Patent US4316002A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US4986939A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4986939A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method for the production of cylindrically symmetric bodies with a radial gradient
Assignee: Schott AG
•
Filing: 1987-05-20
•
Granted: 1991-01-22
•
Expires: 2007-05-20
Abstract
Abstract In a method for the production of cylindrically symmetric bodies with given radial gradient of the material properties, for example of the refractive index, at least two rod-shaped molded bodies consisting of materials with different properties are joined in parallel and, following lowering of the viscosity of both materials, the bodies are twisted many times in a spiral around a longitudinal axis, such that a desired radial gradient of the material properties arises, where metallic, semiconducting, or insulating materials may be used, and the viscosity is varied through changing the temperature or adding or removing a solvent.
Inventors
- 👤 Hans-Jurgen Hoffmann
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 03:39
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B3/00; G02B3/0087; B; B29; B29C; B29C53/00; B29C53/14; C; C03; C03B; C03B17/00; C03B17/02; C03B17/025; C03B23/00; C03B23/20; C03B23/207; C03B32/00; C03B37/00; C03B37/01; C03B37/012; C03B37/01205; C30; C30B; C30B33/00; H; H01; H01S; H01S3/00; H01S3/05; H01S3/06; H01S3/0602; B29K; B29K2995/00; B29K2995/0018; C03B2203/00; C03B2203/10; C03B2203/12; C03B2203/14; C03B2203/18; C03B2203/20; C03B2203/22; C03B2203/32; H01S3/0612
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
144 words
A method of producing a cylindrically symmetrical body having a radial gradient of material properties, comprising: providing a least two rod-shaped molded bodies, said bodies being of materials which have different physical properties, uniting said bodies in parallel, lowering the viscosity of said bodies so that said bodies are temporarily converted to plastically deformable states of approximately equal viscosity while said bodies are maintained in parallel, wherein said step of lowering the viscosity of said bodies comprises thermally treating said bodies at an elevated temperature, thereafter twisting said bodies about a longitudinal axis so that a desired radial gradient of the material properties is achieved, maintaining for a limited time said twisted bodies at a temperature slightly lower than the temperature chosen for said step of thermally treating said bodies, whereby the homogeneity of said twisted bodies is improved, and resolidifying said twisted bodies.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
144 words
A method of producing a cylindrically symmetrical body having a radial gradient of material properties, comprising: providing a least two rod-shaped molded bodies, said bodies being of materials which have different physical properties, uniting said bodies in parallel, lowering the viscosity of said bodies so that said bodies are temporarily converted to plastically deformable states of approximately equal viscosity while said bodies are maintained in parallel, wherein said step of lowering the viscosity of said bodies comprises thermally treating said bodies at an elevated temperature, thereafter twisting said bodies about a longitudinal axis so that a desired radial gradient of the material properties is achieved, maintaining for a limited time said twisted bodies at a temperature slightly lower than the temperature chosen for said step of thermally treating said bodies, whereby the homogeneity of said twisted bodies is improved, and resolidifying said twisted bodies.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said maintaining step is performed after said bodies have been twisted.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said step of lowering the viscosity of said bodies comprises adding a solvent.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said step of providing at least two molded bodies comprises selecting for at least one of said bodies a material which is at least partially leachable, and leaching said material of said at least one body after twisting said bodies.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 4, wherein the material selected for at least one of the bodies is entirely leachable.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said step of providing at least two molded bodies comprises selecting for at least one of said bodies a material in which fluorescent ions or particles are contained.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said step of providing at least two molded bodies comprises using for at least one of said bodies a material which is colored.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said step of providing at least two molded bodies comprises using for at least one of said bodies a material which exhibits photochromic properties.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method of making gradient index lenses using the resolidified twisted bodies produced according to claim 1, comprising: dividing said bodies into discs, and polishing said discs.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 9, wherein said step of dividing comprises cutting said bodies at an angle relative to said longitudinal axis.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 10, wherein said angle is 90° and said discs have parallel faces.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 10, wherein said angle is such that said discs have non-parallel faces.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method of producing lenses using the resolidified bodies produced according to claim 1, comprising: dividing said bodies into elements such that each element has at least one spherical surface.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method of producing lenses using the resolidified bodies produced according to claim 1, comprising: dividing said bodies into elements such that each element has at least one non-spherical surface.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said materials are inorganic glasses with different indices of refraction.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said materials are plastics with different indices of refraction.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said materials are organic glasses with different indices of refraction.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1989371A
Cited
US2608722A
Cited
US3779729A
Cited
US3454332A
Cited
US3699647A
Cited
US3977855A
Cited
US4123483A
Cited
US4291940A
Cited
US4243398A
Cited
US4261721A
Cited
US4224373A
Cited
US4360372A
Cited
US4453962A
Cited
US4426215A
Cited
US4460696A
Cited
US4427717A
Cited
US4490163A
Cited
US4666234A
Cited
US4643752A
Cited
US4704151A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-01-21 | 1994-07-23 | 1995-01-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-01-21 | 1998-07-23 | 1999-01-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-01-21 | 2002-07-23 | 2003-01-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |