Apparatus and method for patterning a film

A conductive sheet, comprising:

• a) a conductive, radiation absorbent layer containing a pattern of multiple discontinuities extending transversely through the plane of said absorbent layer;
• b) a radiation transparent layer adjacent one major surface of said absorbent layer for supporting said absorbent layer;
• wherein said radiation transparent layer comprises a lenticular lens means having fields of focus which lie at least partially within the plane of said absorbent layer and wherein the fields of focus of said lens means correspond to the areas of discontinuity of said absorbent layer;
• and
• c) a conductive, pressure sensitive adhesive layer adhered to at least a portion of the surface of said absorbent layer opposite said radiation transparent layer.

A method for patterning a radiation absorbent film comprising the following steps:

• a) directing radiation from a radiation source onto a lenticular lens,
• b) focusing said radiation onto a radiation absorbent film, said film comprising a radiation absorbent region overlying a radiation reflective region, said radiation absorbent region capable of absorbing sufficient radiant energy to raise the temperature of the adjacent reflective region to a point where local discontinuities occur, wherein said film is in register with, but separable from said lens, said radiation forming a pattern on said film,
• c) disrupting said film in the radiation-incident areas as a result of absorption of the radiation by said film, and
• d) moving said lens and said film relative to one another.