Abstract: A plastic lens assembly includes at least two plastic lens elements and at least one cementing glue coating. The plastic lens elements include a first plastic lens element and a second plastic lens element. The first plastic lens element has a first optical effective portion and a first peripheral portion, wherein the first peripheral portion surrounds the first optical effective portion. The second plastic lens element has a second optical effective portion and a second peripheral portion, wherein the second peripheral portion surrounds the second optical effective portion. The cementing glue coating is disposed between the first optical effective portion and the second optical effective portion, and for cementing the first plastic lens element and the second plastic lens element, wherein at least one optical gap is formed between the first optical effective portion and the second optical effective portion.

Abstract: An optical device has a substrate, an optical element mounted on the substrate, a first glass member sealing the optical element and the substrate, and a second glass member formed on the first glass member and having a mold separation property higher than the first glass member.

Abstract: Provided are a method for manufacturing a liquid crystal lens which, even with the use of a thin sheet glass as a glass sheet for dividing a liquid crystal layer, can reduce the likelihood of breakage of the thin sheet glass in the production process and the liquid crystal lens. A mother liquid crystal lens having a plurality of liquid crystal lens units arrayed in a longitudinal direction thereof is cut for each of the liquid crystal lens units to separate out the liquid crystal lens units and thus manufacture respective liquid crystal lenses 10. Longitudinally extending side surfaces 13c, 13d, 14c, and 14d of glass ribbons which provide thin sheet glasses 13 and 14 have an outwardly bulging curved shape in a cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for making infrared transmitting graded index optical elements by selecting at least two different infrared-transmitting materials, each with a different refractive index, having similar thermo-viscous behavior; assembling the infrared-transmitting materials into a stack comprising one or more layers of each infrared-transmitting material resulting in the stack having a graded index profile; and forming the stack into a desired shape. Also disclosed is the related optical element made by this method.

Abstract: A light emitting device is provided, comprising a light emitting diode 10, where the light emitting surface 11 thereof is bound to an optical element 13 by means of a bonding material 12 comprising a phosphate glass or an oxide glass having Tg<250° C. In operation of the device, when the temperature approaches or exceeds Tg of the bonding material, the bonding material gets fluidic and can thus relax any thermally induced stresses between the light emitting diode and the optical element.

Abstract: The invention generally concerns optical systems and, in particular, a method and device for joining at least one first and one second optical element to an optical composite element, as well as an optical composite element itself. In order to produce optical systems having at least two optical elements more easily and more economically, the invention provides a method for joining at least one first and one second optical element, in which the first optical element contains a first glass or a crystalline material, the second optical element contains a second glass, and the first glass or the crystalline material has a transformation temperature Tg1 or a melting temperature that differs from the transformation temperature Tg2 of the second glass, and at least the glass of the second optical element is heated and brought into contact with the glass or with the crystalline material of the first optical element.

Abstract: A second optical element is bonded to a first optical element by forming the second optical element larger in diameter than the first optical element by pressing a second optical element material against the first optical element under a condition free from restriction to at least part of the second optical element material in the direction orthogonal to a direction in which the second optical element material is pressed.

Abstract: A glass optical element including: a first surface which is formed by transcription of the first transfer surface of the molding die; a second surface which is formed by transcription of the second transfer surface of the molding die and is facing the first surface; and a side surface of the outer periphery formed by transcription of the side transfer surface of the molding die; wherein the glass optical element is characterized by further containing: a first free surface which is formed without contacting with any of the surfaces of the molding die and is connecting the first surface and the side surface of the outer periphery; and a second free surface which is formed without contacting with any of the surfaces of the molding die and is connecting the aforementioned second surface and the side surface of the outer periphery.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of manufacturing an optical element with a lens barrel, in which an optical raw material is placed on a placement portion projecting toward the center of the lens barrel from the inner peripheral surface thereof, and assuming that a distance between the opposing ends of the projection of the placement portion is L1, the outside diameter of the optical raw material is L2, the inside diameter of the lens barrel portion which is positioned close to and above the placement portion and to which the perimeter of the optical element obtained after forming is joined is L3, and the inside diameter of the smallest opening on the upper end side of the lens barrel is L4, design is performed to satisfy a relation of L1<L2<L3<L4.

