The invention concerns a method for producing ophthalmic lenses that uses plastic blanks in the form of flat, round discs. The outer edge of said plastic blanks is clamped and the desired final surface geometry and surface quality of the front faces of the lens are subsequently produced by a machining process using grinders and/or lathes and by smoothing and polishing processes. During machining, a thicker annular region is retained on the outer circumference of the workpiece. The annular region clamps or arranges the workpiece during machining and transport operations and stabilizes the lens for additional machining. Shaped pieces for identifying the machining axes are attached to the annular region. The lens is provided with fine markings to characterize the lens that has been produced, with the lens then being separated from the region.

Ophthalmic lenses are generally made of plastics which have a high refractive index while presenting a low specific gravity and a good machinability. However, this method may also be used for producing ophthalmic lenses from silicate glass. Machining is usually done by chip removing processes on millers, lathes, grinders and polishing machines.
To simplify the language, "ophthalmic lenses and other shaped bodies" will hereinafter only be referred to as "ophthalmic lenses". It is understood, however, that this always also includes other comparable shaped bodies with similar features. Although the present document hereinafter only refers to ophthalmic lenses made from plastic, this always also encompasses ophthalmic lenses made from silicate glass or mineral glass.
The methods for producing modern ophthalmic lenses have to meet, among others, the following requirements:                A so-called thickness optimization must be possible to minimise the weight of the ophthalmic lenses, thus increasing the wearing comfort. To this end, the shape and the size of the eyeglass frame must be known. This applies both for the contour line of the eyeglass frame and its width. The contour line of the eyeglass frame which is mentally projected onto the workpiece is hereinafter referred to as "virtual contour line".        In the case of plus lenses (center of lens thicker than lens edge) and of neutral lenses (center of lens as thick as lens edge), thickness optimization aims at reducing the thickness of the lenses to the maximum extent possible, given the remaining edge thickness along the virtual contour line (=thickness at circumferential edge of finished ophthalmic lens). The edge thickness must be taken into in account to permit proper mounting of the lens into the eyeglass frame, i. e. the edge thickness must approximately correspond to the width of the border of the eyeglass frame.        In the case of minus lenses (center of lens thinner than lens edge), thickness optimization aims at reducing the thickness of the lenses to the maximum extent possible, given the remaining edge thickness in the center of the lens. A certain minimum thickness in the center of the lens is required to assure the mechanical stability of the ophthalmic lens.
The following description of the method according to the invention substantially refers to plus lenses, since the latter make the advantages of the method particularly apparent. Likewise, however, the method is also applicable to neutral lenses and minus lenses.
Since the two optically active surfaces of plus lenses (front face and rear face) are not plane-parallel to each other but locally have different angles relative to each other, the size of the ophthalmic lens is of great importance for thickness optimization. This is why the shape and the size of the eyeglass frame must be known prior to thickness optimization. Based on a predefined thickness on the edge (eyeglass frame), the larger thickness in the center of the lens is determined.
The manufacture of ophthalmic lenses with due consideration of the aforementioned requirements (thickness optimization) gives rise to the following problems:    1. According to the prior art, particularly great effort is required to be able to clamp the ophthalmic lenses during the manufacturing processes (surface machining and edge machining) in order to perform the respective processing steps, since surface machining involves cuts on the peripheral area and also the edge needs to be processed in addition.
For this reason the edge is only suitable to be used as clamping surface if special procedures are applied. Once the edge has been processed, ophthalmic lenses no longer have a circular circumference but are adapted to the respective shapes and sizes of the eyeglass frames (either exactly or with an allowance for the further processing by the optician).     Since nearly any shape and any size desired are possible, the need emerged to develop special clamping and manufacturing methods.    2. Due to the thickness optimization (ophthalmic lens as thin as possible) and the plastics used as material for the lenses (relatively poor rigidity), the ophthalmic lenses being produced become more and more instable during the machining. The thinner they get by material removal, the more they lose stability and yield under pressure of processing tools, resulting in undesired alterations of the surface geometry. Also in this regard, methods had to be found to overcome the instability mentioned.    3. If the outer circumference of the lens already corresponds to the final ophthalmic lens plus a small allowance of 1 to 2 mm, the lens must naturally be smoothed and polished right up to the edge. For economical reasons, however, conventional tools cannot be used to smooth and polish exactly to the edge.     Therefore, the tools overtravel the edge of the ophthalmic lens during the processing. This results in an undesired large material removal due to the edge pressure in the peripheral area, so that the previously generated precise lens geometry partly gets lost again. Such levelling of the lens geometry in the peripheral area is an important disadvantage.
Various methods for avoiding the specified problems as well as devices for executing such methods are known.
DE-A1-40 03 002, for example, describes a method for producing ophthalmic lenses which includes the blocking of the lenses prior to their processing. This means that the cast or compression molded plastic blank is fixed to a so-called block with a Wood's metal. On the one hand, the block is adapted to be easily fixed to the workpiece spindles of the processing devices, and on the other hand, it has structures which assure a good adhesion of the Wood's metal.
The plastic blanks which are preferably used have one face (preferably the convex front face) which is being finished already during the casting or compression molding process. This means that the surface geometry and the surface quality already match the final requirements and will not be changed anymore. Typically, the surface geometry is bifocal with sliding transitions (progressive). This face will be blocked so that the concave rear face (unprocessed) and the circumference can be processed.
However, since the blank has one face finished which needs no further processing, one blocking operation will be sufficient. After blocking, the lens can be clamped to the workpiece spindle of the processing device. The connection with the Wood's metal (support function) also provides the mechanical stability required for the subsequent processing operations.
The method as proposed in DE-A1-40 03 002 presents a number of important disadvantages:                The blocking with Wood's metal is a complex and costly work step. It is suitable for automatic manufacturing processes to a limited extent only.        The Wood's metal contains noxious components (e. g. 12.5% cadmium) und thus requires compliance with special protection measures during processing.        Blocking and deblocking results in a loss of metal of about 10%. With an annual production output worldwide of several hundred million ophthalmic lenses, this is not only a significant cost factor but also an important environmental problem.        Since it is desirable for cost reasons to perform only one blocking operation, one face of the ophthalmic lens already has to be formed integral with the plastic blank (preferably the outer curve) by the preceding casting or compression molding operation. Consequently, a great number of semi-finished plastic blanks has to be kept on stock. For the bifocal ophthalmic lenses alone, the following calculation can be made:         9 different outer curves, 11 different near portion combinations, 3 to 4 different indices of refraction and 3 to 4 different designs (dependent on the shape of the eyeglasses), and all specified parameters both for the right ophthalmic lens and for the left ophthalmic lens result in not less than 3,000 different semi-finished plastic blanks, for example. Assuming 2 to 3 months of inventory, the stock would amount to about 500,000 parts. Since the average price for the semi-finished plastic blanks is 13 Euro per pair, the stock value would amount to more than 3 million Euro. The costs for such a stock are very high and raise expenses for the described method considerably.        A further disadvantage consists in that it is not possible to produce so-called prescription lenses. This means lenses exactly adapted to the eye defect which is to be corrected, as described by the ophthalmologist's prescription.         Due to the fact that with the method mentioned, one face of the plastic blank is already finished, the outer curves and the near portion combinations must be rather roughly graduated (for example in steps of ¼ dioptre) to avoid further stock increase. Within the scope of the given dioptre steps, therefore, the optician can only select an ophthalmic lens as close to the prescription as possible.        Likewise, high cost is caused by the great number of different masks which have to be kept in stock for the coating.
Another method is proposed in DE-C1-100 36 158. In fact, that method does not include blocking, but the lenses have to be cut in the course of the processing and then joined again by welding.
Here, too, the same problems arise with regard to the thickness optimization as described above (the lens has to be clamped and mechanically stabilised). The method involves the use of plastic blanks in the form of round flat discs whose diameter is sensibly larger than that of the ophthalmic lenses to be produced. The plastic blanks may be completely unprocessed or roughly preformed. In principle, semi-finished plastic blanks could also be used. However, this would also entrain the disadvantages that an important stock is required and that it is not possible to produce prescription lenses.
Even though the method disclosed in DE-C1-100 36 158 avoids some of the disadvantages of the method which is proposed by DE-A1-40 03 002, it presents some other disadvantages:                Cutting out the semi-finished lens from the outer edge with axial displacement and subsequent joining of the two parts by welding requires a complex special machine with laser devices which is accordingly expensive.         Furthermore, the costs of the manufacturing method considerably increase by the additional work steps on the special machine.        The cutting out and the laser-welding of the two parts produce important and lasting thermal stress in the finished lenses, since they are performed twice. However, many of the plastic materials used are very sensitive to thermal stress and respond after some time by crack formation in the peripheral area. This is not acceptable and presents an important disadvantage of the method.         It is impossible to cut out the semi-finished lens by means of mechanical tools (to avoid thermal stress) since the gap generated thereby would be too large, and the lens could not be joined anymore with the peripheral ring in a perfectly fitting manner.
It is an object of the invention to overcome these and further drawbacks found in the prior art and to develop a method and a device which allow for the manufacture of ophthalmic lenses in accordance with the requirements set forth below.    1. If possible, blocking should be avoided.    2. The method must be suitable to be automated.    3. The manufacture of the ophthalmic lenses must be cost-efficient.    4. It must be possible to produce prescription lenses (exact compliance of the ophthalmic lens with the given prescription, no dioptre steps).    5. No individual masks are required for the coating.    6. The number of plastic blanks in stock should be as small as possible.    7. No expensive special machines are required.    8. Thermal stress in the ophthalmic lenses is avoided.
Main features of the invention are specified in the characterizing portion of the claims. Advantageous embodiments will become apparent from the distinguishing characteristics of the dependent claims.
The method according to the invention involves the use of plastic blanks in the form of flat round discs (having a thickness which is smaller than the diameter) as raw material for producing ophthalmic lenses. The two faces (front face and rear face) may have any shape desired. The diameter of the plastic blanks is selected so as to be 5 to 7 mm larger than the typical diameter of the methods of the prior art. As a result, some more material will be needed. However, considering the method and its advantages as a whole, the increased material consumption is negligible.
So-called raw parts having plane faces or preformed structures on one or both sides are used as plastic blanks. If applicable, such preformed structures are formed integral with the plastic blanks during the casting or compression molding of the latter. In this case, no finished surfaces with optical qualities are present.
It is an important basic principle of the method according to the invention that the plastic blanks are circumferentially clamped (externally or internally) during all processing steps and that the machining is carried out in such manner that an annular circumferential region is retained whose thickness approximately corresponds to that of the plastic blank.
