Non-Attenuating Light Collimating Articles for Graphic Arts

• US 20080110358A1
• Filed: 11/14/2007
• Published: 05/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Xiper Innovations, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Xiper Innovations, Inc.
• Inventors: Kanga, Rustom Sam
• Granted Patent: US 8,441,730 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 101/401.1
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/30 Collimators
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 3/0006 Arrays G02B3/02, G02B5/188 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 3/08 with discontinuous faces, e.g. Fresnel lens diffractive Fresnel lenses G02B5/1876
• CPC Class Codes: G03F 7/2008 characterised by the reflectors, diffusers, light or heat filtering means or anti-reflective means used
• CPC Class Codes: G03F 7/2014 Contact or film exposure of light sensitive plates such as lithographic plates or circuit boards, e.g. in a vacuum frame

Abstract

Various systems and methods are provided for non-attenuating light collimating articles. In one embodiment, among others, a phototool comprises a substrate; and a microstructured surface disposed on a first surface of the substrate, the microstructured surface comprising a plurality of light collimating articles.

Claims

1. A phototool, comprising:

a substrate; and

a microstructured surface disposed on a first surface of the substrate, the microstructured surface comprising a plurality of light collimating articles.

2. The phototool of claim 1, wherein the plurality of light collimating articles are microreplicated on the first surface of the substrate.

3. The phototool of claim 1, wherein the plurality of light collimating articles are non-attenuating.

4. The phototool of claim 1, wherein the plurality of light collimating articles is a plurality of Fresnel lenses.

5. The phototool of claim 4, wherein the plurality of Fresnel lenses is a plurality of refractive Fresnel lenses.

6. The phototool of claim 4, wherein the plurality of Fresnel lenses are total internal reflection Fresnel lenses.

7. The phototool of claim 1, further comprising an emulsion disposed on a second surface of the substrate.

8. The phototool of claim 1, further comprising an emulsion disposed on the microstructured surface.

9. The phototool of claim 1, wherein the plurality of light collimating articles forms a Fresnel lens.

10. A combination for producing relief images, comprising:

a source of actinic radiation;

a phototool positioned to receive actinic radiation from the source at a first side of the phototool, the phototool comprising a microstructured surface, the microstructured surface comprising a plurality of light collimating articles; and

a printing plate disposed adjacent to a second side of the phototool.

11. The combination of claim 10, wherein the plurality of light collimating articles is a plurality of Fresnel lenses.

12. The combination of claim 10, wherein the plurality of light collimating articles forms a Fresnel lens.

13. The combination of claim 10, wherein the microstructured surface is on the first side of the phototool.

14. The combination of claim 10, wherein the printing plate is a flexo plate.

15. The combination of claim 10, wherein the printing plate is a transfer pad printing plate.

16. The combination of claim 10, wherein the plurality of light collimating articles are non-attenuating.

17. A structure, comprising:

a printing plate; and

a microstructured surface disposed on a first surface of the printing plate, the microstructured surface comprising a plurality of light collimating articles.

18. The structure of claim 17, wherein the plurality of light collimating articles are microreplicated on the first surface of the printing plate.

19. The structure of claim 17, wherein the plurality of light collimating articles are non-attenuating.

20. The structure of claim 17, wherein the plurality of light collimating articles is a plurality of Fresnel lenses.

21. The structure of claim 17, wherein the plurality of Fresnel lenses is a plurality of refractive Fresnel lenses.

22. The structure of claim 17, wherein the plurality of light collimating articles forms a Fresnel lens.

23. A structure, comprising:

a coversheet;

a microstructured surface disposed on a first surface of the coversheet, the microstructured surface comprising a plurality of light collimating articles; and

a phototool substrate disposed adjacent to a second surface of the coversheet.

24. The structure of claim 23, wherein the plurality of light collimating articles are microreplicated on the second surface of the coversheet.

25. The structure of claim 23, wherein the plurality of light collimating articles are non-attenuating.

26. The structure of claim 23, wherein the plurality of light collimating articles is a plurality of Fresnel lenses.

27. The structure of claim 23, wherein the plurality of light collimating articles forms a Fresnel lens.

28. The structure of claim 23, further comprising a liquid photopolymer disposed on the microstructured surface.

29. A structure, comprising:

a creen;

a microstructured surface disposed on a surface of the creen, the microstructured surface comprising a plurality of light collimating articles; and

a phototool substrate having a first surface, the first surface disposed adjacent to the microstructured surface.

30. The structure of claim 29, wherein the plurality of light collimating articles are microreplicated on the surface of the creen.

31. The structure of claim 29, wherein the plurality of light collimating articles are non-attenuating.

32. The structure of claim 29, wherein the plurality of light collimating articles is a plurality of Fresnel lenses.

33. The structure of claim 29, wherein the plurality of light collimating articles forms a Fresnel lens.

34. The structure of claim 29, further comprising a sheet photopolymer disposed adjacent to a second surface of the phototool substrate.

35. A combination for producing relief images, comprising:

a source of actinic radiation;

a light collimating article positioned adjacent to the source, the light collimating article positioned to collimate the actinic radiation from the source;

a phototool positioned to receive collimated actinic radiation from the source at a first side of the phototool; and

a printing plate disposed adjacent to a second side of the phototool.

36. The combination of claim 35, wherein the light collimating article is a Fresnel lens.

37. The combination of claim 36, wherein the Fresnel lens is a domed Fresnel lens.

38. The combination of claim 35, further comprising a plurality of light collimating articles positioned adjacent to the source, the plurality of light collimating articles positioned to collimate the actinic radiation from the source.

39. The combination of claim 38, wherein the plurality of light collimating articles forms a Fresnel lens.