Abstract: A method for molding a chalcogenide glass lens includes providing a mold. A preformed lens of chalcogenide glass is placed within the mold. The lens has a top surface and a bottom surface. An amount of chalcogenide glass is deposited within the mold and on the top surface of the preformed lens. The mold is heated, such that the chalcogenide glass on the top surface of the preformed lens softens, melts, and bonds to the top surface of the preformed lens. A lens surface is formed in the melted chalcogenide glass to form a molded lens which is bonded to the top surface of the preformed lens. The molded lens and preformed lens assembly is then removed from the mold.

Abstract: A method for fabricating gradient-index rods and rod arrays. A central rod of optical glass having predetermined properties and predetermined outside dimensions is placed inside a tube of optical glass having predetermined properties and predetermined outside dimensions, to form an assembly. The inside dimensions of the tube are substantially equal to the outside dimensions of the rod. The tube is formed of a plurality of coaxial sleeves, the outside dimensions of each interior sleeve being substantially equal to the inside dimensions of the next adjacent sleeve, each sleeve having a selected refractive index so that, together with the tube, the refractive indices from the central rod through the outermost sleeve approximate the refractive index profile of the gradient-index rod to be fabricated. The central rod and sleeve material is selected so that their respective thermal indices of expansion are substantially equal.

Abstract: Disclosed are a shaping mold for producing an optical fiber guide block which permits highly accurate positioning and fixing of optical fibers, an optical fiber guide block having such excellent properties, processes for the production of these, and an optical fiber array.

Abstract: A cemented lens group is formed by cementing three round lens elements. In the cemented lens group, the diameter of the intermediate lens element is made smaller than those of the other two lens elements.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel process for the production of sequences of interference layers composed of layers i of prescribed thicknesses d(i) and refractive indices n(i). In this process a stack of at least two layers i of glasses having refractive indices n(i) and thicknesses d0(i), which are each larger than the predetermined thicknesses d(i) by the same multiplying factor, is provided. The stack is heated to a temperature above the transformation temperature of the glasses and during or after heating, the stack is drawn in such a manner that the individual layers obtain the prescribed thicknesses d(i). After this the drawn stack is cooled.

Abstract: A process for effectively bonding arbitrary size or shape substrates. The process incorporates vacuum pull down techniques to ensure uniform surface contact during the bonding process. The essence of the process for bonding substrates, such as glass, plastic, or alloys, etc., which have a moderate melting point with a gradual softening point curve, involves the application of an active vacuum source to evacuate interstices between the substrates while at the same time providing a positive force to hold the parts to be bonded in contact. This enables increasing the temperature of the bonding process to ensure that the softening point has been reached and small void areas are filled and come in contact with the opposing substrate. The process is most effective where at least one of the two plates or substrates contain channels or grooves that can be used to apply vacuum between the plates or substrates during the thermal bonding cycle.

Abstract: A method is provided of manufacturing an optical element having an optical axis, and including a plurality of definable adjacent zones of optical material, each zone having a definable refractive index different from the refractive index of an adjacent zone and an Abbe number, the zones of optical materials being arranged parallel to each other to define a profile of refractive indices which is symmetric about a plane of symmetry along the optical axis of the element and parallel to the zones.

Abstract: An improved measurement cell and circuit for measuring the electrical characteristics of a liquid sample during exposure to radiation includes a glass cell formed of a main tube extending generally parallel to an elongated lamp emitting the radiation, and a pair of electrodes disposed axially within the sample tube. In the preferred embodiment, the ends of the cell are formed of glass twinbore tubing fused to the glass main tube, the bores retaining ends of the electrodes. Inlet and outlet tubes and a temperature sensing well may also be fused to the main tube. In an implementation for measurement of TOC in water by oxidation to CO.sub.2, the source comprises a low pressure mercury vapor lamp, and the electrodes are formed of solid Ti with catalytic TiO.sub.2 surfaces.

Abstract: Methods of making gradient property refractive elements such as gradient index lens blanks. The spatial distributions of constituents achieved by subjecting various starting assemblages to various diffusion conditions are predicted. Each such predicted spatial distribution of constituents is converted to a spatial distribution of the graded property. The property distribution which best approximates a desired distribution is selected, to thereby select one starting assemblage and one set of diffusion conditions. That assemblage and set of conditions are used in fabrication of the element.

