Laminate structure with embedded cavities and related method of manufacture

An integrated laminate structure adapted for optical applications related to wafer technology, cooling channels, greenhouse illumination, window illumination, display illumination, street lighting, traffic lighting, lighting element, traffic reflectors or security films, comprising:

• a first carrier element, configured as an entirely flat, planar element,
• a second carrier element, configured as a planar element, in which an at least one recessed surface relief pattern is formed having flat surface areas between the recesses,
• said first carrier element and said second carrier element being composed of an optically substantially transparent material enabling light transmission therethrough,
• the first carrier element and the second carrier element being laminated together to establish the integrated laminate structure such that the at least one recessed surface relief pattern has been embedded within the established integrated laminate structure, whereby an embedded relief pattern is formed at a flat interface between the entirely flat, planar first carrier element and flat surface areas of the second carrier element,
• wherein said embedded relief pattern is configured to perform an at least one predetermined optical function relative to incident light,
• wherein the embedded relief pattern formed at the flat interface between the first and the second carrier elements comprises a number of related, optically functional cavities,
• wherein the cavities comprise substantially air or other gaseous medium with a refractive index that differs from a refractive index of the material of said second carrier element, said first carrier element, or both said first carrier element and said second carrier element, and
• wherein the integrated laminate structure further comprises at least two additional carrier elements laminated together such that at least one surface relief pattern of either element is embedded within the laminate structure.