Patent · US Expired

Method for making optical preforms and optical elements by press

US5965069A · kind A · utility

2Cited by
12References
27Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJan 24, 1997
Grant dateOct 12, 1999
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 24, 2017

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S425/808
  • WIPO fieldOther special machines
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A method for making optical preforms of optical elements without residual stress or distortion is provided. In this method, an optical material is supplied between upper and lower molds. The upper mold has a plurality of recesses arranged in a predetermined pitch, and each recess corresponds to a first surface shape of the optical element. The lower mold has a plurality of recesses facing the recesses of the upper mold and each recess of the lower mold corresponds to a second surface shape of the optical element. The supplied optical material is pressed between the upper and lower molds to be a set of optical preforms. The set of optical preforms is processed by die punching or tool cutting to separate each optical preform from the set of optical preforms. Each optical preform is used for producing an optical element by further pressing. Alternatively, optical element can be formed directly by the press molding process.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.