# US 11,907,447 B2 · Polymeric film having structured surface > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,907,447 B2 - Document ID: US11907447B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/297,498 - Filed: 2019-12-06 - Published: 2022-02-03 - Granted: 2024-02-20 - Earliest claimed: 2018-12-18 - Assignees: 3M Innovative Properties Company - Applicants: 3M Innovative Properties Company - Inventors: Brett J. Sitter; Dawn V. Muyres; Jonathan T. Kahl; Vivian W. Jones; Owen M. Anderson; Gordan A. Kuhnley; Joshua J. Loga; Erin A. McDowell - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11907447B2 ## CPC - B29C 59/022: {characterised by the disposition or the configuration, e.g. dimensions, of the embossments or the shaping tools therefor} - G06F 3/03545: {Pens or stylus} - B29C 33/3842: {Manufacturing moulds, e.g. shaping the mould surface by machining} - B29C 39/026: {characterised by the shape of the surface} - B32B 3/263: {characterised by a layer having non-uniform thickness} - B32B 3/30: characterised by a layer formed with recesses or projections, e.g. {hollows, grooves, protuberances, ribs (apertured layer B32B3/266; layer with cavities or internal voids B32B3/26)} - B32B 7/12: using interposed adhesives or interposed materials with bonding properties - B32B 27/08: of synthetic resin - B32B 27/308: {comprising acrylic (co)polymers} - B32B 27/36: comprising polyesters - B29C 2059/023: {Microembossing} - B29L 2031/3475: {Displays, monitors, TV-sets, computer screens} - B32B 2307/412: Transparent - B32B 2457/20: Displays, e.g. liquid crystal displays, plasma displays - 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 (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00) - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - B32B: LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM - B29L: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES ## Abstract A polymeric film including a major surface having a plurality of intersecting extended structures is described. For at least a majority of the structures in the plurality of extended structures: each structure extends along a length of the structure, has an average width along a direction transverse to the length and generally along the first major surface, and has an average height along a direction generally perpendicular to the first major surface; and the average width of the structure may be in a range of 1 to 200 micrometers, the average height of the structure may be in a range of 1 to 200 micrometers, and the length may be at least 3 times the average width. The extended structures may be randomly or pseudorandomly oriented and may be formed by microreplicating a surface of a paper. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A polymeric film comprising a microreplicated first major surface, the first major surface comprising a plurality of randomly or pseudorandomly oriented intersecting extended structures, wherein for at least a majority of the structures in the plurality of extended structures: each structure extends along a length of the structure, has an average width along a direction transverse to the length and generally along the first major surface, and has an average height along a direction generally perpendicular to the first major surface; and the average width of the structure is in a range of 1 to 200 micrometers, the average height of the structure is in a range of 1 to 200 micrometers, and the length is at least 3 times the average width, wherein a distribution of orientation of the structures as a function of an angle of orientation of the structures is constant or has minimum and maximum values such that the minimum value is not less than 0.2 times the maximum value. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The polymeric film of claim 1, wherein the average width divided by the average height is in a range of 0.2 to 10. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The polymeric film of claim 1, wherein the length is at least 7 times the average width. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The polymeric film of claim 1, wherein the length is at least 7 times the average height. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The polymeric film of claim 1, wherein the plurality of extended structures covers at least 20% of a total area of the first major surface. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The polymeric film of claim 1, wherein each structure in at least the majority of the structures is free of fibers. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The polymeric film of claim 1, wherein each structure in at least the majority of the structures has a substantially hemispheric shape in a transverse cross-section. ### Claim 8 A polymeric film comprising a unitary layer having a structured first major surface comprising a plurality of randomly or pseudorandomly oriented intersecting extended structures protruding outwardly from the polymeric film, wherein for at least a majority of the structures in the plurality of extended structures: each structure extends along a length of the structure, has an average width along a direction transverse to the length and generally along the first major surface, and has an average height along a direction generally perpendicular to the first major surface; and the average width of the structure is in a range of 1 to 200 micrometers, the average height of the structure is in a range of 1 to 200 micrometers, and the length is at least 3 times the average width, wherein a distribution of orientation of the structures as a function of an angle of orientation of the structures is constant or has minimum and maximum values such that the minimum value is not less than 0.2 times the maximum value. ### Claim 9 A polymeric film comprising a microreplicated first major surface, the first major surface comprising a plurality of randomly or pseudorandomly oriented intersecting extended structures, wherein for at least a majority of the structures in the plurality of extended structures: each structure extends along a length of the structure and has a largest lateral dimension orthogonal to the length, the length being at least 3 times the largest lateral dimension, wherein a distribution of orientation of the structures as a function of an angle of orientation of the structures is constant or has minimum and maximum values such that the minimum value is not less than 0.2 times the maximum value. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The polymeric film of claim 9, wherein for at least the majority of the structures in the plurality of extended structures: each structure has an average width along a direction transverse to the length of the structure and generally along the first major surface, and has an average height along a direction generally perpendicular to the first major surface, the average width and the average height each being in a range of 1 to 200 micrometers. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The polymeric film of claim 1, wherein the first major surface is formed by microreplicating a surface of a paper. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) A display comprising the polymeric film of claim 1 disposed on an output surface of the display, the first major surface of the polymeric film facing away from the output surface of the display. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) A method of making the polymeric film of claim 1, the method comprising: forming a first mold by coating a template layer with an impression material, at least partially curing the impression material, removing the template layer from the at least partially cured impression material to provide the first mold having a structured surface; and forming the microreplicated first major surface by casting and curing a resin against the structured surface of the first mold or against a structured surface of a second mold formed from the first mold, wherein the template layer is a paper or a canvas. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) A display comprising the polymeric film of claim 1 disposed on an output surface of the display, the display being configured to be electronically writable with a stylus, the first major surface being formed by microreplicating a surface of a paper or a canvas and being configured to provide a haptic response through the stylus, wherein the plurality of extended structures covers at least 20% of a total area first major surface. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The display of claim 14, wherein each structure in at least the majority of the structures has a substantially hemispheric shape in a transverse cross-section. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The display of claim 14, wherein a distribution of orientation of the structures as a function of an angle of orientation of the structures is constant or has minimum and maximum values such that the minimum value is not less than 0.2 times the maximum value.