The following description always refers to externally clamping tools. It is also possible, however, to use internally clamping tools. When clamping a workpiece by means of internally clamping tools, the clamping elements move from the inside towards the outside and engage a border (edge) of the plastic blank which in such case has to be shaped accordingly.
Only after completion of all work steps (milling, turning, smoothing, polishing if applicable, marking and coating), the actual ophthalmic lens is separated from the outer annular region. This may be done mechanically, for example by means of milling cutters.
This manufacturing method is very advantageously applicable to any type of lenses (plus, minus and neutral lenses). The method is particularly advantageous in the case of plus lenses and neutral lenses where due to their thin edge, it is particularly difficult to clamp the workpiece and to achieve a good stability.
Minus lenses, by contrast, have a thicker edge. But here, too, important advantages can be achieved by retaining the outer annular region for clamping purposes.
This method for producing ophthalmic lenses is possible because the diameter of the plastic blanks is slightly larger than in the prior art, and because manufacturing devices are used which allow the generation of the desired geometry on the surface of the ophthalmic lens without cutting the annular circumferential region of the workpiece.
To further simplify the language, the plastic blanks already worked on are hereinafter referred to as workpieces.
Given that the specified annular circumferential region of the workpiece is retained with approximately the full thickness of the plastic blank, ideal clamping surfaces are provided throughout the whole processing process. Furthermore, the workpiece may be put down on the annular region. The existence of these clamping and supporting surfaces of always uniform size and shape is an important advantage for all further processing and transport operations because it allows for stereotyping (standardization) of the tools and devices, and thus leads to important cost savings.
Due to its large thickness and also due to its annular shape, the annular region presents a high mechanical stability and is suitable to support the ophthalmic lens which is firmly connected to it in its inner region. Thus the ophthalmic lens attains the mechanical stability required for the further processing. Naturally, this applies in particular for the peripheral region of the ophthalmic lens.
To generate the desired surface geometry, according to the invention, the mechanical processing is performed on special milling/turning machines which permit both the generation of the rough contour of the lens face that is being processed by milling and the subsequent smoothing of the surface by turning. This results in the very important advantage that the high machining efficiency of the milling operation can be combined with the smoothing effects achieved by turning. Alternatively, however, it is also possible to produce the surface geometry exclusively by milling.
Prior to processing the front face and/or the rear face of the plastic blank, the latter is provided with two opposing circumferential flattenings (similar to key-type flats) or a larger slot or notch for clamping and for defining the axial position of the first processed face (preferably the concave rear face).
In addition, a smaller slot or notch is milled into the circular circumference of the workpiece, close to the one key-type flat and the larger slot or notch, respectively. Said smaller slot or notch is circumferentially arranged, offset by some angular degrees (e. g. 60°) relative to the one flat and the larger slot, respectively, and it is used for indexing (marking) at the second face of the ophthalmic lens (preferably the convex front face).
The indexing serves to define the right and the left ophthalmic lens and prevents erroneous rotations of 180° of the workpiece during further processing.
To simplify the language, reference is hereinafter only made to these flattenings. However, this always also encompasses embodiments which have slots or notches instead of flattenings.
To mill the two flattenings, the plastic blank is clamped onto the aforementioned milling/turning machine. As the blank edge must be processed, the edge of the clamping tool (e. g. collet) is also provided with flattenings which are slightly more pronounced than the flattenings of the workpiece to assure its accessibility while clamped at its edge for processing without the milling cutter contacting the clamping tool.
For milling the indexing portion, the workpiece remains circumferentially clamped so that here, too, the clamping tool provides free access to the respective working area.
Advantageously, the two flattenings and the indexing as well as the first face of the ophthalmic lens are produced, as described, in a single set-up. However, if certain advantages can be obtained, the workpiece may be reclamped to carry out the specified work steps.
It is also possible to produce the flattenings and/or the indexing in combination with other preceding operations (e. g. casting or compression molding of the semi-finished parts).
To define the position, markings and geometrical shapes others than the flattenings, slots and indices may be provided on the circumference of the workpiece or at the annular region or at the front or rear face of the plastic blank. In this respect, the aforementioned features are only exemplary representations of preferred embodiments.
Once the two flattenings, the indexing and the first face of the lens (milling and turning preferably performed at a single set-up) have been processed, the second optically active surface of the workpiece is processed on the milling/turning machine.
To perform the milling and turning operations for producing the desired geometry, the workpiece is turned over and circumferentially clamped in a second clamping tool, with the two flattenings and the indexing serving to fix the workpiece in the correct position.
The clamping tool has two shaped parts which engage the flattenings and a bolt which is encompassed by the indexing to assure an always correct position of the workpiece.
The phase difference (angle of rotation) between the clamping tool and the workpiece spindle is programmed in the control system of the machine. On the clamping tool itself, the phase difference is defined by the two flattenings and the bolt for the indexing.
The processing of the two lens surfaces preferably starts with the concave rear face of the lens, provided that it does not exist yet on the plastic blank (semi-finished part).
To process the optically active surfaces of the lenses, the milling/turning machines according to the invention comprise in their lower area a vertically arranged workpiece spindle which is adapted for rotating drive (C-axis) in a speed and phase controlled manner and which comprises a clamping tool on its upper end to receive the workpiece.
Simultaneously, the workpiece spindle is axially moveable along the Z axis (advance movement). This is necessary because the surface geometries of the ophthalmic lenses which are to be produced are generally not rotationally symmetrical, so that the workpiece spindle has to follow spatial curves on each processing circle. Alternatively it is conceivable to perform the processing on machines with a horizontal arranged workpiece spindle.
In their upper area, the milling/turning machines comprise a tool spindle which is also adapted to be rotatorily driven (B axis) in a speed and phase controlled manner. The tool spindle carries at its front end a tool storage for the lathe tools and at some distance thereto, the milling tool on a coaxial shaft.
The milling tool is of the plain milling cutter type having a large radius (vertical to the axis of rotation) and a smaller width (in the direction of the axis of rotation). The plain milling cutter comprises circumferentially arranged semicircular cutting blades of small radius. Alternatively, spherical cutters may be used instead of the narrow plain milling cutter of large diameter and small thickness.
Preferably, the radius of the lathe tools may have a dimension similar to that of the cutting blades of the plain milling cutter.
It is also contemplated to use the e.g. annular blades of the plain milling cutter as lathe tools. In that case, there is no need for a separate lathe tool. The blades of the tool have then the same angular position relative to the workpiece during both milling and turning. However, angle tracking movements such as described later for the special lathe tools are here not possible.
The tool spindle which is rotatorily driven in the B axis in a controlled manner is mounted to a tool carrieage adapted to be shifted along the X axis and, as a special feature, also along the Y axis.
During the processing operation with the milling cutter which rotates around the B axis, the tool spindle is moved in the Y axis (feed movements), while the workpiece rotates around the C axis in a speed and phase controlled manner and oscillates in the direction of the Z axis. Such oscillations depend on the speed and the phase position of the workpiece in the C axis as well as on the position of the milling cutter in the Y-axis. To this end, the Y axis as well as the Z axis and the C axis are electrically connected to one another in the control system of the machine.
The desired surface geometry is generated by cooperation of the advance of the milling cutter in the Y axis and the movements of the workpiece in the Z axis and in the C axis.
After completion of the milling operation (the milling cutter has reached the center of the ophthalmic lens), the tool spindle and the workpiece spindle are moved in such manner that one of the lathe tools on the tool storage engages the workpiece.
Given that the blades of the milling cutter and the lathe tools are arranged at an angle of 90° relative to each other, the starting position of the lathe tool on the workpiece is also offset by 90° relative to the starting position of the milling tool.
According to the invention, various cutting plates made from different material and/or having different dimensions, cutting radii and clearance angles may be mounted to the tool storage for the lathe tools. Thus it is possible to use the tool storage in cooperation with the B axis as a tool changer by moving the tool presently required into the bottom position, i. e. the operating position, by a short rotary movement of the B axis.
Dependent on the position of the blade in the direction of the X axis, the lathe tool on the workpiece spindle is then moved over the workpiece towards its center (feed movement), with the workpiece spindle together with the workpiece rotating again around the C axis in a speed and phase controlled manner and oscillating in the direction of the Z axis in a controlled manner (advance movement).
During the turning operation in the B-axis, the workpiece spindle with the lathe tool may perform little rotary movements (angle tracking movements) with the result that the main axis of the lathe tool is always positioned at the same given angle (e. g. at right angle) relative to the surface of the workpiece when tracking the geometry of the lens.
This is particularly advantageous in the case of a non-circular lathe tool blade, e. g. in the case of a diamond blade.
The X axis and the Z axis as well as the B axis and the C axis are electrically connected to one another in the control system of the machine so that the given geometry can be generated. With certain lathe tools, however, it is possible to work with the tool spindle locked. In that case, the B axis is no longer connected to the other axes.
By cooperation of the advance of the lathe tool along the X axis and the movements of the workpiece in the Z and C axes as well as by the angle tracking movement of the lathe tool in the B axis, the fine region geometry of the ophthalmic lens, which has been previously generated by milling, is tracked and optimized. The roughness depth thus generated on the surface is very small. Once the lathe tool has reached the center of the workpiece, the operating step turning is completed.
When the annular blades of the plain milling cutter are used as lathe tool, one of these blades is brought into its operating position by turning the tool spindle in the B axis. The turning operation itself is then carried out with the tool spindle locked in the B axis which in that case performs feed movements in the Y axis according to the configuration of the cutting tool.
Here, too, the workpiece performs controlled movements along the C and Z axes. With the specified mode of operation using the milling blades, the Y axis as well as the Z axis and the C axis are connected to one another.
In principle it is also possible to omit the turning step provided that after completion of the milling operation, the surface quality reached is already sufficient for economical processing by smoothing and polishing.
In principle, the operating steps milling and turning may alternatively be performed with other axis combinations on the processing machine.
Once the milling and turning processes are completed, the workpieces are removed and reclamped on subsequent machines for smoothing and polishing, with the outer annular region being used again for clamping. The two flattenings and the indexing assure the correct positioning of the workpiece in the clamping tool.
The smoothing and polishing operations are carried out by forming tools, in particular also by flexible tools, which are covered with grinding pads or polishing foil. The forming tools have to represent an exact impression of the surface of the lens. Consequently, there would be a relatively large stock of expensive forming tools if no flexible tools are used as herein proposed (see DE-A1-101 06 007).
These flexible tools are adapted to be pressed with their working surface against the surface of the lens so as to adopt the geometrical shape of the surface or the lens. In the subsequent operating step, said shape is fixed whereby a forming tool is produced which is true to dimension. The fixation can be undone so that practically any number of duplicating operations is possible.
