CONCEALING NON-OPTICALLY TRANSPARENT COMPONENTS OF OPTICAL ARTICLES

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a method of concealing a non-optically transparent component of an optical article. The method comprises—providing (S7) an optical article comprising: —an optical lens comprising an eyeball side facing an eye of a person when the optical article is worn by the person and an object side opposing the eyeball side, the optical lens comprising on the object side an eyewear shape section extending from an outer contour of the optical lens to an inner contour, and—a non-optically transparent component extending at least partly over the eyewear shape section, and—concealing (S8) the non-optically transparent component by covering at least part of the eyewear shape section of the optical lens using an opaque material.

Claims

1: Method of concealing a non-optically transparent component of an optical article, the method comprising: providing an optical article comprising: an optical lens comprising an eyeball side facing an eye of a person when the optical article is worn by the person and an object side opposing the eyeball side, the optical lens comprising on the object side an eyewear shape section extending from an outer contour of the optical lens to an inner contour, and a non-optically transparent component extending at least partly over the eyewear shape section, and concealing the non-optically transparent component by covering at least part of the eyewear shape section of the optical lens using an opaque material.

2: Method according to claim 1, wherein the eyewear shape section comprises a component section being the part of the eyewear shape section faced by the non-optically transparent component upon concealing, and a neighboring section neighboring the component section, and wherein: covering at least part of the eyewear shape section of the optical lens using an opaque material comprises covering the component section using said opaque material.

3: Method according to claim 1, wherein the eyewear shape section comprises a component section being the part of the eyewear shape section faced by the non-optically transparent component upon concealing, and a neighboring section neighboring the component section, and wherein: covering at least part of the eyewear shape section of the optical lens using an opaque material comprises covering the neighboring section using said opaque material while keeping the component section uncovered by said opaque material.

4: Method according to claim 1, wherein, upon concealing the non-optically transparent component, the optical lens is contiguous to the component.

5: Method according to claim 1, wherein, upon concealing the non-optically transparent component, the component is at least partly encapsulated in the optical lens.

6: Method according to claim 1, wherein upon concealing the non-optically transparent component, the optical lens extends beyond the outer contour of the optical lens.

7: Method according to claim 1, wherein, upon concealing the non-optically transparent component, the optical lens is shaped to match the outer contour.

8: Method according to claim 1, further comprising selecting a pattern among a plurality of patterns, and wherein: covering at least part of the eyewear shape section of the optical lens using an opaque material is performed according to the selected pattern.

9: Method according to claim 1, further comprising selecting an eyewear shape section among a plurality of eyewear shape sections, and wherein: the eyewear shape section of the provided optical article is the selected eyewear shape section.

10: Method according to claim 1, further comprising obtaining a customized eyewear shape comprising a customized eyewear shape section, and wherein: the eyewear shape section of the provided optical article is the customized eyewear shape section.

11: Method according to claim 1, wherein the opaque material is ink and covering at least part of the eyewear shape section of the optical lens is performed by inkjet printing.

12: Computer program comprising one or more stored sequence/s of instructions that is accessible to a processor and which, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to carry out the steps of the method according to claim 1.

13: Storage medium storing one or more stored sequence/s of instructions of the computer program of claim 12.

14: Processing circuit comprising a processor connected to a memory and to a communication interface with a concealing device, the processing circuit being configured to implement the method of claim 1 by instructing the concealing device to cover at least part of an eyewear shape section of an optical lens of the optical article using an opaque material.

15: Optical article comprising: an optical lens comprising an eyeball side facing an eye of a person when the optical article is worn by the person and an object side opposing the eyeball side, the optical lens comprising on the object side an eyewear shape section extending from an outer contour of the optical lens to an inner contour, and a non-optically transparent component extending at least partly over the eyewear shape section, wherein at least part of the eyewear shape section of the optical lens is covered with opaque material such that the non-optically transparent component is concealed.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0064] For a more complete understanding of the description provided herein and the advantages thereof, reference is now made to the brief descriptions below, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and detailed description, wherein like reference numerals represent like parts.

