EP0366356A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Laser profiling of lenses
Assignee: Bausch and Lomb Bermuda Technology Ltd
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Filing: 1989-10-19
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2009-10-19
Abstract
Abstract A curved edge (24) (25) (26) on a lens (21) is formed by directing a laser beam (23) onto the lens adjacent its edge and causing relative movement between the laser beam and contact lens whereby a curved surface is formed on the edge of the lens by the removal of material therefrom through ablative photodecomposition.
Inventors
- 👤 James Gerard Lunney
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 06:35
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02C; G02C13/00; B; B29; B29C; B29C59/00; B29C59/16; B23; B23K; B23K26/00; B23K26/08; B23K26/0823; B29D; B29D11/00; B29D11/00932; B23K2103/00; B23K2103/30; B23K2103/42; B23K2103/50; B29C35/00; B29C35/02; B29C35/08; B29C35/0805; B29C2035/0838
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
103 words
A method for forming a curved edge on a lens comprising the steps of, directing a laser beam onto one face of a lens adjacent to the edge of the lens, and causing relative movement between the laser beam and contact lens, to enable the circumference of the lens to trace out a path in the form of an arc through the laser beam, said path extending around the edge of the lens between the front and rear faces of the lens, whereby a curved surface is formed on the edge of the lens by removing material from the lens through ablative photo-decomposition.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
103 words
A method for forming a curved edge on a lens comprising the steps of, directing a laser beam onto one face of a lens adjacent to the edge of the lens, and causing relative movement between the laser beam and contact lens, to enable the circumference of the lens to trace out a path in the form of an arc through the laser beam, said path extending around the edge of the lens between the front and rear faces of the lens, whereby a curved surface is formed on the edge of the lens by removing material from the lens through ablative photo-decomposition.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the laser is held stationary and the lens is pivotted, in intermittent angular steps, about an axis spaced apart from the edge of the lens and substantially perpendicular to the laser beam.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
44 words
A method as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the lens is rotated about a notional central axis substantially parallel to the laser beam, at each angular pivot step, such that the cirumference of the lens is brought into the path of the laser beam.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
60 words
An apparatus for carrying out the method according to any preceding claim, comprising, first means for supporting a lens and rotating the lens about its own central axis, and second means for causing movement of said first means to enable the circumference of the lens to trace out a path in the form of an arc through a laser beam.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
An apparatus as claimed in Claim 4, wherein the first and second means comprises respective first and second electric motors with said first electric motor being mounted on a support arm which is rotatable by said second electric motor.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
99 words
A method for forming a curved edge on a lens comprising the steps of providing an aperture in a template, said aperture increasing in width in a radial direction away from a notional centre point, locating said aperture in a path between said lens and a laser beam, in a position such that the greatest width of said aperture corresponds with the circumference of the lens, and rotating the lens such that successive circumferential regions of the lens are exposed by the aperture, and ablative photo-decomposition of the circumferential region of the lens occurs to produce a curved edge.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
99 words
A method for forming a curved edge on a lens comprising the steps of providing an aperture in a template, said aperture increasing in width in a radial direction away from a notional centre point, locating said aperture in a path between said lens and a laser beam, in a position such that the greatest width of said aperture corresponds with the circumference of the lens, and rotating the lens such that successive circumferential regions of the lens are exposed by the aperture, and ablative photo-decomposition of the circumferential region of the lens occurs to produce a curved edge.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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