Abstract: Disclosed are a wafer-level lens array, a method of manufacturing a wafer-level lens array, a lens module, and an imaging unit capable of preventing the permeation of air into a substrate unit or a lens unit to be molded when a wafer-level lens array having the substrate unit and the lens units integrated with each other is molded. There is provided a method of integrally manufacturing a wafer-level lens array including a substrate unit and a plurality of lens units arranged on the substrate unit using a transfer mold having a plurality of concave portions corresponding to at least the plurality of lens units provided in a surface thereof. The method includes: supplying a resin to each concave portion, the amount of resin supplied being more than the volume of the concave portion; and performing molding to integrate the resin overflowing from the concave portions, thereby forming the substrate unit.

Abstract: A master model of a lens array and a method of manufacturing the same are provided, which can make it possible to manufacture the master model in a relatively short time with a simple construction of an apparatus. In a master model of a lens array on which a plurality of lens portions is arranged, a plurality of members corresponding to lenses having curved surfaces formed in the same shape as lens surfaces of the lens portions is arranged in the same lines as those of the plurality of lens portions in the lens array and is connected in a body.

Abstract: A lens is formed from a heat resistant resin and includes a diaphragm integrally provided on a surface of the lens. The diaphragm is a coating layer formed as a result of a heat resistant, light blocking resin being applied over the surface.

Abstract: Disclosed are a wafer-level lens array, a method of manufacturing a wafer-level lens array, a lens module, and an imaging unit capable of preventing the permeation of air into a substrate unit or a lens unit to be molded when a wafer-level lens array having the substrate unit and the lens units integrated with each other is molded. There is provided a method of integrally manufacturing a wafer-level lens array including a substrate unit and a plurality of lens units arranged on the substrate unit using a transfer mold having a plurality of concave portions corresponding to at least the plurality of lens units provided in a surface thereof. The method includes: supplying a resin to each concave portion, the amount of resin supplied being more than the volume of the concave portion; and performing molding to integrate the resin overflowing from the concave portions, thereby forming the substrate unit.

Abstract: A master model of a lens array and a method of manufacturing the same are provided, which can make it possible to manufacture the master model in a relatively short time with a simple construction of an apparatus. In a master model of a lens array on which a plurality of lens portions is arranged, a plurality of members corresponding to lenses having curved surfaces formed in the same shape as lens surfaces of the lens portions is arranged in the same lines as those of the plurality of lens portions in the lens array and is connected in a body.

Abstract: A stringing preventing member is provided and includes: a member having an opening portion through which resin injected from an injection nozzle of an injection molding apparatus is fed to a mold including a fixed mold and a movable mold; and a projection portion protruding inwardly with respect to an opening of the injection nozzle, so as to define at least a part of a contour of the opening portion. A ratio of an effective opening area of the opening portion to a surface area of an inner wall surface of the opening portion contacting with the resin at an inside of the opening potion is 0.6 or less, and a ratio of the effective opening area of the opening portion to an area of the opening of the injection nozzle is 0.6 or more.

Abstract: An optical unit includes one or more optical elements 15 and 25. At least one of the one or more optical elements has an optical functional surface that refracts incident light and rough surfaces 19 and 29 formed on an outer side with respect to the optical functional surface. The rough surfaces scatter the incident light which has been internally reflected. With this configuration, the rough surface formed on the surface located on the outer side with respect to the optical functional surface scatters the light which is incident on the optical element and which may generate ghost due to its internally reflection by the surface located on the outer side with respect to the optical functional surface. Therefore, generation of the ghost is suppressed. Also, since the optical unit includes the optical element having the rough surface, the generation of the ghost is suppressed.

Abstract: A stringing preventing member is provided and includes: a member having an opening portion through which resin injected from an injection nozzle of an injection molding apparatus is fed to a mold including a fixed mold and a movable mold; and a projection portion protruding inwardly with respect to an opening of the injection nozzle, so as to define at least a part of a contour of the opening portion. A ratio of an effective opening area of the opening portion to a surface area of an inner wall surface of the opening portion contacting with the resin at an inside of the opening potion is 0.6 or less, and a ratio of the effective opening area of the opening portion to an area of the opening of the injection nozzle is 0.6 or more.

Abstract: An optical unit includes one or more optical elements 15 and 25. At least one of the one or more optical elements has an optical functional surface that refracts incident light and rough surfaces 19 and 29 formed on an outer side with respect to the optical functional surface. The rough surfaces scatter the incident light which has been internally reflected. With this configuration, the rough surface formed on the surface located on the outer side with respect to the optical functional surface scatters the light which is incident on the optical element and which may generate ghost due to its internally reflection by the surface located on the outer side with respect to the optical functional surface. Therefore, generation of the ghost is suppressed. Also, since the optical unit includes the optical element having the rough surface, the generation of the ghost is suppressed.

Abstract: To overcoming any inconvenience in an optical unit, caused by a protrusion (burr) formed on a plastic lens when the plastic lens is molded, an optical unit is provided and has an injection molded plastic lens and a lens barrel. The injection molded plastic lens is fitted in a lens housing groove of the lens barrel so that a protrusion on one side of a flange of the injection molded plastic lens is located outside the lens housing groove.

Abstract: To avoid any lens breakage when a small and wide-angle optical imaging unit is assembled, an optical imaging unit is provided and has a glass lens, a plastic lens, a washer and a lens barrel having a first lens housing groove and a second lens housing groove of larger diameter than the first lens housing groove. The glass lens is mounted in a front side of the lens barrel, a washer is fitted in the second lens housing groove so that the washer contacting with an outer edge of the glass lens, and the plastic lens is mounted in the second lens housing groove behind the washer. The washer or the plastic lens has a recess in a contact side with each other except an outer edge thereof, so that the washer and the plastic lens contact each other along their outer edges.

Abstract: To avoid any lens breakage when a small and wide-angle optical imaging unit is assembled, an optical imaging unit is provided and has a glass lens, a plastic lens, a washer and a lens barrel having a first lens housing groove and a second lens housing groove of larger diameter than the first lens housing groove. The glass lens is mounted in a front side of the lens barrel, a washer is fitted in the second lens housing groove so that the washer contacting with an outer edge of the glass lens, and the plastic lens is mounted in the second lens housing groove behind the washer. The washer or the plastic lens has a recess in a contact side with each other except an outer edge thereof, so that the washer and the plastic lens contact each other along their outer edges.

Abstract: To overcoming any inconvenience in an optical unit, caused by a protrusion (burr) formed on a plastic lens when the plastic lens is molded, an optical unit is provided and has an injection molded plastic lens and a lens barrel. The injection molded plastic lens is fitted in a lens housing groove of the lens barrel so that a protrusion on one side of a flange of the injection molded plastic lens is located outside the lens housing groove.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide an optical lens designed to reduce the size and weight of the lens without reducing the lens accuracy of the optical function plane and the optical lens is formed by molding a lens molded component having a flange section around the perimeter of the optical function section and removing at least three sides of the flange section of the lens molded component to reduce the area of the flange, and an engagement section on the outer surface of the flange unremoved section is inscribed in the inner surface of the barrel and thereby engaged with the barrel.