Patent US3922327A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3922327A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of manufacture of optical elements
Assignee: US Philips Corp
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Filing: 1973-11-01
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Granted: 1975-11-25
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Expires: 1993-11-01
Abstract
Abstract A glass blank is adhered to a resin material which is cured in a mould having a surface profile which is a magnified version of a desired optical shape. Shrinkage of the resin material as it cures in the mould deforms the glass blank which in this deformed condition is secured to a mounting block and then released from the mould. The released surface of the glass blank is then worked flat and will assume the desired optical shape when the glass blank is restored by release from the mounting block. FIG. 3 is best suited for early publication purposes.
Inventors
- 👤 Harry Howden
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 20:49
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29D; B29D11/00; B29D11/00932; B29D11/00009; B29D11/00019; B29C; B29C61/00; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S359/00; Y10S359/90
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
182 words
A METHOD OF MANUFACTURING AN OPTICAL ELEMENT FROM A BLANK OF LIGHT-TRANSMISSIVE MATERIAL, CHARACTERIZED IN SUPPORTING THE BLANK WITH ONE SURFACE FACING AND IN CONTACT OR IN PROXIMITY WITH A MOULD SURFACE THAT HAS A PROFILE WHICH, IN A DIRECTION NORMAL TO SAID ONE SURFACE IS A MAGNIFICATION OF A REQUIRED OPTICAL PROFILE FOR THE OPTICAL ELEMENT, FILLING THE REGION BETWEEN SAID SURFACES WITH AN ADHESIVE RESIN MATERIAL THAT SHRINKS 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, SECURING THE OTHER, OUTER, SURFACE OF THE EFORMED BLANK TO A SUPPORTING SURFACE, RELEASING SAID ONE SURFACE OF THE BLANK FROM THE CURED RESIN MATERIAL, WITH THE BLANK HELD DEFORMED BY SAID SUPPORTING SURFACE, OPTICALLY WORKING FLAT SAID ONE SURFACE OF THE BLANK, AND RELEASING THE WORKED BLANK FROM SAID SUPPORTING SURFACE, THE MAGNIFICATION FACTOR OF THE MOULD SURFACE PROFILE BEING AN INVERSE FUNCTION OF 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
182 words
A METHOD OF MANUFACTURING AN OPTICAL ELEMENT FROM A BLANK OF LIGHT-TRANSMISSIVE MATERIAL, CHARACTERIZED IN SUPPORTING THE BLANK WITH ONE SURFACE FACING AND IN CONTACT OR IN PROXIMITY WITH A MOULD SURFACE THAT HAS A PROFILE WHICH, IN A DIRECTION NORMAL TO SAID ONE SURFACE IS A MAGNIFICATION OF A REQUIRED OPTICAL PROFILE FOR THE OPTICAL ELEMENT, FILLING THE REGION BETWEEN SAID SURFACES WITH AN ADHESIVE RESIN MATERIAL THAT SHRINKS 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, SECURING THE OTHER, OUTER, SURFACE OF THE EFORMED BLANK TO A SUPPORTING SURFACE, RELEASING SAID ONE SURFACE OF THE BLANK FROM THE CURED RESIN MATERIAL, WITH THE BLANK HELD DEFORMED BY SAID SUPPORTING SURFACE, OPTICALLY WORKING FLAT SAID ONE SURFACE OF THE BLANK, AND RELEASING THE WORKED BLANK FROM SAID SUPPORTING SURFACE, THE MAGNIFICATION FACTOR OF THE MOULD SURFACE PROFILE BEING AN INVERSE FUNCTION OF 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
27 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 characterized in that the mould surface of the mould employed is machined on one face of a rigid metal block.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 characterized in that the mould employed has a mould surface profile having a magnification factor of between 10 and 50.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as claimed in claim 3 characterized in that a resin material is used that shrinks on curing by 2-3%.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that the resin material used is an epoxy resin.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that a blank of glass or glass-like substance is used.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that a blank of titanium silicate is used.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that a flat light-transmissive supporting plate is bonded to the flat surface of the worked blank.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 characterized in that said outer surface of the blank is secured to said supporting surface by the same resin material as that used for the mould.
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) | 1978-11-24 | 1979-05-26 | 1979-11-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-11-24 | 1983-05-26 | 1983-11-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-11-24 | 1987-05-26 | 1987-11-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |