Abstract:
A lens includes a glass substrate, and a silicone layer adhered to the glass substrate and having a pattern formed on an outer surface thereof. Since the light-transmissive silicone layer is directly adhered to the glass substrate, without the use of an adhesive layer, the fabrication cost and thickness of the lens are reduced, and the objective of thinning the lens is achieved.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to lenses and fabrication methods thereof, and more particularly, to a lens applied in a solar system and a fabrication method thereof. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]      FIGS. 1A and 1B  show a fabrication method of a silicone-on-glass (SOG) lens  1  in a solar cell. A silicone  13  having a lens structure is disposed on a glass substrate  11  through an adhesive layer  12 . However, the use of the adhesive layer  12  increases the fabrication cost and thickness of the lens  1  and adversely affects thinning of the lens  1 . 
         [0005]    Therefore, there is a need to provide a lens and a fabrication method thereof so as to overcome the above-described drawbacks. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    In view of the above-described drawbacks, it is an object of the present invention to provide a thin lens and a fabrication method thereof. 
         [0007]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a low-cost lens and a fabrication method thereof 
         [0008]    In order to achieve the above and other objects, the present invention provides a fabrication method of a lens, which comprises the steps of: disposing a molding board having a patterned surface over a glass substrate in a manner that the patterned surface faces the glass substrate and a molding space is formed between the patterned surface of the molding board and the glass substrate; introducing a light-transmissive compound into the molding space so as to form a light-transmissive body with a surface corresponding to the patterned surface; and removing the molding board while maintaining the light-transmissive body to be adhered to the glass substrate. 
         [0009]    In an embodiment of the present invention, the glass substrate and the molding board are disposed in a mold. 
         [0010]    In an embodiment of the present invention, the light-transmissive compound is introduced into the molding space by injection molding, such that the light-transmissive body is directly adhered to the glass substrate. 
         [0011]    In an embodiment of the present invention, the light-transmissive compound is a thermosetting compound such as silicone. Preferably, the light-transmissive compound is optical silicone. 
         [0012]    The present invention further provides a lens, which comprises: a glass substrate; and a silicone layer adhered to the glass substrate and having a pattern formed on an outer surface thereof. 
         [0013]    In an embodiment of the present invention, the silicone layer is made of optical silicone and directly adhered to the glass substrate. 
         [0014]    According to the present invention, the light-transmissive body or the patterned silicon layer is directly formed on a glass substrate instead of through an adhesive layer as in the prior art, thus reducing the fabrication cost and overall thickness of the lens and facilitating thinning of the lens. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0015]      FIGS. 1A and 1B  are cross-sectional views showing a fabrication method of a lens in the prior art; and 
           [0016]      FIGS. 2A to 2D  are cross-sectional views showing a fabrication method of a lens according to the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0017]    The following illustrative embodiments are provided to illustrate the disclosure of the present invention, these and other advantages and effects can be apparent to those in the art after reading this specification. 
         [0018]    It should be noted that all the drawings are not intended to limit the present invention. Various modification and variations can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Further, terms such as “one,” “top,” “above,” etc. are merely for illustrative purpose and should not be construed to limit the scope of the present invention. 
         [0019]      FIGS. 2A to 2D  show a fabrication method of a lens  2  according to the present invention. 
         [0020]    Referring to  FIG. 2A , a mold  20  having a lower portion  20   a  and an upper portion  20   b  is provided. A glass substrate  21  is disposed in the lower portion  20   a  of the mold  20 , and a molding board  22  having a patterned surface  220  is disposed in the upper portion  20   b  of the mold  20 , wherein the patterned surface  220  is exposed from the upper portion  20   b  of the mold  20 . The patterned surface  220  is designed according to the specification of the lens to be fabricated. 
         [0021]    Referring to  FIG. 2B , the lower portion  20   a  and the upper portion  20   b  of the mold  20  are aligned and engaged with each other so as to allow the molding board  22  to be disposed over the glass substrate  21 , in a manner that the patterned surface  220  of the molding board  22  faces the glass substrate  21  and a molding space S is formed between the patterned surface  220  of the molding board  22  and the glass substrate  21 . 
         [0022]    Referring to  FIG. 2C , a light-transmissive thermosetting compound  23  is introduced into the molding space S by injection molding such that the light-transmissive compound  23  is formed into a light-transmissive body  23   a  directly adhered to the glass substrate  21 , after the molding process is completed. Accordingly, the surface of the light-transmissive body  23   a  that attached to the molding board  20  is provided with a pattern corresponding to the patterned surface  220  of the molding board  20 , so as for the light-transmissive body  23   a  to obtain a lens effect. In an embodiment of the present invention, the light-transmissive compound  23  is silicone or optical silicone. 
         [0023]    Referring to  FIG. 2D , after the light-transmissive body  23   a  is cured, the lower portion  20   a  and the upper portion  20   b  of the mold  20  are separated from each other to thereby separate the molding board  22  from the light-transmissive body  23   a.  Further, the glass substrate  21  is taken out from the lower portion  20   a  of the mold  20 , thus obtaining the lens  2  consisting of the glass substrate  21  and the light-transmissive  23   a  disposed on the glass substrate  21 . 
         [0024]    The present invention directly forms a light-transmissive body  23   a  on the glass substrate  21  by injection molding without the need to apply an adhesive layer between the light-transmissive body  23   a  and the glass substrate  21  as in the prior art, thereby reducing the fabrication cost and material cost, reducing the overall thickness of the lens  2  and facilitating thinning of the lens  2 . 
         [0025]    Further, various kinds of SOG lenses, such as Fresnel lenses, can be fabricated through injection molding. 
         [0026]    The present invention further provides a lens, which comprises a glass substrate, and a silicone layer directly adhered to the glass substrate and having a pattern formed on an outer surface thereof. In an embodiment of the present invention, the silicone layer is made of optical silicone and directly adhered to the glass substrate. 
         [0027]    Therefore, by directly applying optical silicone material on a glass substrate to thus form the aforementioned silicone layer, the present invention reduces the fabrication cost and overall thickness of the lens and facilitates thinning of the lens. 
         [0028]    The above-described descriptions of the detailed embodiments are only to illustrate the preferred implementation according to the present invention, and it is not to limit the scope of the present invention, Accordingly, all modifications and variations completed by those with ordinary skill in the art should fall within the scope of present invention defined by the appended claims.