Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
  • B29C35/00—Heating, cooling or curing, e.g. crosslinking or vulcanising; Apparatus therefor
  • B29C35/02—Heating or curing, e.g. crosslinking or vulcanizing during moulding, e.g. in a mould
  • B29C35/08—Heating or curing, e.g. crosslinking or vulcanizing during moulding, e.g. in a mould by wave energy or particle radiation
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
  • G03F—PHOTOMECHANICAL PRODUCTION OF TEXTURED OR PATTERNED SURFACES, e.g. FOR PRINTING, FOR PROCESSING OF SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES; MATERIALS THEREFOR; ORIGINALS THEREFOR; APPARATUS SPECIALLY ADAPTED THEREFOR
  • G03F7/00—Photomechanical, e.g. photolithographic, production of textured or patterned surfaces, e.g. printing surfaces; Materials therefor, e.g. comprising photoresists; Apparatus specially adapted therefor
  • G03F7/0005—Production of optical devices or components in so far as characterised by the lithographic processes or materials used therefor
  • G03F7/001—Phase modulating patterns, e.g. refractive index patterns
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
  • B29C35/00—Heating, cooling or curing, e.g. crosslinking or vulcanising; Apparatus therefor
  • B29C35/02—Heating or curing, e.g. crosslinking or vulcanizing during moulding, e.g. in a mould
  • B29C35/08—Heating or curing, e.g. crosslinking or vulcanizing during moulding, e.g. in a mould by wave energy or particle radiation
  • B29C35/0888—Heating or curing, e.g. crosslinking or vulcanizing during moulding, e.g. in a mould by wave energy or particle radiation using transparant moulds
  • B29C35/0894—Heating or curing, e.g. crosslinking or vulcanizing during moulding, e.g. in a mould by wave energy or particle radiation using transparant moulds provided with masks or diaphragms
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
  • B29C35/00—Heating, cooling or curing, e.g. crosslinking or vulcanising; Apparatus therefor
  • B29C35/02—Heating or curing, e.g. crosslinking or vulcanizing during moulding, e.g. in a mould
  • B29C35/08—Heating or curing, e.g. crosslinking or vulcanizing during moulding, e.g. in a mould by wave energy or particle radiation
  • B29C35/10—Heating or curing, e.g. crosslinking or vulcanizing during moulding, e.g. in a mould by wave energy or particle radiation for articles of indefinite length
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29D—PRODUCING PARTICULAR ARTICLES FROM PLASTICS OR FROM SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE
  • B29D11/00—Producing optical elements, e.g. lenses or prisms
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29D—PRODUCING PARTICULAR ARTICLES FROM PLASTICS OR FROM SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE
  • B29D11/00—Producing optical elements, e.g. lenses or prisms
  • B29D11/00605—Production of reflex reflectors
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G02—OPTICS
  • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
  • G02B5/00—Optical elements other than lenses
  • G02B5/04—Prisms
  • G02B5/045—Prism arrays
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G02—OPTICS
  • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
  • G02B5/00—Optical elements other than lenses
  • G02B5/12—Reflex reflectors
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
  • B29C35/00—Heating, cooling or curing, e.g. crosslinking or vulcanising; Apparatus therefor
  • B29C35/02—Heating or curing, e.g. crosslinking or vulcanizing during moulding, e.g. in a mould
  • B29C35/08—Heating or curing, e.g. crosslinking or vulcanizing during moulding, e.g. in a mould by wave energy or particle radiation
  • B29C35/0805—Heating or curing, e.g. crosslinking or vulcanizing during moulding, e.g. in a mould by wave energy or particle radiation using electromagnetic radiation
  • B29C2035/0827—Heating or curing, e.g. crosslinking or vulcanizing during moulding, e.g. in a mould by wave energy or particle radiation using electromagnetic radiation using UV radiation
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29K—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR MOULDS, REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS
  • B29K2105/00—Condition, form or state of moulded material or of the material to be shaped
  • B29K2105/24—Condition, form or state of moulded material or of the material to be shaped crosslinked or vulcanised
  • B29K2105/243—Partially cured
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29K—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR MOULDS, REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS
  • B29K2995/00—Properties of moulding materials, reinforcements, fillers, preformed parts or moulds
  • B29K2995/0018—Properties of moulding materials, reinforcements, fillers, preformed parts or moulds having particular optical properties, e.g. fluorescent or phosphorescent
  • B29K2995/003—Reflective
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29L—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES
  • B29L2011/00—Optical elements, e.g. lenses, prisms
  • B29L2011/0083—Reflectors
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
  • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
  • Y10T428/00—Stock material or miscellaneous articles
  • Y10T428/24—Structurally defined web or sheet [e.g., overall dimension, etc.]