[0065] FIG. 1 depicts an example of a computer system adapted for implementing a method according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0066] FIG. 2 depicts a flowchart of a general algorithm of a computer program for performing a method according to an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0067] In the description which follows the drawing figures are not necessarily to scale and certain features may be shown in generalized or schematic form in the interest of clarity and conciseness or for informational purposes. In addition, although making and using various embodiments are discussed in detail below, it should be appreciated that as described herein are provided many inventive concepts that may be embodied in a wide variety of contexts. Embodiments discussed herein are merely representative and do not limit the scope of the invention. It will also be obvious to one skilled in the art that all the technical features that are defined relative to a process can be transposed, individually or in combination, to a system and conversely, all the technical features relative to a system can be transposed, individually or in combination, to a process.

[0068] It is now referred to [FIG. 1], which depicts a computer system according to an embodiment of the invention. The computer system comprises a centralized treatment unit (CT), comprising a processor (PROC) operably connected to a memory (MEM) and to a communication interface (INT) with a concealing unit (CONC). The concealing unit (CONC) is configured to cover at least part of an eyewear shape section of an optical lens using an opaque material, upon receiving from the centralized treatment unit an instruction to do so.

[0069] It is now referred to [FIG. 2], which depicts a general algorithm of a computer program according to an embodiment of the invention. The computer program may be stored on the memory (MEM) to be executed by the processor (PROC).

[0070] The centralized treatment unit (CT) obtains [OBTAIN LENS CHARACTERISTICS (S1)] at least one characteristic of an optical lens.

[0071] A “characteristic” may correspond to an optical function, a dioptric function, an optical design, . . . . If the optical lens is a prescription lens for correcting an ametropia of a wearer, examples of dioptric functions may include a sphere power corresponding to a prescription value, a cylinder power, an axis, a prism, etc. . . . .

[0072] The optical lens can be of any type (single vision, progressive, multifocal . . . ) The lens power is generally given by the lens material and the shape of the lens surface, but can also be at least partially provided via an active function included in the lens.

[0073] Other characteristics of an optical lens may include transmission or tint (which corresponds to transmission of light as a function of wavelength). The characteristics lens may be indicative of different colors, of different transmission values, may be chosen for improving contrast, for reducing glare, for limiting polarization, . . . .

[0074] The lens transmission tint is generally provided via dye or pigment inside or at the surface of the lens material, or via mirror coating, but can also be at least partially provided via an active function in the lens.

[0075] For example, the characteristics of the optical lens may be chosen by a particular customer or determined by an eye care practitioner to correspond to the needs of the particular customer.

[0076] Based on the obtained characteristics, a semifinished optical lens blank is provided [PROVIDE SEMIFINISHED BLANK (S2)] (or selected, obtained, chosen, manufactured . . . ). An optical lens is to be manufactured from the provided semifinished optical lens blank and to be mounted on a spectacle frame to form an optical equipment. The semifinished optical lens blank comprises an eyeball side (or back surface) and an object side (or front surface). The eyeball side corresponds to the side that is to face an eye of a person when the optical equipment is worn by the person. The object side is defined as the side opposing the eyeball side.

[0077] The centralized treatment unit (CT) obtains a set of parameters indicative of the shape of the provided semifinished optical lens blank. For example, the set of parameters may be accessed from a database or determined by cropping a picture of the front surface of the provided semifinished optical lens blank. Various other possibilities to obtain such set of parameters are known from the skilled person.

[0078] The centralized treatment unit (CT) obtains [OBTAIN EYEWEAR SHAPE (S3)] an eyewear shape.

[0079] The eyewear shape may be a shape of an optical lens, such as a spectacle lens, to be obtained by edging the obtained semifinished lens blank. The optical lens to be obtained is monolithic and may include, in an embodiment, a first spectacle lens region, a second spectacle lens region and a bridge region connecting the first spectacle lens region to the second spectacle lens region.

[0080] The eyewear shape defines an eyewear shape section of the object side of the semifinished optical lens blank. The eyewear shape section comprises an outer contour, which corresponds to the shape of the optical lens to be manufactured from the semifinished optical lens blank. The eyewear shape section extends from the outer contour inwards to an inner contour.

[0081] The eyewear shape may be chosen by a particular customer among a catalogue of optical lens shapes or among a catalogue of optical equipments having optical lenses of different shapes. Alternately, the eyewear shape may be fully customized to fit the needs of a particular customer.

[0082] The eyewear shape, be it selected or customized, includes at least a 2D outer contour and may also include a 3D outer contour, an eyewear curvature, a lens thickness . . . .

[0083] A non-optically transparent component is further provided. In an embodiment, the non-optically transparent component is part of an active device, adapted to provide an active function, to be included in the optical equipment. The non-optically transparent component may itself be active. Many active functions can be provided. By active function is meant an optical or non-optical function that may require energy (electricity, light energy, mechanical energy . . . ) to work. The nature of the non-optically transparent component may be very broad. Various examples are provided hereinafter.

[0084] For example, the optical lens may be an electrochromic optical lens. An electrochromic optical lens comprises electrochromic cells which transmission or tint is an active function that may be controlled.

[0085] The electrochromic optical lens may be mounted in a spectacle frame. In order to control the electrochromic optical lens, the optical equipment may for example be further equipped with: [0086] a battery as a power source, [0087] a light sensor for sensing light intensity in the environment of the optical equipment, [0088] an electronic board configured to drive the electrochromic lens based on the sensed light intensity, and [0089] wiring to connect the battery with the electronic board, the light sensor and the electrochromic lens.

[0090] The electrochromic cells do not provide visual field occultation, haze or visual discomfort to the wearer and may thus be positioned to be in the field of view of the wearer when the optical equipment is worn.

[0091] On the contrary, battery, electronic board, sensor and wiring are preferably positioned to be outside the field of vision of the wearer when the optical equipment is worn for being visually uncomfortable and not esthetical.

[0092] For example, the optical lens may be a variable power optical lens and may be mounted in a spectacle frame. Different known technologies may provide optical lenses having a variable power.

[0093] Liquid crystals (cholesteric crystals for instance) may be embedded within two conductive layers (ITO for instance) to adapt the refractive index and so change the lens power. For the same reasons as for electrochromic optical lenses described above, a battery, a sensor, wiring and an electronic board are necessary for providing a variable power optical lens wherein the power variation is based on driving liquid crystals.

[0094] Fluidic optical lenses may comprise a plurality of liquid substances each having a different refractive index. In this case, a pump may be used to move the liquid substances and provide a power variation to the optical lens. A battery and wiring should then be provided to activate the pump. The battery and the pump both shall be positioned to be outside the visual field of the wearer when the optical equipment is worn. Also, a channel system is needed to bring the fluids in an active area, corresponding to an area in the visual field of the wearer when the optical equipment is worn. If the channel system is positioned to be in the visual field of the wearer when the optical equipment is worn, the channel system might generate optical imperfections.

[0095] Other known variable power optical lenses, such as liquid dielectric optical lenses and Alvarez optical lenses, also require non-optically transparent components to be included or connected to the optical lens.

[0096] For example, the optical lens may include: [0097] a sensor, for example to measure a light intensity (visible light, IR, UV blue . . . ), or [0098] a camera for filming the environment of the wearer, or [0099] a light source (for instance for eye tracking of the wearer, for phototherapy . . . )

[0100] It is also possible to include special chemical substances in or on the optical lens. For instance, one or more reservoirs may be incorporated inside the optical lens, each reservoir containing one or more chemical substances. Examples of chemical susbstances may include antibacterial substances, antifog substances, hydrophobic substances, antistatic substances, odorant substances, substances providing antiscratch properties, magnetic substances . . . . These chemical substances may be provided towards the lens surface using miniature nozzle and actuators (such as those used in inkjet printing or aerosol jet printing for instance).

[0101] Some of these chemical substances are non-optically transparent. Some substances may exhibit a low transmission, haze, a specific color . . . . As a consequence, these chemical substances are not compliant with optical requirement and esthetics.

[0102] The provided non-optically transparent component may be positioned POSITION COMPONENT (S4) close to the optical lens to extend at least partly over the eyewear shape section of the optical lens.

[0103] A component section is defined as being the part of the eyewear shape section faced by the positioned non-optically transparent component.

[0104] A neighboring section is defined as being the part of the eyewear shape section neighboring the component section.

[0105] Generally, it is proposed to position non-optically transparent components that may or may not be active (sensor, wiring, battery, reservoir for chemical components, pump for fluidic lens, magnetic component for clip on attachment, anticounterfeiting component, circuit board, solar cell, . . . ) directly in or on the optical lens, close to the periphery of the optical lens. Other components like microfluidic systems, might be necessary to manufacture within the lenses to create auto-focus fluidic lenses. The channels and circulating fluids to the active area are manufactured to be transparent but some imperfections might still persist due to variation of refractive index between the fluid and the lens material.

