Optical structures for diffusing light
OwnerKarl Beeson, Scott Zimmerman +2inventors
InventorsKarl Beeson, Scott Zimmerman, Jose Diaz, Mac Maxfield
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Abstract
Optical diffusing structures can be fabricated from photopolymerizable material by directing light through a transparent or translucent substrate and then through the photopolymerizable material for a period of time sufficient to photopolymerize only a portion of the material. The resultant structure can be utilized as a diffuser, a viewing screen, and in other applications, and can be combined with other light-directing structures such as arrays of tapered optical waveguides.
Claims64
A process for manufacturing a light diffusing structure, comprising the step of directing collimated or nearly-collimated light through a transparent or translucent substrate and into a layer of photopolymerizable material for a period of time sufficient to photopolymerize only a portion of the photopolymerizable material.
A process for manufacturing a light diffusing structure, comprising the steps of:
- selecting a transparent or translucent substrate from a material from one or more of the classes of (a) amorphous materials;
- (b) semi-crystalline materials that contain crystalline domains interspersed in an amorphous matrix;
- and (c) purely crystalline materials, the substrate having first and second surfaces generally flat and parallel to each other;
- depositing a layer of photopolymerizable material comprising at least one photopolymerizable monomer or oligomer, and a photoinhibitor, on the first surface of the substrate;
- directing collimated or nearly-collimated light through the second surface of the substrate and into the photopolymerizable material for a period of time sufficient to photopolymerize only a portion of the photopolymerizable material;
- and
- removing the unphotopolymerized portion of the photopolymerizable material.
An apparatus for manufacturing a light diffusing structure, comprising:
- a transparent or translucent substrate;
- a layer of photopolymerizable material;
- and
- means for directing collimated or nearly-collimated light through the substrate and into the photopolymerizable material for a period of time sufficient to photopolymerize only a portion of the photopolymerizable material.
An apparatus for manufacturing a light diffusing structure, comprising:
- a transparent or translucent substrate fabricated from a material from one or more of the classes of (a) amorphous materials;
- (b) semi-crystalline materials that contain crystalline domains interspersed in an amorphous matrix;
- and (c) purely crystalline materials, the substrate having first and second surfaces generally flat and parallel to each other;
- a layer of photopolymerizable material, comprising at least one photopolymerizable monomer or oligomer, and a photoinhibitor, deposited on the first surface of the substrate;
- a light source for directing collimated or nearly-collimated light through the second surface of the substrate and into the photopolymerizable material for a period of time sufficient to photopolymerize only a portion of the photopolymerizable material;
- and
- means for removing the unphotopolymerized portion of the photopolymerizable material.
An optical diffuser comprising photopolymerizable material exposed to a source of collimated or nearly-collimated light first directed through a transparent or translucent substrate for a period of time sufficient to photopolymerize only a portion of the photopolymerizable material.
An optical diffuser comprising photopolymerizable material, comprising at least one photopolymerizable monomer or oligomer, and a photoinhibitor, exposed to a source of collimated or nearly-collimated light first directed through a transparent or translucent substrate, the substrate being fabricated from a material from one or more of the classes of (a) amorphous materials;
- (b) semi-crystalline materials that contain crystalline domains interspersed in an amorphous matrix;
- and (c) purely crystalline materials, for a period of time sufficient to photopolymerize only a portion of the photopolymerizable material.
An apparatus for manufacturing a light diffusing structure, comprising a metallic layer formed on a layer of photopolymerizable material exposed to a source of collimated or nearly-collimated light first directed through a transparent or translucent substrate for a period of time sufficient to photopolymerize only a portion of the photopolymerizable material after the unphotopolymerized portion of the photopolymerizable portion has been removed.
A mold for manufacturing a light diffusing structure, comprising a metallic layer formed on a layer of photopolymerizable material, comprising at least one photopolymerizable monomer or oligomer, and a photoinhibitor, exposed to a source of collimated or nearly-collimated light first directed through a transparent or translucent substrate, the substrate being fabricated from a material from one or more of the classes of (a) amorphous materials;
- (b) semi-crystalline materials that contain crystalline domains interspersed in an amorphous matrix;
- and (c) purely crystalline materials, for a period of time sufficient to photopolymerize only a portion of the photopolymerizable material after the unphotopolymerized portion of the photopolymerizable portion has been removed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.