Patent ID: 6841096

Claim:
A method for constructing a solid immersion lens structure, the method comprising: (a) producing a mold so as to define a pliant lens cavity in which a spherical solid immersion lens portion of the solid immersion lens structure is to be formed, the pliant lens cavity having an orifice having a transverse dimension less than a transverse dimension of the lens cavity for the spherical solid immersion lens portion, wherein the surface tension of the material from which the mold is formed is controlled so that the pliant lens cavity has a predetermined depth; (b) casting a moldable material, from which at least the solid immersion lens portion is to be formed, into at least the lens cavity; (c) permitting the moldable material to set thereby to form the solid immersion lens portion of the solid immersion lens structure; and (d) removing the solid immersion lens portion of the solid immersion lens structure from the pliant mold after the moldable material has set.