Compound surface to aid in the fabrication of a lens with a plano surface

Abstract

A molded glass lens is taught that includes a molded three-dimensional reference surface at a first end of the lens body, a first molded optical surface interrupting the three-dimensional reference surface, and a molded second optical surface at a second end of the lens body. The first and second optical surfaces may be plano, convex or concave. The molded three-dimensional reference surface is curvilinear and may be a spherical, aspherical or conical segment. The molded lens may include a second molded three-dimensional reference surface at the second end of the lens body. The molded three-dimensional reference surface is of a specified shape and location with respect to the first and second optical surfaces. By physically locating the lens with the molded three-dimensional reference surface and one of the first or second optical surfaces, the lens can be held in a given orientation. Thus, the molded reference surface(s) at the end(s) of the cylindrical body allow for accurate and safe capture, positioning, handling, and placement for subsequent finishing-operations, allowing for the creation of one or more additional lens datums.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.