  • Y10T428/24479—Structurally defined web or sheet [e.g., overall dimension, etc.] including variation in thickness

Definitions

• metal molds can represent a significant barrier of entry into a high quality market for sheeting and films.
• knock-off manufacturers of retroreflective sheeting and collimating film can form inexpensive, low quality molds from the high quality sheeting and film.
• the metal molds are often engraved with a company logo or trademark, which can cause the logo or trademark to appear on the knock-offend product.
• a disadvantage of the added logo is that it can be more difficult to engrave at the tolerances required.
• a structure includes a layer which includes a first cured portion and a second cured portion which are formed from a same light curable material.
• the first cured portion is cured to a first amount
• the second cured portion is cured to a second amount.
• the first amount is sufficiently different than the second amount to result in a visible discontinuity on the surface of the structure.
• the layer can be connected to a base.
• the layer and the base can be formed of the same material.
• the first amount of curing can be sufficiently different than the second amount of curing to result a difference in the thickness of the first portion and the thickness of the second portion that is in a range of between about 0.05 and 2.0 micrometers.
• a visible discontinuity is considered a rise or depression in the surface of a structure that causes incident light to display a different shade of light that when incident light strikes a portion of the surface not having a rise or depression.
• the visible discontinuity can be discerned with the naked eye.
• the layer can be a prism array, such as linear prisms or cube-corner prisms, a lenticular structure, or a sub- wavelength structure.
• a method for forming a pattern in a radiation curable material includes providing between a radiation source and the radiation curable material a blocking pattern that can block a portion of the radiation from the radiation source. The material is cured with radiation from the radiation source through the blocking pattern to form a pattern in the radiation curable material.
• a pattern transfer structure includes a radiation source for emitting radiation, a radiation curable material that can be cured by the radiation and a pattern for blocking a portion of the radiation.
• the pattern is disposed between the radiation source and the radiation curable material during the curing of the material such that a pattern is formed in the material.
• a method for forming a prism structure includes providing a prism mold and placing a radiation curable material in the mold.
• a pattern is provided between a radiation source and the radiation curable material that can block a portion of the radiation curable material.
• the radiation curable material is cured with radiation ⁇ from the radiation source to form a pattern in the radiation curable material.
• a prism structure includes a base and a prism array connected to the base.
• the prism array includes a first cured portion and a second cured portion which are formed from a same radiation curable material.
• the first cured portion has a first index of refraction value and the second cured portion has a second index of refraction value which is sufficiently different from the first index of refraction value to result in a visible discontinuity on the surface of the structure.
• the invention has many advantages including forming a permanent pattern in materials that are transparent and do not significantly detract from other functions.
• the material can have the pattern act similar to a watermark in paper to provide a means of identification for a product's source that is difficult to forge.
• the pattern can serve as a function of light management by altering the path of light that is transmitted through such a structure having the pattern.
• Figure 1 shows an isometric view of a radiation curable material and a pattern layer positioned thereover for forming a pattern in the curable material.
• Figure 2 shows an isometric view of the radiation curable material having a pattern formed therein.
• Figure 3 shows an isometric view of a retroreflective structure having moth- eye structures formed thereon, the moth-eye structures having a pattern formed therein in accordance with another embodiment of the invention.
• Figure 4 shows a perspective view of a standard collimating film.
• Figure 5 shows a perspective view of a differentially cured collimating film.
• Figure 6 shows a schematic view of a method for forming the differentially cured collimating film.
• Figure 7 shows a cross-sectional view of another embodiment.
• Figure 8 shows a perspective view of the embodiment in Figure 7.
• Figure 9 shows an embodiment of a logo pattern.
• Figure 10 shows a plot of a surface profile with an interference microscope trace which was made across the surface of a film made with the pattern transfer process.
• the invention is directed to forming a pattern in a radiation curable material.
