Microstructures for producing optical devices, sieves, molds and/or sensors, and methods for replicating and using same

• US 20060061869A1
• Filed: 02/09/2005
• Published: 03/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bright View Technologies Corporation (Tredegar Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Bright View Technologies Corporation (Tredegar Corporation)
• Inventors: Wood, Robert L., Freese, Robert P., Rinehart, Thomas A., Gardner, Richard N., Reed, David L., Fadel, Edward, Nuzum, Michele E.
• Granted Patent: US 7,808,706 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/619
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 3/0031 Replication or moulding, e.g. hot embossing, UV-casting, injection moulding
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 3/0056 arranged along two different directions in a plane, e.g. honeycomb arrangement of lenses G02B3/0043 takes precedence; miniaturised objectives for electronic devices employing wafer level optics G02B13/0085
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0036 2-D arrangement of prisms, protrusions, indentations or roughened surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0046 Tapered light guide, e.g. wedge-shaped light guide
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/005 provided by one optical element, or plurality thereof, placed on the light output side of the light guide
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0055 Reflecting element, sheet or layer
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133526 Lenses, e.g. microlenses or Fresnel lenses

Abstract

Microlens arrays include a substrate, an array of microlenses on a first side of the substrate and an aperture mask on a second side of the substrate. The aperture mask includes an array of apertures at optical axes of the lenses. A second array of apertures may be included in the aperture mask at randomized positions therein. The randomized apertures may be provided in the aperture mask by providing a diffusive layer between the aperture mask and the substrate, and directing coherent radiation through the lens array, the diffusive layer and aperture mask.

Claims

1. A microlens array comprising:

a substrate;

an array of microlenses on a first side of the substrate; and

an aperture mask on a second side of the substrate;

wherein the aperture mask includes therein an array of apertures at optical axes of the microlenses and an array of apertures at randomized positions.

2. A retroreflector comprising:

a substrate;

an array of microlenses on a first side of the substrate;

an aperture mask on a second side of the substrate; and

a layer of reflective material on the aperture mask, remote from the substrate.

3. A light management film for a Liquid Crystal Display comprising:

an optically transparent substrate;

an array of microstructures on one side of the substrate; and

an optically reflective layer on the other side of the substrate and containing apertures therein.