Electro-active diffractive lens and method for making the same

Abstract

Aspects of the present invention provide an electro-active lens and method for manufacturing the same that encapsulates liquid crystal using solid transparent optical material using an improved liquid crystal seal feature. The seal feature greatly reduces the visibility of the liquid crystal seal feature in an assembled electro-active lens. The seal feature is also structurally robust such that the electro-active lens can be processed to fit a spectacle frame without disturbing containment of the liquid crystal and without disrupting electrical connectivity to the lens used to alter the refractive index of the liquid crystal, thereby ensuring fabrication of a commercially viable electro-active lens.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An electro-active lens comprising:
 a front substrate;   a back substrate bonded to the front substrate by an adhesive;   an electro-active element disposed between the front substrate and the back substrate; and   a cribbed peripheral edge, the cribbed peripheral edge extending across the front substrate, the adhesive, and the back substrate.   
     
     
         2 . The electro-active lens of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one conductive trace in electrical communication with the electro-active element. 
     
     
         3 . The electro-active lens of  claim 2 , wherein a portion of at least one conductive trace is exposed on the cribbed peripheral edge. 
     
     
         4 . The electro-active lens of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of conductive traces, each conductive trace being in electrical communication with the electro-active element. 
     
     
         5 . The electro-active lens of  claim 4 , wherein a portion of each conductive trace is exposed on the cribbed peripheral edge. 
     
     
         6 . The electro-active lens of  claim 2 , further comprising at least one conductive contact disposed on the cribbed peripheral edge, the at least one conductive contact being in electrical communication with at least one conductive trace. 
     
     
         7 . The electro-active lens of  claim 4 , further comprising a plurality of conductive contacts disposed on the cribbed peripheral edge, each conductive contact being in electrical communication with at least one conductive trace. 
     
     
         8 . The electro-active lens of  claim 1 , wherein the electro-active lens is a semi-finished lens blank. 
     
     
         9 . The electro-active lens of  claim 1 , wherein the electro-active lens is a finished lens. 
     
     
         10 . A pair of eyeglasses comprising:
 at least one electro-active lens of  claim 1 .   
     
     
         11 . A method of making an electro-active lens comprising:
 cribbing the peripheral edge of an electro-active lens, the electro-active lens comprising:
 a front substrate; 
 a back substrate bonded to the front substrate; and 
 an electro-active element disposed between the front substrate and the back substrate; 
   wherein the cribbed peripheral edge is defined by at least the front substrate and the back substrate; and   wherein the peripheral edge is cribbed after the electro-active element is disposed between the front substrate and the back substrate.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the electro-active lens further comprises at least one conductive trace in electrical communication with the electro-active element. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the cribbing of the peripheral edge of the electro-active lens removes at least a portion of at least one conductive trace, thereby exposing the at least one conductive trace. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the electro-active lens further comprises a plurality of conductive traces, each conductive trace being in electrical communication with the electro-active element. 
     
     
         15 . The method  claim 14 , wherein the cribbing of the peripheral edge of the electro-active lens removes at least a portion of at least one conductive trace, thereby exposing at least one conductive trace. 
     
     
         16 . The method  claim 14 , wherein the cribbing of the peripheral edge of the electro-active lens completely removes at least one conductive trace. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising disposing at least one conductive contact on the cribbed peripheral edge, the at least one conductive contact being in electrical communication with at least one conductive trace. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising disposing a plurality of conductive contacts on the cribbed peripheral edge, each conductive contact being in electrical communication with at least one conductive trace. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the electro-active lens is a semi-finished lens blank. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising edging the cribbed peripheral edge to form a finished lens.