Method and device for producing an optical element having at least one functional region, as well as use of the device
The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing an optical element ( 100 ) having at least one functional region using a 3D-printer, comprising the steps: forming a three-dimensional structure ( 50 ) of the optical element ( 100 ) using a 3D-printer such that the three-dimensional structure ( 100 ) has at least one microfluidic cavity ( 4 ) for receiving a functional substance ( 6 ); and filling the at least one microfluidic cavity ( 4 ) with the functional substance ( 6 ) for forming the at least one functional region. In addition, the invention relates to a device for manufacturing an optical element ( 100 ) as well as a use of the device.
1. A method for manufacturing an optical element having at least one functional region that is formed to provide a predetermined optical property, the method comprising:
forming a three-dimensional structure of the optical element using a 3D-printer such that the three-dimensional structure has at least one microfluidic cavity for receiving a functional substance;
filling the at least one microfluidic cavity with the functional substance to form the at least one functional region with the predetermined optical property; and
hardening and/or drying the functional substance.
2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one microfluidic cavity is formed such that it can receive the functional substance using capillary effects.
3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the filling of the at least one microfluidic cavity with the functional substance occurs using capillary effects.
4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one microfluidic cavity is formed such that it has a length and/or width and/or diameter of less than 100 μm.
5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the filling of the at least one microfluidic cavity comprises:
wetting the at least one microfluidic cavity of the formed three-dimensional structure with the functional substance; and/or
introducing the functional substance into the at least one microfluidic cavity.
6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the filling of the at least one microfluidic cavity with the functional substance comprises allowing drawing in of the functional substance and/or application of pressure and/or bombardment with micro-droplets.
7. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
at least partially removing the functional substance from the at least one microfluidic cavity.
8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the predetermined optical property comprises at least one of a reflection capacity, an absorption capacity, a dispersion capacity, and a color filtration.
9. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising using the optical element to reflect, absorb, disperse, and/or color filter an emission of light.
10. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising subsequently introducing an additional functional substance into the at least one microfluidic cavity to impart an additional predetermined optical property to the at least one functional region.
11. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the additional predetermined optical property comprises adjustment of a chromatic aberration present in the at least one functional region.
12. A method of using a 3D-printer to manufacture an optical element having at least one functional region that is formed to provide a predetermined optical property, the method comprising:
forming a three-dimensional structure of the optical element using the 3D-printer such that the three-dimensional structure has at least one microfluidic cavity for receiving a functional substance;
filling the at least one microfluidic cavity with the functional substance to form the at least one functional region with the predetermined optical property; and
hardening and/or drying the functional substance.
13. The method according to claim 12 , wherein the at least one microfluidic cavity is formed such that it can receive the functional substance using capillary effects.
14. The method according to claim 12 , wherein the filling of the at least one microfluidic cavity with the functional substance occurs using capillary effects.
15. The method according to claim 12 , wherein the at least one microfluidic cavity is formed such that it has a length and/or width and/or diameter of less than 100 μm.
16. The method according to claim 12 , wherein the filling of the at least one microfluidic cavity comprises:
wetting the at least one microfluidic cavity of the formed three-dimensional structure with the functional substance; and/or
introducing the functional substance into the at least one microfluidic cavity.