Method and apparatus for making integrated multifocal lenses

Claim 2

Apparatus for automatically forming a multifocal lens from an optical element such as a lens blank comprising: means for securing said optical element for rotation about an axis, first means for positioning said optical element in a plane, tool means for shaping said optical element, means for positioning said tool means adjacent said optical element surface, means for moving said tool means in an arc about a pivot axis, said pivot axis intersecting said rotation axis, means for varying the distance between said tool means and said pivot axis to establish various radii of curvature for said optical element, and heating means for heating said optical element to effect a simultaneous lens shaping and polishing.

Claim 3

Apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said tool means comprises grinding means for grinding said optical element.

Claim 4

Apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said tool means comprises a tool bit having a channel therethrough and said heating means comprises a heating fluid passing through said channel for contact with said optical element.

Claim 5

Apparatus as recited in claim 1 further comprising tilting means for varying the relative angular position of said tool means and said optical element.

Claim 6

Apparatus as recited in claim 4 wherein said tilting means comprisesa tilting bracket for tilting said lens relative to said tool means.

Claim 7

Apparatus for automatically forming a multifocal lens from an optical element such as a lens blank comprising: means for securing said optical element for rotation about an axis, first means for positioning said optical element in a plane, tool means for shaping said optical element, means for positioning said tool means adjacent said optical element surface, means for moving said tool means in an arc about a pivot axis, said pivot axis intersecting said rotation axis, means for varying the distance between said tool means and said pivot axis to establish various radii of curvature for said optical element, and said tool means positioned on one side of said optical element, the point of intersection of said rotation axis and said pivot axis positioned on the other side of said optical element and said pivot axis perperdicular to said rotation axis.

Claim 8

Apparatus for automatically forming a multifocal lens from an optical element such as a lens blank comprising: means for securing said optical element for rotation about an axis, first means for positioning said optical element in a plane, tool means for shaping said optical element, means for positioning said tool means adjacent said optical element surface, means for moving said tool means in an arc about a pivot axis, said pivot axis intersecting said rotation axis, means for varying the distance between said tool means and said pivot axis to establish various radii of curvature for said optical element, and said tool means positioned on one side of said optical element, the point of intersection of said rotation axis and said pivot axis positioned on the other side of said optical element and said pivot axis perperdicular to said rotation axis.

Claim 9

Apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said first means comprises: means for slidably positioning said optical element in a first direction, and means for slidably positioning said optical element in a second direction.

Claim 10

Apparatus as recited in claim 7 wherein said first and second directions are perpendicular.

Claim 11

Apparatus for automatically forming a multifocal lens from an optical element such as a lens blank comprising: plate means for securing said optical element for rotation about an axis, first means for positioning said optical element in a first and second direction, tool means for shaping said optical element, means for positioning said tool means adjacent said optical element surface, means for moving said tool means in an arc about a pivot axis, said pivot axis intersecting said rotation axis, means for varying the distance between said tool means and said pivot axis to establish various radii of curvature for said optical element, said means for positioning said optical element in a first direction comprising first motor meaNs secured to saaid plate means for automatically positioning said optical element in said first direction, and said means for positioning said optical element in a second direction comprising second motor means secured to said means for positioning said optical element in a first direction for automatically positioning said optical element in a second direction.

Claim 12

Apparatus for automatically forming a multifocal lens from an optical element such as a lens blank comprising: plate means for securing said optical element for rotation about an axis, first means for positioning said optical element in a first and second direction, tool means for shaping said optical element, means for positioning said tool means adjacent said optical element surface, means for moving said tool means in an arc about a pivot axis, said pivot axis intersecting said rotation axis, means for varying the distance between said tool means and said pivot axis to establish various radii of curvature for said optical element, said means for positioning said optical element in a first direction comprising first motor meaNs secured to saaid plate means for automatically positioning said optical element in said first direction, and said means for positioning said optical element in a second direction comprising second motor means secured to said means for positioning said optical element in a first direction for automatically positioning said optical element in a second direction.

Claim 13

Apparatus as recited in claim 9 further comprising: means for storing control signals, and means for feeding said control signals to said first and second motor means.

Claim 14

Apparatus as recited in claim 10 further comprising third motor means for automatically varying the distance between said tool means and said pivot axis, said third motor means responsive to said control signals.

Claim 15

Apparatus as recited in claim 11 further comprising tilting means for varying the relative angular position of said optical element and said tool means.

Claim 16

Apparatus as recited in claim 12 wherein said tilting means comprises fourth motor means for automatically tilting said optical element relative to said tool means, said fourth motor means responsive to said control signals.

Claim 17

Appartus for automatically forming a multifocal lens from an optical element comprising: means for securing said optical element for rotation about an axis, tool means for shaping said optical element, means for moving said tool means in an arc about a pivot axis, digital control means for providing a first plurality of control signals, data storage means for storing said first plurality of control signals, automatic motor means responsive to said first plurality of control signals for varying the distance between said tool means and said pivot axis for establishing different radii of curvature for different segments of said optical element, said digital control means providing a second plurality of control signals, data storage means for storing said second plurality of control signals, and motor means responsive to said second plurality of control signals for relatively moving said optical element and said tool means to position different segments of said optical element adjacent said tool means.

Claim 18

Appartus for automatically forming a multifocal lens from an optical element comprising: means for securing said optical element for rotation about an axis, tool means for shaping said optical element, means for moving said tool means in an arc about a pivot axis, digital control means for providing a first plurality of control signals, data storage means for storing said first plurality of control signals, automatic motor means responsive to said first plurality of control signals for varying the distance between said tool means and said pivot axis for establishing different radii of curvature for different segments of said optical element, said digital control means providing a second plurality of control signals, data storage means for storing said second plurality of control signals, and motor means responsive to said second plurality of control signals for relatively moving said optical element and said tool means to position different segments of said optical element adjacent said tool means.

Claim 19

Apparatus as recited in claim 14 wherein the number of different radii of curvature of said optical element is within the range of two to nine.

Claim 20

Apparatus for forming a multifocal surface on an optical element comprising: a. a plate mounted for rotation about an axis perpendicular to plane of the plate, b. digital control means for providing a plurality of first, second and third output control signals, c. means for securing and positioning said optical element on said plate, said securing and positioning means comprising means responsive to said first control signals for slidably moving said optical element in a first direction, and means responsive to said second control signals for slidably moving said optical element in a second direction, d. tool means for forming said multifocal surface, e. means for securing said tool means for rotation about a pivot axis, and f. means responsive to said third control signals for adjusting the radius of curvature of said tool means about said pivot axis, whereby a multifocal optical surface may be generated in response to said plurality of first, second and third control signals.

Claim 21

Apparatus for forming a multifocal surface on an optical element comprising: a. a plate mounted for rotation about an axis perpendicular to plane of the plate, b. digital control means for providing a plurality of first, second and third output control signals, c. means for securing and positioning said optical element on said plate, said securing and positioning means comprising means responsive to said first control signals for slidably moving said optical element in a first direction, and means responsive to said second control signals for slidably moving said optical element in a second direction, d. tool means for forming said multifocal surface, e. means for securing said tool means for rotation about a pivot axis, and f. means responsive to said third control signals for adjusting the radius of curvature of said tool means about said pivot axis, whereby a multifocal optical surface may be generated in response to said plurality of first, second and third control signals.

Claim 22

Apparatus as recited in claim 16 wherein said first and second directions are perpendicular.

Claim 23

Apparatus as recited in claim 16 wherein said pivot axis is positioned on one side of said optical element and said tool means on the other side of said optical element, said tool means aligned with the axis of rotation of said rotatable plate and said pivot axis intersecting the axis of rotation of said rotatable plate.

Claim 24

Apparatus as recited in claim 16 further comprising means for controllably heating said optical element for polishing thereof.

Claim 25

Apparatus as recited in claim 19 wherein Said heating means comprises: a. a fluid, b. means for pumping said fluid, c. means for directing said fluid onto said optical surface, d. means for sensing the temperature of the heating fluid, and e. means for increasing the temperature of said fluid in response to said sensing means.

Claim 26

Apparatus as recited in claim 20 wherein said optical element is a plastic lens blank.

Claim 27

Apparatus as recited in claim 16 wherein said digital control means further provides a fourth control signal and said means for securing said tool means for rotation about the pivot axis is responsive to said foruth control signal.

Claim 28

Apparatus as recited in claim 16 wherein said digital control means provides groups of first, second and third control signals, each group corresponding to a different region of the desired multifocal surface.

Claim 29

Apparatus as recited in claim 16 wherein said means responsive to said first, second and third control signals comprise stepper motors.

Claim 32

A method as recited in claim 25 further comprising the steps of: pumping a heating fluid for contact with said optical element, and regulating the temperature of said heating fluid to polish said optical element.

Claim 35

A method as recited in claim 27 wherein said plane is substantially perpendicular to said rotation axis.

Claim 36

A method as recited in claim 27 further comprising the step of tilting said optical element out of the plane defined by said first and second directions.