Back to results
US 9,069,107 B2Granted
Rod lens and methods for producing same
AssigneeSchott AG
InventorsRobert Hettler, Frank Gindele, Edgar Pawlowski
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A rod lens and methods for producing such a rod lens are disclosed. The rod lens and methods include a sealing glass and holder glass or a metallic holder that are heated so that only the sealing glass melts and forms a spherical cap to define a lens element joined to a light guiding element. A plurality of rod lenses may form an array arrangement.
Claims21
A method for producing a rod lens having a light guiding element and a lens element, comprising the steps of:
- providing a glass body made of a sealing glass having a sealing glass melting temperature (Tg1) and a sealing glass thermal expansion coefficient (CTE1);
- providing a holder made of a material selected from the group consisting of holder glass, ceramic, glass ceramic, and metal, the material having a holder melting temperature (Tg2, Tmeit3) that is higher than the sealing glass melting temperature (Tg1, and having a holder thermal expansion coefficient (CTE2) either close to the sealing glass thermal expansion coefficient (CTE1), or in case of a metallic holder a thermal expansion coefficient (CTE3) different from the sealing glass thermal expansion coefficient (CTE1);
- combining the glass body of the sealing glass with the holder to ensure some mechanical support of the glass body by the holder, with at least a portion of the glass body projecting beyond the holder;
- melting the glass body at a temperature such that the portion of the glass body projecting beyond the holder is deformed into a cap having a spherical surface, while the holder remains dimensionally stable to produce the rod lens;
- and
- allowing the rod lens to cool down.
3 more elements
A rod lens comprising:
- a holder made of a material selected from the group consisting of holder glass, ceramic, glass ceramic, and metal;
- and
- a melted lens element made of sealing glass having a sealing glass melting temperature (Tg1) and a sealing glass thermal expansion coefficient (CTE1), and having a spherical or nearly spherical surface extending from the holder, wherein the holder has a holder melting temperature that is higher than the sealing glass melting temperature, but the holder having a holder thermal expansion coefficient similar to the sealing glass thermal expansion coefficient (CTE1), or in case of a metallic holder, a thermal expansion coefficient (CTE3) different from then the sealing glass thermal expansion coefficient (CTE1).
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.