Abstract: A method for making a prism sheet includes: providing a cutting device comprising a cutter, a table plate, and a control unit, the table plate controlled to move up and down by the control unit, and the cutter having a blade rotatable; providing a mold insert preform on the table plate, the mold insert preform having a flat surface; moving the cutter to etch the flat surface of the mold insert preform along a first direction, and simultaneously driving the table plate to move up and down by the control unit in a first predetermined manner to form first elongated depressions in the flat surface; moving the cutter to etch the flat surface of the mold insert preform along a second direction to form second elongated depressions in the flat surface, thereby forming a mold insert; using the mold insert to form the prism sheet by injection molding method.

Abstract: A polarizing plastic lens comprising a polarizing film with low tendency to detachment from an optical resin layer. There is provided polarizing plastic lens comprising polarizing film constituted of a polyvinyl alcohol resin. Two optical resin layers of different thicknesses may be disposed on both surfaces of the polarizing film. The optical resin layers are formed by polymerizing a polymerization raw material composition in contact with the polarizing film. The polymerization raw material composition contains as one main component an isocyanated or isothiocyanated compound. The iscocyanate or isothiocyanate functional group reacts with the hydroxyl of polyvinyl alcohol resin of polarizing film to thereby form an urethane bond or thiourethane bond, so that the optical resin layers are strongly unified with the polarizing film.

Abstract: Light transmission devices, such as lenses and windows for portable electronic devices, are produced using an injection/compression molding technique in which a light transmission device mold includes an integral runner in substantially the same plane and with substantially the same wall thickness as the light transmission device to be produced. The finished light transmission devices are mechanically separated from the molded product. Molding equipment and processes traditionally used to produce information discs can be leveraged to produce light transmission devices. Various processes can be performed to add metallization, coatings, and printing to the light transmission devices.

Abstract: A first optical waveguide of a convex shape is formed over a substrate. A second optical waveguide of a convex shape is formed over the substrate. A multimode interference waveguide of a convex shape is formed over the substrate for optically coupling the first optical waveguide to the second optical waveguide. Either side of the first optical waveguide is filled with a filling material, but either side of the second optical waveguide is not filled with the filling material.

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 method for producing surface convexes and concaves enabling easy and highly precise formation of desired convex and concave shapes using a photomask is provided. A mask member 20 having light transmitting sections and non-light transmitting sections is disposed over one side of a photosensitive film 10 consisting of a photosensitive resin composition with a light diffusing layer 30 disposed between the mask member 20 and the photosensitive film 10. Light is irradiated from a light source disposed on the side of the mask member 20 to expose the photosensitive film 10 through the light transmitting sections of the mask member 20, and exposed portions or unexposed portions of the photosensitive film 10 are removed by development to produce convexes and concaves on the photosensitive film 10 in shapes determined by shapes of the exposed portions or unexposed portions.

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 method for manufacturing a mold used in impression process is provided. The method includes the following steps: forming a negative photoresist layer between a transparent substrate and a supporting substrate; exposing the negative photoresist layer via the transparent substrate by direct writing technology; removing the supporting substrate; and developing the negative photoresist layer to form the mold.

Abstract: A corrugated pattern forming sheet exhibiting excellent performance when being used as optical elements, such as an antireflector and a retardation plate is provided. A corrugated pattern forming sheet of the invention includes a resin layer, and a hard layer provided at least in a portion of an outer surface of the resin layer. The hard layer is made of a metal or a metallic compound. The hard layer has a wavelike corrugated pattern. The average pitch of the corrugated pattern is 1 ?m or less, and the average depth of the bottom of the corrugated pattern is 10% or more given an average pitch of 100%.

Abstract: A plastic lens, which does not require a modification to an inner diameter of a mirror frame but is uniform in outer diameter, is provided and include: protrusions on the circumference in at least three points divided thereof into three equal parts except for an injection gate point, in positions equally distant to a center O of the plastic lens. The protrusions have respective outer surfaces provided as fit portions to a mirror frame. The plastic lens preferably has a diameter of 50 mm or more and a thickness smallest at the center thereof.

Abstract: Contact lens molds and systems and methods for producing contact lens molds are described. The contact lens mold sections include two optical quality surfaces, a flange circumscribing at least a portion of the two optical quality surfaces, and an elongate member extending from the flange. Two mold sections can contact one another to form a mold assembly having a contact lens shaped cavity. The mold sections are structured to form a contact lens having an edge that does not require further physical modification before placement on an eye. Systems and methods are described which direct a molten polymeric material into cavities corresponding to the mold sections.

Abstract: A reference microplate is described herein which can be used to help calibrate and troubleshoot an optical interrogation system. In one embodiment, the reference microplate has a frame with an array of wells each of which contains an optical biosensor and each optical biosensor is at least partially coated with a substance (e.g., elastomer, optical epoxy). In another embodiment, the reference microplate in addition to having its optical biosensors at least partially covered with a substance (e.g., elastomer, optical epoxy) also has a controllable heating device attached thereto which is used to heat the optical biosensors.

Abstract: A method for forming a grating with an adjustable pitch and a method for forming a DFB-LD with an optical grating whose pitch is adjustable during the process are disclosed. The method of the invention; first prepares a mold with a pattern to form the grating; second, pushes the mold against the resin as deforming the mold; and third, hardens the mold. The resin with a periodic pattern whose pitch is adjustable during the process is available.

Abstract: In accordance with the invention, an article comprising a nanoscale surface pattern, such as a grating, is provided with a nanoscale patterns of reduced edge and/or sidewall roughness. Smooth featured articles, can be fabricated by nanoimprint lithography using a mold having sloped profile molding features. Another approach uses a mold especially fabricated to provide smooth sidewalls of reduced roughness, and a third approach adds a post-imprint smoothing step. These approaches can be utilized individually or in various combinations to make the novel articles.

Abstract: The invention is a mold and method for using the mold to make a multi-stage intraocular lens. The mold is provided with a gate in fluid communication with a lens portion and/or haptic portion of the mold core. In addition, a gasket is provided around the mold core. As molding material is introduced into the mold via the gate, a vacuum is drawn around and through the gasket to evacuate air trapped in the mold core and to help pull the material through the mold core.

Abstract: A method for varying a radius of an optical quality surface of a casting mold formed in a tooling cavity, the tooling cavity at least partially defined by an optical tool having an optical quality surface of a given radius, includes imparting a compressive stress within the optical quality surface of the casting mold to predictably decrease the radius of the optical quality surface of the casting mold.

Abstract: An optical device is provided and includes a substrate having a three-dimensionally random concave-convex shape on the surface thereof, and a hard coat layer formed on the substrate, wherein a projection height with the maximum frequency on the substrate surface falls within the range of 1.5 ?m or more and not more than 10 ?m. Projections larger than the projection height with the maximum frequency on the substrate surface have a height falling within +3 ?m from a central value of the projection height with the maximum frequency. A length RSm in a lateral direction of concaves and convexes on the substrate surface is 55 ?m or more and not more than 500 ?m.

Abstract: This invention provides for an ophthalmic lens mold with at least one portion of the lens mold including multiple voxels of polymerized crosslinkable material. In addition, the present invention provides for apparatus for generating an ophthalmic lens mold including multiple voxels of polymerized crosslinkable material.

Abstract: An optical device having a sub-wavelength grating formed in a specified region is disclosed that is able to prevent wave front degradation accompanying a phase difference of a polarized light beam passing through the optical device. The optical device includes a circular-belt-like region where the sub-wavelength diffraction grating is formed, and a center portion where the sub-wavelength diffraction grating is not formed. A vertically polarized light beam used for operations on a blue-light optical recording medium A has a phase difference in the sub-wavelength diffraction grating to be an integral multiple of 2? and hence is transmitted through the sub-wavelength diffraction grating. A horizontally polarized light beam used for operations on a blue-light optical recording medium is diffracted by the sub-wavelength diffraction grating.

Abstract: A method for producing a mold for a zonal optical element including forming a circular portion where, while rotating a work around a rotation axis corresponding to the optical axis as a center, a tip is relatively moved relative to the work to form the circular portion at the mold side corresponding to the circular portion on the processing surface of the work perpendicular to the rotation axis; forming a zonal surface where the tip is relatively moved relative to the work to form a zonal surface at the mold side corresponding to the zonal surface; and forming a corner portion between the boundary portion at the mold side and the zonal surface at the mold side wherein a raked surface of the tip is in contact with a portion corresponding to the boundary wall surface.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for making an ophthalmic lens. Apparatus are provided for filling contact lens shaped cavities of contact lens molding assemblies. Methods of coupling and fusing contact lens mold sections are also provided and generally include providing first and second mold sections which, when coupled together, are effective to form a lens-shaped cavity and contact regions between the mold sections. One or both of the mold sections may include one or more recessed regions or projections which provide areas of non-fusion and areas of fusion, respectively, when the mold sections have been filled with a contact lens precursor material and are fused together, for example, by focused ultrasound energy.

