METHOD OF MANUFACTURING A MOULD FOR USE IN THE MANUFACTURE OF AN OPTICAL ELEMENT COMPRISING OPTICAL SUB-ELEMENTS MUTUALLY ARRANGED IN A PATTERN, AND DEVICE FOR IMPLEMENTING SUCH A METHOD

摘要

An optical element is manufactured by means of a mould by a replication technique including a mold that is manufactured from a ductile metal and is given a mold shape which corresponds to a pattern of sub-elements by means of a die having a die surface which corresponds to the optical sub-element and which is imprinted in the mold with a predetermined force in consecutive positions in accordance with the pattern. A workpiece holder fastened to the mold including a stepped chamber which is displaceable relative to the workpiece holder by a positioning device. The die surface imprints the sub-shape in the mold with a predetermined force substantially independent of a position occupied by the die during imprinting. The predetermined force plastically deforms the ductile metal exclusively at the area of the surface contact between the mold and the die.