Generation of pattern data with no overlapping or excessive distance between adjacent dot patterns

• US 20090322757A1
• Filed: 08/07/2009
• Published: 12/31/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NLT Technologies, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: NEC LCD Technologies Limited (NEC Corporation)
• Inventors: Suzuki, Teruaki, Kanoh, Hiroshi
• Granted Patent: US 7,787,079 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/440
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/10 with curved faces
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133553 Reflecting elements associated to illuminating devices G02F1/133605
• CPC Class Codes: G03F 1/00 Originals for photomechanical production of textured or patterned surfaces, e.g., masks, photo-masks, reticles; Mask blanks or pellicles therefor; Containers specially adapted therefor; Preparation thereof

Abstract

A device is disclosed for generating pattern data for unevenness that is randomly arranged on the surface of the reflective substrate of a reflective liquid crystal display device. The number of coordinates, a basic pitch, a movable range, and a dot diameter are entered from a data entry unit. An array generation unit regularly arranges base coordinates in two dimensions in accordance with the basic pitch. Coordinate displacement unit randomly displaces within the movable range at a portion of the basic coordinates to generate a multiplicity of displaced coordinates. Pattern generation unit arranges dot patterns with the dot diameter entered at each of the displaced coordinates generated to generate pattern data.

Claims

1. A device for generating pattern data for unevenness that is randomly arranged, said device comprising:

a coordinate displacement device that generates a multiplicity of displaced coordinates that are randomly displaced in two dimensions with a limitation on the arrangement of patterns to prevent overlap or excessive distance between patterns; and

a pattern generator that arranges said patterns according to at least a portion of or all of said displaced coordinates generated by said coordinate displacement device to generate pattern data.

2. A device for generating pattern data for unevenness that is randomly arranged, said device comprising:

a coordinate displacement device that generates a multiplicity of displaced coordinates that are randomly displaced in two dimensions with a limitation on the arrangement of patterns to prevent overlap or excessive distance between patterns; and

a pattern generator that arranges predetermined dot patterns according to at least a portion of or all of said displaced coordinates generated by said coordinate displacement means to generate pattern data.

3. (canceled)

4. A device for generating pattern data for unevenness that is randomly arranged, said device comprising:

a data entry device for entering a basic pitch, a movable range, and a dot diameter;

an array generation device that regularly arranges a multiplicity of base coordinates in two dimensions in accordance with said basic pitch entered by said data entry device;

a coordinate displacement device that randomly displaces within said movable range at least a portion of said base coordinates arranged by said array generation means to generate a multiplicity of displaced coordinates; and

a pattern generator that arranges a dot pattern with said dot diameter at each of the multiplicity of said displaced coordinates generated by said coordinate displacement means to generate pattern data.

7. A device according to claim 4, further comprising an entry confirmation device that determines whether or not said basic pitch P, said movable range R, and said dot diameter D entered by said data entry device satisfy the relationship:

P≧

2R+D.

9. A device according to claim 4, wherein said array generation device includes an arranging device that arranges said base coordinates in positions such that even-numbered rows of the base coordinates are displaced by one-half of said basic pitch in the column direction relative to odd-numbered rows of the base coordinates.

11. A device according to claim 4, further comprising a random number generator that generates random numbers;

wherein said coordinate displacement means displaces said base coordinates according to random numbers generated by said random number generator.

14. A device according to claim 4, wherein said coordinate displacement device includes a displacement device that displaces said base coordinates such that half-width H of a distribution graph of the displacements of said displaced coordinates satisfies the relationship with said basic pitch P:

0.3 P≦

H≦

0.9 P.

5. (canceled)

6. (canceled)

8. (canceled)

10. (canceled)

12. (canceled)

13. (canceled)

15. A computer program for causing a computer to execute processes for generating pattern data, said computer program comprising:

a first command set for entering a basic pitch, a movable range, and a dot diameter;

a second command set for regularly arranging a multiplicity of base coordinates in two dimensions in accordance with said basic pitch entered by said first command set;

a third command set for randomly displacing within said movable range at least a portion of said base coordinates arranged by said second command set; and

a fourth command set for arranging dot patterns with said dot diameter at least a portion of the multiplicity of said displaced coordinates generated by said third command set.

16-34. -34. (canceled)