# US 7,743,631 B2 · Method of forming an optical lens by drawing material with curved surface parts

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- Number: US 7,743,631 B2
- Document ID: US7743631B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 10/476,868
- Filed: 2002-05-08
- Published: 2004-07-22
- Granted: 2010-06-29
- Earliest claimed: 2001-05-09
- Assignees: Hamamatsu Photonics K.K.
- Inventors: Yutaka Kusuyama
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7743631B2

## CPC

- G02B 3/005: {arranged along a single direction only, e.g. lenticular sheets (G02B3/0043 takes precedence)}
- C03B 21/02: by cutting (C03B9/46 takes precedence)
- C03B 23/047: by drawing ({C03B23/091} , C03B37/025 takes precedence)
- C03B 33/06: Cutting or splitting glass tubes, rods, or hollow products (C03B33/09 takes precedence)
- G02B 3/0068: {arranged in a single integral body or plate, e.g. laminates or hybrid structures with other optical elements (G02B5/1885, G02B17/002, G02B30/27 take precedence)}
- G02B 27/09: Beam shaping, e.g. changing the cross-sectional area, not otherwise provided for {(adapting the beam shape of a laser diode G02B19/0052; adapting the beam shape of an LED G02B19/0061; coupling into light guides using intermediate optical elements G02B6/4204; beam shaping specially adapted for lasers H01S3/005)}
- G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- C03B: MANUFACTURE, SHAPING, OR SUPPLEMENTARY PROCESSES

## Abstract

An optical lens manufacturing method according to the present invention comprises: an optical lens base material preparation step of preparing an optical lens base material 40, which is formed of light transmitting material, has a columnar shape, and is provided with a first side face 44 and a second side face 46 that are mutually parallel, of which at least one of both first side face 44 and second side face 46 has a plurality of curved surface parts 43; a drawing step of drawing optical lens base material 40 in the columnar axis direction; and an optical lens preparation step of cutting optical lens base material 40, which has been drawn, at a desired length to thereby prepare optical lens 1. The plurality of curved surface parts 43 of optical lens base material 40, which has been drawn in the drawing step, function as optical action components that act on incident light or emitted light.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of manufacturing an optical lens, comprising:
providing an optical lens base material which is formed of light transmitting material and has a columnar shape, the optical lens base material having a first side face and a second side face disposed opposite the first side face, each of the first side face and the second side face having a plurality of curved surface parts formed parallel to the columnar axis direction and aligned so as to be in mutual contact, and each of the first side face and the second side face are formed as convex curved surfaces as a whole,
drawing the optical lens base material in the direction of the columnar axis;
recessing the first side face and the second side face inward; and
cutting the optical lens base material to form an optical lens, the plurality of curved surface parts of the optical lens base material being optical action components that act on incident light or emitted light.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of manufacturing an optical lens according to claim 1, wherein cutting the optical lens base material to form an optical lens comprises cutting the optical lens base material along an inclination angle with respect to the columnar axis direction so that the plurality of curved surface parts of the optical lens are inclined with respect to the columnar axis direction.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The method of manufacturing an optical lens according to claim 2, wherein the inclination angle is 45°.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of manufacturing an optical lens according to claim 1, wherein cuffing the optical lens base material to form an optical lens comprises a first cuffing step of preparing a cut preform by cutting the optical lens base material, and a second cutting step of preparing the optical lens by cutting the cut preform prepared in the first cutting step to a desired size.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The method of manufacturing an optical lens according to claim 4, wherein the second cutting step comprises cutting the cut preform along an inclination angle with respect to the columnar axis direction so that the plurality of curved surface parts of the optical lens are inclined with respect to the columnar axis direction.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The method of manufacturing an optical lens according to claim 5, wherein the inclination angle is 45°.