• the pattern in one embodiment, is transparent when viewed in a direction substantially normal to the material. However, the pattern can be seen more clearly at a viewing angle of about fifteen degrees from the normal.
• Figure 1 illustrates an embodiment of the present invention for forming a pattern, such as exemplary pattern "ABC" provided by, for example, mask or pattern layer 10, disposed between a radiation source 14 and a radiation curable material 12.
• the mask layer 10 can include polycarbonate, polyethylene, polybutylene or the like, and may include a low-tack adhesive.
• the curable material 12 can include coatings and microstructured or patterned materials formulated from materials, such as polyester, urethane, or epoxy acrylates and methacrylates.
• Various additives including fillers, free-radical initiators and cationic initiators can be included in the material 12 to improve processing or performance. See, for example, Sartomer Company Bulletin Nos. 4018 or 4303.
• the radiation source 14 preferably provides actinic radiation, which causes photochemical activity in the curable material 12. For example, typical ultraviolet light can be used.
• the pattern layer 10 can include any kind of material that blocks at least a portion of the radiation from the radiation source to leave a similar pattern in the cured material 12.
• the pattern can be formed by a colored pattern, such as, using common printing inks, printed on a transparent polymer film.
• the pattern can also be formed by embossing patterns that effect the transparency of the film.
• the pattern can be applied directly on either side of a substrate which carries the curable material 12 and after curing, the pattern may or may not be removed to leave the cured pattern in the cured layer 12.
• the pattern layer 10 can include a stencil or the like, such as a colored or semi-transparent film material or a clear resin with ultraviolet blocking chemical therein. As shown in Figure 2, the pattern layer 10 has been removed but the pattern
• ABS has been transferred to the cured material 12. It is believed that the pattern changes the curing rate of the material 12 to form the pattern in the cured material.
• the molecules in the formed pattern are denser as the molecules have a longer time to cross-link than the molecules which do not have a mask thereover. These denser regions appear to have different indices of refraction. The pattern is best viewed at an angle of about fifteen degrees.
• Figure 3 illustrates another embodiment for forming a pattern in a material.
• a pattern layer 10 is positioned over a cured retroreflective structure 16 which can contain, for example, linear or cube-corner prisms. Examples of suitable cube-corner prisms are disclosed in U.S. Patent 3,684,348, issued to Rowland on August 15, 1972.
• Moth-eye structures 18 can be formed on the opposite side of the retroreflective structure 16 as shown in Figure 3. Moth-eye structures are explained in more detail in U.S. Application No. 09/438,912, filed on November 12, 1999, which corresponds to International Publication No. WO 01/35128, published on May 17, 2001.
• the moth-eye structures 18 are cured by the radiation source 14 through the pattern layer 10 such that the pattern is formed in the moth-eye structures 18 or diffusing structure or other suitable structures.
• a sub-wavelength structure applied preferably has an amplitude of about 0.4 microns and a period of less than about 0.3 microns.
• the structure is sinusoidal in appearance and can provide a deep green to deep blue color when viewed at grazing angles of incidence.
• the amplitude is greater than two times the period to provide a two or greater to one aspect ratio.
• the structure is first produced on a photo resist-covered glass substrate by a holographic exposure using an ultraviolet laser.
• a suitable device is available from Holographic Lithography Systems of Bedford, Massachusetts.
• An example of a method is disclosed in U.S. Patent 4,013,465, issued to Clapham et al. on March 22, 1977. This method is sensitive to any changes in the environment, such as temperature and dust, and care must taken.
• the structure is then transferred to a nickel shim by an electroforming process.
• a fine pattern can be formed on the mask layer 10.
• the pattern can be a few tenths of a millimeter or less in width.
• a curable material which is preferably substantially clear when cured, is formed on the opposite side of the mask layer 10 of the pattern and cured by a radiation source 14. The fine pattern is thus transferred to the cured material.
• the mask layer 10 is removed and the cured sheet is placed in front of a display, such as a liquid crystal display.
• the fine pattern breaks up the pixel pattern in the display without as much light loss as with diffuser sheets.
• the "photomask” can be clear or colored and be applied to either side of the carrier. If the curing radiation is highly collimated, it is desirable to have the "mask” be semi-transparent to allow for slow curing in that area. In cases where the radiation is less collimated, one can obtain cure through totally opaque masks via scattering and reflections into the masked area.
