Method of manufacturing a diffractive surface profile

• US 5,589,983 A
• Filed: 12/29/1993
• Issued: 12/31/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Original Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Inventors: Meyers, Mark M., Schickler, Mark E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lerner, Martin
• Application Number:
  US08/174,737
• Time in Patent Office: 1,098 Days
• Field of Search: 359/565, 359/566, 359/569, 33/19.2, 33/19.3, 76/DIG. 12, 82/123, 83/879
• US Class Current: 359/566
• CPC Class Codes: B24B 13/046 using a pointed tool or scraper-like tool B24B13/015 and B24B13/065 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/1852 using mechanical means, e.g. ruling with diamond tool, moulding
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 407/26 comprising cutting edge bonded to tool shank

Abstract

A method of manufacturing a diffractive surface comprising: rotating a surface to be cut at a rate W>1,500 RPM; translating a cutting tip at low speed V where V<1.2 mm/minute; and cutting the surface with the cutting tip.

Claims

1. A method of manufacturing a diffractive surface profile comprising:

a) rotating a surface to be cut at a high speed W, where W>

1,500 RPM;

b) translating a cutting tip at a low speed V, where V<

1.2 mm/minute; and

c) cutting said surface with said cutting tip.

2. The method of manufacturing according to claim 1, where cut W>

2,000 RPM and V<

0.5 mm/minute.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein said cutting tip is a diamond tip.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein said surface to be cut is a plastic surface of a lens component.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein said surface to be cut is a mold part.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein said cutting tip is a diamond tip.

7. A method according to claim 6, wherein said surface to be cut is a plastic surface of a lens component.

8. A method according to claim 6, wherein said surface to be cut is a mold part and including the steps of placing said mold part in a mold and molding a material in said mold against said mold part to form a lens with a diffractive surface profile.

9. A diffractive surface profile manufactured by method of claim 1.

10. A lens component comprising a diffractive surface profile, said diffractive surface profile being made by the method of claim 1.

11. An optical component comprising a diffractive surface profile, said diffractive surface profile produced by a mold having a complementary diffractive surface which is made by the method of claim 1.

12. A method according to claim 1, wherein said cutting tip has a small flat at its tip, said flat being equal to or less than 2 μ

m.

13. A method according to claim 12, wherein said flat tip is larger than 0.5 μ

m and smaller than 1 μ

m.

14. A method according to claim 13, wherein said surface to be cut is a plastic surface of a lens component.

15. A method according to claim 13, wherein said surface to be cut is a mold part.

16. A method according to claim 15, wherein said surface is a mold cut and including the steps of placing said mold part in a mold and molding a material in said mold against said mold part to form a lens with a diffractive surface profile.

17. A method according to claim 12, wherein said surface to be cut is a plastic surface of a lens component.

18. A method according to claim 12, wherein said surface to be cut is a mold part.

19. A method according to claim 18, wherein said surface is a mold cut and including the steps of placing said mold part in a mold and molding a material in said mold against said mold part to form a lens with a diffractive surface profile.

20. A method according to claim 12, wherein said surface is a mold cut and including the steps of placing said mold part in a mold and molding a material in said mold against said mold part to form a lens with a diffractive surface profile.