Smoothing or polishing with the flexible forming tools is very cost-efficient because on the one hand, there is no need for a large stock with expensive forming tools, and on the other hand, there is no need for extensive logistics effort. Such effort, however, would be required when using conventional forming tools because each of the forming tools would have be assigned to the given lens geometry, i.e. a systematic access to a large stock of forming tools would be necessary.
The polishing operation may be omitted with certain coating procedures if the surface which has been produced by smoothing presents a sufficiently small roughness depth. Still existing irregularities are covered when a coating is applied.
The basic sequence of manufacturing steps (both faces without processed surfaces) is as follows:    1. The plastic blank is circumferentially clamped to the workpiece spindle (C/Z axis) of the milling/turning machine by means of a clamping tool (collet) and provided with the two flattenings and the indexing.     Certain operations also provide flattening the surface of the plastic blank (rear face of the lens). Thus a good workpiece support is generated which may be used for processing the front face of the lens and for an exact definition of the position (height, distance) of the geometries on the front and rear faces of the lens.    2. Next, preferably the concave rear face of the lens is processed with the same clamping set-up. In order to perform milling and turning operations for producing the desired geometry in compliance with the prescription, the workpiece remains circumferentially clamped in the clamping tool. The milling and turning operations are carried out as described above.     When the surface geometry is produced on the rear face of the lens, there is no problem with regard to cutting the outer annular region. This is due to the concave shape of the rear face of the lens and the relatively flat curvature of ophthalmic lenses. Therefore, relatively big ophthalmic lenses may be processed without the tools cutting the annular region. In this respect, the slightly increased outer diameter of the plastic blank is also advantageous.    3. Once the given surface geometry on the rear face of the lens has been produced, the latter is smoothed and, if necessary, polished, preferably using flexible forming tools as described above.    4. To protect the completely processed surface, it is cleaned (e. g. by ultrasound) and then covered with a protective lacquer or a foil.    5. Then the workpiece is turned over and reclamped on the milling/turning machine in order to mill the convex front face of the lens. Here again, the outer circumference of the peripheral region is used to clamp the workpiece, with the flattenings assuring secure mounting and the indexing providing for accurate positioning. The rough contour is generated by milling which is followed by a turning operation to smooth the surface of the lens. Both work steps are performed as already described and produce the desired surface geometry according to the prescription (prescription lenses).     Since the milling cutter must penetrate deep into the material in the peripheral region of the workpiece when the convex front face of the lens is processed, the outer annular region of the workpiece which serves for clamping would be eliminated by milling or the milling cutter would collide with the clamping tool.     This is particularly true with regard to the thickness optimization in the case of plus lenses and neutral lenses.     In order to retain the outer annular region during the further processing with approximately full thickness for clamping the workpiece and stabilising the actual ophthalmic lens in the inner region, an annular groove is milled into the edge of the workpiece at the beginning of the milling process. Said groove is arranged and dimensioned in such manner that on the one hand, the annular region in the peripheral region of the workpiece is retained, and on the other hand the desired thickness on the edge of the actual ophthalmic lens is achieved in the inner region (by performing a thickness optimization).     Due to the shape of the milling tool, the groove is provided with a cross-sectional radius (as seen in a cross-section of the workpiece) which corresponds at least to the radius of the blades of the milling tool. Since said groove is outside the actual active surface, i.e. outside the ophthalmic lens, it is convenient to select the specified radius as small as possible to avoid unneeded removal or loss of material.     This also gives rise to the demand for a plain milling cutter of small thickness and a small radius on the cutting blades. In that case, the outer diameter of the plastic blank may be reduced to a minimum.     Said groove presents the transition between the actual ophthalmic lens and the outer annular region and allows, due to its shape, on the hand for the small thickness on the edge of the actual ophthalmic lens, and on the other hand for the large thickness in the annular region.     The milling operation which is performed to produce the geometry at the front face of the lens involves that the workpiece together with the workpiece spindle rotates around the C axis (speed and phase controlled) while it simultaneously performs quick translatory movements (oscillations) along the Z axis which serve as advance movements.     Simultaneously, the plain milling cutter together with the tool spindle is moved in the Y axis in a controlled manner (feed movements), rotating at constant speed (not controlled) around the B axis of the workpiece. The Y, Z and C axes are connected to one another in the control system of the machine in such manner that the addition of their movements initially produces the specified groove, and subsequently the surface geometry of the front face of the lens.    6. The milling of the front face of the lens is followed by a turning operation in the fine region which step substantially serves to perform small corrections of the geometry and particularly to improve the roughness depth.     Before the start of operations, the circular lathe tool enters the specified annular groove whose radius approximately corresponds to the radius of the tool. This is done by moving the X, Y, Z and B axes. The entrance is offset by 90° relative to that of the milling cutter on the contour of the workpiece, according to the position of the lathe tools on the corresponding tool storage. The turning operation is then carried out as described above under 5. with reference to the milling operation.     If the blades of the milling tool are used as lathe tool, the turning operation is performed in a manner similar to the milling operation. In that case, however, the tool spindle with the tool is fixed in the B axis once one of the blades of the milling tool has been brought into its operating position by little movements in the B axis. As with the milling process, the feed movement is made along the Y axis.    7. Once the given surface geometry on the front face of the lens has been produced, it is smoothed and, if necessary, polished on subsequent machines (smoothing and polishing machines). Here, too, it is preferred to use flexible forming tools. Again, the workpiece is clamped on its outer annular region.    8. The specified mechanical processing operations are followed by a further cleaning step. Again, the standardized shape of the workpiece with identical outer diameters (due to the outer annular region) is very helpful because the supports (washing frame) may be of very simple design and in particular an all-purpose-type. The uniform size of these washing frames allows for considerable cost savings.     Subsequently, an engraving is made in the peripheral region of the lens front face which for each ophthalmic lens identifies the position of the near portion and the axial position as specified in the prescription. If applicable, it also contains the logo of the manufacturer.    9. This is followed by the coating of the workpiece, i. e. the application of thin layers to improve the usage properties on both faces. The outer annular region is again an important advantage, since the workpiece may be clamped to it or arranged on it during the coating process. The plurality of support systems and masks which were previously required is reduced to only one size by the standardized diameter of the annular region.     Furthermore it is provided to harden both the first and second faces of the ophthalmic lens in one single work step, using an automatic pivoting device. These are a further cost-saving procedure and device, which are only possible because of the uniform size and shape of the workpieces.    10. In order to separate the ophthalmic lens and the annular region, the workpiece is clamped with its annular region onto a milling machine, and the ophthalmic lens is cut out from the annular region by a suitable milling cutter (e. g. an end mill cutter of small diameter).     It is, however, possible to use other processing procedures to separate the ophthalmic lens from the annular region. The so-called waterjet cutting technology, for example, may here be considered which involves the use of a very fine waterjet at high speed.     By cutting out the ophthalmic lens from the annular region, an optimized outer contour of the ophthalmic lens is preferably generated which substantially corresponds to the selected eyeglass frame, that is to say which includes only a very small allowance. The subsequent grinding into the eyeglass frame minimises therefore the efforts by the optician.     After the final cleaning, the ophthalmic lens is ready for shipment.
To summarise, the method according to the invention has the following advantages:                No block is required for the manufacture. Thus all the disadvantages associated with blocking are avoided.        No expensive special machines with laser devices are required. Thermal stress induced by thermal cutting or welding is avoided.        It is possible to produce prescription lenses.        Due to the special geometry on one face of the lens (preferably the front face), semi-finished plastic blanks (semi-finished parts) with rough dioptre graduation may be used, even if prescription lenses are to be produced. As a result, the manufacturing costs (only one face to be processed) and the storage costs (few semi-finished parts because of rough graduation) are minimised.        The milling/turning machine which is proposed for the execution of the method can be derived on the basis of mechanical engineering by further development as known in the industry of optical machines.        The method is capable of being automated since there are no work steps required (e. g. blocking) which require manual intervention.        Compared to the prior art, the method allows for the production of ophthalmic lenses of sensibly improved quality and optimized thickness. As a result, the visual acuity and the tolerance for the eye-glass wearer are improved.        The method is very cost-efficient since it requires sensibly less work steps than the conventional methods.        Further, less support tools and devices are required since the workpieces can be clamped to or arranged on the standardized diameter of the annular region.
Another embodiment of the method according to the invention for which independent protection is claimed, provides the use of semi-finished parts made by chipless forming as blanks. Semi-finished parts made of plastic, molded by casting or injection molding, are preferred. However, compression molding processes and semi-finished parts of mineral glass are also contemplated.
Here, the concave rear face of the lens already presents optical quality produced by chipless forming and its surface is spherical or aspherical and toric or atoric, respectively. In principle, however, other surface shapes are possible, too.
It is important In the case of material-optimized semi-finished parts that they have a shaped edge in the peripheral area of he concave rear face of the lens (with optical active surface) which is formed integral with the semi-finished part during the manufacture of the latter by chipless forming. Said shaped edge sensibly protrudes over the concave rear face of the lens. In the following processing steps, said shaped edge serves as a clamping surface, just as the "outer annular region" described above. The latter was there produced on the convex front face of the lens by mechanical processing.
Owing to the existence of the shaped edge on the concave rear face of the lens as clamping surface, the generation of an annular region by mechanical processing on the lens front face is rendered superfluous here. The manufacturing costs are therefore reduced.
Due to the fact that, with the method according to the invention, the shaped edge is provided on the concave rear face of the semi-finished part and the latter is clamped with it in the respective processing machine, the lens front face can be freely processed without the presence of a hindering edge. This is an important advantage.
Considerable cost-savings can be achieved, particularly with the smoothing and polishing processes, as it is possible to use more efficient tools. Moreover, the surface quality can be further increased due to the improved accessibility of the lens surface during the polishing process.
The protruding shaped edge on the rear face of the lens is not hindering since at that point, there is no further processing because the optical quality of the surface has already been achieved during the chipless forming of the semi-finished part. Casting and injection molding processes as well as compression molding processes are preferably provided for this purpose.
To simplify the language, reference hereinafter is only made to semi-finished plastic parts which are produced by casting or injection molding processes. However, this always encompasses any other method for chipless forming, provided they are feasible (such as compression molding, for example), and also semi-finished parts made of mineral glass.
