US 7,297,386 B2Granted

Antireflection structure

AssigneeDai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd.

InventorsToshiyuki Suzuki, Arimichi Ito, Nobuhito Toyama

Life of this patent

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Abstract

An antireflection structure (10) comprises a base (1), and a finely roughened antireflection part (2) formed in a surface of the base (1). The finely roughened antireflection part (2) includes a plurality of projections and depressions defined by the projections. The projections are distributed such that PMAX≦λMIN, where PMAX is the biggest one of distances between tips (2t) of the adjacent projections and λMIN is the shortest one of wavelengths of visible light rays in a vacuum. The sectional area of each projection in a plane parallel to the surface of the base (1) increases continuously from the tip (2t) toward the bottom (2b) of the depression adjacent to the projection. The shape (2Mt) of a tip part (Mt) of each projection in a plane perpendicular to the surface of the base (1) is sharper than the shape (2Mb) of a bottom part (Mb) of each depression in the same plane vertical to the surface of the base (1).

Claims21

Dependent claims

An antireflection structure, comprising:

a base having a shape of a flat plate;
and
a finely roughened antireflection part formed integrally with the base;
wherein:
(1) the finely roughened antireflection part includes a plurality of projections and a plurality of depressions defined by the projections, no other layer covering the plurality of projections and the plurality of depressions such that the surface of the plurality of projections and the plurality of depressions is exposed to the air;
(2) the projections are distributed such that PMAX≦λMIN, where PMAX is a greatest distance between tips of adjacent projections and λMIN is a shortest wavelength of visible light in a vacuum;
(3) a horizontal cross-sectional area of the projections increases continuously from the tips of the projections to bottoms of the depressions so that a ratio of the horizontal cross-sectional area of the projections to a cross-sectional area of the finely roughened antireflection part in a plane including the bottoms of the depressions increases continuously from 0% to 100% from the tips of the projections to the bottoms of the depressions;
(4) a vertical cross-sectional shape of each projection is sharper at a tip part of each projection than at a bottom part of each depression;
(5) a vertical cross-sectional shape of the finely roughened antireflection part includes only curved edges;
and
(6) the base and the finely roughened part are formed of a same material.

8 more elements

An antireflection structure, comprising:

a base having a shape of a flat plate;
and
a finely roughened antireflection part formed integrally with the base;
wherein:
(1) the finely roughened antireflection part includes a plurality of projections and a plurality of depressions defined by the projections;
(2) the projections are distributed such that PMAX ≦λMIN, where PMAX is a greatest distance between tips of adjacent projections and λMIN is a shortest wavelength of visible light in a vacuum;
(3) a horizontal cross-sectional area of the projections increases continuously from the tips of the projections to bottoms of the depressions so that a ratio of the horizontal cross-sectional area of the projections to a cross-sectional area of the finely roughened antireflection part in a plane including the bottoms of the depressions increases continuously from 0% to 100% from the tips of the projections to the bottoms of the depressions;
(4) a vertical cross-sectional shape of each projection is sharper at a tip part of each projection than at a bottom part of each depression;
and
(5) the plurality of projections have a cross-sectional shape defined by two opposite sides, each side extending from the tip of the projection to the bottom of the depression, each side having two planar surfaces disposed at an obtuse angle to each other.

7 more elements

An antireflection structure, comprising:

a base having a shape of a flat plate;
and
a finely roughened antireflection part formed integrally with the base;
wherein:
(1) the finely roughened antireflection part includes a plurality of projections and a plurality of depressions defined by the projections, no other layer covering the plurality of projections and the plurality of depressions such that the surface of the plurality of projections and the plurality of depressions is exposed to the air;
(2) the projections are distributed such that PMAXλMIN, where PMAX is a greatest distance between tips of adjacent projections and λMIN is a shortest wavelength of visible light in a vacuum;
(3) a horizontal cross-sectional area of the projections increases continuously from the tips of the projections to bottoms of the depressions so that a ratio of the horizontal cross-sectional area of the projections to a cross-sectional area of the finely roughened antireflection part in a plane including the bottoms of the depressions increases continuously from 0% to 100% from the tips of the projections to the bottoms of the depressions;
(4) a vertical cross-sectional shape of each projection is sharper at a tip part of each projection than at a bottom part of each depression;
and
(5) the plurality of projections have a cross-sectional shape including two opposite sides, each side extending from the tip of the projection to the bottom of the depression, each side having two planar surfaces disposed at an obtuse angle to each other.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 10/368,494Filed 20 Feb 2003
Priority: JP 2002-04311020 Feb 2002
Published: US 2005/0074579 A17 Apr 2005
Granted: 20 Nov 2007
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification14 codes

G02B 1/118
Anti-reflection coatings: having sub-optical wavelength surface structures designed to provide an enhanced transmittance, e.g. moth-eye structures
B29C 59/02
Surface shaping of articles, e.g. embossing; Apparatus therefor: by mechanical means, e.g. pressing
G02B 1/11
Optical coatings produced by application to, or surface treatment of, optical elements: anti-reflection coatings
B29C 59/026
By mechanical means, e.g. pressing: of layered or coated substantially flat surfaces