The disclosure relates to a method for producing an optical element (202), wherein a blank of transparent material is heated and/or provided and, after heating and/or after being provided is press molded, for example on both sides, between a first mold (UF) and at least one second mold (OF), to form the optical element (202) and is then sprayed with a surface treatment agent.

A lens unit includes a positive lens element provided with a convex surface on an incident surface and/or an exit surface; and a lens frame supporting the lens element and being provided with a projection that projects in an inner radial direction from inside the lens frame. The lens frame supports the lens element with the projection fixedly fitted into an outer peripheral portion of the lens element. The projection is provided, on an inner peripheral portion thereof, with a first surface positioned on an incident side in an optical axis direction, a second surface positioned on an exit side in the optical axis direction, and a third surface positioned between the first surface and the second surface. The first, second and third surfaces are tapered surfaces that are respectively inclined relative to the optical axis direction. A method of manufacturing the lens unit is also provided.

A pair of moulds for moulding an optical component is disclosed. The pair of moulds includes a first mould having a first surface, and a second mould having a second surface. The first surface includes a moulding portion for moulding a first optical surface of the optical component, and an alignment portion for alignment with the second mould. The alignment portion extends around the moulding portion. The second surface includes a moulding portion for moulding a second, opposite optical surface of the optical component, and an alignment portion for alignment with the first mould via a contact with the alignment portion of the first surface. When the moulds are brought together, they self-align. A corresponding moulding apparatus and a method may use the mould pair to manufacture various optical components.

A lens unit includes a positive lens element provided with a convex surface on an incident surface and/or an exit surface; and a lens frame supporting the lens element and being provided with a projection that projects in an inner radial direction from inside the lens frame. The lens frame supports the lens element with the projection fixedly fitted into an outer peripheral portion of the lens element. The projection is provided, on an inner peripheral portion thereof, with a first surface positioned on an incident side in an optical axis direction, a second surface positioned on an exit side in the optical axis direction, and a third surface positioned between the first surface and the second surface. The first, second and third surfaces are tapered surfaces that are respectively inclined relative to the optical axis direction. A method of manufacturing the lens unit is also provided.

Systems and methods according to one or more embodiments are provided for annealing a chalcogenide lens at an elevated temperature to accelerate release of internal stress within the chalcogenide lens caused during a molding process that formed the chalcogenide lens. In particular, the annealing process includes gradually heating the chalcogenide lens to a dwell temperature, maintaining the chalcogenide lens at the dwell temperature for a predetermined period of time, and gradually cooling the chalcogenide lens from the dwell temperature. The annealing process stabilizes the shape, the effective focal length, and/or the modulation transfer function of the chalcogenide lens. Associated optical assemblies and infrared imaging devices are also described.

There is described a method, apparatus and shaping tool for shaping a workpiece. The tool comprises a flexible support surface on which are mounted a number of rigid pellets (84) carrying abrasive material. The tool is driven, in contact with the workpiece surface (S), to perform a ductile grinding operation which results in a finished surface of reduced roughness as compared to conventional grinding operations, while achieving significantly higher material removal rates than comparable ultra-precision grinding techniques. A procedure for preparing the tool for operation by conditioning the tool against a conditioning surface is also described. An exemplary application for the method and apparatus is in the preparation of moulds for moulding curved glass components for use in display screens, in which process a silicon carbide mould cavity surface is shaped using the method to produce a mould cavity surface with a smooth surface finish.

Provided is a method of molding an optical element to obtain the molded optical element. The method includes: preparing a die set including an upper die having an upper molding surface, a lower die having a lower molding surface, a side die in which a through hole is formed, and a sleeve configured to accommodate the upper die, the lower die, and the side die; disposing a mold material on the lower molding surface after inserting the lower die into the through hole of the side die; heating the mold material; press molding the mold material with the upper die and the lower die to integrally move the side die and the lower die with respect to the upper die and the sleeve; and pushing the optical element upward by raising the lower die with respect to the side die and the sleeve.

A method for manufacturing an optical element includes forming an optical element unit comprised of an optical material such as glass and having an outer shape of a regular triangle or a regular hexagon, arranging a plurality of optical element units two-dimensionally on a substrate so as to have a structure imitating a molecular structure of graphene or a carbon nanotube, and processing the substrate on which the plurality of optical element units are mounted into a desired surface shape.

The disclosure relates to a method for producing an optical element, for example an (optical) lens, for example a headlight lens, for example a vehicle headlight lens, from inorganic glass, wherein a blank of the inorganic glass is heated in a first heating step, for example in such a way that the blank is cooler on the inside than on its outer region, wherein, after heating, the blank is press-molded, for example on both sides, in a first pressing step between an upper mold and a lower mold to form an intermediate molded part, wherein the intermediate molded part is removed from the lower mold after the first pressing step, wherein a surface or the surface of the intermediate molded part formed by the lower mold and/or the surface of the intermediate molded part facing the lower mold is heated in a second heating step after the first pressing step, wherein the intermediate molded part is press-molded, for example on both sides, to the optical element or the (optical) lens, in a second pressing step after the second heating step, and wherein the optical element or the (optical) lens is cooled in a cooling path after the second pressing step.

A molding mold of a glass product includes a lower mold defining a first molding surface and an upper mold defining a second molding surface. The first molding surface is disposed on one side of the lower mold close to the upper mold. The second molding surface is opposite to the first molding surface. The first molding surface includes a first molding portion and a first fixing portion disposed on a periphery of the first molding portion. The second molding surface includes a second molding portion and a second fixing portion disposed on a periphery of the second molding portion. The lower mold includes a support portion extending from the first fixing portion of the lower mold toward the second fixing portion. The support portion abuts against the second fixing portion, so that the first molding portion and the second molding portion form a molding chamber.