US 12,411,302 B2
Lens design and methods of manufacture thereof
Michael Babala, Plymouth, MI (US); Matthew Warmuth, Northville, MI (US); and Thomas E. Blake, III, Novi, MI (US)
Assigned to ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG, Friedrichshafen (DE)
Filed by ZF Active Safety and Electronics US LLC, Livonia, MI (US)
Filed on Nov. 26, 2019, as Appl. No. 16/696,642.
Prior Publication US 2021/0157087 A1, May 27, 2021
Int. Cl. G02B 7/02 (2021.01); B29D 11/00 (2006.01); B29K 23/00 (2006.01); G02B 1/04 (2006.01)
CPC G02B 7/028 (2013.01) [B29D 11/00009 (2013.01); G02B 1/041 (2013.01); B29K 2023/38 (2013.01); B29K 2995/0012 (2013.01)] 21 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A lens comprising: a central portion that comprises a first polymer; wherein the central portion is operative to transmit electromagnetic radiation through it; and a peripheral portion that comprises a second polymer; where the peripheral portion accommodates a dimensional change due to a temperature change in the central portion by absorbing energy and being transformed from a lower energy state to a higher energy state; and where the peripheral portion prevents distortion of the field of vision of the lens, where the peripheral portion comprises a prearranged deformation point that renders it the weakest point in the peripheral portion; and wherein the prearranged deformation point is a slot, a notch or a cavity.