• the resulting product then displays different optical behavior in areas that have been masked due to the variation in shrinkage and refractive index related to the speed of cure which is hindered by the "mask”.
• Figure 4 shows a perspective view of a typical collimating film 30 with linear prisms 32 having linear peaks 34 and valleys 36.
• the dihedral angle of the first side 36 and second side 38 of the peak 34 is typically ninety degrees. However, it can be a non-right angle.
• the linear prisms 32 can be formed on a base film 40.
• Figure 5 shows a perspective view of a prism array 52 of a differentially cured collimating film 50.
• the curved peak is the result of curing through a mask which reduces or increases the cure rate with respect to the surrounding areas.
• curved peak 60 is shaped compared to the normal apex of linear peak 56 of prism 58.
• the region 62 is curved in respect to another region which can result in a wider light distribution.
• the curved center line 66 of the peak in this prism can be off center in respect to the normal center line 64 depending upon the curing mask used.
• This region 62 also can have a slightly different index of refraction in respect to other areas.
• the prisms can be formed on a base film 68, such as a polyester, polycarbonate, polyurethane, acrylic and polyvinyl chloride.
• the mask can cover up to about fifty percent of the area of the product to be formed, such as a collimating film.
• the shape of the differential cure area can be essentially any configuration or size. This allows one to tailor the light/distribution in specification areas of the sheet, such as to comers or edges, instead of the center of the sheet.
• the exposed portion can result in raised portions or bumps.
• the structure can have an appearance with recesses.
• the prisms can have nanometer size striations caused by the differential cure shrinkage pattern. These striations can perform like a vertical linear moth-eye structure. Some striations can extend from the peak to valley. The striation can range in width of between about 250 and 770 nanometers depending on the mask pattern. The striations can cause upward light tunneling.
• prisms can be used including cube-comer prisms.
• Cube- comer or prismatic retroreflectors are described in U.S. Patent 3,712,706, issued to Stamm on January 23, 1973.
• the prisms are made by forming a master negative die on a flat surface of a metal plate or other suitable material. To fonn the cube-corners, three series of parallel equidistance intersecting V-shaped grooves sixty degrees apart are inscribed in the flat plate. The die is then used to process the desired cube-comer array into a rigid flat plastic surface. Further details concerning the structures and operation of cube-comer microprisms can be found in U.S. Patent 3,684,348, issued to Rowland on August 15, 1972.
• the pattern transfer concept can include forming a structured coating onto a smooth surface and also forming a pattern structure onto a micro optical array of any type including submicron to micron size surfaces. Further, a pattern can be placed on piano surfaces, prism surfaces, lens structures, and others. The pattern can be random, ordered or designed to convey a message.
• a mold 102 is ruled with linear grooves 104 essentially parallel to the axis about which the mold rotates.
• the linear grooves can be pitched between about 0.05 and 0.2 mm (0.002 and 0.008 inches).
• a base film 104 is unrolled from roll 106.
• the base film 104 can be a suitable material, such as a polyester.
• Mask film 108 is unrolled from second roll 110.
• Mask film can be formed of a suitable material, such as polyester, upon which a non-transparent design is printed on the transparent mask film.
• the non- transparent design can be printed on the mask film in the same manner as a design is printed on an overhead transparency.
• base film 104 and mask film 108 are pinched together by first pinch roller 112 against roller 102.
• the base film 104 and mask film are kept in close contact with mold 102 until second pinch roller 114.
• base film and mask film can be laminated together as a single sheet and then unrolled from a single roll.
• a removable pattern can be directly printed on a first side of the base film with a suitable light blocking material, such as a water soluble ink or the like.
• a curable layer of light curable material is placed on the second side of the base film, and the curable layer is differentially cured in the presence of light directed through the pattern and base film to the curable layer. After differentially curing the layer, the removable pattern is removed from the base film.
• Prism monomer material 116 is placed at point 118 proximate to pinch roller 112.
• the monomer material such as an acrylic, flows into the grooves 120 of mold 102.
• the prism monomer material 116 is cured differentially by the partially blocked ultraviolet light as it passes ultraviolet lamps 122, 124, to form differentially cured collimating film 126.
• Differentially cured collimating film 126 is wound up on wind up roller 128.
