Patent ID: 6814900
Filing Date: 2004-11-09
Classification: B29C,B29D,Y10S

Abstract:
A method for molding an optical attenuator that includes a lens portion and a supporting portion unitary with the lens portion, the method comprising the steps of:providing a mold having a cavity element and a core element which together define a space in which the supporting portion can be molded, a portion of the cavity element defining one surface of the lens portion, a core pin movably located in the core element and having a proximal end defining a second surface of the lens portion, and a core pin motor coupled to the core pin for moving the core pin relative to the core element to adjust a thickness of the lens portion, injecting a suitable polymer into the space to form the optical attenuator defined by the surfaces of the cavity element and the core element and pin, separating the cavity and core elements from each other to extract the optical attenuator from the mold, optically measuring the thickness of the lens portion, and providing a signal indicative of the thickness of the lens portion to a controller having an output coupled to the core pin motor, the controller providing a signal to the core pin motor specifying any movement necessary to retain the thickness of the lens portion within a desired range before repeating the injecting step.