.

5. The lacquer composition of claim 1, wherein the thiol compound (A) is an oligomeric thiourethane obtained by reacting at least one mercapto ester having two or more ester groups and two or more thiol groups and a thioether comprising two or more thiol groups with at least one di- or polyisocyanate, where the oligomeric thiourethane has two or more free thiol groups.

6. The lacquer composition of claim 1, wherein the lacquer composition additionally contains 5-25% by weight, based on the total weight of the composition, of a filler.

7. The lacquer composition of claim 1, wherein the separating agent includes an alkyl radical or multiple alkyl radicals, where the one or more alkyl radical(s) together have 7-20 carbon atoms.

8. A process for producing a protective lacquer, the process comprising: mixing the lacquer composition as claimed in claim 1 with a photoinitiator; and after mixing the lacquer composition, irradiating the lacquer composition with light at a wavelength of ≤450 nm to cure the composition.

9. An optics system, comprising: an optics element comprising an optical surface, wherein a protective lacquer is disposed on at least a portion of the optical surface, and wherein the protective lacquer comprises the composition of claim 1.

10. The optics system of claim 9, wherein the optical surface of the optics element is bounded by a peripheral elevated edge such that a depression is formed, and wherein the protective lacquer is disposed in the depression.

11. The optics system of claim 9, wherein the optics element is a component of a display device that can be placed onto a user's head and produce an image to the user, wherein the optical surface of the optics element is an input surface, wherein the optics element comprises a front side, a rear side, and an output section spaced apart from the input surface, and wherein the optics system further comprises a light-guiding channel, the light guiding channel configured to guide beams of light of pixels of the image that are input into the optics element via the input surface of the optics element within the optics element to the output section, from which they are output from the optics element.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention is explained in more detail below by way of example on the basis of the accompanying drawings, which also disclose features essential to the invention. For better clarity of illustration, the figures at least partly do not show a representation that is to scale and in proportion and do not use shading. The figures show:

(2) FIG. 1 one embodiment of the display device of the invention;

(3) FIG. 2 an enlarged partial sectional view of the optics element 1 of the invention, including a schematic representation of the image generating module.

(4) While the invention is amenable to various modifications and alternative forms, specifics thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the intention is not to limit the invention to the particular example embodiments described. On the contrary, the invention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(5) In the following descriptions, the present invention will be explained with reference to various exemplary embodiments. Nevertheless, these embodiments are not intended to limit the present invention to any specific example, environment, application, or particular implementation described herein. Therefore, descriptions of these example embodiments are only provided for purpose of illustration rather than to limit the present invention.

(6) In the case of the example embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the display device 1 of the invention comprises a holding device 2 that can be placed onto the head of a user and may take the form for example of a conventional spectacle frame, and also a first spectacle lens 3 and a second spectacle lens 4, which are fastened to the holding device 2. The holding device 2 with the spectacle lenses 3, 4 may take the form for example of sports goggles or spectacles, sunglasses and/or spectacles for correcting defective vision, it being possible for a virtual image to be introduced into the user's field of view via the first spectacle lens 3, as described below.

(7) For this purpose, the display device 1 comprises an image generating module 5, which may be arranged in the region of the right-hand spectacle earpiece of the holding device 2, as schematically represented in FIG. 1. The image generating module 5 may have a two-dimensional image generating element 6 (FIG. 2), such as for example an OLED chip, an LCD chip or an LCoS chip or a tilting mirror matrix, with a multiplicity of pixels, for example arranged in columns and rows.

(8) The spectacle lenses 3 and 4, and in particular the first spectacle lens 3, are described merely by way of example together with the display device 1 of the invention. The spectacle lenses 3, 4, or at least the first spectacle lens 3, each take(s) the form of a spectacle lens 3, 4 of the invention or of an optical element of the invention. The optical element of the invention may also be used in a different context than with the display device 1 described here. Therefore, if it takes the form of a spectacle lens, the optical element may of course also take the form of a second spectacle lens 4.

(9) As can best be seen from the enlarged, schematic partial sectional view in FIG. 2, the display device 1 has imaging optics 7 which include an optics element 8 arranged between the image generating element 6 or the image generator 6 and the first spectacle lens 3. Furthermore, the first spectacle lens 3 itself also serves as part of the imaging optics 7.

(10) A beam of light 9 may emanate from each pixel of the image generator 6. The desired image can be generated by appropriate activation of the pixels of the image generator 6 by means of a control unit 10, which may be part of the image generating module 5. In FIG. 2, the beam path of a light ray is depicted as representative of the beam of light 9, and so hereinafter reference is also made to the light ray 9.

(11) The light ray 9 emanating from the image generator 6 passes through the optics element 8 and enters the first spectacle lens 3 via an input portion 11 or input surface 11 (here the end face of the first spectacle lens 3) and is guided in this spectacle lens along a light-guiding channel 12 to an output portion 13. The output portion 13 has a number of reflective deflecting surfaces 14 arranged next to one another (which may also be referred to as reflective facets), at which a reflection of the light rays 9 in the direction of a rear side 15 of the first spectacle lens 3 takes place, so that the light rays 9 emerge from the first spectacle lens 3 via the rear side 15. The input section 11 or input surface 11 can also be directly connected to the spectacle lens 3. In the production process, the input surface 11 or the input section 11 has been temporarily provided with the protective lacquer of the invention.

