US4909818A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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System and process for making diffractive contact
Assignee: Bausch and Lomb Inc
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Filing: 1988-11-16
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Granted: 1990-03-20
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Expires: 2008-11-16
Abstract
Abstract A diffractive bifocal eye lens, an otpical system, and processes for fabrication of such lenses are disclosed. The optical system includes the following principal elements in optical alignment along an optical axis, for accomplishing the indicated steps of the process: a laser for emission of ultraviolet light along the optical axis; a zone plate mask in the path of irradiation by the laser; and an imaging lens to project, with radiation from the laser, an image of the mask on the concave inner surface of an eye lens mounted coincident with the image surface of the optical system, thereby ablating the eye lens imagewise of the mask to generate a phase zone plate on the eye lens. The laser beam scans the zone plate mask to generate a composite image on the image surface. Alternatively, the phase zone plate is generated on the concave surface of a glass blank at the image surface to form a tool from which molds, and in turn lenses, are replicated. The light source is an argon fluoride excimer laser, emitting at 193 nm. The lens is a variable magnification lens to project various size images of the mask for producing zone plates of various powers as desired.
Inventors
- 👤 William F. Jones
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 04:52
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02C; G02C7/00; G02C7/02; G02C7/04; B; B29; B29D; B29D11/00; B29D11/00009; B29D11/00038; B29D11/00317; B29D11/00326; B29D11/00432; B29D11/00461; B29D11/0073; B29D11/02; B29D11/023; G02B; G02B5/00; G02B5/18; G02B5/1876; G02B5/189; G02B5/1895; G02C7/041; G02C7/042; G02C7/044; A; A61; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/02; A61F2/14; A61F2/16; A61F2/1613; A61F2/1654; G02C2202/00; G02C2202/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
66 words
An optical system for making a diffractive eye lens, including, disposed in optical alignment along an optical axis: a laser for emission of ultraviolet light along said optical axis; a zone plate mask disposed for irradiation by said laser; and an imaging lens to project an image of said mask on a concave curved image surface coincident with the inner concave surface of an eye lens.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
66 words
An optical system for making a diffractive eye lens, including, disposed in optical alignment along an optical axis: a laser for emission of ultraviolet light along said optical axis; a zone plate mask disposed for irradiation by said laser; and an imaging lens to project an image of said mask on a concave curved image surface coincident with the inner concave surface of an eye lens.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
An optical system as defined in claim 1, in which said imaging lens is a variable magnification lens to project various size images of said mask on said image surface.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
An optical system as defined in claim 1 in which said laser is an excimer laser.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
An optical system as defined in claim 3 in which said laser is an argon fluoride laser emitting at 193 nm.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
An optical system as defined in claim 1, further including means to scan said zone plate mask by said emission from said laser to generate a composite image of said mask on said image surface.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
68 words
A process of making a diffractive eye lens, including the following steps: a mounting an eye lens with the concave surface thereof coincident with the image surface of a projection optical system; and b. with radiation from an ultraviolet laser, projecting an image of a zone plate mask on said image surface, thereby ablating said lens imagewise of said mask to generate a zone plate on said lens.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
68 words
A process of making a diffractive eye lens, including the following steps: a mounting an eye lens with the concave surface thereof coincident with the image surface of a projection optical system; and b. with radiation from an ultraviolet laser, projecting an image of a zone plate mask on said image surface, thereby ablating said lens imagewise of said mask to generate a zone plate on said lens.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
A process as defined in claim 6, further including the step of: c. varying the magnification of said optical system to thereby vary the power of the zone plate generated on the next lens so made.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
A process as define din claim 6, further including the step of: c. scanning said zone plate mask by said emission from said laser to generate a composite image of said mask on said image surface.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
75 words
An optical system for generating a phase zone plate on a tool from which to replicate a diffractive eye lens, including, disposed in optical alignment along an optical axis: a laser for emission of ultraviolet light along said optical axis; a zone plate mask disposed for irradiation by said laser; and an imaging lens to project an image of said mask on a concave curved image surface coincident with a concave surface of said tool.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
75 words
An optical system for generating a phase zone plate on a tool from which to replicate a diffractive eye lens, including, disposed in optical alignment along an optical axis: a laser for emission of ultraviolet light along said optical axis; a zone plate mask disposed for irradiation by said laser; and an imaging lens to project an image of said mask on a concave curved image surface coincident with a concave surface of said tool.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
An optical system as defined in claim 9 in which said tool is of glass.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
An optical system as defined in claim 9, in which said imaging lens is a variable magnification lens to project various size images of said mask on said image surface.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
An optical system as defined in claim 9 in which said laser is an excimer laser.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
An optical system as defined in claim 12 in which said laser is an argon fluoride laser emitting at 193 nm.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
35 words
An optical system as defined in claim 9, further including means to scan said zone plate mask by said emission from said laser to generate a composite image of said mask on said image surface.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
64 words
A process of making a tool for replicating diffractive eye lenses, including the following steps: a. mounting a concave tool with the concave surface thereof coincident with the image surface of a projection optical system; and b. with radiation from an ultraviolet laser, projecting an image of a zone plate mask on said image surface, thereby ablating said concave tool imagewise of said mask.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
64 words
A process of making a tool for replicating diffractive eye lenses, including the following steps: a. mounting a concave tool with the concave surface thereof coincident with the image surface of a projection optical system; and b. with radiation from an ultraviolet laser, projecting an image of a zone plate mask on said image surface, thereby ablating said concave tool imagewise of said mask.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
14 words
A process as defined in claim 15 in which said tool is of glass.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
21 words
A process as defined in claim 15, further including the step of: c. replicating a convex mold from said concave tool.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
21 words
A process as defined in claim 17, further including the step of: d. replicating an eye lens from said convex mold.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
36 words
A process as defined in claim 15, further including the step of: c. varying the magnification of said optical system to thereby vary the power of the zone plate mask image and of lenses derived therefrom.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-03-19 | 1993-09-18 | 1994-03-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-03-19 | 1997-09-18 | 1998-03-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-03-19 | 2001-09-18 | 2002-03-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |