The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 25, 2008
Filed:
May. 23, 2000
Arnoldo Valenzuela, Munich, DE;
Giuseppe Valsecchi, Oggiono, IT;
Robert David Banham, Suffolk, GB;
Fabio Marioni, Saronno, IT;
Arnoldo Valenzuela, Munich, DE;
Giuseppe Valsecchi, Oggiono, IT;
Robert David Banham, Suffolk, GB;
Fabio Marioni, Saronno, IT;
Media Lario S.R.L., Bosisio Parini (LC), IT;
Abstract
Optical mirror elements for high bandwidth free space optical communication are produced by an electroforming replication technique. Onto the precision surface of a mandrel that is a negative of the required optical surface a layer of metal is deposited forming an exact copy of the mandrel surface and is then separated to form the required optical element. During the production process the mandrel may be coated with a variety of materials that are then separated together with the electroformed optical element during the release step to form a monolithic structure that includes a reflective coating. The mandrel remains unchanged by the process and can then be re-used. The high cost of conventional polishing techniques is therefore limited to the production of the mandrel. The replication process results in the production of low cost optical elements suitable for high bandwidth free space optical data transmission.