KR20110044618A - Apparatus for manufacturing array lens and method for manufacturing the array lens using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: An apparatus for manufacturing array lens is provided to prevent the degradation of the precision of array lens caused by the contraction of materials for the manufacture of lens. CONSTITUTION: An apparatus for manufacturing array lens includes: a mold(110) offering a cavity in which the array lens is formed; a feeder(120) supplying the material for the manufacture of lens to the cavity; a curing device(130) solidifying a partial region of the material for the manufacture of lens; a driver(140) for driving the curing device; and a controller(150) controlling the driver.

Description

An array lens manufacturing apparatus and an array lens manufacturing method using the same {APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING ARRAY LENS AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING THE ARRAY LENS USING THE SAME}

The present invention relates to an array lens, and more particularly, to an apparatus for manufacturing an array lens having a high precision and an array lens manufacturing method using the same.

Generally, glass lenses and hybrid lenses are widely used as high heat resistant lenses applied to camera modules. Among them, a replica method is widely used as a method of manufacturing a hybrid lens. The array lens manufacturing method according to a general replica method is a method of forming an array lens by applying the lens manufacturing material to a glass substrate and then processing the lens manufacturing material into a mold and supplying a liquid lens manufacturing material to the cavity in the mold And a method of curing an lens manufacturing material to form an array lens. At this time, a photocurable material, a thermosetting material, etc. are widely used as a material for lens manufacture.

However, in the method of manufacturing the array lens using such light and heat curable materials, the phenomenon of shrinking of the materials occurs in the process of curing the light and heat curable materials. When shrinkage of such materials for lens manufacturing occurs, voids in the array lens may occur, or precision of the curvature and shape of the lens surface of the array lens may be degraded. Therefore, the general replica type array lens manufacturing method has a problem in that precision such as curvature and shape of the array lens is degraded due to shrinkage of the lens manufacturing materials.

An object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for manufacturing an array lens having a high precision.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in an effort to provide an array lens manufacturing apparatus for preventing a phenomenon in which precision of an array lens is degraded due to shrinkage of a lens manufacturing material during array lens manufacturing.

An object of the present invention is to provide a method of manufacturing an array lens having a high precision.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an array lens manufacturing method for preventing a phenomenon in which the precision of an array lens is degraded due to shrinkage to a material for manufacturing a lens.

An array lens manufacturing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a mold for providing a cavity in which an array lens is formed, a feeder for supplying a lens manufacturing material to the cavity, a hardener for curing a portion of the lens manufacturing material in the cavity, A driver for moving the curing machine such that the curing machine sequentially corresponds to all regions of the lens manufacturing material, and a controller for controlling the driver.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the mold includes a first mold and a second mold facing left and right, and the driver may move the curing machine along the mold.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the mold includes a first mold and a second mold facing up and down, and the driver may move the curing machine along the mold.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the clamp may further include a clamp for rotating by clamping the mold.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the lens manufacturing material is a photocurable material, and the curing device may include a light irradiation device for irradiating light to the photocurable material.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the lens manufacturing material is a thermosetting material, and the curing device may include a heater that provides heat to the thermosetting material.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the controller may control the driver to cure the lens manufacturing material while moving the hardener at a uniform speed from one region of the lens manufacturing material in the cavity to the other region of the cavity. Can be.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the controller controls the driver to cure the lens manufacturing material while moving the hardener at different speeds from one area of the lens manufacturing material in the cavity to the other area of the cavity at different speeds. can do.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the controller is configured to drive the driver so that the moving speed of the curing machine moving the lens forming region of the array lens is slower than the moving speed of the curing machine moving the region other than the lens forming region. Can be controlled.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, an array lens manufacturing method includes preparing a mold providing a cavity in which an array lens is formed, supplying a lens manufacturing material to the mold, and from one region to the other region of the lens manufacturing material. It may comprise the step of curing sequentially.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, supplying the lens manufacturing material to the mold includes supplying the lens manufacturing material in a liquid state at room temperature to the cavity, and curing the lens manufacturing material comprises: And sequentially curing from the lower region to the upper region of the lens manufacturing material.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, supplying the lens manufacturing material to the mold includes supplying the lens manufacturing material in a liquid state at room temperature to the cavity, and curing the lens manufacturing material comprises: And sequentially curing from the left region to the right region of the lens manufacturing material.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, preparing the mold includes preparing a first mold and a second mold facing up and down, and supplying a lens manufacturing material to the mold comprises preparing the lens manufacturing material. The method may include preparing a supply for supplying, moving the feeder between the first mold and the second mold, and supplying the lens manufacturing material onto the second mold.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the curing of the lens manufacturing material may include rotating the mold so that the first mold and the second mold face each other, and rotating the mold and the first mold and the second mold. In a state facing each other, the step of sequentially curing from the lower region of the lens manufacturing material to the upper region of the lens manufacturing material.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the curing of the lens manufacturing material may include sequentially curing from the left region to the right region of the lens manufacturing material while the first mold and the second mold face up and down. It may include.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the curing of the lens manufacturing material may include preparing a curing machine for curing a portion of the lens manufacturing material and moving the curing machine along the mold.

