Abstract: A method for manufacturing an optical disc master using an existing exposure system, and a method for manufacturing an optical disc having higher recording capacity. The method for manufacturing an optical disc, using a master to produce the optical disc having an irregular pattern thereon, the master being produced by the steps of forming a resist layer composed of a resist material including an incomplete oxide of a transition metal such as W or Mo on a substrate, the oxygen content of the incomplete oxide being smaller than the oxygen content of the stoichiometric composition corresponding to a valence of the transition metal; selectively exposing the resist layer with laser according to a recording signal pattern using a light source with an irradiation power that is less than an irradiation threshold power at which exposure of the resist starts; and developing the resist layer to form the predetermined irregular pattern.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming an optical element. The apparatus includes a pair of forming molds each of which has a facing surface facing each other. At least one of the pair of the forming molds is made so as to allow a hardening energy to pass through itself. A frame-like mold member is provided so as to be interposed between the facing surfaces of the pair of the forming molds to cover an outer peripheral portion which each of the forming molds has on its facing surface, thereby defining a cavity. In the thus arranged apparatus, an energy hardening resin is filled into the cavity and then hardened by being subjected to the hardening energy passing through the at least one of the pair of the forming molds.

Abstract: A measured amount of a material that is crosslinkable by impingement of a suitable form of energy, especially UV light, is introduced into a two-part mould of which the cavity determines the shape of a moulding to be produced. The two mould halves are held a small distance from one another so that a thin annular gap is formed between them, which gap is in communication with the mould cavity and through which gap excess material can escape. The crosslinking is triggered by impingement of the selected form of energy, the impingement being spatially restricted to the cavity by suitable masking so that material disposed outside the mould cavity is not crosslinked. In that manner mouldings are obtained that do not require subsequent mechanical processing, and the mould is reusable. The process is especially, but not, however, exclusively, suitable for the manufacture of contact lenses.

Abstract: A surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy device includes a substrate, and an ultraviolet cured resist disposed on the substrate. The ultraviolet cured resist has a pattern of cone-shaped protrusions, where each cone-shaped protrusion has a tip with a radius of curvature equal to or less than 10 nm. The ultraviolet cured resist is formed of a predetermined ratio of a photoinitiator, a cross-linking agent, and a siloxane based backbone chain. A Raman signal-enhancing material is disposed on each of the cone-shaped protrusions.

Abstract: A lens is manufactured by hardening soft material filled inside a molding tool by cooling. The lens includes a convex lens portion having an optical axis, and a marking portion located outside of an effective diameter of the lens portion. The shape or the position of the marking portion is set to prevent deformation of the marking portion by contact with the molding tool due to shrinkage of the material during cooling.

Abstract: An optical element comprising: a first monomer polymerized while in the presence of a second monomer to form a first polymer intermixed with the second monomer, the first polymer having a spatially varying degree of cure that provides a predetermined refractive index profile; and the second monomer polymerized in the presence of the first polymer to form a second polymer intermixed with the first polymer, the second polymer stabilizing the refractive index profile.

Abstract: A method of forming a varying pattern of optical elements on or in at least one side of an optical panel member involves cutting or forming a pattern or patterns of cavities in a cylindrical or curved substrate or in a sleeve or sleeve segment of the substrate that corresponds to a desired pattern and shape of optical elements to be formed on or in the optical member. The substrate or sleeve or sleeve segment containing the desired pattern or patterns of optical element shaped cavities or depositions or mirror copies or inverse copies thereof is used in production tooling or as a master for production tooling to form the corresponding pattern of optical elements on or in at least the one side of the optical panel member.

