US 12,345,904 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 Jun. 30, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/346,077.
Application 18/346,077 is a division of application No. 17/195,304, filed on Mar. 8, 2021, granted, now 11,733,441.
Application 17/195,304 is a continuation of application No. 14/751,043, filed on Jun. 25, 2015, granted, now 10,969,524, issued on Apr. 6, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/017,150, filed on Jun. 25, 2014.
Prior Publication US 2023/0350115 A1, Nov. 2, 2023
Int. Cl. G02B 5/23 (2006.01); C09K 9/02 (2006.01)
CPC G02B 5/23 (2013.01) [C09K 9/02 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A photochromic layer, comprising:
a first dispersed phase particle and a second dispersed phase particle distributed within a host phase medium;
the first dispersed phase particle comprising a first inner matrix and the second dispersed phase particle comprising a second inner matrix, the first inner matrix and the second inner matrix being substantially isolated from the host phase medium;
wherein a glass transition temperature of the first dispersed phase particle is different from a glass transition temperature of the second dispersed phase particle, and the first inner matrix and the second inner matrix comprise a first photochromic dye microenvironment and a second photochromic dye microenvironment and contain at least one photochromic dye;
wherein the at least one photochromic dye and the first inner matrix and the second inner matrix are permanently contained within the first and second dispersed phase particles, and
wherein the first and second dispersed phase particles undergo reversible color change in response to a UV activation.