We present for the first time here that the micro-lens array is designed and fabricated with water-type polymer by inkjet printing technology. The micro-lens is, but not limited to be, simply designed with convex shape and small size less than 300 micrometers; the column and row of array cab be up to 100 × 100 and more. Meanwhile, by hydrophobic surface treatment of the substrate, micro-lens array is able be formed onto without coffeering. The specific fluid material of lens is formulated with low viscous solution of water-born Polyurethane (PU). Its optical refractive-index n is about 1.5. We also develop a new inkjet printing system that can generate droplets of such PU solution and deposit them onto the desired positions. Consequently, the dried solid micro-lens array is successfully fabricated after solvents completely drying. Many industrial applications for those microlens arrays can be found in LED package, LCD components, optical fiber component, and so on.
Chin-Tai Chen, Ching-Long Chiu, Yen-Wen Sha, Yung-Fa Huang, Zhao-Fu Tseng, Chun-Te Chuang, "Design and Fabrication of Microlens Array by Solvent-type Polymer of Inkjet Printing" in Proc. IS&T Digital Fabrication Conf., 2005, pp 154 - 157, https://doi.org/10.2352/ISSN.2169-4451.2005.21.2.art00051_3