Abstract: A vacuum transfer apparatus including an auxiliary vacuum chamber and a main vacuum chamber is used for transferring an uneven pattern to a disk substrate with a stamper. The auxiliary vacuum chamber is vacuumized or opened to air because the disk substrate is conveyed to and from the vacuum transfer apparatus through the auxiliary vacuum chamber. The disk substrate conveyed to the auxiliary vacuum chamber and then to the main vacuum chamber after the auxiliary vacuum chamber is vacuumized. In the main vacuum chamber, transferring of the uneven pattern with the stamper, curing of UV-curable resin, and removal of the stamper are performed to provide a disk substrate with the uneven pattern. Then, the disk substrate is conveyed from the vacuum transfer apparatus through the auxiliary vacuum chamber. An operation at the auxiliary-vacuum-chamber side and an operation at the main-vacuum-chamber side are performed in parallel.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a lens having a functional nanopattern. A photonic crystal pattern is formed on a mold member, and the mold member is pressed against the curved portion of the lens such that the photonic crystal pattern is formed on the surface of the polymer attached to the surface of the curved portion of the lens, thus forming a photonic crystal pattern on the curved surface of the lens, minimizing reflection losses and improving light transmittance.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a micro-composite pattern lens and to a method for manufacturing same. The micro-composite pattern lens of the present invention has a micro-composite pattern with one or more protrusions formed on one side of the lens having a predetermined curvature, and optical polymer nanoparticles arranged in the lens. The micro-composite pattern of the lens may form a wider angle of light emission, thus enabling an LED source, which is a point light source, to be converted into a surface light source having superior luminous intensity uniformity. The lens of the present invention is advantageous in that a single lens may serve as a light guide plate, a prism plate, and a diffusion plate, this eliminating the necessity of stacking optical plates, which might otherwise be required for conventional backlight units.

Abstract: A taper angle of a self-written optical waveguide to be formed is increased or decreased at a desired position. A range of light (aperture number) condensed by a focusing lens 31 is adjusted by an iris diaphragm 22? in which the hole diameter can be changed from 1 mm to 12 mm. An image of the self-written optical waveguide 51 being fabricated is taken with a CCD camera 70, and image processing of the image is executed in real time by an image processing device 71. The taper angle of the self-written optical waveguide 51 is measured, and the taper angle of the self-written optical waveguide 51 can be desirably increased or decreased by changing the diameter of iris diaphragm 22?.

Abstract: A 3-D stereoscopic viewing lens which the retarder film is made of a PVA film. A 3-D stereoscopic viewing lens having a linear polarized film, one or more lens substrate layers, and an epoxy layer. A process of making retarder film including mounting a PVA film to an assembly line; wetting, cleaning, and washing the PVA film through said assembly line; softening, expanding and stretching the PVA film's x-axis through said assembly line; adding gap filling agent to the PVA film; stretching the PVA film's y-axis through a width frame holder and as a result transforming the PVA film into a retarder film.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing silicone moulded BODIES wherein 1) a light-curable silicone mixture is moulded, 2) the moulded silicone mixture is then irradiated with light of 200 to 500 nm in order to cure the same such as to maintain the shape thereof at a temperature T and 3) then to thermally cure the moulded and irradiated silicone mixture at the temperature T to give moulded bodies.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an optical component is provided. The method comprises steps of providing a first liquid; providing a fluid, disposed above the first liquid, wherein an interface exists between the first liquid and the fluid; providing a polymer precursor at the interface; and solidifying the polymer precursor so as to form the optical component made by a polymer.

Abstract: An optical thin film with high hardness is made by insert mold technology and manufacturing processes thereof. The optical thin film is applied on a surface of a plastic housing for increasing hardness of the plastic housing so as to prevent scratches. During manufacturing processes of the insert mold for producing a hard coating film, the step of hardening treatment is moved to the last step so as to avoid cracks on the optical thin film generated during the procedures. Thus, the yield rate is increased, and the manufacturing cost is reduced.

Abstract: This invention is directed to improved lens molds for the production of ophthalmic lenses, in particular colored contact lenses. The invention involves protective coatings for extended use and repair of reusable glass or quartz molds as well as for improved mold release and print-on-mold properties. The invention is also directed to a method of making the improved lens molds and their use in the manufacture of ophthalmic lenses, in particular colored contact lenses.