The front face of the semi-finished part may already be roughly adapted to the lens geometry which is to be generated. This results in material savings and reduced machining work.
The shaped edge is retained during all work steps and serves to handle and to clamp the workpiece. Its width, height and annular shape assure a good stability, and it serves throughout all processing steps as a support for the lens which is made inside and is connected with it.
Here again, the method offers the important advantage that all clamping tools can be standardized (unified) and that the workpiece can be clamped and processed without blocking or complex laser treatment, since the shaped edge of the workpiece is retained up to the last work step. Thanks to the support function of the shaped edge, no deformations on the lens portion will be caused by the machining forces.
If necessary, a recess (marking) is cast integral with the shaped edge which defines the axis of the rear lens face produced by casting. To manufacture semi-finished parts of plastic, glass molds are used which are designed according to the invention so as to allow an easy removal from the mold. Steel molds are used for producing semi-finished parts of mineral glass.
The machines and tools employed are similar to those already described above. In the method set forth below, they are only completed by casting machines and novel molds.
The mold consists of a rear mold part, a front mold part and a peripherally arranged sealing ring which connects the two mold parts. The design of the rear mold part is novel in that by contrast to the prior art, it is not a simple curved disk but comprises a peripheral extension or shoulder by which the specified shaped edge is formed integral with the semi-finished part.
Said extension or shoulder is preferably chamfered to ease the removal from the mold. A "nose" is provided in the chamfered region to produce the marking mentioned above.
The surface of the front mold part of the mold which is active during the casting process may be plane or may roughly correspond to the convex or concave lens front face to be produced, although without creating an optically active surface.
The surface of the rear mold part of the mold which is active during the casting process is designed so as to be adapted to generate the above mentioned surface geometries. The surface produced by the casting process is optically active, and in the case of toric or atoric geometry, it is graded in dioptre steps of 0.5 to 1 dpt. The adjustment of the thus produced lens to the prescription (prescription lens) is done by corresponding processing operations on the lens front face.
The relatively rough graduation of the rear mold part in steps of 0.5 to 1 dpt considerably reduces the number of molds required. By processing the front face of the lens, it is still possible to produce prescription lenses (see above).
The sequence of the process steps is as follows:
The semi-finished parts are produced on generally known manufacturing systems by means of the novel mold. They are preferably made of plastic, but it is also possible to produce semi-finished parts from mineral glass.
Then the shaped edge of the semi-finished parts is clamped in the workpiece holders of conventional processing machines and the front faces are processed on these machines by milling, turning, grinding, smoothing and polishing. If the lens to be produced is an eyeglass lens, the first steps of said mechanical processing will comprise a thickness optimization of the lens.
More precisely, the eyeglass frame is known, and the eyeglass lens thickness is adapted to that frame. Eyeglass lenses which are thicker in the center than at the edge (plus-lenses) are processed so as to present a thickness in the region of the future frame which approximately corresponds to the edge of the frame. Eyeglass lenses which are thinner in the center than at the edge (minus-lenses) are processed in such manner that the center is as thin as possible in view of their stability. In this way, eyeglass lenses with the smallest possible weight are produced.
For producing eyeglass lenses, the geometry of the convex front face of the lens is designed so as to provide, in combination with the concave rear face of the lens, optical properties which comply with the prescription on which the manufacture is based.
The mechanical processing steps are followed by the coating and the marking of the optical axis. The shaped edge is retained during all the operations mentioned, and it serves to clamp and to handle the workpiece in the respective machines and devices.
Only after completion of the coating and the marking is the actual eyeglass lens separated from the shaped edge. For this purpose, the workpiece is clamped with its edge on the workpiece spindle of a milling machine, and the inner contour of the eyeglass lens is cut out by means of an end mill cutter of small diameter. However, various other methods are alternatively contemplated for performing said cutting out. For example, a waterjet may be used.
In a further embodiment, for which independent protection is claimed, the blanks which are used are semi-finished parts which are produced by chipless forming processes. Semi-finished parts are preferred which are made from plastic and produced by casting or injection molding processes. However, compression molding processes and semi-finished parts made from mineral glass are also contemplated.
At that point, the convex front face of the lens already has optical quality which has been generated by the chipless forming processes. The front face has a spherical or aspherical surface with dioptre steps of ¼, for example. In principle, however, also other surface shapes are possible. Bifocal surfaces and progressive surfaces are considered as well.
What is new with these material-optimized semi-finished parts is that they have a shaped edge in the peripheral area of the convex front face of the lens (with optical active surface) which is formed integral with the semi-finished part during the manufacture of the latter by chipless forming processes.
Said shaped edge sensibly protrudes over the convex front face of the lens. In the subsequent processing steps, the shaped edge serves to clamp the workpiece (semi-finished part) in the clamping tools of the processing machines and stabilises the eyeglass lens that is being produced in the peripheral area since it is retained until the last processing step.
Due to the fact that, with the method according to the invention, the shaped edge is provided on the convex front face of the semi-finished part, and that the latter is clamped with it in the respective processing machines, the rear face of the lens can be freely processed without the presence of a hindering edge. This is an important advantage.
Considerable cost-savings can be achieved particularly in the smoothing and polishing processes because it is possible to use efficient tools. Moreover, a good surface quality can be achieved due to the unhindered accessibility of the lens surface during the polishing process.
The protruding shaped edge on the convex front face of the lens will not bother since at that point, there is no further processing. In fact, the optical quality of the surface has there already been produced during the chipless forming of the semi-finished part. The methods preferred for this purpose are casting and injection molding processes as well as compression molding processes.
To simplify the language, reference hereinafter is only made to semi-finished plastic parts produced by casting or injection molding processes. However, this always encompasses any other method for chipless forming, provided it is feasible (such as compression molding, for example), and also semi-finished parts made of mineral glass.
With the chipless forming process, the concave rear face of the semi-finished part may already be roughly adapted to the lens geometry to be generated. This results in material savings and reduced machining work. However, the number of semi-finished parts which have to be kept in stock will increase, as will the storage costs.
The shaped edge is retained during all processing steps and serves to handle and to clamp the workpiece. Its width, height and annular shape assure good stability, and it serves throughout all processing steps as support for the lens which is made inside and is connected with it.
Since the shaped edge of the workpiece is retained up to the last work step, the method offers the important advantage that all clamping tools can be standardized (unified) and that the workpiece can be clamped and processed without blocking or complex laser treatment. Due to the support capacity of the shaped edge, no deformations on the lens portion will be caused by the machining forces.
If necessary, the shaped edge is provided with a recess (marking) which is cast integral with the shaped edge and defines the axis of the lens front face generated by casting. To produce semi-finished parts of plastic, glass molds are preferably used which are designed according to the invention so as to allow an easy removal from the mold. Steel molds are used for producing semi-finished parts of mineral glass.
The machines and tools which are used correspond to the prior art. There is no need for CNC controlled machines and corresponding special tools. In fact, any machine and tool may be used which has been employed in connection with the previous generally performed blocking procedure and which is commercially available.
Likewise, continued use is possible of the formulations and machine settings for processing the concave rear face of the lens which have been adopted by the manufacturers in connection with the blocking procedure. In any case, however, the expensive and environmentally harmful blocking is no longer required since the workpieces are clamped on the shaped edge.
To perform the method according to the invention, the manufacturer of eyeglass lenses and their sub-suppliers only need the novel molds for producing the semi-finished parts. These molds can be used on existing casting machines.
The mold consists of a rear mold part, a front mold part and a peripherally arranged sealing ring which connects the two mold parts. What is novel with that mold is the design of its front part which, in contrast to the prior art, it is not a simple negatively curved disk but comprises a peripheral extension or shoulder formed to integrate the specified shaped edge with the semi-finished part. Said extension or shoulder is preferably chamfered to ease removal from the mold. A "nose" may be provided in the region of this chamfer to produce the afore-mentioned marking.
The surface of the rear mold part may be plane or may roughly correspond to the rear face of the lens to be produced, although without creating an optically active surface.
The surface of the front mold part which is active during the casting process is designed so as to be adapted to generate the required surface geometries. The surface of the lens front face produced by the casting process is optically active, and in the usual case with spherical or aspherical geometry and toric or atoric geometry, respectively, it is graded by steps of 0.25 dpt, for example. This front face of the lens produced by casting may also comprise bifocal or progressive surfaces. The further adaptation of the lens to be produced according to an eyeglass prescription is done by corresponding processing operations on the rear face of the lens.
The sequence of process steps is then as follows:
The semi-finished parts are produced on generally known manufacturing systems by means of the novel mold. They are preferably made of plastic, but it is also possible to produce semi-finished parts from mineral glass.
Then the semi-finished parts are clamped with their shaped edge in the workpiece holders of conventional processing machines, and the concave rear face is processed on these machines by milling, turning, grinding, smoothing and polishing.
Complex multi-axle CNC machines may be employed, but their use is not mandatory for the execution of the method according to the invention because the geometries to be produced are relatively simple, such as spherical or aspherical surfaces and toric or atoric surfaces, respectively, without bifocal surface elements. In that case, the more complicated geometry with bifocal surfaces or progressive surfaces is on the convex front face of the lens which has been produced by chipless forming processes.
If the lens to be produced is an eyeglass lens, the first steps of said mechanical processing will comprise a thickness optimization of the lens.
More precisely, the eyeglass frame is known, and the eyeglass lens thickness is adapted to that frame. Eyeglass lenses which are thicker in the center than at the edge (plus-lenses) are processed so as to present a thickness in the region of the future eyeglass frame which approximately corresponds to the edge of the frame. Eyeglass lenses which are thinner in the center than at the edge (minus-lenses) are processed in such manner that the center is as thin as possible in view of their stability. In this way, eyeglass lenses with the smallest possible weight are produced. For producing eyeglass lenses, the geometry of the concave rear face of the lens is designed so as to provide, in combination with the already existing convex front face of the lens, the desired optical properties complying with the prescription on which the manufacture is based.
The mechanical processing steps are followed by the coating and the marking of the optical axis. The shaped edge is retained during all the operations mentioned, and it serves to clamp and to handle the workpiece in the respective machines and standardized devices.
Only after completion of the coating and the marking is the actual eyeglass lens is separated from the shaped edge. For this purpose, the workpiece is clamped with its shaped edge on the workpiece spindle of a milling machine, and the inner contour of the ophthalmic lens is cut out by means of an end mill cutter of small diameter. However, further methods are alternatively contemplated for performing said cutting out. For example, a waterjet may be used.