Abstract: A circumferentially cemented lens unit includes first and second lenses opposed to each other with a space therebetween on an optical axis thereof. The first lens has a concave surface, part of the second lens is a contact portion disposed radially inward from the periphery of the second lens and is in contact with a peripheral portion of the concave surface of the first lens. The first and second lenses are cemented to each other at a portion radially outward from the contact portion.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a reflecting mirror, wherein mirror segments are fused together thereby composing the reflecting mirror comprising, formulating square sums of displacements at a plurality of sampling points on a mirror surface of the reflecting mirror as a function of a thermal expansion coefficient-vector having components of deviations of thermal expansion coefficients of the respective mirror segments from the average thermal expansion coefficients of all the mirror segments, positions of the components corresponding to arranging positions of the respective mirror segments; generating a stochastic process wherein the smaller the square sum of the displacement of the thermal expansion coefficient vector, the larger the probability whereby the thermal expansion coefficient vector appears, by a computer using random numbers; selecting the thermal expansion coefficient vector minimizing the square sum of the displacement from the appeared thermal expansion coefficient vectors; and arranging and fusing

Abstract: A method is disclosed for manufacturing a lens array optical system including a flat glass plate and lenses each of which has a flat surface and a curved surface. The method includes the steps of removably fixing each lens with a first adhesive agent to a lens holder having lens holding portions corresponding to the curved surfaces of the lenses, polishing the flat surface of the lenses and the lens holder so that the polished flat surface of the lenses are flush with a polished flat surface of the lens holder, fixing the lenses to said flat glass plate with a second adhesive agent by pressing the lenses against the flat glass plate and hardening the second adhesive agent, and removing the lens holder from the lenses.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method of producing a multifocal, ophthalmic lens blank wherein a glass major element is formed that has a raised countersink zone on one surface, the remainder of the glass major element being thinner than the countersink zone, but of such thickness that it can be ground and polished to form a lens, a countersink is formed in the countersink zone, a segment element is formed and is fused in the countersink to form a lens blank assembly.

Abstract: A telescope mirror blank having a supporting network core composed of sintered ceramic struts, and a method of forming such core from a thermally crystallizable, powdered glass and as a separate component from the faceplate, are disclosed. Optionally, the mirror faceplate may be formed in a similar manner.

Abstract: A relatively large scale low cost method of fabricating optical devices with associated coupling lenses comprises the following steps:(a) producing in one surface of a substrate (1) of suitable material(s) a predetermined array of planar diffused lenses (4);(b) forming or otherwise producing on the opposite surface of the substrate (1) remote from the planar lenses (4) but in predetermined positional relationship to the lenses in the general planar direction of the substrate an array or pattern of metallic bonding pads or other registration means co-operable with corresponding pads or other means provided on a multiplicity of optical devices (10) for the accurate registration of such devices relative to the optical lenses; and,(c) dividing the substrate (1) into a multiplicity of parts each of which comprises an optical device (10) having an associated planar lens (4).

Abstract: New fiber optic elements and a new microchannel plate for proximity focus image intensifier tubes and a method for making them are provided. Higher resolution is provided at the center of the field of view by the use of graded fiber and channel sizes and by the use of convex and concave surfaces in proximity focus.

Abstract: There is disclosed an improved method of assembling and fusing the segment and major elements of a multifocal lens blank that employs glass spacer members to space the segment from the major element and allow the segment to progressively slump into sealing relationship with the major as fusion temperature is approached. The glass spacer member has a softening point that is lower than that of the major element glass and may approximate that of the segment glass.

Abstract: A method of fabricating optical sensing devices for detecting displacement of a part thereof comprising the steps of bonding a multiplicity of optical devices to one surface of a relatively large transparent substrate so that the optical devices are accurately located relative to one another and to the substrate itself, securing to the opposite surface of the substrate and one surface of a transparent optical element-carrying substrate in parallel relationship thereto resilient spacer support means and dividing the entire assembly into individual unit parts each of which comprises an optical device bonded to one substrate unit and coupled to another substrate unit having its own optical element by a divided part of the resilient spacer support means so that the two substrate units are resiliently mounted relative to one another whereby relative movement between the two substrate units produces variations in the optical characteristics of the device which can be sensed.

Abstract: A laminated multifocal prescription ophthalmic lens is provided comprising a plano (zero power) cap element incorporating a convergent near-vision multifocal segment, the cap being cemented to a prescription-ground single vision base element. The back surface curvature of the base is configured to provide prescribed sphere, cylinder and other vision-corrective refraction characteristics to the laminated lens.

Abstract: A glass faceplate having a central area of required useful diameter surrounded by a narrow ring of opaque glass and an outer glass mounting flange. Light entering the flange or ring is prevented from reaching the central area as stray light or glare in the system and spurious reflections at the interface of the ring and central area are minimized by a refractive index match of the two innermost glasses.

Abstract: A glass-plastic laminated lens blank, and a molding assembly for providing such a blank by direct casting, are described, wherein the incidence of blank shaling fracture is reduced by an edge configuration which transfers the high bond stress present in the laminate from the flawed edge of the glass core to a point in the core interior which is flaw-free.

Abstract: Blemish quality of fused fiber optics faceplates, tapers, image inverters and other arrays of multifibers is improved by protecting outer fibers of the multifibers from excessive heating and/or contamination during their fabrication. A preform of a multiplicity of optical fibers is covered with a protective layer of removable material while being fused into a building block. The protective layer is removed from each of the building blocks and the blocks are subsequently assembled into a juxtaposition and fused into a fiber optic array. Multifibers so fabricated and used as component building blocks for the arrays uniquely minimize traditional "chicken wire" blemishing.

Abstract: Ophthalmic lenses with locally variable indices of refraction produced from microporous glass bodies diffused with inorganic salts and rendered transparent by heat treatment. Local variations in refractive index result from differences in concentrations of the salts produced by controlled diffusion and/or selective leaching after impregnation of the porous bodies.

Abstract: Optical sections (lenses) of pseudophakoi having tangential holes are produced without drilling operations. A preform of lens material is drawn with embedded acid soluble rods and/or openings corresponding in diametral size and relative juxtaposition to the size, shape and locations of holes needed in a lens, a lens blank is cut from the drawn preform and portions of rods remaining therein are etched away prior to or following final edging and surface finishing of the lens blank.

Abstract: A method for producing one-material optical fibers having at least one light conducting component supported in a protective sleeve or casing characterized by forming a one-piece blank having an open cross section by either pressing, continuous casting, chill casting or rolling, working the blank to close the cross section, heating the blank with the closed cross section to a suitable temperature for drawing and drawing the blank with the closed cross section into the one-material optical fiber having a closed cross section. Preferably, the protective casing during the step of forming is formed in two casing components having edges extending along the length of the blank and spaced apart and the step of working the blank forces the edges into engagement with each other to form a closed cross section.

Abstract: Making an optical prism of an enlarged ground and polished insoluble glass preform encased with soluble glass. The glass combination is heated and drawn to the reduced cross-sectional size desired of the prism with the soluble glass protecting the prism preform against deformation by surface tension forces and other damage. The soluble glass is removed after drawing to leave the prism body with true faces and angles.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a preform from which glass fibers are to be drawn including making a groove in a first cladding glass element, filling the groove with core glass, grinding or otherwise finishing the surface of the cladding element and the core glass to a flat surface and optically contacting a second cladding glass element to the finished surface of said first cladding glass element thereby covering the core glass material.

Abstract: The glass tubulation of a gaseous discharge display device or similar device can be advantageously sealed to a glass substrate by using a preformed vitreous or devitrifiable solder glass annular member such as a washer which is placed over the tubulation and subjected to the normal solder glass sealing cycle to make the final seal.

Abstract: A method of producing photochromic multifocal spectacle lenses by fusion of a reading segment with a photochromic major lens portion. The reading segment and the main photochromic portion of the lens are fused together at a temperature which does not adversely affect the photochromic properties of the glass. In one embodiment of the invention, the parts are fused at a temperature in the tempering range but below the turbidity range of the photochromic glass, and are held at the fusing temperature for a sufficiently limited time so that turbidity does not occur. In another embodiment of the invention, the temperature of the glass is raised rather rapidly through the tempering range and through the turbidity range to a point above the turbidity range, and fusion occurs above this range, and then the glass is cooled rather rapidly down through the turbidity range and through the tempering range.