Multi-level layer

• US 20070077525A1
• Filed: 10/05/2005
• Published: 04/05/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Shaarawi, Mohammed, Chung, Bradley, Davis, Alan, Donaldson, Jeremy, Stout, Joe, Davis, Colin
• Granted Patent: US 8,574,823 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 430/322
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133521 Interference filters
• CPC Class Codes: G03F 7/0005 Production of optical devices or components in so far as characterised by the lithographic processes or materials used therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G03F 7/0007 Filters, e.g. additive colour filters; Components for display devices
• CPC Class Codes: G03F 7/36 Imagewise removal not covered by groups G03F7/30 - G03F7/34, e.g. using gas streams, using plasma
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 23/0021 discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 23/40 Identifying or analogous means applied to or incorporated in the record carrier and not intended for visual display simultaneously with the playing-back of the record carrier, e.g. label, leader, photograph
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 7/00454 involving phase-change effects
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 7/00455 involving reflectivity, absorption or colour changes
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 7/24094 Indication parts or information parts for identification

Abstract

Various methods and apparatus relating to a multi-level layer are disclosed.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

providing a first layer of material;

selectively treating portions of the first layer such that differently treated portions exhibit different degrees of material volatization from the first layer to form different levels.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the material comprises a photo polymer.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the material comprises bisphenol A epoxy resin.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the material includes at least 20 percent total solids of bisphenol A diglycidyl ether (BADGE).

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first layer is heated so as to volatize a portion of the first layer.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the portion of the first layer comprises a volatile reactive molecule.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein volatile reactive molecule comprises a monomer.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first layer is transparent.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein selectively treating includes differently heating the portions of the first layer.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein selectively treating comprises:

exposing the portions of the first layer to distinct exposure doses of radiation; and

heating the portions.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the radiation comprises ultra-violet radiation.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein selectively exposing portions of the first layer comprises masking portions of the first layer from a source of the radiation with either a mask that substantially attenuates the transmission of the radiation and is selectively positioned opposite the portions or with a mask that differently transmits the radiation to the portions of the first layer.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the first layer is transparent and wherein the method further comprises:

providing a second layer of a partially transparent reflective material on a first side of the first layer; and

providing a third layer of a partially transparent reflective material or a reflective material opposite the second layer of a partially transparent reflective material on a second side of the first layer.

14. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

providing a second layer of a partially transparent reflective material adjacent the first layer; and

providing a third layer of a partially transparent reflective material or a reflective material opposite the second layer of a partially transparent reflective material and spaced from the second layer of a partially transparent reflective material.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the third layer of a partially transparent reflective material or a reflective material is spaced from the second layer of a partially transparent reflective material by a gas.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the portions of the first layer have different depths and wherein the method further comprises:

filling the depths with a transparent filler material; and

providing the third layer of a partially transparent reflective material or a reflective material over the filler material.

17. An apparatus comprising:

a first layer of a polymer having multiple portions, each portion having a specific amount of a cross-linking agent, wherein each portion has a distinct thickness for the specified amount of the cross-linking agent.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 further comprising:

a second layer with partially transparent reflective material; and

a third layer of a partially transparent reflective material or a reflective material opposite the second layer and spaced from the second layer.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the second layer and the third layer are on opposite sides of the first layer.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the second layer and the third layer are on one side of the first layer.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the second layer and the third layer are spaced by a transparent filler.

22. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein two of the portions have a height difference of at least about 35 percent of a thickness of the first layer.

23. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein two of the portions have a height difference of at least about 50% of a thickness of the first layer.

24. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein portions of the first layer include at least 20 percent by solids of bisphenol A diglycidyl ether (BADGE).

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein other portions of the first layer include less than or equal to about 5 percent by solids of bisphenol A diglycidyl ether (BADGE).

26. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the first layer includes bisphenol A epoxy resin.

27. The apparatus of claim 17 further comprising an optical shutter having selectively transmissive portions corresponding to the portions.

28. The apparatus of claim 17 further comprising a second layer opposite the portions of the first layer and configured to change between a first transmissive state and a second transmissive state upon being irradiated.

29. The apparatus of claim 17 further comprising sensors opposite the levels of the first layer.

30. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the first layer is transparent and wherein the portions constitute optical lenses.

31. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the first layer is configured to be rotated about an axis and wherein the portions are angularly positioned about the axis and configured to differently filter light.

32. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the first layer is configured to rotate about an axis and wherein the layer includes an inner ring of multiple portions and an outer ring of multiple portions.

33. An spectrophotomer comprising:

a first layer of a polymer having multiple portions, each portion having a specified amount of a volatile reactive molecule, wherein each portion has a distinct thickness for the specified amount of the volatile reactive molecule;

a first partial reflective layer on a first side of the first layer;

a second partial reflective layer on a second opposite side of the first layer;

sensors corresponding to the portions; and

a controller in communication with the sensors and configured to identify a characteristic of incident light based at least inpart on signals from the sensors.

34. An optical disk comprising;

a data storage portion; and

a label portion, label portion including;

a first partial reflective layer;

a second partial reflective layer spaced from the first partial reflective layer so as to filter colored wave lengths of light;

a reflective layer configured to reflect light through the first partial reflective layer and the second partial reflective layer; and

a light attenuating layer opposite the reflective layer and configured to change between a light translucent state and a light attenuating state in response to being irradiated by energy.

35. The optical disk of claim 34, wherein the label portion includes a plurality of areas at which the first partial reflective layer and the second partial reflective layer are spaced from one another by different distances so as to filter different wave lengths of light.

36. The optical disk of claim 35, wherein the plurality of layers includes a first area in which the first partial reflective layer and the second partial reflective layer are spaced so as to filter red light;

a second area in which the first partial reflective layer and the second partial reflective layer are spaced so as to filter blue light and a third area wherein the first partial reflective layer and the second partial reflective layer are spaced so as to filter green light.

37. The optical disk of claim 35, wherein the plurality of areas correspond to polymer portions having distinct thickness and distinct amounts of a cross linking agent.

38. The optical disk of claim 35, wherein the plurality of areas correspond to polymer portions having distinct thickness and distinct amounts of a volatile reactive molecules.

39. A display comprising:

a multi-etalon structure including a multi-level layer, each level corresponding to a portion of the layer having different amounts of a cross linking agent; and

a optical shutter configured to selectively attenuate transmission of light through etalons of the multi-etalons structure.

40. A method comprising:

providing a layer of material; and

a step for forming distinct levels on the layer by substantially uniformly heating the layer.