Method for producing ophthalmic lenses and other shaped bodies with optically active surfaces


The invention relates to an overhead luggage container (1), particularly for airlines, comprising a reinforcing structure (11) which is connected to the container (1) and which is disposed essentially in the direction of the longitudinal extension of the container (1), and at least one device (5) for suspension on a carrying structure (2) of the plane. In order to create a container (1) which can be subjected to relatively high static strain without running the risk that the container (1) will fall on the passengers sitting below, while at the same time reducing technical complexity in production and reducing the weight of the container, at least one respective rigid connecting element (17) is arranged to the side of the container (1) between the reinforcing structure (11) and the suspension device (5) in a substantially vertical manner with respect to the longitudinal extension of the container (1). The connecting element (17) is used to transmit forces exerted by the luggage on the container (1) and to deflect them to the suspension devices (5) and carrying structure (2) of the plane, thereby relieving the amount of strain placed on the side walls (12).

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an overhead luggage stowage container, particularly for airplanes, including at least one reinforcing structure connected with the container and arranged substantially in the direction of the longitudinal extension of the container, and at least one device for suspension from a supporting structure of the airplane or the like.
2. Description of the Related Art
Overhead luggage stowages are used, in particular, in airplanes to store passengers' hand luggages during flights. Yet, also overhead stowages for other transport means such as, for instance, rail-bound vehicles and, preferably, high-speed trains as well as buses or ships are covered by the present invention. Overhead stowages in airplanes are subject to extremely high mechanical loads, particularly during the take-off and landing phases as well as during the flight and in emergency cases, for which reason overhead luggage stowages for airplanes will have to be designed to withstand particularly high loads. Those high demands placed on luggage stowage containers drastically increase production expenditures and in most cases also involve increased dead weights.
These days, overhead luggage stowages, particularly for airplanes, in most cases are produced of plastics materials through sandwich construction with cores usually made of honeycomb materials and covered by overlays of plastics materials optionally reinforced with glass or carbon fibers. Overhead luggage stowages can be comprised of bent-around trays manufactured of an above-described material by multi-fold bending or folding. The container can also be produced in an autoclave by the curing of prepreg layers arranged on a mold. The stowage in most cases will further comprise an opening which may advantageously be closed by flaps. EP 0 557 267 B1, for instance, describes such an overhead luggage stowage and a method for its production. Since the substantially vertical side walls of the luggage stowage are subject to high loads caused by vertically directed forces, these side walls and their connection with the bent-around tray of the luggage stowage will have to be produced in a particularly stable and complex manner. This results in an increased weight of the luggage stowage, on the one hand, and in elevated production costs, on the other hand.
Also EP 0 658 644 A2 describes an overhead luggage stowage, which is comprised of structural components having particularly low weights while simultaneously offering high stability.
EP 718 189 A1 discloses an overhead luggage stowage having an increased loading capacity and intended for the retrofitting of existing airplanes, thus being compatible with existing suspension devices for overhead luggage stowages. The overhead luggage stowages according to that document are, however, not specifically designed for the increased static loads exerted by the luggage items contained therein.
In terms of mechanics, overhead luggage stowages, particularly for airplanes, intended for passengers' luggages or the like are usually designed for two situations. One situation comprises the normal, regular flight operation, in which the stowage is to withstand without damage specific loads caused, for instance, by air gusts, particularly during take-off and landing. During take-off and landing or in the event of air gusts, accelerations which may, for instance, be six times as high as the gravitational acceleration will be caused by the inertia of the load contained in the luggage stowage. Such values are common particularly in the tails or noses of planes. The second case of load results from an emergency situation, which may occur, for instance, at an emergency or crash landing of a plane. In order to be able to guarantee the passengers' safety in such a case, the baggage stowages are, as a rule, designed to withstand 1.5 times the normal load, which means, for instance, loads equalling nine times the gravitational acceleration. Those high loads place particularly high manufacturing demands on the baggage stowages and, in particular, on the side walls and their connections with the bent-around tray of the overhead baggage stowage.
Nowadays, an increasing number of increasingly heavy luggage items such as small suitcases, laptops, photographic and video equipments, etc. are taken into airplane cabins as hand luggages. In practice, the permissible overall load of luggage stowages is frequently exceeded. In an emergency case, for example during an emergency landing, the luggage items stored in the stowage may constitute a danger to the passengers. In order to strengthen the bottom plate of an overhead baggage stowage, reinforcing structures comprised, in particular, of bottom plate profiles are mostly provided, which at the same time serve, for instance, for the suspension of means provided above the passenger seat rows, such as air-conditioning, oxygen supply and lighting. The bottom plate of the overhead luggage stowage is thus strengthened by the reinforcing structures, yet the occurring forces are introduced into the side walls of the stowage and, from there, into the suspension devices and, further on, into the supporting structure of the airplane or the like. This may result in the destruction of the side walls and hence in the opening of the overhead luggage stowages, thus causing the luggage items to crash down or the suspension device provided on the supporting structure of the airplane to pull off.
In order to secure the overhead luggage stowages against crashing down, safety devices which are formed, for instance, by flexible force-deflection elements additionally containing a kinetic energy destruction means are known, which will retain the overhead luggage stowage on the supporting structure of the airplane or the like, even after the suspension device has pulled off. Such a securing device is, for instance, described in EP 0 767 100 A1.