Abstract: The invention relates to a mold insert, the interior surface thereof having an average quadratic roughness of less than 10 nm. Said insert is covered with a protective layer exhibiting a Vickers hardness of more than 1000 HV, a thickness of between 0.2 and 5 ?m, and an adhesive strength greater than 15 N. The invention also relates to a method for the production thereof. The invention is used for the production of ophthalmic lenses.

Abstract: The method includes the use of a closed mold consisting of two shells (2,3) and an annular joint (4), the joint having a hole (19) for filling the mold cavity with a polymerizable material, the introduction of the material occurring after a stage in which an external mechanical effort is exerted in order to bring the shells (2,3) together and before a stage in which the effort is relaxed. In the joint (4), the filling hole (19) includes two sections. A first section extends from the molding cavity to the second section which is wider. The device includes elements (34-40) for exerting an external effort in order to bring the shells (2,3) together and elements for introducing the polymerizable material into the molding cavity.

Abstract: An optical element molding die is designed for molding an optical element having a concave-convex structure. The optical element can be manufactured by a wet system that enables element formation over a large area and a curved surface, without using a lithographic process, and is advantageous in terms of mass production and equipment cost. The optical element molding die includes a substrate having a surface with a negative standard electrode potential in the oxidation reaction and an anodic oxidation layer provided on the substrate. A protective layer with the positive standard electrode potential is provided between the substrate and the anodic oxidation layer.

Abstract: A method for fabricating micro-lenses and a method for fabricating micro-lenses by photolithography are provided. The method includes forming a plurality of micro-cavities in a substrate, filling lens material into each of the micro-cavities, and heating the lens material, thereby reflowing the lens material so as to form a plurality of micro-lenses in the substrate. The micro-cavities define a boundary of each of the micro-lenses formed by reflowing the lens material, thereby preventing adjacent micro-lenses from fusing together by reflowing when overheated. The process uses negative photoresist and positive photoresist as micro-cavities and lens material respectively, thereby streamlining the fabrication method and its steps.

Abstract: Molds for making ophthalmic lenses are generally discussed herein with particular discussions extended to plastic injection molded ophthalmic lens molds that are subsequently machined to have customized optical quality lens-defining surfaces for producing customized ophthalmic lenses, including contact lenses. The present molds can be used to form multifocal zones, ballast zones, diagnostic marks and the like on the ophthalmic lenses without the need tor making post-cure modifications to the lenses.

Abstract: An optical element having a phase structure on the optical surface formed of a plurality of optical function surfaces divided through a plurality of stepped portions. The sculpture height of each of the stepped portions is set lower than that of the optical function surface. Thus, precision of profile is prevented from falling due to prolongation of production time.

Abstract: The steps of producing a micro lens comprises the steps of forming a resin layer on a substrate in a desired pattern, causing the resin layer to absorb from its surroundings solvent which dissolves the resin so that the resin layer has fluidity and the surface of the resin layer becomes convex under the surface tension, and then drying the solvent.

Abstract: A method for varying a radius of an optical quality surface of a casting mold formed in a tooling cavity, the tooling cavity at least partially defined by an optical tool having an optical quality surface of a given radius, includes imparting a compressive stress within the optical quality surface of the casting mold to predictably decrease the radius of the optical quality surface of the casting mold.

Abstract: A protective film (10) is eccentrically adhered to a concave-side transfer surface (3b) of a first mold (3) which is used in a plastic lens forming mold, and part (10a) of the peripheral portion of the protective film is projected laterally from the mold (3). The protective film (10) comprises a film layer with an outer diameter smaller than that of the first mold (3), and an adhesive layer with a relatively low adhesive strength which is formed on one surface of the film layer.

Abstract: A boundary lubricant film 1 is formed on a stamper 22 contact portion of a stationary mirror 21 and/or a stationary mirror 21 contact portion of the stamper 22. The boundary lubricant film 1 contains one of kinds of phosphate esters. A material is injected into a cavity 14. As a result, a disc substrate for an optical disc is molded.

Abstract: A method of forming a transferring surface onto a producing die to produce an optical element, wherein the transferring surface transfers an optical surface onto the produced optical element, the method comprising the steps of: cutting a material so as to form the transferring surface with a curvature; wherein the material has a hardness not smaller than Rockwell hardness HRA 80 or Vickers hardness Hv 1000 and the cutting step is conducted with a critical cutting-in depth of 5 ?m or less for the material.

