title: Mutual diffusion process for continuous fabrication of graded-index plastic rod lenses.
abstract: We propose a new process for fabrication of plastic rod lenses based on the traditional method of fiber extrusion. The process consists of the following steps: multilayer conjugate extrusion, monomer diffusion between adjacent layers, and photopolymerization of an uncured strand fiber. We call this process a mutual diffusion process for continuous plastic rod lens fabrication. Characteristics of this process are as follows: fast production speed (approximately 100 cm/min), precision control of refractive-index distribution, high angular aperture, and long-term reliability. The optical resolution of the rod-lens array is 300 dpi, which is high enough for application to G3 facsimiles with transmission time of less than 1 min and monochromatic scanners.
authors.affiliation: Department of Organic and Polymer Materials Chemistry, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Naka-cho, Koganei, Tokyo 184-8588, Japan. uozu_yo@mrc.co.jp
authors.forename: Yoshihiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Uozu
authors.forename: Kazuyuki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Horie