US4284686A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Spectacle lenses to reduce discomfort from aphakia and certain eye diseases
Assignee: Corning Glass Works
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Filing: 1980-06-09
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Granted: 1981-08-18
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Expires: 2000-06-09
Abstract
Abstract This invention is concerned with producing glasses suitable for use as spectacle lenses for aphakics or for persons subject to photoretinitis or retinitis pigmentosa. The glasses exhibit near-zero transmittance of radiations having wavelengths shorter than a selected cutoff wavelength ranging about 440-550 nm and the transmittance of the remainder of the visible spectrum is adjusted through the glass demonstrating photochromic behavior. The inventive method contemplates exposing photochromic glass within a narrowly-defined composition range to a strongly-reducing atmosphere at temperatures between about 350°-520° C. for a period of time of at least 12 hours to develop an integral colored surface layer on the glass.
Inventors
- 👤 Brent M. Wedding
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 00:26
CPC Classifications
C; C03; C03C; C03C4/00; C03C4/04; C03C4/06; G; G02; G02B; G02B5/00; G02B5/20; G02B5/22; G02B5/23; G02C; G02C7/00; G02C7/10; G02C7/104; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S428/00; Y10S428/913; Y10S501/00; Y10S501/90; Y10S501/905; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/26; Y10T428/263; Y10T428/31; Y10T428/315
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
129 words
A photochromic glass article especially suitable for spectacle lenses having an integral colored surface layer and exhibiting near-zero transmittance of radiations having wavelengths shorter than a selected cutoff wavelength ranging between about 440-550 nm, said glass consisting essentially, expressed in weight percent on the oxide basis, of about 0-2.5% Li 2 O, 0-9% Na 2 O, 0-17% K 2 O, 0-6% Cs 2 O, 8-20% Li 2 O+Na 2 O+K 2 O+Cs 2 O, 14-23% B 2 O 3 , 5-25% Al 2 O 3 , 0-25% P 2 O 5 , 20-65% SiO 2 , 0.004-0.02% CuO, 0.15-0.3% Ag, 0.1-0.25% Cl, and 0.1-0.2% Br, wherein the molar ratio of alkali metal oxides:B 2 O 3 varies between about 0.55-0.85 and the weight ratio Ag:(Cl+Br) ranges between about 0.65-0.95.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
129 words
A photochromic glass article especially suitable for spectacle lenses having an integral colored surface layer and exhibiting near-zero transmittance of radiations having wavelengths shorter than a selected cutoff wavelength ranging between about 440-550 nm, said glass consisting essentially, expressed in weight percent on the oxide basis, of about 0-2.5% Li 2 O, 0-9% Na 2 O, 0-17% K 2 O, 0-6% Cs 2 O, 8-20% Li 2 O+Na 2 O+K 2 O+Cs 2 O, 14-23% B 2 O 3 , 5-25% Al 2 O 3 , 0-25% P 2 O 5 , 20-65% SiO 2 , 0.004-0.02% CuO, 0.15-0.3% Ag, 0.1-0.25% Cl, and 0.1-0.2% Br, wherein the molar ratio of alkali metal oxides:B 2 O 3 varies between about 0.55-0.85 and the weight ratio Ag:(Cl+Br) ranges between about 0.65-0.95.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
83 words
A photochromic glass article according to claim 1 also including, as optional components, 1-50 parts per million Pd and/or Au, and/or up to 1% transition metal colorants, and/or up to 5% rare earth metal colorants, and/or up to 10% total of other ingredients selected from the group in the indicated proportions of 0-6% ZrO 2 , 0-3% TiO 2 , 0-0.5% PbO, 0-7% BaO, 0-4% CaO, 0-3% MgO, 0-6% Nb 2 O 5 , 0-4% La 2 O 3 , and 0-2% F.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
A photochromic glass article according to claim 2 wherein cobalt oxide constitutes the transition metal colorant.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
A photochromic glass article according to claim 1 wherein said integral colored surface layer has a depth of about 25-100 microns.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
A photochromic glass article according to claim 1 especially suitable for spectacle lenses for aphakics or for persons subject to photoretinitis exhibiting near-zero transmittance of radiations having wavelengths shorter than about 440 nm.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
76 words
A photochromic glass article according to claim 1 especially suitable for spectacle lenses for persons subject to retinitis pigmentosa exhibiting near-zero transmittance of radiations having wavelengths shorter than about 550 nm, a photopic transmittance in the faded state no greater than about 25% and no greater than about 10% in the darkened state, and a scotopic transmittance in the faded state no greater than about 10% and no greater than about 5% in the darkened state.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