Abstract: In a process of manufacturing, by replication, a plurality of optical elements each having geometrical surface features, a method of manufacturing an element that includes a plurality of replicated structures is provided. The method comprises the steps of providing an element substrate, of replicating, by embossing, a surface of a tool element, which surface comprises a negative copy of the geometrical surface feature, into replication material disposed at a first place on a surface of the element substrate, of subsequently hardening the replication material, of replicating said surface of the tool element into replication material disposed at a second place on said substrate, of hardening said replication material, the method comprising the further step of subsequently filling a gap between replication material disposed at the first place and replication material disposed at the second place by filler material.

Abstract: An improved method of cast molding contact lenses, wherein a lens forming mixture is cured in the lens-shaped cavity formed between molding surfaces of a male and female mold sections, wherein the improvement comprises at least one of sections is injection molded from a copolymer of propylene and ethylene.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an optical member by mixing isocyanate terminal prepolymer component (A) and aromatic diamine component (B), and immediately after mixing, casting a mixture into a casting mold to obtain a molded article. A method of manufacturing a plastic lens by mixing said components (A) and (B), immediately after mixing, casting a mixture into a casting mold and polymerizing it to obtain a molded article. A gasket for molding plastic lenses comprised of a cylindrical member. A casting mold for molding plastic lenses using this gasket and a monomer casting jig.

Abstract: Disclosed is a modular light emitting diode (LED) light pod having heat dissipation structures. A reflective optic plate, which may be made in various modular sizes and designs, having a plurality of recesses is seated on an LED board having a plurality of LEDs, such that the plurality of LEDs fit within the plurality optical recesses. The optical recesses serve to collimate light in a desirable manner based on predetermined dimensional ratios of the optical recesses. A heat dissipation system involves a heat sink housing acting in combination with a heat extraction plate having a plurality thermally conductive posts extending perpendicularly from a top and bottom surface, and a heat dissipation plate to create a thermally conductive path for moving heat away from the LED board when the light pod is in use.

Abstract: A process for producing through simple operations a molding die for optical device having an antireflective structure of nano-order microscopic uneven plane on a substratum surface. The molding die for optical device having microscopic uneven plane (antireflective structure die plane) on a surface of substratum is produced by a process comprising forming one or more etching transfer layers on substratum; forming thin film for formation of semispherical microparticles on the etching transfer layers; causing the thin film to undergo aggregation, or decomposition, or nucleation of the material by the use of any of thermal reaction, photoreaction and gas reaction or a combination of these reactions so as to form multiple semispherical island-like microparticles; and using the multiple islandlike microparticles as a protective mask, carrying out sequential etching of the etching transfer layers and substratum by reactive gas to thereby form a conical pattern on the microscopic surface of the substratum.

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; and developing the resist layer to form the predetermined irregular pattern.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a mold for a microlens having a desired radius (R) of curvature by electroplating. In this method, a minimum radius (Rmin) of curvature is utilized to achieve the desired curvature radius.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a micro-lens and a mold cavity thereof and a light emitting device are provided. The method includes providing a substrate having a first surface for a plurality of micro nanometer structures to be disposed and arranged thereon. A metallic thin film layer is deposited on the first surface and micro nanometer structures of the substrate, and partially exposing the micro nanometer structures from the metallic thin film layer. Each of the micro nanometer structures is removed to form a mold cavity having a second surface so as to form a micro-lens having a micro nanometer lenticular face array, thereby enabling the light of light source passing through the micro nanometer structures to generate mass refraction. The micro nanometer structure of the present invention provides more even illumination and more extensive distribution, and the cost of material, power consumption, and manufacturing equipment involved are reduced.

Abstract: A method of fabricating micro-lenses is provided. A first layer is formed on a substrate. The first layer is comprised of a first material and the substrate is comprised of a second material. An opening is formed in the first layer and an etchant is provided in the opening to etch both the substrate and the first layer to form a first mold for a first micro-lens. The etchant etches the first layer at a different rate than the substrate. A lens material is added to the etched molds to form micro-lenses.

Abstract: The invention concerns a process for forming at least one coating layer on a toric surface of an optical article which comprises: providing an optical article 1 having a toric surface comprising a first principal meridian with a lower radius of curvature r and a second principal meridian with a higher radius of curvature R (r<R) and a periphery 2; depositing on the toric surface at least two drops 2a, 2b of the liquid curable composition, each within one of two opposite sectors S1, S2 centered on the first principal meridian of lower radius of curvature r and having an apex angle up to 40°; applying pressure on said pre-measured amount of liquid curable composition to cause said liquid curable composition to spread over the toric surface of the optical article; curing the liquid curable composition; and recovering an optical article coated with at least one coating layer.

