Curved optical device and method of fabrication

A method for fabricating an optically curved element using a mold having a curved surface, said method comprising:

• providing a flexible layer having an optical surface;
• providing a backing plate having a support surface and disposing said flexible layer between said supporting surface of said backing plate and said curved surface of said mold;
• applying an adhesive between said flexible layer and said supporting surface of said backing plate;
• and
• applying pressure to at least one of said backing plate and said mold to squeeze said adhesive and conform said flexible layer to said curved surface of said mold, thereby producing said optically curved element.

A method for fabricating an optically curved element which can defract radiation of a desired wavelength, said method comprising:

• providing a backing plate having a supporting surface;
• providing an adhesive layer disposed above said supporting surface of said backing plate, said adhesive layer having a minimum thickness x;
• and
• providing an optical layer disposed above said adhesive layer, said optical layer comprising an optical surface, and conforming said optical surface of said optical layer to a desired curvature, said optical layer having a thickness y, wherein x>y.