Abstract: A microlens is precisely positioned on the end of an optical fiber by urging the fiber against a moving abrasive lap at a desired angle and simultaneously turning the fiber end, either continuously or in discrete steps. The turning causes the fiber end to contact the abrasive at points all around its periphery, thereby removing material equally from all sides of the fiber and producing a precise lens form. The pressure with which the fiber end is urged against the abrasive is maintained substantially constant by spring action of the fiber. The resulting conical lens is centered on the fiber by action of friction forces which constrain the fiber to rotate in a fixed position despite the fiber's freedom of movement within a guide tube. The invention repeatably provides optically accurate lenses of a variety of conifurgations centered to within one micron on fibers of all types, including polarization-preserving fibers.

Abstract: A method of minimizing distortion and preventing wrinkles in optical plastic-glass composites utilizing a lens-laminating mechanism wherein stretched synthetic fabric is disposed between a plunger and the plastic-glass composite wherein the stretched synthetic fabric transfers some of the plunger forces toward the perimeter of the plastic-glass composite during contact of the plunger with the composite.

Abstract: A method of producing multifocal lens blanks by fusing a molten glass segment into a pressed countersink of a lens blank when it is being formed in which the pressed countersink is unpolished and into which unpolished and pressed countersink a minor element of a molten glass is fused to form a fused multifocal lens blank and in which the major lens blank has one refractive index and the minor element filling and fused to the convex major lens blank in the pressed, unpolished countersink therein may have a higher refractive index with the countersink being selectively spaced from the lens blank periphery.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for manufacturing glass progressive power lenses. The lenses are manufactured by a vacuum forming technique in which a glass lens is placed upon a forming block, heated to its softening point, and then forced to sag against and assume the shape of the forming block surface by the creation of a vacuum between the lens blank and the block surface. The forming block is provided with a plurality of apertures through which the vacuum is drawn and these apertures are positioned so as to ensure the maintenance of an adequate pressure differential between the two surfaces of the lens blank as it sags in a wave-like manner from its center towards its periphery.

Abstract: The instant invention provides, in combination, a metal part having a cylindrical opening, a chamfer below the cylindrical opening, and an aperture below the chamfer, the diameter of the cylindrical opening being less than the diameter of the aperture at the juncture of the aperture and the chamfer, and glass fused only to the wall of the cylindrical opening.

Abstract: A mold for casting a resin ophthalmic lens is comprised of a glass disc defining a principal casting surface on one face thereof. The casting surface is a portion of a surface of revolution which has a first axis of symmetry and which has, at a location along such axis, an effective center of curvature. The principal casting surface has, in a selected portion thereof, a bottom surface defining in the mold a minor casting surface which is a portion of a surface of revolution having a second axis of symmetry. The first and second axes, if they intersect at all, intersect at a location on the first axis other than at substantially the center of curvature of the principal casting surface.

Abstract: An optical fiber termination in which a plastic clad optical fiber is pushed into a heated ferrule containing a pierced watch bearing jewel so as to force the bare fiber through the aperture in the jewel. The protruding fiber end is then fused and polished flush with the jewel whereby the fiber end is centered within the jewel aperture.

Abstract: An optical lens equipped glass fiber is formed by bringing at least one end of a glass fiber into contact with an optical lens forming liquid-like material with the liquid-like material deposited onto the end of the glass fiber in a manner to have a curvature due to its surface tension and, after lifting it up, allowing the deposit to stand for solidification so as to obtain an optical lens on the end of the glass fiber.