The multistep injection molding device (210) is for manufacturing thick lenses (100) for use with an illumination apparatus. The injection molding device (210) includes two sets of mold core inserts (250, 252) forming mold cavities when the injection molding device (210) is in a closed position. The lens core part (120) is formed in a first injection shot station. The molded lens core part (120) is then moved to a post-molding cooling station in which it is further cooled inside a corresponding mold cavity. Two outer lens parts (122, 124) are formed sequentially over the lens core part (120) in second and third injection shot stations. A method of manufacturing a thick lens (100) is also disclosed.
B29D 11/00 - Fabrication d'éléments optiques, p.ex. lentilles ou prismes
B29C 45/14 - Moulage par injection, c. à d. en forçant un volume déterminé de matière à mouler par une buse d'injection dans un moule fermé; Appareils à cet effet en incorporant des parties ou des couches préformées, p.ex. moulage par injection autour d'inserts ou sur des objets à recouvrir
The lens (100) is made by injection molding in a mold through the injection of molten plastic material in at least three injection shots using a multistep process. It includes a first outer lens part (122), a second outer lens part (124) and a lens core part (120) forming an interior of the lens (100). The lens core part (120) is embedded between the first and second outer lens parts (122, 124). The lens core part (120) is divided into at least two subparts (132) separated at least partially by at least one elongated slot (130) extending across the lens core part (120) between the first and second surfaces of the lens core part (120). The slot or slots (130) made through the lens core part (120) are filled and fused with the plastic material of the first outer lens part (122).
B29D 11/00 - Fabrication d'éléments optiques, p.ex. lentilles ou prismes
B29C 45/00 - Moulage par injection, c. à d. en forçant un volume déterminé de matière à mouler par une buse d'injection dans un moule fermé; Appareils à cet effet
G02B 1/04 - OPTIQUE ÉLÉMENTS, SYSTÈMES OU APPAREILS OPTIQUES Éléments optiques caractérisés par la substance dont ils sont faits; Revêtements optiques pour éléments optiques faits de substances organiques, p.ex. plastiques
The injection molding apparatus (130) is provided for making highly accurate optical parts having structured reflective or deflecting optical surfaces. The apparatus (130) includes a removable mold insert (132) made of two or more mold insert segments (134a, 134b). The mold insert segments (134a, 134b) are juxtaposed at mating lateral planar surfaces (135) to form a reversed structured surface (136). The mold insert segments (134a, 134b) also includes a gas venting circuit having conduits (160, 162, 164) formed when the mold insert segments (134a, 34b) are juxtaposed. A cooling circuit is provided in the mold insert segments (134a, 134b).
B29C 45/17 - Moulage par injection, c. à d. en forçant un volume déterminé de matière à mouler par une buse d'injection dans un moule fermé; Appareils à cet effet - Eléments constitutifs, détails ou accessoires; Opérations auxiliaires
B29D 11/00 - Fabrication d'éléments optiques, p.ex. lentilles ou prismes
4.
LENS ARRAY ASSEMBLY FOR SOLID STATE LIGHT SOURCES AND METHOD
The lens array assembly includes a lens array support made of a first molded plastic material exhibiting a volumetric shrinkage upon cooling, the lens array support having a plurality of spaced-apart apertures; and an array of lenses made of second molded plastic material exhibiting a volumetric shrinkage upon cooling, each lens corresponding to one of the apertures of the lens array support and having an actual position in the lens array support that is within a maximum tolerance of 0.20 mm compared to each lens design position.
G02B 1/04 - OPTIQUE ÉLÉMENTS, SYSTÈMES OU APPAREILS OPTIQUES Éléments optiques caractérisés par la substance dont ils sont faits; Revêtements optiques pour éléments optiques faits de substances organiques, p.ex. plastiques
G02B 7/02 - Montures, moyens de réglage ou raccords étanches à la lumière pour éléments optiques pour lentilles
5.
THICK LENS MOLDED WITH EMBEDDED LAYERS OF THE SAME RESIN USING A TWO STEP INJECTION MOLDING PROCESS.
A thick injection molded lens with embedded layers of the same resin molded using a two step injection process is used in an illumination apparatus having a solid state light source such as an LED. A first layer of the molded Jens includes a first set of elongated baffles of material that are created by corresponding baffles in the mold cavity. The mold cavity baffles are oriented to help the flow of molten material in the cavity. The mold cavity baffles have surfaces that are collinear with the mold flow through a lateral gate. The first set of baffles in the first molded layer help the formation of an unfinished lens of almost equal thickness that contains a first optical surface that can be uniformly cooled in the mold. The first set of baffles in the unfinished lens help to overmold, in a second shot, the same material and to finish the lens. In the second shot, the finished lens further contains a second set of baffles and a second optical surface. The baffles in the mold cavity improve the cooling of the optical surfaces in each first and second shots, help to reduce the shrinkage of the lens, reduce the sink marks and reduce the formation of bubbles in the lens.
A multi-color vehicle lens having interconnected TIR reflecting prisms is molded using a first molten material to create a support and a second material to form clusters of TIR prisms linked by connector elements. The TIR prisms and the connector elements are molded at the same time by using the mold cavities for the connector elements as flow paths to the mold cavities shaped to form the TIR reflector prisms.
An optical system having a solid state light source, such as an LED of any spectrum, includes a lens that provides an output illumination pattern of uniform distribution over a remote and larger target. The lens does not have an axis of revolution. The lens has a generally non-circular outer shape in cross section and on top views, where the outer optical surfaces are angled one relative to another. The lens includes refractive and reflective active optical surfaces to split, direct and shape the incoming beam from the light source towards the target in the form of several angled beams of prescribed energies calculated as a function of the shape of the target and distance to the target. The lens has an inner primary and partially open optical cavity of a polygonal cross section facing the light source. This optical cavity has a number of refractive optical surfaces whose shape and number is determined by the number of and shape of the illumination beams generated in conjunction with the other surfaces of the lens. This novel optical system may include an array of white LEDs that generate the input illumination to an array of these lenses to insure the proper illumination level and uniformity at particular remote targets.
A moulding process to manufacture a moulded piece having multiple individual optical elements with the same or different dimensions. This is achieved by using a multicolour injection process as well as a multidrop injection manifold. In the first step, the optical elements are moulded without any junction between them. In the second step, a layer of plastic is moulded in order to join together all the optical elements to create a single piece. The moulded piece thus consists of two plastic injections with optical elements which is more easily adaptable to a variety of different designs for lights having two or more colours. New styles of optical elements, along with varied and original geometric arrangements can thus be imagined. Furthermore, signalling functions having by their regulations different colours can heretofore be placed within a same zone of glass.
G02B 5/124 - Réflecteurs reflex du type en sommet de cube, en trièdre ou en réflecteur triple plusieurs éléments réfléchissants faisant partie d'une plaque ou d'une feuille formant un tout
G02B 5/126 - Réflecteurs reflex comprenant une surface courbe de réfraction