Research at the Precision Engineering Center
To reduce the cost of manufacturing the optical components in laser print engines, the PEC is working to design and fabricate Fresnel lenses that perform as well or better than existing components. Fresnel lenses are typically thinner than conventional lenses and are potentially easier and quicker to mold. This report describes the challenges in measuring and fabricating these lenses. The effort began with the evaluation of commercial, conical groove Fresnel lens using a CMOS array digital camera as the sensor. The results revealed poor surface features and performance that was not acceptable for the scanning system. However, part of the problem was in the measurement process and the technique needed to be modified. The breakthrough in measuring spot sizes was calibration of the intensity response of the CMOS camera used in the measurements. After initial tests of a commercially available conical Fresnel lens revealed too much diffraction, an aspheric lens was machined for testing. Finally, progress in designing lenses for diffraction made it necessary to machine conical groove “kinoform” lenses with groove spacing on the order of only a few micrometers. A special apparatus has been designed and tested to achieve this fine groove structure.
The following faculty, students, and PEC affiliates are involved in this project:
| Faculty | Students | Affiliates |
| Alex Sohn Thomas A. Dow Kenneth Garrard |
