US 11,745,453 B2
Method of making and using a reusable mold for fabrication of optical elements
Elliot John Smith, Ventura, CA (US); and Jacob A Bergam, Santa Barbara, CA (US)
Assigned to Continental Autonomous Mobility US, LLC, Auburn Hills, MI (US)
Filed by Continental Automotive Systems, Inc., Auburn Hills, MI (US)
Filed on Mar. 5, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/810,745.
Prior Publication US 2021/0276291 A1, Sep. 9, 2021
Int. Cl. B29D 11/00 (2006.01)
CPC B29D 11/00375 (2013.01) [B29D 11/00442 (2013.01)] 21 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of making an optical element, the method comprising:
applying a polymer to a mold, the mold having microstructures with the polymer flowing into the microstructures when applied to the mold;
pressing an inorganic substrate onto the polymer;
curing the polymer to fix the polymer to the inorganic substrate to form the optical element from the polymer and the inorganic substrate, the optical element having microstructures formed by the microstructures in the mold, wherein the optical element is monolithic after curing the polymer; and
releasing the optical element from the mold.