Abstract: This invention discloses methods and apparatus for providing a biomedical device, such as an ophthalmic lens with an energy receptor capable of powering a processing device. The energy receptor can include a conductive material deposited onto a media and placed within a mold used to form the biomedical device. In some embodiments, the conductive material is ink jetted onto the media.

Abstract: A method for forming fine concavo-convex patterns by using a relief formation material 3 having a relief formation layer 2 composed of a resin having thermoplasticity and a relief pattern sheet 6 having on a surface thereof fine concavo-convex patterns 5, wherein a photothermal conversion layer 7 is formed in the relief formation material 3 or the relief pattern sheet 6; the photothermal conversion layer 7 is irradiated with light 8 to make the photothermal conversion layer 7 generate heat in the state that the relief formation layer 2 is brought into contact with the fine concavo-convex patterns 5; and the fine concavo-convex patterns 5 are formed on the relief formation layer 2.

Abstract: A method of making a silicone hydrogel contact lens from a monomer mixture that includes: N-vinyl-N-methyl acetamide, N-vinyl pyrrolidone or a mixture thereof; a monofunctional polysiloxanylalkyl monomer, and a polysiloxane-containing monomer having a perfluorinated side chain on a terminal carbon. The monomer mixture is charged to a mold and then subjected to spin casting or static casting. The casted mold is exposed to visible light or UV radiation. The resulting silicone hydrogel contact lens has an oxygen permeability of at least about 120 Barrers, a water content of at least about 20 weight percent, and a modulus from 40 g/mm2 to 97 g/mm2.

Abstract: An anti-glare optical module includes a substrate unit and a thin film unit. The thin film unit is disposed on the top surface of the substrate unit. The thin film unit has a base surface that has a height relative to the top surface of the substrate unit, the thin film unit has a plurality of convex structures, each convex structure has a curvature radius, the curvature radiuses of every two adjacent convex structures are different, a plurality of lower points each formed between every two convex structures and on the base surface, and each convex structure has an upper point. Therefore, the thin film unit has a good scattering effect for reflective light, can maintain the excellent transmittance and can reduce the flicker points by the convex structures, so that using the convex structures can prevent the eyes of the user from being effected by flicker points.

Abstract: Injection molding of monolithically integrated optical components is disclosed. In one embodiment, an injection molding system includes a moldplate having an array of specially designed cavities. In at least one cavity, different types of photo-curable optical materials are injected in an ordered sequence. In a first instance, a lens material is injected into the cavity and subsequently cured to form a predetermined lens element at the base of the cavity. In a second instance, a filter material is injected into the cavity above the already formed lens element. The filter material is also cured, and an optical filter is formed stacked onto the lens element and contained within sidewall of the cavity. In this manner, a complex optical component having an optical filter automatically aligned with, and monolithically integrated into, a lens element is readily formed in a single injection molding process.

Abstract: Methods and systems for fabrication of injection molded optical components are disclosed. In one embodiment, a moldplate having one or more cavities is configured to receive injected optical material within walls of the cavities. The cavities are designed with a predetermined geometric profile approximately corresponding to a predetermined optical profile of an optical element to be formed therein. When molten optical material is injected into the cavities of the moldplate, the injected optical material forms a meniscus due to surface tension between the optical material and the wall of the cavities. The meniscus thus provides a shape corresponding to the predetermined optical profile. The optical material is then rapidly cured with actinic radiation, and a desired optical element with high-precision dimensions is formed within the cavities of the moldplate.

Abstract: In order that an image pickup lens, an image pickup module, a method for manufacturing an image pickup lens, and a method for manufacturing an image pickup module may be realized each of which makes it possible to realize a higher resolution of a periphery of a formed image, an image pickup lens of the present invention satisfies the following formulas (1)and (2): 0.080<d1/d2<0.22??(1); and d1?/d1<1.00??(2) where: d1 is a center thickness of the single lens; d1 is a thickness of a lateral side of the single lens; and d2 is a length in air between the image surface and a center of that surface of the single lens which faces the image surface.