[0106] In an embodiment, the non-optically transparent component is positioned close to the lens periphery, for example the non-optically transparent component extends no further than 1 cm from the edge of the optical lens, preferably no further than 0.7 cm. Such position is outside the visual field of the wearer when the optical equipment is worn.

[0107] The centralized treatment unit (CT) receives a position indicator of the component with respect to the optical lens. The position indicator may be received either after positioning the component or before positioning the component. In the latter case, the position indicator indicates a predetermined position, which the component is to be positioned at.

[0108] In an embodiment, a choice of an active function is provided to the centralized treatment unit according to the needs of a particular customer. At least one non-optically transparent component may be determined to provide the chosen active function. The non-optically transparent component may be positioned after the lens characteristics and the eyewear shape are obtained.

[0109] The centralized treatment unit (CT) may be configured to control a manufacturing unit which transforms the semifinished optical lens blank into a manufactured optical lens having a shape corresponding to the eyewear shape.

[0110] In other words, based on the obtained eyewear shape, an optical lens is manufactured [MANUFACTURE LENS (S5)] from the provided semifinished optical lens blank as base material. Manufacturing may be additive (adding material) or subtractive (removing material) or may include both additive and subtractive manufacturing steps in any order.

[0111] For example, the back surface of the semifinished optical lens blank may be surfaced to correspond to a desired prescription using a free form device. The surfaced lens may then be edged to the eyewear shape using for instance an edger (milling or grinding edger).

[0112] In an embodiment, before manufacturing the optical lens, the active component is already incorporated in the lens material. For example, the semifinished optical lens has a diameter larger than that of the optical lens to be manufactured, and includes at least one active component. In this case, the semifinished optical lens blank may be edged according to the obtained eyewear shape, taking into account the position of the incorporated active component so that the at least one active component is positioned in between the outer and inner contour forming the eyewear shape section. In addition, if the lens is plano, no surfacing is required and the manufactured optical lens is thus finished.

[0113] In an embodiment, the non-optically transparent component is positioned after manufacturing the optical lens. In this case, the centralized treatment unit may be configured for determining a position of the non-optically transparent component. For example determining said position may be based on the obtained eyewear shape. For example, determining said position may be based on determining an area between the outer contour and the inner contour, the dimensions of said area being suitable for positioning the non-optically transparent component.

[0114] It is for instance possible to position some component in the upper part of the contour, while positioning some other components in the lower part. It may also be possible to locate components all along the eyewear contour. It is so possible to decide the location of components in a customized way, as long as they are in between the outer-inner contour of the eyewear.

[0115] Electronic components can be arranged in a specific spatial position using guides to hold the components in place. The guide can be later removed, leaving the electronic components at the right place within the optical lens.

[0116] As an example of a possible embodiment, the optical lens may be mounted in a rim of a spectacle frame, the rim being connected to a temple by a hinge. A camera may be incorporated in the optical lens at a position close to the hinge. A battery may be incorporated in the temple, along with a electronic board to control the camera and transmit images to a terminal such as a smartphone. The camera, electronic board and battery may be linked to one another via wiring components.

[0117] In an embodiment, the position of the non-optically transparent component may be such that the component is at least partly encapsulated in the optical lens.

[0118] The centralized treatment unit (CT) may be configured to control a manufacturing unit to encapsulate ENCAPSULATE COMPONENT (S6) the component by additive and/or subtractive manufacturing. Wires, batteries, microfluidic channels . . . can be incorporated using classical polymer jetting or aerosol jetting or SLA manufacturing methods. It is also possible that the optical lens comprises two cells, the non-optically transparent component being encapsulated between the two cells. It is also possible to configure the centralized treatment unit to control a polymer depositing unit to deposit polymer on the eyewear shape section to encapsulate or protect the non-optically transparent component. Also, microfluidic channels may be manufactured with a bicomponent system, one component being the durable lens material, the second material being removable to open the channels after lens manufacturing.

[0119] An optical article is provided PROVIDE OPTICAL ARTICLE (S7) to the concealing unit (CONC).

[0120] The optical article comprises an optical lens comprising an eyeball side facing an eye of a person when the optical article is worn by the person and an object side opposing the eyeball side, the optical lens comprising on the object side an eyewear shape section extending from an outer contour of the optical lens to an inner contour.