The array lens manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention includes a mold for providing a cavity and a hardener for defining and curing a partial region of the lens manufacturing material in the cavity, and after curing from one region of the lens manufacturing material, in the other region. Curing can be completed. Such an array lens manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention can prevent the accuracy of the array lens from being lowered due to shrinkage of the lens manufacturing material, thereby manufacturing an array lens having high precision.

In the method of manufacturing an array lens according to the present invention, after curing the material for manufacturing a lens in a cavity from one region, the curing may be completed in the other region. Such an array lens manufacturing method according to the present invention can prevent the precision of the array lens from deteriorating due to shrinkage of the lens manufacturing material, thereby producing an array lens having high precision.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The advantages and features of the present invention and the manner of achieving them will become apparent with reference to the embodiments described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The present invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. The embodiments may be provided to make the disclosure of the present invention complete, and to fully inform the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout the specification.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. In this specification, the singular also includes the plural unless specifically stated otherwise in the phrase. It is to be understood that the terms 'comprise', and / or 'comprising' as used herein may be used to refer to the presence or absence of one or more other components, steps, operations, and / Or additions.

Hereinafter, an array lens manufacturing apparatus and an array lens manufacturing method using the same according to embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a view showing an array lens manufacturing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1, an array lens manufacturing apparatus 100 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention may include a mold 110, a feeder 120, a hardener 130, a driver 140, and a controller 150. Can be.

The mold 110 may provide a cavity 116 in which the array lens 102 is formed. As an example, the mold 110 may include a first mold 112 and a second mold 114 that are laterally opposed to each other. The first and second molds 112 and 114 may be provided with a lens forming part 118 on the side facing each other. The lens forming unit 118 may be for forming the array lens 102. As an example, the lens forming unit 118 may have a recess for forming the lens region 104 of the array lens 102. As another example, the mold 110 may have a lens forming portion having a convex portion. As another example, the mold 110 may be provided such that a recess is provided in one of the first and second molds 112 and 114 and a convex part is provided in the other. On the other hand, the cavity 116 may have a vertical shape long. The first and second molds 112 and 114 having the above structure may be laterally moved to move away from or close to each other.

The feeder 120 may supply a lens manufacturing material to the cavity 116. For example, the feeder 120 may be disposed above the mold 110. The feeder 120 may provide a material for manufacturing a lens in a liquid state to the cavity 116 through the upper portion 116a of the cavity 116. The liquid lens manufacturing material provided through the upper portion 116a may flow into the cavity 116 to fill the cavity 116. The array lens 102 may be formed by the lens manufacturing material filled in the cavity 116. The array lens 102 may include a lens formation region 104 and a lens support region 106. The lens formation region 104 may be a region where one unit lens is formed. The lens support region 106 is a region other than the lens formation region 104, and may be used as a cutting region for cutting the array lens 102 into unit lenses in a subsequent process. In addition, the lens support region 106 may be used as a lens support portion for supporting the unit lens in a package structure when packaging the unit lenses.