Abstract: A method manufactures a digital image sensor including at least one optical lens using a hardenable liquid or gelatinous material. The method includes depositing a calibrated volume of the material on a lens formation base using a tubular needle of a small diameter, so that the volume of material deposited has at least one convex part under the effect of interface energies, and hardening all or part of the volume of deposited material.

Abstract: The invention is concerned with the problem that with known plastic casting moulds, especially those of polypropylene, the lenses produced with these moulds have a slippery surface. The invention solves this problem through the use of polymers which are notable for their very low oxygen permeability.

Abstract: Systems and methods for producing silicone hydrogel contact lenses are described. Certain of the present systems include a contact lens mold forming station, a station for filling a contact lens mold section with a lens precursor composition and for placing a second mold section on the filled mold section to form a contact lens mold assembly, a curing station for forming a contact lens, a mold assembly separation station, and an extraction/hydration station. Certain of the present methods include forming a plurality of mold sections, placing a lens precursor composition on a surface of a first mold section, placing a second mold section on the first mold section, polymerizing the lens precursor composition, separating the first and second mold sections, removing the silicone hydrogel contact lens from one of the mold sections, extracting extractable components from the contact lens, and hydrating the contact lens.

Abstract: The present invention includes preparing a carrier web with uniformly spaced images and corresponding registration marks at regular intervals, applying an energy curable resin coating to the carrier web either uniformly or in selected spots, providing a master web carrying uniformly spaced impressing images and corresponding registration marks at regular intervals where accurate alignment of the registration marks of the carrier web and the master web is achieved by stretching the master web to align the registration marks.

Abstract: According to a method for producing a diffraction optical element of the present invention, the center of a molding face 2 and the center of a substrate 4 are positionally aligned to each other based on a marker 3 of a prescribed shape which is formed at the center of the molding face 2 of a mold 1 and the shape of a diffraction grating 5 of the substrate 4. A nanocomposite material 9 is located between the molding face 2 and the diffraction grating 5, and the material 9 is pressed by the mold 1 and the substrate 4 to form an optical adjusting layer 10 on the diffraction grating 5.

Abstract: A method for coating hydrogel and silicone hydrogel articles, and articles made by the method, are provided in which the coating is first applied to the molding surface in which an article-forming material will be cured to form the article. The method permits the thickness and uniformity of the coating to be more easily controlled than in known coating methods.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of moulding a vision correction lens from a transparent resin. The resin is introduced into a mould cavity, the sides of which cavity which correspond to the front and rear surfaces of the lens being formed by two sheets, at least one of which is flexible. The amount of resin in the cavity is adjusted to deform the flexible sheet(s) so that the shape of the lens defined by the sheet(s) will provide a desired power, and the resin is then cured. The sheets can be transparent, and a user can look through them as the amount of resin is adjusted, to ensure that the lens is of the desired power. Further, the amount of resin in the cavity can be adjusted to accommodate changes in the refractive index of the resin as it cures.

Abstract: The present invention includes molds for forming ophtalmic lenses, such as contact lens. In particular, the present invention relates to apparatus, molds and methods for fashioning an ophthalmic lens with a mold assembly that includes two or more mold parts with at least one of the mold parts including a flange surface and a static charge differential between each mold part, including the flange surface.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for making an ophthalmic device. In particular, the present invention provides a method for production of a contact lens by means of stereolithography. A preferred stereolithography technique is based on polymerization and solidification of a contact lens forming liquid material by actinic irradiation one layer at a time. In addition, the present invention provides systems and methods for making a contact lens for a specific patient based on the prescription.

Abstract: The invention provides a cost-effective method for making a silicone hydrogel contact lens which has a good wettable coating with a good durability.

Abstract: The invention is concerned with the problem that with known plastic casting moulds, especially those of polypropylene, the lenses produced with these moulds have a slippery surface. The invention solves this problem through the use of polymers which are notable for their very low oxygen permeability.