• the mask film 108 is wound up on second wind up roller 130.
• a collimating film having portions that are differentially cured light is directed through the collimating film that results in different shades of lighting.
• Lighter portions include the regions with ninety degree linear prisms. Regions with darker portions include the prisms that were differentially cured by blocking by the mask. In these darker portions, the prisms are slightly distorted due to the different cure rate and appear darker because the light is spread over a broader range.
• a light directing film sheeting can be used for collimating light in backlighting systems.
• the light directing film sheeting 200 includes a base film 202 formed of a transparent polyester film, such as ICI Dupont 4000 PET, or polycarbonate, such as Rowland Technologies "Rowtec" film, having a thickness in the range of between about 50 and 250 micrometers (0.002 and 0.01 inches).
• the sheeting can have a thickness in the range of between about 0.1 and 0.15 mm and (0.004 and 0.006 inches) and an index of refraction in the range of between about 1.49 and 1.59.
• a series of transparent linear prisms 204 having sides 206 are formed over the base film 202. Sides 206 can be isosceles.
• the linear prisms 204 extend across the sheeting.
• the prisms are formed of a transparent resin, such as a mixture of polymerized CN104 polyacrylate available from Sartomer Chemical Co. and RDX51027 from UCB Chemical.
• the linear prisms are pitched a distance (p) in a range of between about 25 and 100 micrometers (0.001 and 0.004 inches), preferably about 48 micrometers (0.0019 inches) per prism.
• the linear prisms have a height (h) in a range of between about, 20 and 100 micrometers (0.0008 and 0.004 inches) preferably about 25 micrometers (0.001 inches).
• the linear prisms have pointed peaks 206 with a peak angle ( ⁇ ) as desired, with preferred values of 88 or 90 degrees in a sheeting. Base angles ⁇ and ⁇ 2 can be the same or different.
• the linear prisms 204 can be attached to the base film 202 by an optional prism adhesive layer 208, such as 7650TC acrylic adhesive available from Bostik Chemical.
• Prism adhesive layer 208 has a thickness (a,) in the range of between about 2.5 and 12 micrometers (0.0001 and 0.0005 inches).
• a pattern structure 212 is formed, such as with a resin composition similar to or the same as the prism side adhesive layer.
• the pattern structure 212 can be attached to the base film 202 by pattern adliesive layer 214, which is similar in material and thicl ⁇ iess f ⁇ ) to prism adhesive layer 208.
• Pattern structure 212 has a thickness in the range of between about 2.5 and 12 micrometers (0.0001 and 0.0005 inches).
• the pattern structure 230 includes a logo 232, which is an arrangement of four obtuse scalene triangles.
• the logo can be a company name, a trademark, a figure, or other desired design.
• the pattern structure can be printed on sheeting such as a polyester overhead projector sheeting by a laser printer, hi the shown embodiment, the logo is repeated in a line on a first axis about every 13 mm.
• the logos in each line are off-set in the next by a half of a logo and the lines repeat about every 7.5 mm along a second axis in the run/web direction, which is perpendicular to the first axis.
• the lines of the logo are about 0.5 mm in width.
• Other types of designs include cross hatching, geometric figures, numerals, letters, etc.
• depressions 216 can have a depth (d) in the range of between about 0.3 and 2.0 micrometers with an average depth of one micrometer.
• the depressions are not uniform in slope from edges 218 to low point 220.
• the depressions can have an average slope of 0.5 degrees to the surface of the base film 102 with the slope being as high as one degree.
• the pattern structure is formed by placing a mask film temporarily on one side of the base film.
• the mask film has a logo, geometric form (lines, circles, curves, etc.), alphanumerics or any other desired design formed thereon that can block a portion of the ultraviolet light as it passes from ultraviolet light source through the mask film to the base film.
• the portion of the mask film without the logo printed thereon is more transparent to ultraviolet light.
• an adhesive layer is deposited and an uncured radiation curable resin is placed on the adhesive layer.
• Ultraviolet light is directed from an ultraviolet light source through the mask layer through the base layer through the adhesive layer to the resin layer.
• the resin layer is differentially cured because the ultraviolet light intensity is blocked unevenly by the printed patterned to the resin layer resulting in the pattern structure.
• the pattern structure is uneven and segmented.
• the portions of the resin layer that have the greatest blockage from the ultraviolet light have the deepest depressions into the surface.
• the portions that were exposed to ultraviolet light resulted in segments with relatively flat surfaces.
• the mask film is then removed from the base film.
• the linear prisms are cast on the same side of the base film where the mask film had been placed.
• the linear prisms are cured by ultraviolet light directed through the base film.
• the linear prisms can be slightly differently cured in the portions that are exposed to the ultraviolet light that passes through the pattern structure that is uneven and segmented.
• the film can be placed between a light guide and a display, such as a liquid crystal display.
• a display such as a liquid crystal display.
• the fine pattern breaks-up the pixel pattern in the display without as much light loss as with a diffuser sheet.
• the pattern structure on the film can be readily visible across the film.
• the film can be used as a single sheet or as a two-sheet or more system.
• a two-sheet system has the linear prisms peaks pointed in the same direction and the length of the peaks on each sheet are often crossed at ninety degrees.
• Linear prisms were cast on polycarbonate and covered with a number 30LC mask film (manufactured by Ivex Packaging Corporation) that had a blue colored "PEEL" pattern printed on it.
• Moth-eye structures were cast on the opposite side of the prisms and cured by ultraviolet radiation at a web speed of about twelve meters per minute (forty feet per minute) past two 157-236 watts/lineal centimeter (400-600 Watts/lineal inch) ultraviolet lamps manufactured by Eye Ultraviolet Corporation. After removing the mask film, the cured moth-eye structures retained the "PEEL" pattern which could not be readily seen at a zero degree viewing angle but were pronounced at about a fifteen degree viewing angle.
• Alphanumeric images were handwritten onto the surface of a mask film on a cling mask sample of polycarbonate film manufactured by Rowland Technologies Incorporated. Commonly available felt tip marker pens were used to form the images.
• An ultraviolet curable coating of epoxy acrylate was applied to the other side of the polycarbonate film and cured under a 236 Watts per lineal centimeter (600 Watts per lineal) inch lamp at about 4.6 meters per minute (fifteen feet per minute). The mask film was removed and the cured coating was visually examined at various angles. The images that had been on the mask film were visible at shallow viewing angles in the cured coating.
• Figure 10 shows a plot of a surface profile with an interference microscope trace which was made across the surface of a film made with the pattern transfer process.
• the height of the features is slightly less than one wavelength of red light.
• Red light wavelength is 632.8 nm (2.49 x 10 "5 inches).
• the height of the features is approximately 500 to 900 nm (1.9685 x 10 '5 to 3.5433 x 10 "5 inches).
• the average height is about 640 nm (2.5197 x 10 '5 inches).
• the height and slope of the features caused some light deviation as the light passes through the film. However, the effect on brightness appears to be positive by about a one percent gain. Additionally, these, features can act as resting points for the prism peaks of collimating films as the films are stacked upon each other and therefore prevent the majority of the prism peaks from being damaged by abrasion.

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• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Toxicology (AREA)
• Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery (AREA)
• Thermal Sciences (AREA)
• Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
• Optics & Photonics (AREA)
• Ophthalmology & Optometry (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Laminated Bodies (AREA)
• Optical Elements Other Than Lenses (AREA)
• Heating, Cooling, Or Curing Plastics Or The Like In General (AREA)
• Credit Cards Or The Like (AREA)
• Manufacturing Of Printed Wiring (AREA)
• Application Of Or Painting With Fluid Materials (AREA)

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• 2001
  • 2001-08-10 KR KR1020037002376A patent/KR100798172B1/ko not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2001-08-10 CN CNB018145361A patent/CN100389017C/zh not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2001-08-10 WO PCT/US2001/025241 patent/WO2002016106A2/en not_active Ceased
  • 2001-08-10 AU AU2001284844A patent/AU2001284844A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2001-08-10 EP EP01963933A patent/EP1309437B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2001-08-10 US US09/928,247 patent/US7250122B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2001-08-10 JP JP2002521010A patent/JP2004506547A/ja not_active Withdrawn
  • 2001-08-10 DE DE60117573T patent/DE60117573T2/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2001-08-14 TW TW090119893A patent/TWI294821B/zh not_active IP Right Cessation
• 2007
  • 2007-07-26 US US11/881,270 patent/US7517205B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related

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