The hardener 130 may cure the lens manufacturing material in the cavity 116. For example, the lens manufacturing material may be a photocurable material, and the curing device 130 may include a light irradiation device for irradiating light 132 to the photocurable material in the cavity 116. At least one curing machine 130 may be disposed at a side of the mold 110. When a plurality of the hardeners 130 are provided, a plurality of hardeners 130 may be disposed on the side of the mold 110 with the mold 110 therebetween. Meanwhile, the hardener 130 may irradiate light 132 having a larger width than that of one lens forming region 104. For example, the width of the light 132 irradiated with the photocurable material during the curing process 130 may be equal to or greater than the upper and lower widths of one lens formation region 104.

The driver 140 may drive the curing machine 130. For example, the driver 140 is the curing device 130 between the first position (a) located on the lower side of the mold 110 and the second position (b) located above the first position (a) Can be moved. The first position (a) is a position for the curing device 130 to irradiate the light 132 to the lower region of the photocurable material in the cavity 116, and the second position (b) is the curing machine ( 130 may be a position for irradiating the light 132 to an upper region of the photocurable material in the cavity 116.

The controller 150 may control the mold 110, the feeder 120, the curing machine 130, and the driver 140. A detailed process of the controller 150 to control the mold 110, the feeder 120, the curing machine 130, and the driver 140 will be described later.

The array lens manufacturing apparatus 100 as described above is disposed on the side of the mold 110 and defines the specific region of the array lens 102 to irradiate the light 132 with the hardener 130 and the hardener ( It may include the driver 140 for driving 130 up and down. Therefore, the array lens manufacturing apparatus 100 moves the curing machine 130 up and down on the side of the mold 110, and confines the light 132 to a specific region of the photocurable material in the cavity 116. It can have a structure to investigate the.

Subsequently, an array lens manufacturing method according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail. Here, the overlapping contents of the above-described array lens manufacturing apparatus 100 may be omitted or simplified.

2 is a flowchart illustrating a method of manufacturing an array lens according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 3A to 3C are diagrams for describing an array lens manufacturing process according to an exemplary embodiment.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3A, the cavity 116 having an elongated shape up and down may be formed (S110). For example, the controller 150 may control the mold 110 such that the first and second molds 112 and 114 having the lens forming part 118 formed on the side facing each other are moved laterally and closely contact each other. have. Accordingly, the cavity 116 having an up and down long shape may be provided between the first and second molds 112 and 114.

The lens manufacturing material may be provided to the cavity 116 through the upper portion 116a of the cavity 116 (S120). For example, the controller 150 may control the feeder 120 such that the feeder 120 provides the liquid photocurable material in the cavity 116 through the top 116a of the cavity 116. Can be. Herein, a UV curable polymer may be used as the photocurable material. Accordingly, the photocurable material supplied through the upper portion 116a may fill the cavity 116 while flowing down from the upper region to the lower region of the cavity 116 by gravity. Meanwhile, in the process of supplying the photocurable material to the cavity 116, a predetermined supply pressure may be provided to the photocurable material.

2, 3B and 3C, light may be sequentially irradiated from the lower region to the upper region of the photocurable material (S130). For example, the controller 150 may turn on the curing device 130 after moving the curing device 130 to the first position (a). Accordingly, the curing device 130 may irradiate light 132 to the lower region of the photocurable material in the cavity 116 to selectively harden the lower region of the photocurable material. Thereafter, the controller 150 may drive the driver 140 to move the curing machine 130 from the first position (a) to the second position (b). As an example, the controller 150 may drive the driver 140 to move the curing machine 130 from the first position (a) to the second position (b) at a constant speed. In this case, the light 132 emitted by the curing device 130 sequentially scans the photocurable material in the cavity 116 from the lower region to the upper region of the photocurable material, thereby scanning the photocurable material. It can be cured. As another example, the controller 150 may move a moving speed for each area of the photocurable material in the cavity 116 when the curing machine 130 moves from the first position (a) to the second position (b). The driver 140 may be controlled to move while changing. For example, in the array lens 102, the volume of the lens forming region 104 is larger than that of the lens supporting region 106, so that the curing time of the lens forming region 104 is increased in the lens supporting region 106. It can be longer than that. Accordingly, the controller 150 may be configured such that the moving speed of the curing machine 130 when curing the lens forming region 104 is equal to the moving speed of the curing machine 130 when curing the lens support region 106. The driver 140 may be controlled so as to be slower (including a case of stopping for a predetermined time) compared to the slower. Accordingly, the curing machine 130 may irradiate light 132 sequentially from the lower region to the upper region of the photocurable material in the cavity 116 at the side of the mold 110.

On the other hand, when the photocurable material is cured in the same manner as described above, a phenomenon in which the precision of the array lens 102 is lowered due to shrinkage of the photocurable material can be prevented. More specifically, a photocurable material such as a UV curable polymer may shrink its volume in the course of being irradiated with light and cured. Therefore, the array lens formed by curing the photocurable material is in a somewhat reduced state with respect to the volume of the cavity, and thus the accuracy of the array lens required may be degraded. However, after providing the cavity 116 having an elongated shape as described above, and then irradiating the light 132 sequentially from the lower region of the photocurable material filled in the cavity 116 to the upper region, the photocurable Even if shrinkage of the material occurs, shrinkage of the photocurable material may be compensated for by the portion of the photocurable material that is not irradiated with the light 132. In particular, substantial shrinkage of the photocurable material occurs most of the portion of the photocurable material in contact with the upper portion of the photocurable material to be cured, and does not greatly affect the region adjacent to the lens forming portion 118 of the cavity 116. You may not. In addition, the cured portion of the photocurable material may be under pressure by the load of the photocurable material located thereon during the above-mentioned curing. Accordingly, the photocurable material may be cured while being in close contact with the cavity 116 by the pressure. Accordingly, the method of manufacturing an array lens according to the present invention prevents deformation of the lens curvature and shape of the array lens 102 by shrinkage of the photocurable material during curing of the photocurable material, thereby providing an array having high precision. The lens 102 can be manufactured.

Hereinafter, an array lens manufacturing apparatus and an array lens manufacturing method using the same according to another embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail.

4 is a view showing an array lens manufacturing apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 4, the array lens manufacturing apparatus 200 according to another embodiment of the present invention may include a mold 210, a feeder 220, a hardener 230, a driver 240, and a controller 250. have.

The mold 210 may include first and second molds 212 and 214 provided with a lens forming unit 218 on side surfaces facing each other. The first and second molds 212 and 214 are provided with a cavity 216 having an elongated shape, and the cavity 216 is filled with a material for manufacturing a lens to cure the predetermined array lens 202. Can be formed.

The feeder 220 may provide a material for manufacturing a lens to the cavity 216. For example, the feeder 220 may supply a liquid thermosetting material to the cavity 216 through the upper portion 216a of the cavity 216. As the liquid thermosetting material, an epoxy-based material and an acrylic-based material may be used.

The hardener 230 may be disposed on the side of the mold 210 to heat the thermosetting material in the cavity 216. At least one curing machine 230 may be disposed on a side of the mold 210. When the plurality of hardeners 230 are provided, a plurality of hardeners 230 may be disposed on the side of the mold 210 with the mold 210 therebetween. Meanwhile, the hardener 230 may be adjusted to limit and heat a portion of the thermosetting material in the cavity 216. As an example, the heating range of the curing machine 230 may be equal to or greater than the upper and lower widths of one lens formation region 204.

The driver 240 may drive the curing machine 230. For example, the driver 240 may move the curing machine 230 between a third position (c) positioned below the side of the mold 210 and a fourth position (d) located above the third position (c). You can move it. The third position (c) is for the curing machine 230 to provide the heat 232 to the lower region of the thermosetting material in the cavity 216, and the fourth position (d) is for the curing machine. 230 may be a location for providing the heat 232 to an upper region of the heat curable material in the cavity 216.

The controller 250 may control the mold 210, the feeder 220, the curing machine 230, and the driver 240. A detailed process of the controller 250 to control the mold 210, the feeder 220, the curing machine 230, and the driver 240 will be described later.

Subsequently, an array lens manufacturing method using the array lens manufacturing apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention described above will be described in detail. Here, the overlapping contents of the above-described array lens manufacturing apparatus may be omitted or simplified.

5 is a flowchart illustrating a method of manufacturing an array lens according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 6A to 6C are diagrams for describing an array lens manufacturing process according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6A, the cavity 216 having an elongated shape up and down may be formed (S210). For example, the controller 250 may control the mold 210 such that the first and second molds 212 and 214 having the lens forming unit 218 formed on the side facing each other are moved laterally and closely contact each other. have. Accordingly, the cavity 216 having an elongated shape up and down may be formed by the lens forming unit 218 of the first and second molds 212 and 214.

The thermosetting material may be provided to the cavity 216 through the upper portion 216a of the cavity 216 (S220). For example, the feeder 220 may provide a liquid thermosetting material in the cavity 116 through the upper portion 216a of the cavity 216. As the thermosetting material, an epoxy-based material and an acrylic-based material may be used. Accordingly, the photocurable material provided through the upper portion 216a of the cavity 216 may fill the cavity 216 while flowing down from the upper region to the lower region of the cavity 216 by gravity. Meanwhile, in the process of supplying the thermosetting material to the cavity 216, a predetermined supply pressure may be provided to the photocurable material.

Referring to FIGS. 5, 6B, and 6C, heating may be sequentially performed from a lower region to an upper region of the thermosetting material (S230). For example, the controller 250 may turn on the curing machine 230 after placing the curing machine 230 in the third position (c). Accordingly, the hardener 230 may apply the heat 232 to the lower region of the thermosetting material. Accordingly, the hardener 230 may harden by defining a lower region of the thermosetting material. Thereafter, the controller 250 may drive the driver 240 to move the curing machine 230 from the third position c to the fourth position d. As an example, the controller 250 may drive the driver 240 to move the curing machine 230 at a constant speed from the third position c to the fourth position d. As another example, the controller 250 may be configured such that when the curing machine 230 moves from the third position (c) to the fourth position (d), the controller is moved such that the moving speed is changed for each region of the thermosetting material. 240 may be driven. Accordingly, the curing machine 230 may sequentially provide heat 232 from the lower region to the upper region of the thermosetting material in the cavity 216 at the side of the mold 210.

On the other hand, when the thermosetting material is cured in the same manner as described above, the precision of the array lens 202 may be reduced by shrinkage of the thermosetting material. More specifically, a thermosetting material such as an epoxy or acrylic based material may shrink in volume during heating and curing. Thus, the array lens formed by curing the thermosetting material is in a somewhat reduced state with respect to the volume of the cavity, and thus, the accuracy of the array lens required may be degraded.

Accordingly, after providing the cavity 216 having an elongated shape as described above, and sequentially providing the heat 232 from the lower region of the thermosetting material filled in the cavity 216 to the upper region sequentially, Even if shrinkage of the heat curable material occurs, shrinkage of the heat curable material may be compensated for by the portion of the heat curable material not receiving the heat 232. In addition, since the thermosetting material provides a load pressure toward the thermosetting material while curing is performed, the thermosetting material may be cured while being in close contact with the cavity 216. Accordingly, when the thermosetting material is cured, it is possible to prevent a phenomenon in which the accuracy of the array lens 202 due to shrinkage of the thermosetting material is lowered.

On the other hand, the array lens manufacturing techniques according to the above and other embodiments of the present invention described above is provided with a curing machine (130, 230) is driven up and down on the sides of the mold (110, 210), the curing machine (130, 230) Although a technique of sequentially curing the lower region to the upper region of the lens manufacturing material has been described as an example, the present invention may not be limited thereto. For example, as another embodiment of the present invention, the curing machines 130 and 230 may be provided to sequentially cure the lens manufacturing material from the upper region of the lens manufacturing material to the lower region. To this end, the controllers 150 and 250 may move the hardeners 130 and 230 to sequentially cure the upper and lower regions of the lens manufacturing material. Even in this case, it is possible to prevent the accuracy of the array lenses 102 and 202 from deteriorating due to shrinkage of the lens manufacturing material.

Hereinafter, an array lens manufacturing apparatus and an array lens manufacturing method using the same according to another embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail.

7 is a view showing an array lens manufacturing apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 7, the array lens manufacturing apparatus 300 according to another embodiment of the present invention includes a mold 310, a feeder 320, a hardener 330, a driver 340, and a controller 350. can do.

The mold 310 may provide a cavity 316 in which the array lens 302 is formed. For example, the mold 310 may include first and second molds 312 and 314 facing up and down, and may face each other on the opposite surfaces of the first and second molds 312 and 314. The lens forming unit 318 may be provided. The first and second molds 312 and 314 having the above structure may be moved in the vertical direction to be separated from each other or may be in close contact with each other.

The feeder 320 may be disposed on the side of the mold 320 to supply the lens manufacturing material to the cavity 316. The feeder 320 having this structure is connected to the cavity 316 through the side 316a of the cavity 316 when the first and second molds 312 and 314 form the cavity 316. A material for producing a lens in a liquid state can be provided. The lens manufacturing material may be any one of a photocurable material and a thermosetting material. The array lens 302 may be formed by the lens manufacturing material filled in the cavity 316. The array lens 302 may include a lens formation region 304 and a lens support region 306. The lens forming region 304 may be a region in which one unit lens is formed, and the lens support region 306 may be a cutting region for cutting the array lens 302 into unit lenses in a subsequent process.

The hardener 330 may harden the material for manufacturing the lens in the cavity 316. For example, the curing device 330 may include a light irradiation device for irradiating light to the lens manufacturing material in the cavity 316. In this case, the lens manufacturing material may include a photocurable material. The hardener 330 may be disposed above or below the mold 310 to irradiate light having a larger width than that of one lens forming region 304. For example, the width of the light irradiated by the curing device 330 to the photocurable material may be equal to or larger than the left and right widths of one lens formation region 304. As another example, the hardener 330 may include a heater that provides heat to the lens manufacturing material in the cavity 316. In this case, the material for manufacturing the lens may include a thermosetting material. The hardener 330 may be disposed above and below the mold 310 to provide heat having a larger heating range than one lens forming region 314. For example, the heating range in which the hardener 330 heats the thermosetting material may be equal to or greater than the left and right widths of one lens forming region 304.

The driver 340 may drive the curing machine 330. For example, the driver 340 may move the curing machine 230 between a fifth position e located at one upper side of the mold 310 and a sixth position f located at the other upper side of the mold 310. You can move it. The fifth position (e) is a position for the curing machine 330 to cure one end region of the lens manufacturing material in the cavity 316, and the sixth position (f) is for the curing machine 330 The cavity 316 may be a position for curing the other end region of the lens manufacturing material. The driver 340 may move the curing machine 330 in a horizontal direction with respect to the mold 310.

The controller 350 may control the curing machine 330 and the driver 340. For example, the controller 350 may be configured to cure the other end region of the lens manufacturing material in the cavity 316 while the curing machine 330 is positioned at the fifth position e. can do. Thereafter, the controller 350 may control the driver 330 to move the curing machine 340 to the sixth position f. Accordingly, the curing machine 340 may complete the curing of the other region of the lens manufacturing material while curing from one region of the lens manufacturing material.

The array lens manufacturing apparatus 300 as described above is disposed on the upper or lower portion of the mold 110, and the hardener 330 and the hardener (for providing light or heat only to a partial region of the array lens 302) It may include a driver 340 for driving the 330 horizontally. Accordingly, the array lens manufacturing apparatus 300 hardens the curing machine 330 from one region of the lens manufacturing material in the cavity 316 while moving the curing machine 330 laterally from the upper or lower portion of the mold 310. The curing of the other region of the lens manufacturing material can be completed. In this case, the shrinkage of the hardened portion of the lens manufacturing material may be compensated for by the lens manufacturing material of both sides where the hardening does not occur. In particular, the shrinkage phenomenon of the lens manufacturing material mainly acts on the lens manufacturing material on both sides of which the curing is not performed, and can be relatively small on the lens manufacturing material portion adjacent to the lens forming portion 118. Accordingly, the array lens manufacturing apparatus and the array lens manufacturing method using the same according to another embodiment of the present invention prevents the deformation of the curvature and shape of the array lens due to shrinkage of the lens manufacturing material, thereby providing an array lens having a high precision It can manufacture.

Hereinafter, an array lens manufacturing method according to still another embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail. An array lens manufacturing method to be described later may be a modification derived from the array lens manufacturing apparatuses and methods according to various embodiments described above. Accordingly, overlapping descriptions of the apparatus and method for manufacturing an array lens according to various embodiments described above may be omitted or simplified.

8 is a flowchart illustrating a method of manufacturing an array lens according to still another embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 9 to 11A and 11B are views illustrating an array lens manufacturing process according to still another embodiment of the present invention. .

8 and 9, a lens manufacturing material may be supplied between the first mold 412 and the second mold 414 facing up and down (S310). For example, a mold 410 including the first mold 412 and the second mold 414 disposed below the first mold 412 may be prepared. The lens forming unit 418 may be formed on surfaces of the first mold 412 and the second mold 414 facing each other. For example, the lens forming unit 418 may be a recess for forming a concave lens. The first and second molds 412 and 414 having the above structure may move in the vertical direction to move away from or close to each other. Then, after placing the feeder 420 between the first mold 412 and the second mold 414, the feeder 420 places the lens manufacturing material 401 on the second mold 414. Can supply The lens manufacturing material 401 may be any one of a photocurable material and a thermosetting material. When the supply of the lens manufacturing material 401 of the feeder 420 is completed, the feeder 420 may be moved from the mold 410 to be in the original position.

8 and 10, the first mold 412 and the second mold 414 may be in close contact with each other (S320). By closely contacting the first mold 412 and the second mold 414, a cavity 416 that is elongated in a horizontal direction of the mold 410 is provided, and thus, a lens forming part is formed in the mold 410. A lens manufacturing material 402 in the form of a preset array lens may be provided by 418.

Referring to FIG. 8, the curable material 402 may be cured sequentially from one region to the other region (S330). As an example, as shown in FIG. 11A, the lens manufacturing material 402 may be cured in a manner substantially similar to the method described above with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6. For example, by rotating the mold 410 horizontally placed as shown in 10, the mold 410 may be vertically disposed vertically. In order to rotate the mold 410, a predetermined clamp 460 may be provided to clamp and rotate the mold 410. In addition, a curing machine 430 which is moved in the vertical direction between the seventh position g and the eighth position h may be prepared. The seventh position (g) and the eighth position (h) may be positions corresponding to the first position (a) and the second position (b) described above with reference to FIG. The controller 450 may control the driver 440 to cure the curable material 402 while the curing device 430 moves from the seventh position g to the eighth position h. . Accordingly, the curing machine 430 may complete curing of the lens manufacturing material 402 while sequentially curing from the lower region to the upper region of the lens manufacturing material 402. As another example, as shown in FIG. 11A, the lens manufacturing material 402 may be cured in the same manner as described above with reference to FIG. 7. For example, it is possible to prepare a curing machine 430 to be moved in the horizontal direction between the ninth position (i) and the tenth position (j). The ninth position (i) and the tenth position (j) may be positions corresponding to the fifth position (e) and the sixth position (f) described above with reference to FIG. In addition, the controller 450 may control the driver 440 to cure the lens manufacturing material 402 while the hardener 430 moves from the ninth position i to the tenth position j. have. In this case, the hardener 430 may complete curing of the lens manufacturing material 402 while sequentially curing from the left region to the right region of the lens manufacturing material 402. Meanwhile, when the lens manufacturing material 402 is a photocurable material, the hardener 430 may be an irradiator for irradiating light onto the lens manufacturing material 402. Alternatively, when the lens manufacturing material 402 is a thermosetting material, the curing machine 430 may be a heater that provides heat to the lens manufacturing material 402.

The foregoing detailed description illustrates the present invention. In addition, the foregoing description merely shows and describes preferred embodiments of the present invention, and the present invention can be used in various other combinations, modifications, and environments. That is, changes or modifications may be made within the scope of the concept of the invention disclosed in this specification, the scope equivalent to the disclosed contents, and / or the skill or knowledge in the art. The foregoing embodiments are intended to illustrate the best mode contemplated for carrying out the invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention to other modes of operation known in the art for utilizing other inventions such as the present invention, Various changes are possible. Accordingly, the detailed description of the invention is not intended to limit the invention to the disclosed embodiments. In addition, the appended claims should be construed as including steps in other embodiments.

1 is a view showing an array lens manufacturing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a flowchart illustrating a method of manufacturing an array lens according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

3A to 3E are views for explaining a process of manufacturing an array lens according to an embodiment of the present invention.

4 is a view showing an array lens manufacturing apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention.

5 is a flowchart illustrating a method of manufacturing an array lens according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

6A to 6E are diagrams for describing an array lens manufacturing process according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

7 is a view showing an array lens manufacturing apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention.

8 is a flowchart illustrating a method of manufacturing an array lens according to still another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

9 to 11A and 11B illustrate an array lens manufacturing process according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Description of the Related Art [0002]

100: array lens manufacturing apparatus

110: mold

112: first mold

114: second mold

120: feeder

130: curing machine

140: driver

150: controller

Claims (16)

A mold providing a cavity in which an array lens is formed; A feeder for supplying a material for manufacturing a lens to the cavity; A hardener for curing a portion of the lens manufacturing material in the cavity; A driver for moving the curing machine such that the curing machine sequentially corresponds to all regions of the lens manufacturing material; And And an controller for controlling the driver. The method of claim 1, The mold includes a first mold and a second mold facing left and right, And said driver moves said hardener along said mold. The method of claim 1, The mold includes a first mold and a second mold facing up and down, And said driver moves said hardener along said mold. The method of claim 1, And a clamp for clamping and rotating the mold. The method of claim 1, The lens manufacturing material is a photocurable material, And the curing machine comprises a light irradiation device for irradiating light to the photocurable material. The method of claim 1, The lens manufacturing material is a thermosetting material, And said hardener comprises a heater for providing heat to said thermosetting material. 7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, And the controller controls the driver such that the curing machine cures the lens manufacturing material while moving at a uniform speed from one region of the lens manufacturing material in the cavity to the other region of the cavity. 7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, And the controller controls the driver to cure the lens manufacturing material while the curing machine moves from one region of the lens manufacturing material in the cavity to the other region of the cavity at a different speed for each region. The method of claim 8, And the controller controls the driver so that the moving speed of the curing machine moving the lens forming region of the array lens is slower than the moving speed of the curing machine moving the region other than the lens forming region. Preparing a mold providing a cavity in which an array lens is formed; Supplying a material for manufacturing a lens to the mold; And And sequentially curing from one region to the other region of the lens manufacturing material. 11. The method of claim 10, Supplying the lens manufacturing material to the mold includes supplying the lens manufacturing material in a liquid state at room temperature to the cavity, Curing the lens manufacturing material comprises sequentially curing the lower region to the upper region of the lens manufacturing material. 11. The method of claim 10, Supplying the lens manufacturing material to the mold includes supplying the lens manufacturing material in a liquid state at room temperature to the cavity, The curing of the lens manufacturing material includes the steps of sequentially curing from the left region to the right region of the lens manufacturing material. 11. The method of claim 10, The preparing of the mold includes preparing a first mold and a second mold facing up and down, Supplying a material for manufacturing a lens to the mold is: Preparing a feeder for supplying the lens manufacturing material; Moving the feeder between the first mold and the second mold; And And the feeder supplies a material for manufacturing a lens onto the second mold. The method of claim 13, Curing the lens manufacturing material is: Rotating the mold such that the first mold and the second mold face from side to side; And And sequentially curing from the lower region of the lens manufacturing material to the upper region of the lens manufacturing material while the first mold and the second mold face to the left and right. The method of claim 13, Curing the lens manufacturing material is: And hardening sequentially from the left region to the right region of the lens manufacturing material while the first mold and the second mold face each other up and down. The method according to any one of claims 10 to 15, Curing the lens manufacturing material is: Preparing a curing machine for curing a portion of the lens manufacturing material; And Moving the curer along the mold.

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