Mutual diffusion process for continuous fabrication of graded-index plastic rod lenses

We propose a new process for fabrication of plastic rod lenses based on the traditional method of fiber extrusion. The process consists of the following steps: multilayer conjugate extrusion, monomer diffusion between adjacent layers, and photopolymerization of an uncured strand fiber. We call this process a mutual diffusion process for continuous plastic rod lens fabrication. Characteristics of this process are as follows: fast production speed (approximately 100 cm/min), precision control of refractive-index distribution, high angular aperture, and long-term reliability. The optical resolution of the rod-lens array is 300 dpi, which is high enough for application to G3 facsimiles with transmission time of less than 1 min and monochromatic scanners.