A photochromic glass article according to claim 6 demonstrating a photopic:scotopic transmittance ratio of at least 4:1.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
13 words
A photochromic glass article according to claim 1 having polarizing capability incorporated therein.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
167 words
A method for making a photochromic glass article especially suitable for spectacle lenses having an integral colored surface layer and exhibiting near-zero transmittance of radiations having wavelengths shorter than a selected cutoff wavelength ranging between about 440-550 nm which comprises subjecting a photochromic glass consisting essentially, expressed in weight percent on the oxide basis, of about 0-2.5% Li 2 O, 0-9% Na 2 O, 0-17% K 2 O, 0-6% Cs 2 O, 8-20% Li 2 O+Na 2 O+K 2 O+Cs 2 O, 14-23% B 2 O 3 , 5-25% Al 2 O 3 , 0-25% P 2 O 5 , 20-65% SiO 2 , 0.004-0.02% CuO, 0.15-0.3% Ag, 0.1-0.25% Cl, and 0.1-0.2% Br, wherein the molar ratio of alkali metal oxide:B 2 O 3 varies between about 0.55-0.85 and the weight ratio Ag:(Cl+Br) ranges between about 0.65-0.95, to a strongly reducing atmosphere at a temperature between about 350°-520° C. for a period of time of at least 12 hours to develop an integral colored surface layer therein.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
167 words
A method for making a photochromic glass article especially suitable for spectacle lenses having an integral colored surface layer and exhibiting near-zero transmittance of radiations having wavelengths shorter than a selected cutoff wavelength ranging between about 440-550 nm which comprises subjecting a photochromic glass consisting essentially, expressed in weight percent on the oxide basis, of about 0-2.5% Li 2 O, 0-9% Na 2 O, 0-17% K 2 O, 0-6% Cs 2 O, 8-20% Li 2 O+Na 2 O+K 2 O+Cs 2 O, 14-23% B 2 O 3 , 5-25% Al 2 O 3 , 0-25% P 2 O 5 , 20-65% SiO 2 , 0.004-0.02% CuO, 0.15-0.3% Ag, 0.1-0.25% Cl, and 0.1-0.2% Br, wherein the molar ratio of alkali metal oxide:B 2 O 3 varies between about 0.55-0.85 and the weight ratio Ag:(Cl+Br) ranges between about 0.65-0.95, to a strongly reducing atmosphere at a temperature between about 350°-520° C. for a period of time of at least 12 hours to develop an integral colored surface layer therein.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
85 words
A method according to claim 9 wherein said photochromic glass also includes, as optical components, 1-50 parts per million Pd and/or Au, and/or up to 1% transition metal colorants, and/or up to 5% rare earth metal colorants, and/or up to 10% total of other ingredients selected from the group in the indicated proportions of 0-6% ZrO 2 , 0-3% TiO 2 , 0-0.5% PbO, 0-7% BaO, 0-4% CaO, 0-3% MgO, 0-6% Nb 2 O 5 , 0-4% La 2 O 3 , and 0-2% F.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method according to claim 10 wherein cobalt oxide constitutes the transition metal colorant.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method according to claim 9 wherein said integral surface layer has a depth of about 25-100 microns.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method according to claim 9 wherein said strongly reducing atmosphere consists essentially of hydrogen.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method according to claim 9 wherein said temperature ranges between about 380°-400° C.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method according to claim 9 wherein said time ranges between about 12-168 hours.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
103 words
A method according to claim 9 wherein said glass is subjected to said strongly reducing atmosphere for a period of time of at least about 96 hours to achieve near-zero transmittance therein of radiations having wavelengths shorter than about 550 nm, a photopic transmittance in the faded state no greater than about 25% and no greater than about 10% in the darkened state, and a scotopic transmittance no greater than about 10% in the faded state and no greater than about 5% in the darkened state so as to render said glass especially suitable for spectacle lenses for persons subject to retinitis pigmentosa.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method according to claim 9 including the step of incorporating polarizing capability to said glass.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1984-08-17 | 1985-02-16 | 1985-08-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-08-17 | 1989-02-16 | 1989-08-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-08-17 | 1993-02-16 | 1993-08-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |