Process for producing optical element
AssigneeCanon Kabushiki Kaisha
InventorsNoriyuki Nose, Toshiyuki Nakajima, Eigo Kawakami, Takeshi Baba, Nobuo Kushibiki, Masakazu Matsugu, Yukichi Niwa
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A process for producing an optical element wherein an optical molding is formed by using a mold and thereafter released from the mold by supplying a gas to the boundary between the mold surface and the optical molding. In the process, no localized external force is applied to the optical molding during the release thereof, and therefore undesirable deformation or flaws of the optical molding are not caused.
Claims15
A process for producing an optical element utilizing a rigid holder, which comprises the steps of:
- pouring an uncured optical raw material into said holder having a rigid mold surface to form said optical element in contact with the mold surface, and a porous material insert as part of the rigid mold surface, said porous material insert having a shape-defining rigidity;
- curing said optical raw material to thereby form said optical element in substantial contact with said mold surface;
- and
- supplying a gas through said porous material to a boundary between the optical element and the mold surface to thereby release the optical element from the mold.
A process for producing an optical element utilizing a rigid holder which comprises the steps of:
- providing a holder having a rigid mold surface, a portion of said mold surface further including a porous material insert having shape-defining rigidity;
- disposing a film on at least a portion of said mold surface by applying negative air pressure through said porous material;
- pouring an uncured optical raw material into said holder having a rigid mold surface to form said optical element in contact with the mold surface and the film;
- curing said optical raw material to thereby form said optical element in substantial contact with said mold surface and said film;
- and
- removing the negative air pressure through said porous material thereby release the optical element from the mold.
A process for producing an optical device comprising plural elastomeric layers of different elasticity moduli disposed along an optical axis, and an aperture member having an aperture and contacting at least one of the plural elastomeric layers, the process comprising the steps of:
- forming a first elastomeric layer having an elasticity modulus E1;
- forming a second elastomeric layer having an elasticity modulus E2 on the first elastomeric layer wherein said elasticity modulus E2 is less than said elasticity modulus E1;
- and
- disposing the aperture member so that it contacts at least one of the plural elastomeric layers.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.