Overhead luggage container, particularly for airplanes


An apparatus and a method for automatically managing a satellite broadcasting service are disclosed. The apparatus may include a rain attenuation information collection unit to measure weather information and a satellite broadcast signal and to collect and provide satellite broadcast signal quality information corresponding to rain attenuation, a rain attenuation analysis unit to analyze rain attenuation information collected by region and to verify a rain attenuation level, a satellite broadcast transmission signal plan unit to generate a satellite broadcast signal change plan to change a satellite broadcast transmission signal by region based on the verified rain attenuation level, and a satellite broadcast transmission signal controller to transmit a signal change instruction to a satellite ground station for the satellite broadcast transmission signal to be changed based on the generated satellite broadcast signal change plan.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for automatically managing a satellite broadcasting service to secure continuity of a broadcasting service against rain attenuation using a satellite. More particularly, the present invention relates to a technical concept of analyzing an impact of rain attenuation measured on the ground, and automatically changing a satellite broadcast signal transmission mode for a satellite broadcast signal that has low data transmission efficiency but is strong against rain attenuation in case of impact of rain attenuation to be provided by a satellite transmitting a satellite broadcast signal to regions using a multi-beam.
2. Description of the Related Art
Rain attenuation may refer to attenuation of radio frequencies.
Due to a high frequency of radio waves, scattering occurs when raindrops have a non-negligible size with respect to a wavelength of the radio waves, such that attenuation increases.
Attenuation of millimeter or submillimeter waves may occur by resonance of oxygen or vapor molecules in the air, wherein rain causes a considerably significant amount of attenuation and poses a serious obstacle to use of such frequency bands.
A general rain attenuation compensation technique changes a modulation and demodulation method or a coding method to continuously maintain a transmission link, even in a low signal level, when a signal quality deteriorates due to rain.
However, for the rain attenuation compensation technique to be introduced into actual services, there is a need for a rain attenuation management system that analyzes and applies weather conditions or a rain attenuation level to satellite broadcasting services immediately.
An apparatus for measuring and collecting rain attenuation is suggested, while management technology for satellite broadcasting using the apparatus is not presented. Also, a technology for changing a transmission signal to avoid interruptions in the service has been developed.

Apparatus and method of automatically managing satellite broadcasting service

ELECTRONICS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH INSTITUTE


A fabrication method of a liquid crystal display device uses a printing method which forms a pattern of a wider effective line width such as a gate line, a data line, a passivation layer, a pixel electrode, etc. constituting an LCD device. The inventive lithography process uses a mask that is applied at the time of forming a channel region having a narrow effective line width. Accordingly, the amount of resist used may be reduced, and the fabrication process can be simplified. This printing method can be used to fabricate a color filter substrate of an LCD device.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a fabrication method of a liquid crystal display (LCD) device, and more particularly, to a fabrication method of an LCD device including a printing method for a gate or data line using pattern having a wider effective line width.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, an LCD device includes a thin film transistor (TFT) array substrate having TFTs formed at each intersection of multiple gate lines and data lines, a color filter substrate facing the TFT array substrate and having a color filter layer for displaying a color image, and a liquid crystal filled between the TFT array substrate and the color filter substrate.
The TFT array substrate has a plurality of gate lines are arranged in parallel, and a plurality of data lines are arranged in a perpendicular state to the gate lines. An intersection between the gate lines and the data lines defines a unit pixel region, and TFTs respectively formed at the intersection regions function as switching devices. The TFTs form a matrix arrangement on the TFT array substrate.
The color filter substrate lies opposed to the TFT array substrate and has a color filter layer constituted with sub color filter layers of R (red), G (green), and B (blue) for displaying an image as a color
A common electrode for applying an electric field to a liquid crystal can be further provided at the color filter substrate so as to correspond with a pixel electrode formed on the TFT array substrate.
In order to apply an electric field to the liquid crystal, a data signal must be applied not only to the common electrode but also to the pixel electrode formed on the TFT array substrate. Here, the TFT serves as a switching device of the data signal.
Generally, the TFT includes a gate electrode, a source electrode, a drain electrode, and a channel region between the source and drain electrodes.
A fabrication method of a related art TFT can be explained with reference to FIGS. 1A to 1F.
FIGS. 1A to 1F show a TFT fabrication process using 5-mask process.
FIG. 1A shows a gate electrode material 11 that is formed on a substrate 1. The gate electrode material of a metal can be formed on the substrate by a sputtering method. The metal layer forming the gate line can constitute one electrode of a storage region for maintaining a voltage during the time of the TFT operation, and a gate pad pattern at a gate pad portion.
FIG. 1B shows that, after forming the gate metal layer, a photoresist is deposited on the gate metal layer, and photolithography using a first mask M respectively forms a gate line, one electrode of a storage region, and a gate pad portion pattern 2 on the substrate 1.
FIG. 1C shows a gate insulating layer 3, a semiconductor layer and high concentrated N+ layer that are sequentially formed on the resulting material. Then, photoresist is deposited and photolithography using a second mask (not shown) selectively etches the semiconductor layer and the high concentration N+ impurity layer to thus form an active layer 4 above the channel region. Here, the active layer 4 is formed by stacking an amorphous silicon (a-Si) layer as a semiconductor layer and a high concentration N+ layer.
The insulating layer 3 and the active layer 4 are usually deposited by a plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) method.
Then, a conductive material is formed on the active layer, and as shown in FIG. 1D, a photolithography process is performed by using a third mask (not shown) to thus selectively etch so that the conductive material can be applied as source/drain electrodes 5 and 6 that are separated from each other at the channel region. The conductive material may be applied as one electrode of a storage capacitor at the storage region, and the conductive material may be applied as a data electrode 8 at the data pad portion.
FIG. 1E shows a passivation layer 9 that is formed on the resulting material, and photolithography using a fourth mask (not shown) selectively etches so that the drain electrode of the channel region, the storage electrode 7 of the storage region, the gate pattern 2 of the gate pad portion, and the data electrode 8 of the data pad portion can be exposed.
FIG. 1F shows a pixel electrode material that is formed on the resulting material. Then, photolithography process using a fifth mask (not shown) forms a pixel electrode 10 for connecting the drain electrode 6 of the channel region and the storage electrode 7 of the storage region, and a gate line 11 (connected to the gate pattern 2 of the gate pad portion) and a data line 12 (connected to the data electrode 8 of the data pad portion) are formed.
In this process, the five masks were consecutively applied to form the LCD device.
However, in the step for forming the gate electrode, the step for forming the active layer, the step for forming the source/drain electrodes, the step for forming the contact hole in the passivation layer, and the step for forming the pixel electrode, the process for forming each pattern involves depositing photoresist by a spin coater and exposing. The spin coater uniformly deposits photoresist on a substrate by dropping a predetermined amount of photoresist on the substrate where a metal layer is deposited, and by rotating the substrate at high speed. The spin coater method has a problem arising from only partial utilization of the photoresist dropped on the substrate being used during the subsequent exposure process, and most of the photoresist is not used. Accordingly, a large amount of photoresist is uselessly discarded, and only a small amount of photoresist is used during the lithography process. Only approximately 10% of the photoresist deposited by a single spin coating application is used in the lithography process, and a small amount of the used photoresist, approximately 10-20%, is used during the actual pattern forming.
Also, an expensive mask is used to perform the photolithography process.

