US4776868A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Lenses and lens arrays
Assignee: Corning Glass Works
•
Filing: 1986-12-17
•
Granted: 1988-10-11
•
Expires: 2006-12-17
Abstract
Abstract This invention relates to a method for preparing a lens or a lens array and apparatus for carrying out the method. The method comprises directing, in line of sight in a vacuum, the vapor of a substance, which is solid and transparent at ambient temperature, from a source of that vapor through a hole in a mask to form a deposit on a substrate. The mask is so positioned between the vapor source and the substrate that obscuration by the solid portions of the mask around the hole causes the deposit to assume a curved surface and function as a lens.
Inventors
- 👤 Donald M. Trotter, Jr.
- 👤 Arthur J. Whitman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 05:21
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B3/00; G02B3/0006; G02B3/0037; G02B3/0056; B; B29; B29C; B29C41/00; B29C41/02; B29D; B29D11/00; B29D11/00009; B29D11/00278; C; C23; C23C; C23C14/00; C23C14/0005; C23C14/04; C23C14/042; C23C14/044; G02B3/0012; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S359/00; Y10S359/90
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
157 words
In a method for forming at least one deposit upon a substrate which comprises directing, in a vacuum, a vapor phase of a substance, which substance is solid and transparent at ambient temperature, from at least one means providing a source of said substance in vapor phase through at least one hole in a mask to strike and essentially instantaneously solidify upon a substrate, the improvement comprising, spacing said mask between said substrate and said means providing a source and providing the mask with sufficient thickness such that a converging cone of said substance in vapor form is passed into said hole and a diverging cone of said substance is directed from said hole to said substrate to thereby deposit a lens and solid portions of said mask surrounding said hole intercept the directed substance and cause said deposit to assume a smooth convex surface facing said source to thereby form a lens with a convex face.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
157 words
In a method for forming at least one deposit upon a substrate which comprises directing, in a vacuum, a vapor phase of a substance, which substance is solid and transparent at ambient temperature, from at least one means providing a source of said substance in vapor phase through at least one hole in a mask to strike and essentially instantaneously solidify upon a substrate, the improvement comprising, spacing said mask between said substrate and said means providing a source and providing the mask with sufficient thickness such that a converging cone of said substance in vapor form is passed into said hole and a diverging cone of said substance is directed from said hole to said substrate to thereby deposit a lens and solid portions of said mask surrounding said hole intercept the directed substance and cause said deposit to assume a smooth convex surface facing said source to thereby form a lens with a convex face.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein said mask has a plurality of holes therein through which said vapor phase is directed to form a plurality of deposits of said substance on said substrate having convex surfaces facing said source to form a plurality of lenses.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 2 wherein the plurality of holes in said mask are in an array and the plurality of deposits comprise a lens array.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
70 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein a plurality of masks having at least one hole which is in alignment with a hole in each of the plurality of masks are spaced between said substrate and said source, such that the solid portions of the surfaces of said masks facing said source intercept said source causing said deposit to assume a convex surface facing said source to form a lens.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
65 words
A method according to claim 4 wherein the total distance between the surface of the mask facing the vapor source of the mask closest to the vapor source and the surface of the mask facing away from the vapor source of the mask farthest from the vapor source must be substantially smaller than the distance between the substrate and the mask closest to the substrate.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the size of said hole ranges between 0.05-0.3 mm in diameter.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein said mask is spaced apart from said substrate at a distance about 10-20 times the diameter of the hole in said mask.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein said mask and said substrate are spaced about 50-500 mm from said source.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3371138A
Cited
US3351449A
Cited
US3369274A
Cited
US3846165A
Cited
US4100313A
Cited
US4273812A
Cited
US4183617A
Cited
US4278710A
Cited
JPS59190833A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1991-10-11 | 1992-04-11 | 1992-10-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-10-11 | 1996-04-11 | 1996-10-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-10-11 | 2000-04-11 | 2000-10-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |