US 11,851,358 B1
Optical element shaping systems
Bari M. Southard, Bridgewater, CT (US)
Assigned to Danbury Mission Technologies, LLC, Colorado Springs, CO (US)
Filed by Danbury Mission Technologies, LLC, Colorado Springs, CO (US)
Filed on Jan. 14, 2016, as Appl. No. 14/996,191.
Int. Cl. C03B 23/00 (2006.01); G02B 5/08 (2006.01); C03C 23/00 (2006.01)
CPC C03B 23/0066 (2013.01) [C03C 23/0025 (2013.01); G02B 5/08 (2013.01)] 6 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for shaping an optical element, comprising:
heating a first surface of the optical element by applying a first quantity of laser radiation to a portion of the first surface that does not extend to any lateral edge of the first surface, wherein the first surface is a back R2 surface of the optical element that is opposite a second surface of the optical element that is a front R1 surface of the optical element;
applying a second quantity of laser radiation to a third surface of the optical element that is a side surface of the optical element to shape the second surface of the optical element;
allowing the first and third surfaces of the optical element to cool, thereby causing residual stress in the first and third surfaces, wherein the residual stresses shape the second surface of the optical element by deforming the second surface of the optical element,
wherein applying laser radiation to the portion of the first surface comprises applying the radiation directly to the first surface without passing the radiation through the second surface.