# US 11,994,653 B2 · Transparent member and transparent-member manufacturing method

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- Number: US 11,994,653 B2
- Document ID: US11994653B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/978,609
- Filed: 2019-04-05
- Published: 2021-01-07
- Granted: 2024-05-28
- Earliest claimed: 2018-04-20
- Assignees: Konica Minolta, Inc.
- Applicants: Konica Minolta, Inc.
- Inventors: Kento Hasegawa; Yasushi Mizumachi
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11994653B2

## CPC

- G02B 1/18: Coatings for keeping optical surfaces clean, e.g. hydrophobic or photo-catalytic films (G02B1/16 takes precedence)
- C23C 14/042: {using masks}
- C23C 14/044: {using masks to redistribute rather than totally prevent coating, e.g. producing thickness gradient}
- C23C 14/24: Vacuum evaporation
- G02B 1/115: Multilayers
- G02B 7/02: for lenses {(supports for magnifying lenses G02B25/002)}
- G03B 11/045: {Lens hoods or shields}
- B82Y 30/00: Nanotechnology for materials or surface science, e.g. nanocomposites
- G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- C23C: COATING METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING MATERIAL WITH METALLIC MATERIAL; SURFACE TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL BY DIFFUSION INTO THE SURFACE, BY CHEMICAL CONVERSION OR SUBSTITUTION; COATING BY VACUUM EVAPORATION, BY SPUTTERING, BY ION IMPLANTATION OR BY CHEMICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION, IN GENERAL (making metal-coated products by extrusion B21C23/22; covering with metal by connecting pre-existing layers to articles, see the relevant places, e.g. B21D39/00, B23K; metallising of glass C03C; metallising mortars, concrete, artificial stone, ceramics or natural stone C04B41/00; enamelling of, or applying a vitreous layer to, metals C23D; treating metal surfaces or coating of metals by electrolysis or electrophoresis C25D; single-crystal film growth C30B; by metallising textiles D06M11/83; decorating textiles by locally metallising D06Q1/04)
- G03B: APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OR FOR PROJECTING OR VIEWING THEM; APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS EMPLOYING ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR (optical parts of such apparatus G02B; photosensitive materials or processes for photographic purposes G03C; apparatus for processing exposed photographic materials G03D)
- B82Y: SPECIFIC USES OR APPLICATIONS OF NANOSTRUCTURES; MEASUREMENT OR ANALYSIS OF NANOSTRUCTURES; MANUFACTURE OR TREATMENT OF NANOSTRUCTURES

## Abstract

A transparent member according to the present invention is formed by providing at least a substrate or a layer on the substrate, and has a surface section in which the contact angle with respect to water continuously changes.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A transparent member comprising at least a base material or a base material provided with a layer on the base material, wherein the transparent member has a surface portion whose contact angle to water changes continuously,
wherein the surface portion is included in a water-repellent layer, and
wherein a thickness of the water-repellent layer changes continuously from a center of the base material in a radial direction.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The transparent member described in claim 1, wherein the water-repellent layer contains a fluoride.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The transparent member described in claim 1, wherein an antireflection layer is provided on a rear surface of the water-repellent layer.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The transparent member described in claim 1, wherein a surface roughness of the surface portion changes continuously.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The transparent member described in claim 1, being used in an optical component for vehicle use or outdoor use.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The transparent member described in claim 5, wherein the optical component is an optical lens.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

A method for manufacturing a transparent member described in claim 1, comprising the step of forming the water-repellent layer by forming a water-repellent material, wherein the thickness of the water-repellent layer changes continuously from the center of the base material in the radial direction.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The method for manufacturing a transparent member described in claim 7, wherein the step of forming the water-repellent layer uses either a vapor deposition method or a coating method.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The transparent member described in claim 1, wherein the water-repellant layer is formed on an entire surface of the base material.