(12) Consequently, a user wearing the display device 1 of the invention on his/her head as intended can perceive the image generated by means of the image generator 6 as a virtual image if he/she looks at the output portion 13. In the case of the embodiment described here, the user must look to the right by about 40°, based on the viewing direction G of looking straight ahead. In FIG. 2, the center of rotation 16 of the user's eye and also the eye-box 17 or the exit pupil 17 of the imaging optics 7 are depicted for purposes of illustration. The eye-box 17 is the region that is provided by the display device 1 and in which the user's eye can move and always still see the generated image as a virtual image.

(13) Although in the case of the embodiment described the input is carried out via the end face of the first spectacle lens 3, and consequently the input portion 11 is formed on the end face of the first spectacle lens 3, it is also possible to carry out an input via the rear side 15 of the first spectacle lens.

(14) As shown in the schematic representation in FIG. 2, both the rear side 15 and the front side 18 of the first spectacle lens 3 are formed in a curved manner.

(15) The optics element can be produced as follows:

(16) In a first step, a first semifinished product is produced from a thermoplastic polymer by injection molding. The first semifinished product can then be coated with an optically active layer within a microstructuring area. For this purpose, it is possible to use known coating processes, for example chemical vapor deposition (CVD) or physical vapor deposition (PVD). The depressions caused by the microstructuring, which extend from the second side into the semifinished product, may be filled in a subsequent step so as to obtain a smooth continuous second side. The depressions can be filled using the same material as for production of the semifinished product or else an optical cement or optical adhesive. It is especially possible to use the composition of the invention.

(17) In the above-described production process, an optical surface, for example the input surface 11 or input section 11, may be provided with the protective lacquer of the invention and the protective lacquer may be removed again in or after the process.

(18) In the case of the display device 1 of the invention, the virtual image is introduced into the user's field of view via the first spectacle lens 3. It is of course also possible for it to be introduced via the second spectacle lens 4. Furthermore, the display device 1 may take such a form that information or virtual images can be introduced via both spectacle lenses 3, 4. In this case, the introduction may take place in such a way that the impression of a three-dimensional image is created. However, this is not mandatory.

(19) The holding device 2 need not take the form of a spectacle-like holding device. Any other kind of holding device by which the display device can be placed or worn on the user's head can take place is also possible.

(20) The spectacle lens may be in two-shell form. However, it is also possible to produce the spectacle lens in one-shell form or with more than two shells, for example at least three shells.

(21) More particularly, the spectacle lens may be produced from one or two parts (which need not necessarily be shells) or from more than two parts.

(22) The examples which follow explain the invention.

(23) The compositions which follow are produced by mixing the components of the respective examples at room temperature. Subsequently, irradiation was effected with UV-A light at a wavelength of about 365-400 nm, produced with the aid of a high-pressure Hg source, e.g. Hoenle Bluepoint 3, for example at 30-50 mW/cm.sup.2 (milliwatts per square centimeter) for about 60 s or at 100-150 mW/cm.sup.2 for 30 s. As alternative light source, it is also possible to use UV-LEDs having wavelengths of 365 nm, 375 nm, 385 nm, 395 nm or 405 nm. Preference is given to using UV-LEDs having wavelengths of 365 nm, 385 nm or 405 nm, e.g. Hoenle Bluepoint LED.

Example 1

(24) 100 MU TEMPIC

(25) 47 MU TTT

(26) 5 MU Irgacure 1173

(27) 3 MU BHT

(28) 3 MU 1-dodecylamine

(29) 0.02 MU Seriplas Red X3B-TP

Example 2

(30) 100 MU PTMP

(31) 68 MU TTT

(32) 5 MU Irgacure 1700

(33) 3 MU 1-dodecylamine

(34) 2 MU BHT

Example 3

(35) 100 MU TEMPIC

(36) 100 MU Silbond 600 RST

(37) 47 MU TTT

(38) 4 MU Irgacure 1173

(39) 3 MU Zelec UN

(40) 2 MU BHT

Example 4

(41) 100 MU PTMP/XDI (100+12) prepolymer

(42) 51 MU TTT

(43) 5 MU Zelec UN

(44) 4 MU Irgacure 1173

(45) 2 MU BHT

Example 5

(46) 90 MU prepolymer/XDI (100+12)

(47) 46 MU TTT

(48) 20 MU SK synthetic resin

(49) 2.5 MU Zelec UN

(50) 3 MU Irgacure 1173

(51) 2 MU BHT

(52) Explanations:

(53) TABLE-US-00002 MU mass unit BHT butylhydroxytoluene; 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4- methylphenol PTMP/XDI (100 + prepolymer of pentaerythritol tetra(3- 12) prepolymer mercaptopropionate) and xylylene diisocyanate in a ratio of 100 + 12 TEMPIC tris[2-(3-mercaptopropionyloxy)ethyl] isocyanurate TPMP trimethylolpropane tri(3-mercaptopropionate) TTT 1,3,5-triallyl-1,3,5-triazine-2,4,6-trione Zelec UN di(n-dodecyl) hydrogenphosphate SK synthetic resin hydrogenated acetophenone/formaldehyde synthetic resin Irgacure 1173, photoinitiators Irgacure 1700 Silbond 600 RST silanized fused silica flour

(54) The above-described lacquer compositions from examples 1 to 5 produce rapidly curable protective lacquers that give good protection of optical surfaces and are removable again in an excellent manner.

(55) While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments. It will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that many modifications and equivalent arrangements can be made thereof without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure, such scope to be accorded the broadest interpretation of the appended claims so as to encompass all equivalent structures and products. Moreover, features or aspects of various example embodiments may be mixed and matched (even if such combination is not explicitly described herein) without departing from the scope of the invention.