title: Design and fabrication of a copolymer aspheric bi-convex lens utilizing thermal energy and electrostatic force in a dynamic fluidic.
abstract: The purpose of this paper is to use thermal energy and electrostatic force as an alternative to high-cost precision cutting or traditional injection molding in the fabrication of COC (cyclo-olefin copolymer) plastic aspheric bi-convex lenses with high Blu-Ray transmittance (92% at 405 nm). A glass substrate was used, and ultrasonic drilling defined the clear aperture of the aspheric bi-convex lens. The copolymer lens material was measured, filled and melted into the hole. A gradient electrical potential was applied between the top and bottom electrodes of the COC liquid droplet to control the profile of the lens. The thermal energy melted the COC into a dynamic fluid, and the electrostatic force controlled the aspheric morphology of the designed profile. The resulting lenses have a clear aperture of approximately 1.14 mm and a front focal length of 4.97 mm, and the spot size of the fabricated aspheric bi-convex lenses can be controlled to approximately 0.588 microm. This technology is capable of fabricating lenses for application in micro-optical systems.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Mech. and Electrical Engineering, Ming-Chi Univ. of Technology, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Kuo-Yung
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Hung
authors.forename: Chao-Chih
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: Fan-Gang
authors.initials: FG
authors.lastname: Tseng
authors.forename: Yi-Ko
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D017076:Computer-Aided Design; D004735:Energy Transfer; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D006358:Hot Temperature; D007909:Lenses; D044085:Microfluidics / Q000295:instrumentation*; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D012031:Refractometry; D055672:Static Electricity; D013314:Stress, Mechanical
chemical_list: D011108:Polymers