Fabrication method of a liquid crystal display device using a printing method


A light-emitting device includes a substrate, a first nitride semiconductor stack formed on the substrate, a nitride light-emitting layer formed on the first nitride semiconductor stack, a second nitride semiconductor stack formed on the nitride light-emitting layer, and a first transparent conductive oxide layer formed on the second nitride semiconductor stack. The second nitride semiconductor stack includes a plurality of hexagonal-pyramid cavities formed in an upper surface of the second nitride semiconductor stack. The plurality of hexagonal-pyramid cavities of the second nitride semiconductor stack are filled with the first transparent conductive oxide layer, and a low-resistance ohmic contact is generated at the inner surfaces of the plurality of hexagonal-pyramid cavities so as to decrease the operation voltage and improve light-emitting efficiency of the light-emitting device.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a light-emitting device, and more particularly, to a high efficiency light-emitting device.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Semiconductor light-emitting devices have been applied widely in optical display devices, traffic signals, data storing devices, communication devices, illumination devices, and medical apparatuses.
The conventional nitride LED includes a thin metallic layer on a top surface of the LED, such as material of the Ni/Au group, regarded as a transparent conductive layer. However, part of LED light still cannot travel through metal. Light generated by the LED is absorbed by the thin metallic layer and the light transmittance is decreased. In order to have a good transmittance, the thickness of the thin metallic layer is limited to be within several tens to several hundreds of angstroms. Although the thickness of the thin metallic layer is limited, the thin metallic layer merely has transmittance of visible light in the range of 60%˜70%, and the light-emitting efficiency of the LED is still low.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,078,064, which is included herein by reference, discloses an LED structure. The surface of LED includes a transparent conductive oxide layer formed on a p-type contact layer of a high carrier concentration. Generally, the transparent conductive oxide layer has a high transmittance of more than 90%. Therefore, the thickness of such layer can be thicker and the current spreading is better, such that the brightness and light-emitting efficiency of the LED are improved. Note that the transparent conductive oxide layer must contact with the p-type contact layer of a high carrier concentration more than 5×1018 cm−3, so as to form a better ohmic contact.
Taiwan Patent No. 144,415, which is incorporated herein by reference, discloses a method for forming a reverse tunneling layer. An N+ reverse tunneling contact layer is formed between a transparent oxide electrode layer and a semiconductor light-emitting layer to achieve the purpose of forming a good ohmic contact so as to improve the light-emitting efficiency of the LED and decrease the operation voltage.
In addition, Y. C. Lin also disclosed a related method in the paper "InGaN/GaN Light Emitting Diodes with Ni/Au, Ni/ITO and ITO p-Type Contacts" (Solid-State Electronics Vol. 47 Page 849-853). He disclosed that a thin metallic layer was formed on a p-type contact layer of a nitride LED, and then a transparent conductive oxide layer was formed on the thin metallic layer. This method can efficiently reduce the contact resistance between the p-type contact layer and the transparent conductive oxide layer. However, the transmittance is still decreased by the thin metallic layer and thus the light-emitting efficiency of the LED is still affected by the thin metallic layer.
Therefore, the present invention aims to improve the brightness of an LED, to solve the contact resistance issue occurring between such a contact layer and transparent conductive oxide layer, and to simplify the process complexity.


Magnet assemblies for installation into a voice coil motor is described. A pair of magnetic pieces are molded into circular arc shapes of different radii and positioned concentrically across a gap. The ends of such the pair of magnet pieces, are joined to a similarly-molded other pair of magnet pieces. The direction of magnetization of the former pair of magnet pieces is reverse that of latter pair of a magnet pieces. On the upper curved surface of each of the two units of lower magnet pieces of smaller radius, a cut plane, for example, is formed in order to provide unbalanced cubic volume between one half and the other half from the center plane of a magnet piece, thus increasing the gap magnetic flux density being generated inside the gap at the sections of larger cubic volume, thereby improving overall evenness of the gap magnetic flux density distribution.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a magnet assembly and a voice coil motor using such magnet assembly, more particularly, of a magnet assembly and a voice coil motor for use with such equipment as the magnetic head positioning actuator of a hard disc drive unit.
2. Related art
In general, in the field of voice coil motors for positioning of magnetic heads, featuring the combined use of a magnetic circuit and a moving coil, various types of voice coil motors have already been developed having various magnetic circuit structures, magnetic characteristics and moving coil shapes.
FIGS. 14 to 16 show an example of conventional voice coil motors wherein the exemplified voice coil motor is provided with a roof-shaped yoke 2 having a circular arc shape at its lower surface and in a roof shape at its upper surface, wherein beneath the yoke 2, a yoke 6 of circular arc shape is provided with both ends directed upwards for connection to the roof-shaped yoke 2, thereby forming a required gap 4 between the yokes 2 and 6.
Meanwhile, the terms up and down, above and below or over and beneath are merely to be used for explanatory purposes in relation to the drawings but not to indicate relative positions in the actual structure.
Beneath the roof-shaped yoke 2, or in the central part of the circular arc surface facing the gap 4, two units of upper magnetic pieces 8A and 8B having an arc shape are adhered, on the upper surface of circular arc-shaped yoke 6, or in the central part of the circular arc surface facing the gap 4, two units having a lower magnet 10A and 10B of circular arc shape of smaller radii than the radii of upper magnets 8A and 8B, are adhered in concentricity with the upper magnet pieces 8A and 8B.
The pairs of magnet pieces are magnetized in opposing directions. For example, as FIG. 16 shows, with the right-hand upper and lower magnet pieces 8A and 10A, the magnetizing direction 12 is directed toward the outside of the radial direction of the circular arc, while with the left-hand upper and lower magnet pieces 8B and 10B, the magnetizing direction 14 is directed toward the inside of the radial direction of the circular arc.
As FIGS. 14 and 15 show, in gap 4 formed by the upper and lower magnet pieces, a coil 18 fixed to the top end of an arm 16 which can swing around the center 0 of the circular arc as the supporting point is so installed to move in a circular arc locus through the gap 4.
To the other end of the arm 16, for example, a magnetic head 20 is installed so that when the arm 16 swings, the magnetic head 20 moves in the radial direction of turning magnetic disc 22.
A magnetic disc drive unit must have a higher thrust and, at the same time, flatter thrust-displacement characteristics, otherwise, if thrust is not constant against displacement, dispersion occurs with access time.
The magnet pieces 8A, 8B, 10A and 10B preferably include magnet materials with higher magnetic properties such as Sm.sub.2 Co.sub.17 or Nd-Fe-B sintered magnet pieces. Such sintered magnet pieces are produced by filling, for example powdered alloy into a cavity 30 shaped in sector form, or a circular arc, provided on the surface of a mold block 28 as shown in FIG. 17, and by press-forming the alloy powder filled into the cavity 30 using a push rod, which is not indicated in FIG. 17, before sintering the thus press-formed alloy powder.
During the sintering process, the magnet materials are formed with their magnetic orientation in a specified direction by magnetizing, for example, to a magnetic field 32 directed in the horizontal direction to provide the required orientation in the magnetic field of the magnetic materials.
With a magnet piece thus produced, a phenomenon is known to occur where the magnetic flux density in the center portion is higher than that at both ends of the magnet piece. If these magnet pieces of dispersed magnetic flux density are used, the thrust becomes larger in sections with higher magnetic flux density and lower in sections with lower magnetic flux density and constant thrust cannot be maintained against displacement.
The degree of magnetic flux density is proportional to the magnet's cubic volume with a uniform material magnet. In order to obtain uniform magnetic flux density throughout all the magnet sections, a method has been adopted whereby the thickness at the central portion of a magnet where magnetic flux density becomes higher, is made thinner.
FIG. 16 shows an example of the method wherein the upper arc surfaces of the lower magnet pieces 10A and 10B are cut and removed to form flat surfaces of equal length (L1=L2) from the center planes 24A and 24B , which equally divide the lower magnet pieces 10A and 10B. 26A and 26B represent the cut planes.
Nevertheless, even if such magnet pieces are made thinner at the central portion and used as the magnetic circuit of a voice coil motor as shown in FIG. 14 and FIG. 15, it has not been possible to move the magnetic head 20 with a constant thrust throughout the swinging range of the coil 18 of the motor and of the arm 16.