Abstract: Preventing a molded disc substrate from generating a separation pattern. To this end, a molding die 1 includes a pair of stationary die 6 and movable die 7, and an outer circumference ring 16 for molding an outer circumference end of the disc substrate 2. The outer circumference ring 16 is so mounted as to be movable along forward and backward directions in parallel with a moving direction of the movable die 7 toward the stationary die 6, and has a retaining surface 39 for retaining the outer circumference of the molded disc substrate 2.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided for injection molding an ophthalmic lens mold section having an optical surface and a non-optical surface opposite the optical surface. The apparatus includes a non-optical tool assembly for forming the non-optical surface of the ophthalmic lens mold section. An optical tool assembly is in opposed relation to the non-optical tool assembly and together therewith forms a mold cavity for forming the ophthalmic lens mold section. In the preferred embodiment, the optical tool assembly includes a rotatably mounted core member and an optical insert removably secured the core member. The optical insert has an optical molding surface for forming an optical surface of the ophthalmic lens mold section opposite the non-optical surface thereof. A locking mechanism having, in a preferred embodiment, a locking pin selectively movable between a first position wherein the pin allows rotation of the core member and a second position wherein the pin prevents the core member from rotation.

Abstract: A method of molding provides two molds (102, 104) formed of semiconductor material. The molds (102, 104) have substantially planar working faces (108, 110) into which recesses (106, 112) are formed. In use the molds (102, 104) are pressed together with the working faces (108, 110) opposed so the recesses (106, 112) form mold cavities. The molds (102, 104) only contact each other in the plane of the working faces (108, 110). A thermoplastic sheet placed between the molds is heated to deform the sheet into the mold cavities.

Abstract: One present embodiment provides a method for manufacturing a mold. In the method, firstly, a master die is provided. The master die includes a molding surface, the molding surface having a plurality of predefined structures thereon. Secondly, a melted PDMS material is applied on the molding surface using a spin coating process. Thirdly, the melted PDMS material is cured to form a mold. Finally, the master die is removed.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a mold for molding an optical element, wherein the mold comprising a base material having a molding base face and a covering layer provided on the molding base face of the base material, and an upper surface portion of the covering layer located above the molding base face forms a molding face, the method including: a covering step for forming a covering layer on the molding base face of the base material; a pressurizing step for pressurizing a surface of the covering layer; and a high-precision processing step for forming a molding face by applying high-precision processing onto the surface of the covering layer subsequent to the pressurizing step.

Abstract: A method for fabricating micro-lenses and a method for fabricating micro-lenses by photolithography are provided. The method includes forming a plurality of micro-cavities in a substrate, filling lens material into each of the micro-cavities, and heating the lens material, thereby reflowing the lens material so as to form a plurality of micro-lenses in the substrate. The micro-cavities define a boundary of each of the micro-lenses formed by reflowing the lens material, thereby preventing adjacent micro-lenses from fusing together by reflowing when overheated. The process uses negative photoresist and positive photoresist as micro-cavities and lens material respectively, thereby streamlining the fabrication method and its steps.

Abstract: A method for producing surface convexes and concaves enabling easy and highly precise formation of desired convex and concave shapes using a photomask is provided. A mask member having light transmitting sections and non-light transmitting sections is disposed over one side of a photosensitive film consisting of a photosensitive resin composition with an interval with respect to the photosensitive film, light is irradiated from a light source disposed on the side of the mask member to subject the photosensitive film to light exposure through the light transmitting sections of the mask member, and exposed portions or unexposed portions of the photosensitive film are removed by development to produce convexes and concaves on the photosensitive film in shapes determined by shapes of the exposed portions or unexposed portions.

Abstract: A process for producing a polymer optical waveguide including: 1) preparing a rubber mold having a composite layer structure in which a rubber layer which has a concave portion corresponding to an optical waveguide core and contains a rubber mold-forming curable resin is buried in a rubber layer-forming concave portion of a rigid substrate having the rubber layer-forming concave portion; 2) bringing a cladding substrate into close contact with the rubber mold; 3) filling the concave portion of the rubber mold, with which the cladding substrate has been brought into close contact, with a core-forming curable resin; 4) curing the filled core-forming curable resin; 5) removing the rubber mold from the cladding substrate; and 6) forming a cladding layer on the cladding substrate on which the core has been formed.