US 12,391,013 B2
Method for printing an optical component utilizing layer compensation
John-John Van Den Bergh, Eindhoven (NL)
Assigned to META PLATFORMS TECHNOLOGIES, LLC, Menlo Park, CA (US)
Appl. No. 17/912,117
Filed by META PLATFORMS TECHNOLOGIES, LLC, Menlo Park, CA (US)
PCT Filed Apr. 15, 2021, PCT No. PCT/EP2021/059788
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Sep. 16, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/209551, PCT Pub. Date Oct. 21, 2021.
Claims priority of application No. 20169921 (EP), filed on Apr. 16, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2023/0135074 A1, May 4, 2023
Int. Cl. B29D 11/00 (2006.01); C09D 11/08 (2006.01); B29L 11/00 (2006.01)
CPC B29D 11/00009 (2013.01) [C09D 11/08 (2013.01); B29L 2011/0016 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for printing a three-dimensional optical structure comprising:
building the three-dimensional optical structure from layers of printing ink deposited through targeted placement of droplets of printing ink at least partially side by side in consecutive printing steps,;
at least partially compensating for deviations of a thickness from a nominal thickness of at least one layer by determining possible deviations prior to printing the layer, wherein depositing the printing ink is controlled dependent on the determined possible deviations during printing of said layer;
wherein during printing the layer, at least on a part of the layer, the droplets are placed according to a dither pattern, such that a number of droplets placed on the part is reduced;
wherein the number of droplets is reduced by leaving blank spaces when placing the droplets, wherein no droplets are placed on said blank spaces;
wherein the part of the layer is arranged parallel to a circumference of the layer;
wherein the part of the layer is formed as a loop or ring;
wherein the part of the layer is arranged a distance away from the circumference, or wherein the part of the layer adjoins the circumference.