Magnet assembly and a voice coil motor using such magnet assembly


A thin film magnetic head includes a recording and playback element, a lead conductor layer for feeding a power to the recording and playback element, an electrically conductive bump for conductively connecting the lead conductor layer to an electrode pad for external connection, and an insulating protective layer filling between the recording and playback element and the electrically conductive bump. A thermal deformation-preventing layer composed of a material having a thermal expansion coefficient smaller than that of the insulating protective layer is disposed in the insulating protective layer in such a way as to locate between a medium-facing surface and the electrically conductive bump without being exposed at the medium-facing surface. In the resulting thin film magnetic head, protrusion of the recording and playback element toward the recording medium side can be prevented without changing the configuration of the recording and playback element nor the forming material.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a stalk switch device that is provided near a steering wheel of an automobile and used for beam switching operation, turn signal operation, etc.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, a pair of stalk switch devices is disposed on both sides of a housing fixed to a steering column, etc., thereby constituting a combination switch. Each of the stalk switch devices is tiltably operated in a proper direction, so that beam switching of a headlamp, or switching operation of a turn signal, a wiper, etc., can be performed. For example, in the case of the stalk switch device that tiltably operates an operating lever substantially in a vertical direction to perform turn signal operation, the operating lever is tiltably operated substantially in a back-and-forth direction so that beam switching (low-beam or high-beam switching) operation or passing operation of a headlamp can be performed.
The general configuration of such a stalk switch device includes a base of the operating lever that is rotatably connected with the lever support, and the operating lever is tiltable in a predetermined operation plane with respect to the lever support. Further, the lever support is rotatably connected with a housing that is a stator member. The operating lever and the lever support are integrally tiltable in a separate operation plane orthogonal to the above operation plane. That is, the axis of rotation of the operating lever with respect to the lever support, and the axis of rotation of the operating lever and lever support with respect to the housing are substantially orthogonal to each other so that the operating lever can be tiltably operated in the two substantially orthogonal directions. A circuit board is fixed to the housing, and the circuit board extends substantially parallel to the separate operation plane. Also, a slider is disposed on the circuit board. Here, when the operating lever is tiltably operated, this slider is driven to move along the circuit board. Therefore, by the positional change of the slider, switching operation of a contact with respect to the circuit board can be performed (for example, refer to U.S. Pat. No. 5,861,594 (corresponding to JP-A-10-172389).
On the other hand, in the stalk switch device configured as described above, when the operating lever and the lever support are integrally tilted with respect to the housing (for example, at the time of turn signal operation), the operation plane of the operating lever is substantially parallel to the circuit board. Therefore, if a driving part that is provided in the lever support, etc. so as to protrude therefrom is made to engage a corresponding slider, this driving part moves along the circuit board at the time of operation. Therefore, it is relatively easy to secure a sufficient amount of movement for the slider. However, when the operating lever is tilted with respect to the lever support (for example, at the time of beam switching operation), the operation plane of the operating lever is substantially orthogonal to the circuit board, and the driving part that is provided in the operating lever so as to protrude therefrom cannot be moved along the circuit board at the time of operation. Thus, in order to have substantial movement of the slider, which is driven in engagement with the driving part, along the circuit board at the time of operation, a countermeasure becomes necessary, such as a large setting of the radius of rotation of the driving part. That is, when the operating lever is tiltably operated with respect to the lever support, the amount of movement of the slider that is engaged with the driving part considerably decreases as compared with the amount of movement of the driving part provided in the operating lever. Thus, in order to secure a sufficient amount of movement for the slider, an engagement part between the slider and the driven part should be largely separated from the rotation center of the operating lever. Such design constraint became a factor that the housing or lever support is hindered from being made small and thin. In addition, if the amount of movement of the slider needed for the switching operation of the contact is not sufficient, degradation of reliability degradation, or increase in cost will be inevitably entailed.


In accordance with one embodiment, a self-propelled emissions control servicing watercraft that does not require transportation by tugboat and utilizes a hydraulic power unit that supplies hydraulic power to a hydraulic positioning arm during “service mode” and alternately uses the same hydraulic power unit to supply hydraulic power to hydraulic propulsion thrusters during “mobile mode”.

Servicing watercraft, such as an emissions control system, provide services to other watercraft at berth, at anchorage, or underway. The servicing watercraft are transported using typically two tugboats. The tugboat(s) move the servicing watercraft to and from the servicing watercraft's home berth and to and from serviced watercrafts. Once the tugboat(s) move the servicing watercraft into position next to a serviced watercraft, then a connecting procedure is initiated. The tugboat(s) hold the servicing watercraft next to the serviced watercraft until the servicing watercraft is secured with mooring lines, or with alternative mooring devices, to the serviced watercraft. Once the servicing watercraft is secure, the servicing watercraft may begin operations, and the tugboats are then free to leave to perform other tugboat duties. In the case of an emissions control system, these operations consist of attaching a conduit to the serviced vessel's exhaust pipe to draw exhaust gas through the conduit to an emissions treatment system located on a servicing watercraft to remove contaminants from the exhaust gas before releasing the exhaust gas into the atmosphere.
Once a serviced watercraft approaches the completion of its stay, it prepares to depart. As part of the departing procedure, the servicing watercraft is commanded to disconnect from the serviced vessel. The disconnecting procedure is opposite of the connecting procedure, whereas tugboat(s) are again required to travel to the location of the servicing watercraft, hold the servicing watercraft next to the serviced watercraft until the servicing watercraft is free from mooring lines or other mooring devices. The tugboat(s) then pull the servicing watercraft away from the serviced watercraft and move the servicing watercraft to the next location.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,258,710 to Caro et al. dated Aug. 21, 2007, discloses a maritime emissions control system. However, this patent prefers an Unpowered Seagoing Barge that is not self-propelled as a platform for the system. U.S. Pat. No. 8,327,631 to Caro et al. dated Dec. 11, 2012, discloses an air pollution control system for ocean-going vessels, but it also prefers an Unpowered Seagoing Barge.
However, I have encountered several disadvantages when using an unpowered seagoing barge for an emissions control system that requires tugboats to move, connect, and disconnect an unpowered servicing watercraft:
Disadvantage 1: One disadvantage is that many vessel trips are required when tugboats move an emissions control servicing watercraft. The emissions control servicing watercraft itself must make a trip to the serviced vessel. Then, after the serviced vessel call is complete, the emissions control servicing watercraft then travels away from the serviced vessel to its next destination, either to another serviced vessel to a home berth, for example. When tugboats are used to move the emissions control servicing watercraft, then each tugboat makes a first trip to accompany the emissions control servicing watercraft, then a second trip to travel to the next tugboat destination. When the serviced vessel call is near completion, the tugboat makes a third trip to retrieve the emissions control servicing watercraft, and then a fourth trip to move the emissions control servicing watercraft to its next destination. Thus, each tugboat makes two trips for every one trip of an emissions control servicing watercraft. Typically two tugboats are used per event, resulting in a minimum of ten vessel trips per serviced vessel call, two for the emissions control servicing watercraft, four for the first tugboat, and four for the second tugboat.
Disadvantage 2: Another disadvantage is that additional vessel trips (even more than the ten normally-required trips) may be necessary when tugboats are used to move an emissions control servicing watercraft. Sometimes certain events occur that require moving the emissions control servicing watercraft, such as emergencies and repositioning of the emissions control servicing watercraft. Each of these events typically requires two tugboats, and two vessel trips per tugboat, resulting in four additional vessel trips per additional event.
Disadvantage 3: Yet another disadvantage is that the tugboat vessel trips described above cause additional emissions. In the case of emissions control servicing watercraft, it is counter-productive to use tugboats, which produce significant emissions while moving the servicing watercraft. Tugboats reduce the overall effectiveness of an emissions control servicing watercraft because the tugboat emissions counteract the goal of emissions reductions. Many tugboats do not have sufficient emissions controls themselves, thereby significantly reducing the net emissions reductions.
Disadvantage 4: Yet another disadvantage is that each of the tugboat vessel trips described above requires one additional crew per tugboat. Typically there are at least two crew members per tugboat. The additional crew(s) add cost, thereby reducing the cost-effectiveness of the emissions control servicing watercraft.
Disadvantage 5: Yet another disadvantage is that each of the tugboat vessel trips described above requires additional fuel, which wastes energy and adds cost, thereby reducing the cost-effectiveness of the emissions control servicing watercraft.
Disadvantage 6: Yet another disadvantage is that each of the tugboat vessel trips described above reduces the useful life of each tugboat, which adds cost, thereby reducing the cost-effectiveness of the emissions control servicing watercraft.
Disadvantage 7: Yet another disadvantage of using tugboats to move an emissions control servicing watercraft is the danger of immobility of the servicing watercraft when secured to the serviced watercraft. If an emergency occurs in which the servicing watercraft needs to be removed because the servicing watercraft is be exposed to danger while secured next to the serviced watercraft, then an unscheduled tugboat request is initiated. Unfortunately, the tugboats may not be available on short notice. It may take many hours before at least one tugboat is available to disconnect the servicing watercraft from the serviced watercraft. Tugboats are typically scheduled in advance because they are busy working elsewhere in the harbor. Even if a tugboat could abandon its current work, the tugboat still must make the journey across the harbor to the location of the servicing watercraft. During this waiting period, loss of life or equipment could occur.
Disadvantage 8: Yet another disadvantage of using tugboats to move an emissions control servicing watercraft is the inability to reposition the servicing watercraft relative to the serviced watercraft. Sometimes it is necessary to adjust the position of the servicing watercraft. For example it may be necessary to a) move out of the way of potential falling containers, b) make room for a large vessel passing nearby in a narrow channel, c) reposition due to changing conditions caused by water currents, d) reposition due to changing conditions caused by changing ballasting of the serviced vessel, and/or e) make room for another servicing vessel such as a bunker fueling barge. This inability to reorient during the serviced vessel call can cause dangerous situations or can prevent cargo from being serviced. It is very undesirable to make an unscheduled tugboat call due to the additional cost of such a call, and also due to the amount of time it takes to obtain a tugboat.
Disadvantage 9: Yet another disadvantage of using tugboats to move an emissions control servicing watercraft is that it precludes the efficient use of a hydraulic power unit that is already necessary to supply hydraulic power to a hydraulic exhaust capture system, to also supply hydraulic power the propulsion system during alternate modes of operation, thereby resulting in increased capital cost.

Self-propelled emissions control servicing watercraft