Method and apparatus for manufacturing optical component, and optical component

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016004002-A1
Application number	US-201514753830-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 29, 2015
Priority date	Jul 3, 2014
Publication date	Jan 7, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method for manufacturing an optical component having an optical surface includes: injecting a molten resin into a cavity; curing the molten resin to form the optical component; and taking the optical component out from the movable mold by moving the movable mold away from the fixed mold, and piercing a part of the optical surface (first incident surface) of the optical component attached to the movable mold by the protruding pin, and then wherein a tip end face of the protruding pin includes: a first surface; and a second surface having an area smaller than an area of the first surface, and extending continuously from the first surface in a curved form, the second surface being located on at least a part of an outer circumferential edge portion of the tip end face, that is, a tip end in the first direction.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method for manufacturing an optical component having an optical surface, the method comprising:
defining a cavity by making a fixed mold and a movable mold come into contact with each other, the movable mold having a protruding pin that reciprocates in a first direction and configured to reciprocate in the first direction; injecting a molten resin into the cavity; curing the molten resin in the cavity to form the optical component; and taking the optical component out from the movable mold by moving the movable mold away from the fixed mold in the first direction, and piercing a part of the optical surface of the optical component attached to the movable mold by the protruding pin, wherein a tip end face of the protruding pin comprises:
a first surface; and
a second surface having an area smaller than an area of the first surface and extending continuously from the first surface in a curved form, the second surface being located on at least a part of an outer circumferential edge portion of the tip end face, that is, a tip end in the first direction,
wherein an angle of the second surface relative to the first direction is larger than an angle of a portion of the first surface adjacent to the second surface relative to the first direction.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the angle of the second surface relative to the first direction is 60 degrees or more.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first surface is a concave curved surface, and the second surface is provided on at least a part of a peripheral edge of the first surface.

4 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the first surface is a concave curved surface, and the second surface is provided on at least a part of a peripheral edge of the first surface.

5 . An apparatus for manufacturing an optical component, comprising:
a fixed mold; and a movable mold defining a cavity in conjunction with the fixed mold, and reciprocating in a first direction, the movable mold having a protruding pin that reciprocates in the first direction, wherein a tip end face of the protruding pin comprises:
a first surface; and
a second surface having an area smaller than an area of the first surface, and extending continuously from the first surface in a curved form, the second surface being located on at least a part of an outer circumferential edge portion of the tip end face, that is, a tip end in the first direction,
wherein an angle of the second surface relative to the first direction is larger than an angle of a portion of the first surface adjacent to the second surface relative to the first direction.

6 . An optical component manufactured by the method of claim 1 , the optical component comprising:
an optical surface; and a step portion provided on at least a part of a peripheral edge portion of the optical surface, the step portion coming into contact with the tip end face of the protruding pin.

7 . An optical component manufactured by the method of claim 2 , the optical component comprising:
an optical surface; and a step portion provided on at least a part of a peripheral edge portion of the optical surface, the step portion coming into contact with the tip end face of the protruding pin.

8 . An optical component manufactured by the method of claim 3 , the optical component comprising:
an optical surface; and a step portion provided on at least a part of a peripheral edge portion of the optical surface, the step portion coming into contact with the tip end face of the protruding pin.

9 . An optical component manufactured by the method of claim 4 , the optical component comprising:
an optical surface; and a step portion provided on at least a part of a peripheral edge portion of the optical surface, the step portion coming into contact with the tip end face of the protruding pin.

Assignees

• Koito Mfg Co Ltd

Inventors

• Yoshida Kenji
• Osawa Takahito
• Katayama Masashi

Classifications

• B29L2011/00

  Optical elements, e.g. lenses, prisms · CPC title

• F21S43/19

  Attachment of light sources or lamp holders · CPC title

• B29C2045/4063

  preventing damage to articles caused by the ejector · CPC title

• B29D11/00663

  Production of light guides · CPC title

• F21S43/235

  Light guides · CPC title