[0121] The optical article further comprises a non-optically transparent component either already extending at least partly over the eyewear shape section or to be positioned according to a predetermined position to extend at least partly over the eyewear shape section.

[0122] The provided optical article may correspond to any of the optical lenses above, at any stage of manufacturing.

[0123] After that: [0124] the optical article is provided to the concealing unit (CONC), [0125] the eyewear shape of the optical lens is obtained by the centralized treatment unit (CT), and [0126] the position of the non-optically transparent component is obtained by the centralized treatment unit (CT),
the centralized treatment unit controls the concealing unit to conceal CONCEAL COMPONENT (S8) the non-optically transparent component by covering at least part of the eyewear shape section of the optical lens with an opaque material.

[0127] Concealing may comprise printing or writing on the object side of the optical lens, along the eyewear shape, using for instance inkjet technology.

[0128] In an embodiment, a side effect of concealing is decorating the periphery of the optical lens to reproduce a pattern resembling a rim of a spectacle frame.

[0129] Instead of printing, it is possible, for example, to deposit an opaque printed film, or to dip the lens in a colored solution using a mask to protect the area of the optical lens not belonging to the eyewear shape section.

[0130] A pattern may be selected SELECT PATTERN (S8a) among a list of available patterns, or fully customized, and applied by the concealing unit to cover the at least part of the eyewear shape section of the optical lens. The pattern may comprise features such as color, texture, ornament, . . . . The pattern may extend to the bridge and/or to the endpiece of a spectacle frame.

[0131] The selected or customized pattern may have active properties and be controllable, or switchable, between at least two states.

[0132] To provide these active properties, the opaque material used to apply the selected pattern may be electro-responsive, thermo-responsive, photo-responsive, . . . and/or may have piezoelectric properties.

[0133] For example, an opaque material having piezoelectric properties may be used to provide a pattern transformable from a first state corresponding to a first visual appearance to a second state corresponding to a second visual appearance upon touching, or applying pressure to, the opaque material.

[0134] For example, a thermo-responsive opaque material may have a first state corresponding to a first visual appearance at an ambient temperature and a second state corresponding to a second visual appearance at a higher temperature. The thermo-responsive opaque material may be heated, for example by Joule effect, to switch from the first state to the second state.

[0135] Covering the at least part of the eyewear shape section may comprise covering COVER COMPONENT SECTION (S8b) the component section with the opaque material. Therefore, the non-optically transparent component is concealed by being covered by the opaque material covering the component section of the optical lens.

[0136] For example, an eyetracker only needs to be positioned to receive incoming light reflected by a pupil of the wearer when the optical equipment is worn. Therefore, an eyetracker incorporated in an optical lens of the optical article as a non-optically transparent component does not need to be visible from the object side of the optical lens. Therefore, it is possible to conceal the incorporated eyetracker simply by covering at least the component section with the opaque material.

[0137] Covering the at least part of the eyewear shape section may comprise covering COVER NEIGHBORING SECTION (S8c) the neighboring section with the opaque material.

[0138] For example, a camera may be incorporated in a recess of an optical lens of the optical article. In order to acquire images, the camera needs to be at least partially uncovered by opaque material. Therefore, it is possible to cover the neighboring section with the opaque material while keeping the component section clear. Preferably, it is possible to choose opaque material of a similar appearance (color, texture) as the camera. Therefore the camera is concealed by blending in the surrounding section covered by the opaque material and may acquire images.

[0139] In an embodiment, the non-optically transparent component may be provided, positioned and/or incorporated and simultaneously concealed.

[0140] For example, the non-optically transparent component may be wiring. It is possible by inkjet or aerosol jet technology to print the wiring directly on the object-side or on the eyeball-side of the optical lens using conductive ink.

[0141] The wiring may thus be printed and concealed either at the same time or sequentially using different printing techniques and/or different inks.

[0142] More generally, depending on the nature and location of components to be encapsulated, created and concealed, different manufacturing technologies may be successively used or simultaneously combined to manufacture the eyewear comprising the concealed component.

[0143] Concealing a non-optically transparent component as described in the above embodiments permits a very easy integration of the component in the eyewear without esthetical compromise: [0144] no need to create specific eyewear frame for component integration, [0145] possibility to customize eyewear, just playing on the decoration pattern, and [0146] no need to connect face part eyewear and lens via complex electrical connection since facer part of eyewear is already included in the lens.