Abstract: Provided is a method for making a privacy film. In the method, a nickel mold having desired intagliated patterns are prepared, and a curable resin is then injected into the nickel mold to prepare a master mold. A UV curable resin is injected into the master mold, and then cured to thereby form a film where uneven patterns are formed. A black ink is injected into a concave portion of the film. The method provides advantages such as process simplicity, excellent production efficiency, and low fabrication cost.

Abstract: Systems and methods for producing silicone hydrogel contact lenses are described. Certain of the present systems include a contact lens mold forming station, a station for filling a contact lens mold section with a lens precursor composition and for placing a second mold section on the filled mold section to form a contact lens mold assembly, a curing station for forming a contact lens, a mold assembly separation station, and an extraction/hydration station. Certain of the present methods include forming a plurality of mold sections, placing a lens precursor composition on a surface of a first mold section, placing a second mold section on the first mold section, polymerizing the lens precursor composition, separating the first and second mold sections, removing the silicone hydrogel contact lens from one of the mold sections, extracting extractable components from the contact lens, and hydrating the contact lens.

Abstract: A hybrid lens includes a lens substrate made of glass material, and a plastic layer formed and coating round the lens substrate. An appropriate portion of the outer surfaces of the plastic layer is defined as a datum face. A method of manufacturing the foregoing hybrid lens is described hereinafter. Firstly, the lens substrate is fastened in a shaping cavity of a corresponding shaping mold with an appropriate portion of the inside of the shaping cavity defined as a shaping datum. Secondly, a predetermined amount of transparent plastic is poured into the shaping cavity. Next, the transparent plastic is hardened to form the plastic layer round the lens substrate, and accordingly, the datum face is formed on the plastic layer by means of the shaping datum. Lastly, the shaping mold is opened to obtain the hybrid lens.

Abstract: An exemplary method for making a lens array is as follows. An imprinting mold and a substrate are provided. A blob of molding material is applied on each molding section of the substrate. The first alignment marks, and the second alignment mark of the imprinting mold are aligned with the fourth alignment marks, and the third alignment mark of one of the imprinting regions, respectively. The imprinting mold is pressed on the molding material on the imprinting region. The pressed portions of the imprinting region are solidified to obtain lenses in the imprinting region. The imprinting mold is pressed on another one of the imprinting region, and the imprinting mold is removed. This process is repeated for each other imprinting region. Thus, a lens array is obtained.

Abstract: The invention provide a method for making silicone hydrogel based on the Lightstream Technology from a monomer mixture with a curing time of less than about 100 seconds. The present invention is also related to silicone hydrogel contact lenses made according to methods of the invention.

Abstract: A process for producing a periodic structure comprises the steps of preparing a working object, the property of which changes in view of a photoreaction caused by an exciting energy, generating a light having a photonic energy of intensity of one fraction of natural number divisions of the exciting energy by each of the light sources of light-source groups arranged regularly in a two-dimensional arrangement, and concentrating the light emitted from the light source group at each of the light-concentrating points arranged at regular intervals in the working object to cause a photoreaction at and around the light-concentrating point to form a periodic structure comprised of regions each of which has a changed property in the working object.

Abstract: An IOL injector that includes one or more polymeric portions that include a hydrophilic coating component that is effective to facilitate the passage of the IOL through the injector, particularly an injector tip. The IOL injector is prepared by a process that includes irradiating at least a portion of a polymeric, IOL injector with UV light in an environment comprising oxygen to provide a positive percent change in the atomic oxygen content of the polymer material at the surface as determined by X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS). A portion or the entire irradiated portion is then contacted with a solution comprising a hydrophilic coating component. The hydrophilic coating component is selected from a hydrophilic polymer, a hydrophilic copolymer or any one mixture thereof to provide a solution coated portion.

