Process for producing micro Fresnel lens

A process for producing a micro Fresnel lens comprising the following steps:

• applying a photoresist layer to a smooth surfaced substrate;
• exposing the photoresist layer to concentric rings of actinic radiation;
• developing the exposed photoresist layer to form a photoresist pattern duplicating concentric rings for the desired micro fresnel lens;
• forming an electrode element on said resist pattern by depositing a conductive metal;
• depositing a nickel layer on said conductive metal electrode element through electroforming wherein the pattern of the concentric rings is transferred onto said nickel layer with said conductive metal being used as an electrode;
• peeling said nickel layer from both the electrode and the substrate to form a nickel stamper;
• applying a liquid polymer on the grooved surface of said nickel stamper to form a photopolymer layer;
• pressing a highly flat plate, substantially transparent to UV radiation, against the photopolymer layer;
• curing said photopolymer layer by illumination with UV radiation that is propagated through said flat plate;
• and
• peeling said cured polymer layer from said nickel stamper.