Fabrication of polymer microlens arrays using capillary forming with a soft mold of micro-holes array and UV-curable polymer

doi:10.1364/OE.14.006253

Fabrication of polymer microlens arrays using capillary forming with a soft mold of micro-holes array and UV-curable polymer

Chih-Yuan Chang, Sen-Yeu Yang, Long-Sun Huang, and Kuo-Huang Hsieh »View Author Affiliations

Optics Express, Vol. 14, Issue 13, pp. 6253-6258 (2006)
http://dx.doi.org/10.1364/OE.14.006253

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Abstract

This paper reports a simple and effective method to fabricate microlens arrays with the ultraviolet-curable resins, and a soft mold of micro-holes array. During capillary forming operation, the surface of the soft mold of micro-holes array is being pressed against the ultraviolet-curable resin layer coated on the plastic substrate. An array of convex lense can be formed in the circular holes of the soft mold due to the capillary filling and surface tension. The microlens arrays have smooth surface and uniform focusing function. The shape and height of micolens can be controlled with a proper combination of pressing pressure, pressing duration and UV curing dose. This technique shows great potential for fabricating polymer microlens arrays with high productivity and low cost.

OCIS Codes
(220.0220) Optical design and fabrication : Optical design and fabrication
(220.4000) Optical design and fabrication : Microstructure fabrication
(230.0230) Optical devices : Optical devices
(230.3990) Optical devices : Micro-optical devices

ToC Category:
Optical Devices

History
Original Manuscript: May 3, 2006
Revised Manuscript: June 13, 2006
Manuscript Accepted: June 15, 2006
Published: June 26, 2006

Citation
Chih-Yuan Chang, Sen-Yeu Yang, Long-Sun Huang, and Kuo-Huang Hsieh, "Fabrication of polymer microlens arrays using capillary forming with a soft mold of micro-holes array and UV-curable polymer," Opt. Express 14, 6253-6258 (2006)
http://www.opticsinfobase.org/oe/abstract.cfm?URI=oe-14-13-6253

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References

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