System and process for producing molded optical elements
AssigneeMinolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
InventorsHiroshi Ueda, Mitsuru Saito, Hideo Kajita
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system in process for producing an improved plastic molded optical element such as a mirror or lens is provided. The molded optical body has at least a surface portion designed for effective interfacing with incident light by reflection or refraction. Discontinuities form reference points at fixed positions on the molded optical surface. The reference points can include a projection or recess formed at the center of the lens system on the optical axis having a sufficient magnitude in size for measurement to determine a spatial position of the optical element but limited in size to prevent any perceptible aberration to be introduced within the desired application of the optical element.
Claims17
A process for mass manufacturing of optical elements and inspecting the accuracy of their optical surfaces, comprising the steps of:
- molding a curved optical body to have a curved optical surface with an integral indexing means on a predetermined position, located at a fixed relative position to a predetermined optical axis of the optical surface, the indexing means forming at least one discontinuity of a predetermined surface configuration of sufficient magnitude for measurement but limited in size to prevent any perceptible aberration to be introduced within the desired application of the optical element;
- positioning the molded optical body in an operative position relative to a measuring instrument that directly contacts the optical surface;
- measuring the optical body to provide a measurement of the optical surface including a measurement of the indexing means to insure a proper alignment, and
- comparing the measurement with a standard reference model measurement to evaluate acceptable surface accuracy.
A process for mass manufacturing of optical elements and inspecting the accuracy of their optical surfaces, comprising the steps of:
- molding a curve optical body to have a curved optical surface with an integral indexing means on a predetermined position, located at a fixed relative position to a predetermined optical axis of the optical surface, the indexing means forming at least a pair of discontinuities of predetermined surface configurations of sufficient magnitude for measurement but limited in size to prevent any perceptible aberration to be introduced within the desired application of the optical element, the discontinuities providing a fixed relationship with respect to the optical axis;
- positioning the molded optical body in an operative position relative to a measuring instrument that directly contacts the optical surface;
- measring the optical body across the optical axis to provide a measurement of the optical surface including a measurement of the indexing means to insure a proper alignment and a constant contact with the curved optical surface along a predetermined scan line which includes the discontinuities, and
- comparing the measurement with a standard reference model measurement to evaluate acceptable surface accuracy.
A production system for the inspection of the accuracy of optical surfaces, comprising:
- a die cavity for molding a curved optical body to have a curved optical surface with an integral indexing means on a predetermined position, located at a fixed relative position to a predetermined optical axis of the optical surface, the indexing means forming at least one discontinuity of a predetermined surface configuration of sufficient magnitude for measurement but limited in size to prevent any perceptible aberration to be introduced within the desired application of the optical element;
- means for positioning a molded optical body in an operative position relative to a measuring instrument that directly contacts the optical surface;
- means for measuring the optical body to provide a measurement of the optical surface including a measurement of the indexing means to insure a proper alignment, and
- means for comparing the measurement with a standard reference model measurement to evaluate acceptable surface accuracy.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.