US 11,733,441 B2
Dye microenvironment
Steven Harold Nahm, Ramsey, MN (US); David Jerrel Kissel, Ramsey, MN (US); and Richard Blacker, Ramsey, MN (US)
Assigned to HOYA Optical Labs of America, Inc., Lewisville, TX (US)
Filed by HOYA Optical Labs of America, Inc., Lewisville, TX (US)
Filed on Mar. 8, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/195,304.
Application 17/195,304 is a continuation of application No. 14/751,043, filed on Jun. 25, 2015, granted, now 10,969,524.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/017,150, filed on Jun. 25, 2014.
Prior Publication US 2021/0191015 A1, Jun. 24, 2021
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. G02B 5/23 (2006.01); C09K 9/02 (2006.01)
CPC G02B 5/23 (2013.01) [C09K 9/02 (2013.01)] 5 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for forming an optical article comprising:
selecting a photochromic dye;
optimizing an intensity of a color response of the photochromic dye within a dye matrix by selecting a composition of the dye matrix immediately surrounding the photochromic dye and controlling a characteristic of the photochromic dye through control of hydrogen bonding or dipole-dipole interaction with said composition of the dye matrix immediately surrounding the photochromic dye;
isolating the dye matrix containing the photochromic dye into solid dispersed phase particles;
forming two types of the dispersed phase particles, one with a low glass transition temperature microenvironment and the other with a high glass transition temperature microenvironment;
combining the two types of the dispersed phase particles; and dispersing the two types of dispersed phase particles within a host phase layer distinct from the dye matrix containing the photochromic dye, the dispersed phase particles with the low glass transition temperature microenvironment exhibiting a fast initial activation response followed by a gradual increase to a final desired optical density by the dispersed phase particles with the high glass transition temperature microenvironment, decreasing said final desired optical density rapidly to a lower level than said final desired optical density by the dispersed phase particles with the low glass transition temperature microenvironment and fading gradually back to a leuco form by the dispersed phase particles with the high glass transition temperature microenvironment;
wherein the photochromic dye and the dye matrix are permanently contained within the two types of the dispersed phase particles and separate from the host phase layer.