US3876734A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method for the manufacture of optical elements
Assignee: US Philips Corp
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Filing: 1972-08-04
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Granted: 1975-04-08
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Expires: 1992-08-04
Abstract
Abstract A method of manufacturing an optical element from a glass blank wherein the deformation of the glass blank to provide a distorted surface which when worked flat will restore to a desired optical shape is effected by causing the blank to adhere to a resin material which is cured in a mould having a surface profile which is a magnified version of the desired optical profile so that distortion of the glass blank is due to shrinkage of the resin material as it cures in the mould.
Inventors
- 👤 Harry Howden
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 09:57
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B1/00; G02B1/04; B; B24; B24B; B24B13/00; B24B13/0043; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S359/00; Y10S359/90
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
155 words
A METHOD OF MANUFACTURING AN OPTICAL ELEMENT FROM AN ELASTIC BLANK OF LIGHT-TRANSMISSIVE MATERIAL, COMPRISING THE STEPS OF SUPPORTING THE BLANK WITH ONE SURFACE IN PROXIMITY WITH A MOULD SURFACE THAT HAS A PROFILE WHICH IS A MAGNIFICATION OF A REQUIRED OPTICAL PROFILE IN A DIRECTION NORMAL TO SAID ONE SURFACE, FILLING THE REGION BETWEEN SAID SURFACES WITH AN ADHESIVE RESIN MATERIAL THAT IS KNOWN TO SHRINK ON CURING BY A PREDETERMINED AMOUNT, CAUSING THE RESIN MATERIAL TO CURE WITH IT ADHERED TO BOTH SAID SURFACES SO THAT THE BLANK IS DEFORMED, OPTICALLY WORKING THE OTHER, OUTER, SURFACE OF THE BLANK, AND RELEASING THE WORKED BLANK FROM THE CURED RESIN MATERIAL TO THUS PRODUCE SAID REQUIRED OPTICAL PROFILE ON SAID SURFACE, THE MAGNIFICATION FACTOR OF THE MOULD SURFACE PROFILE BEING INERSELY RELATED TO THE PERCENTAGE SHRINKAGE OF SAID RESIN MATERIAL, BUT NOT BEING SUFFICIENTLY LARGE TO CAUSE DEFORMATION OF THE BLANK BEYOND ITS ELASTIC LIMIT.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
155 words
A METHOD OF MANUFACTURING AN OPTICAL ELEMENT FROM AN ELASTIC BLANK OF LIGHT-TRANSMISSIVE MATERIAL, COMPRISING THE STEPS OF SUPPORTING THE BLANK WITH ONE SURFACE IN PROXIMITY WITH A MOULD SURFACE THAT HAS A PROFILE WHICH IS A MAGNIFICATION OF A REQUIRED OPTICAL PROFILE IN A DIRECTION NORMAL TO SAID ONE SURFACE, FILLING THE REGION BETWEEN SAID SURFACES WITH AN ADHESIVE RESIN MATERIAL THAT IS KNOWN TO SHRINK ON CURING BY A PREDETERMINED AMOUNT, CAUSING THE RESIN MATERIAL TO CURE WITH IT ADHERED TO BOTH SAID SURFACES SO THAT THE BLANK IS DEFORMED, OPTICALLY WORKING THE OTHER, OUTER, SURFACE OF THE BLANK, AND RELEASING THE WORKED BLANK FROM THE CURED RESIN MATERIAL TO THUS PRODUCE SAID REQUIRED OPTICAL PROFILE ON SAID SURFACE, THE MAGNIFICATION FACTOR OF THE MOULD SURFACE PROFILE BEING INERSELY RELATED TO THE PERCENTAGE SHRINKAGE OF SAID RESIN MATERIAL, BUT NOT BEING SUFFICIENTLY LARGE TO CAUSE DEFORMATION OF THE BLANK BEYOND ITS ELASTIC LIMIT.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, for which the resin material is an epoxy resin.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the shrinkage of the epoxy resin is between 2 and 3 percent.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said light-transmissive material is glass and the magnification factor of the mould surface profile is between 10 and 50.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-04-07 | 1978-10-07 | 1979-04-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-04-07 | 1982-10-07 | 1983-04-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-04-07 | 1986-10-07 | 1987-04-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |