Abstract: To produce a meniscus lens from synthetic quartz glass for use in a microlithography apparatus, which lens has a first optical surface (7) and a second optical surface (8) with the same direction of curvature as the first optical surface (7), SiO2 particles are formed by oxidation or flame hydrolysis of a silicon-containing starting compound and deposited layer by layer on a substrate to form a cylindrical SiO2 blank which contains layers with a surface normal extending in the direction of growth. To allow such layers, which have however the least possible adverse effect on optical or mechanical properties, it is proposed according to the invention that the blank is plastically worked in a hot forming process under the effect of a deforming force to form a preform (6), which has at least the first curved surface (7) and in which the layers are curved in the direction of curvature, and that the meniscus lens is obtained from the preform.

Abstract: The installation for manufacturing a glass bottle (1) comprises a blank mould (10) formed of two semi-shells (10a and 10b) each comprising a cavity (11) of shape substantially corresponding to the outer shape of a semi-body of the body of the bottle, means for depositing a gob of glass (8) in the cavity (11) of each semi-shell (10a, 10b), two punches each able to be moved between a passive position and an active applied position in the cavity (11) of the corresponding semi-shell (10a, 10b) to distribute the glass within the cavity (11) and define the walls of each semi-body, and means for applying the edges of the two semi-bodies against one another by applying a determined pressure to hot-weld together these edges of the two semi-bodies and to obtain the bottle.

Abstract: Disclosed is a sensitive glass film for a pH electrode, which is not deteriorated in its glass strength or pH-measuring function, which is hardly stained, and from which any stain can be removed easily. Also disclosed is a pH electrode having the sensitive glass film. A microparticle comprising rutile-type or brookite-type titanium dioxide or a microparticle comprising amorphous titanium dioxide is adhered directly on the glass film surface of a sensitive glass film for a pH electrode.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for producing single microlenses or an arrays of microlenses composed of a glass-type material, in which method a first substrate is provided with a surface containing impressions over which a second substrate composed of a glass-type material is placed at least partially overlapping it and is joined therewith under vacuum conditions. The substrate composite is tempered in such a manner that the second substrate softens and flows into the impressions of the first substrate, thereby structuring the side of the second substrate facing away from the first substrate in order to form at least one microlens surface.

Abstract: Disclosed are high temperature free-flow mold for the production of near net-shape silica articles and method for the production of near net-shape silica articles. The mold is preferably made of graphite, preferably coated with SiC on the surfaces of the mold cavity. The mold and the process use no or less refractory elastic materials than that disclosed in the prior art, and does not alter or contaminate the glass composition. The mold the process are particularly suitable for the production of high purity silica articles for use in VUV and EUV lithographic devices.

Abstract: An approximately rectangular parallelopiped shaped optical element 100 has a substrate (base) 101, a lens 102, and an axially symmetric convex portion 103D formed in an upper surface 100U of the substrate 101. The radius of curvature of the surface of this convex portion 103D is approximately constant. The substrate 101 has an axially symmetric concave portion 101B in a bottom surface 100B of the substrate 101. A radius of curvature of the surface of this concave portion 101B is approximately constant. The concave portion 101B is filled with an optical material having a refractive index different from the substrate 101, thereby forming the lens 102. A flat portion 103E is formed around the convex portion 103D. Axes of symmetry of the convex portion 103D and the concave portion 101B are positioned on an identical straight line and are vertical with respect to the flat portions 103E and 101C.

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: The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a kit for isolating and purifying nucleic acids, or various biological materials, a kit manufactured by the method, and an apparatus using the kit.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a molded plastic article having high accuracy. To attain this object, the present invention provides a method of manufacturing a column or panel shaped molded plastic article having a desired molding shape on at least the circumference face of said molded plastic article comprising; manufacturing a column or panel shaped mother mold by using a material having high rigidity and heat resistance, the circumference face of said mother mold has a shape corresponding to the molded shape of the circumference face of said molded plastic article, manufacturing a cylindrical or ring shaped glass mold by the glass molding method, the inside face of which has a shape transferred from said shape of the circumference face of said mother mold, and molding a molded plastic article, circumference face of which as a shape transferred from said shape of the inside face of said resulting glass mold.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an optical device having a profile of refractive indices along its optical axis. A desired volume of each of a plurality of types of optical material are dispensed into a mold of known plan area in the form of a frit or a melt and the mold is heated to cause the materials to melt and fuse together to define a contiguous body of optical material having a desired profile. As the optical materials melt, the different types of material separate out so that they are arranged with the most dense material closest to the bottom of the mold and the least dense material closest to the top of the mold. To enhance this effect, the optical materials are layered in the mold in decreasing order of density of the materials from the bottom to the top so that the layers of optical material with the greater densities are closer to the bottom of the mold than the layers of materials with lesser densities.

Abstract: A process of making hermetically sealed glass semiconductor packages by injecting molding an electronic device within a body of molten thermoplastic glass which is solidified by cooling. The glass has a sealing temperature not over 350.degree. C. and a CTE not over 110.times.10.sup.-7 /.degree.C. and may be made of tin-phosphorus oxyfluoride or lead sealing glasses.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for producing vitreous optical elements by injection molding, which essentially includes the stages of: melting down a glass material into a molten state in a viscosity at or lower than a working point of the glass material; injecting molten glass under pressure into a mold cavity defined between transfer surfaces of relatively movable mold members of a mold assembly unit in communication with a sprue connecting the mold cavity with an injection port on the outer side of the mold assembly unit; and applying a predetermined pressure on the glass material in the mold cavity while cooling the mold assembly unit down to a temperature in the vicinity of yielding point of the glass material.

Abstract: In the process of press molding an optical element having an optical functioning face having a grating which is rotationally asymmetric, both ends of an molding face of an lower press die are cut off to form inclined faces. During a press molding, glass material filled in the cuttings presses the inclined faces so that the rotation of a lower press die in an barrel die around an axis is prevented. In addition, the part filled in the cuttings is used as the reference point to mount on an optical apparatus. As a result, the rotation of the press dies is prevented, and the placement of the rotationally asymmetric optical functioning face is avoided. Therefore, the direction for mounting the optical element on an optical apparatus can be easily decided.

Abstract: A gob of glass sucked from a glass metal and held in a suction mold (7) is further processed by preshaping the glass in the mold by a punch (4) having a projection (9) for forming in a recess or cavity (14) in the gob in the opening in the mold, and a plate-like surface (10) for forming a plate shaped bead (5) around the opening. This results in a large contact surface against which a blowpipe (1') with a transverse attachment plate (6) having a working surface flush with the end of the bore (3) of the blowpipe is pressed to attach the plate (6) to the bead (5). With this arrangement, the bore cannot become blocked with glass during the pressing operation.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for externally locating the geometric center of an internal lens element which requires that an external reference surface be accurately formed so as to lie concentrically with the central axis of the internal lens element. This is a accomplished in a pressing operation by precisely aligning and securing a ring element to a plunger member. Three points are then selected on the outer reference surface which are not only utilized for positioning the internal lens element for grinding an outer surface to a desired thickness, but also are utilized for aligning and affixing an external lens system in geometric alignment with the internal lens.

Abstract: A method for the manufacture of a preform of barium containing heavy metal fluoride glass comprising a core and a jacket for drawing infrared light waveguides for optical communications technology by casting molten glass onto a predetermined body of solid glass. Hitherto, such a method was executed such that molten core glass was cast into a tube of jacket glass. In order to achieve thicker preforms, one proceeds such here that a solid row of the core glass is surrounded with molten jacket glass. The boundary surface between core and jacket of the generated preform can be improved in the method disclosed herein that the surface of the solid rod is etched before being surrounded with the jacket glass. A nearly perfect boundary surface is obtained by etching with a ZrOCl.sub.2 solution.

Abstract: In the encapsulation of insert materials within glass and glass-ceramic articles, not only must the bonding characteristics between the insert and the glass or glass-ceramic materials be considered, but also the relative coefficient of thermal expansions between the insert and the encapsulating materials must be programmed in order to avoid undue stresses in the article or the insert which could produce deleterious results.