Abstract: Systems and methods for producing silicone hydrogel contact lenses are described. Certain of the present systems include a contact lens mold forming station, a station for filling a contact lens mold section with a lens precursor composition and for placing a second mold section on the filled mold section to form a contact lens mold assembly, a curing station for forming a contact lens, a mold assembly separation station, and an extraction/hydration station. Certain of the present methods include forming a plurality of mold sections, placing a lens precursor composition on a surface of a first mold section, placing a second mold section on the first mold section, polymerizing the lens precursor composition, separating the first and second mold sections, removing the silicone hydrogel contact lens from one of the mold sections, extracting extractable components from the contact lens, and hydrating the contact lens.

Abstract: An LED lamp cover structure containing luminescent material and its fabrication methods are described. The LED lamp cover is comprised of a first lens cap providing the outer surface of the lamp cover, a second lens cap providing the inner surface of the lamp cover, and an encapsulating layer sandwiched between the lens cap providing the outer surface of the lamp cover and the lens cap providing the inner surface of the lamp cover, which is mixed with luminescent material for wavelength conversion.

Abstract: Methods for producing contact lenses from a polymerizable composition are provided. The methods generally include providing a carrier carrying a plurality of molds each of which contains a polymerizable composition. A chamber is provided which contains a light source providing light to the chamber effective to facilitate polymerization of the polymerizable composition. The molds in the carrier are exposed to the light in the chamber. During this exposing, the light source is monitored, for example, using digital addressable lighting interface (DALI) technology.

Abstract: An exemplary lens includes a light pervious substrate, a first optically active part, and a light blocking film. The light pervious substrate has a first surface, an opposite second surface, and a recess defined in the first surface. The recess includes a bottom surface. The first optically active part is formed on the bottom surface. The light blocking film is formed on the bottom surface surrounding the first optically active part.

Abstract: A method and apparatus used for forming a lens master for forming lenses on a wafer. The method includes using an inverted lens pin mold in conjunction with a dispense method to create both concave and convex lens masters for making lens stamps containing lens-shaped cavities. The lens-shaped cavities are used to imprint a plurality of lenses into a curable material.

Abstract: A hybrid lens is provided in which a plastic lens made from an ultraviolet curing resin is affixed to a ceramic lens which uses as a glass material a light transmitting ceramic having a permeability of 70% or larger in a visible radiation range and a particle diameter of 40 micrometers to on the order of 120 micrometers and on which chipping flaws having a depth of 50 micrometers to on the order of 60 micrometers are formed.

Abstract: An active energy ray curable resin composition for a sheet-like optical article capable of providing a cured material having a dynamic elastic modulus at 25° C. of 950 MPa or less and a dynamic elastic modulus at 60° C. of 100 MPa or more and a sheet-like optical article prepared from the resin composition are disclosed. The sheet-like optical article (e.g., prism sheet) has good heat resistance and extremely small warpage.

Abstract: Systems and methods of manufacturing ophthalmic lenses, for example, soft, extended wear silicone hydrogel contact lenses, are provided. The systems generally include a housing having an illuminated chamber, a carrier, for example a tray, movable in the illuminated chamber from an inlet portion to an outlet portion of the housing, and the tray configured to carry a plurality of contact lens molds. Polymerizing light energy is provided, for example, by multiple fluorescent lamps, to the molds at an intensity effective to at least initiate polymerization of a monomer composition located in each of the molds. The light may be illuminated onto two opposing sides of each mold. In some cases, the intensity of the light provided to one side of the mold may be different to the light intensity provided to the opposing side of the mold. In addition, the system may include features that are effective to provide for an instantaneous start and an instantaneous end to the light induced cure of the monomer in the molds.

Abstract: A method of forming a waveguide including a core region, a cladding region, and an index contrast region situated therebetween includes depositing a polymerizable composite on a substrate to form a layer, patterning the layer to define an exposed area and an unexposed area of the layer, irradiating the exposed area of the layer, and volatilizing the uncured monomer to form the waveguide, wherein the polymerizable composite includes a polymer binder and sufficient quantities of an uncured monomer to diffuse into the exposed area of the layer and form the index contrast region. The resulting waveguide includes an index contrast region which has a lower index of refraction than that of the core and cladding regions.