Micro-retarder plate

• US 6,498,679 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2000
• Issued: 12/24/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: InnoLux Corporation
• Original Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
• Inventors: Lee, Kuen, Tsai, Chao-Hsu
• Primary Examiner(s): Spyrou, Cassandra
• Assistant Examiner(s): Curtis, Craig
• Application Number:
  US09/745,885
• Publication Number:
  US 20010040730A1
• Time in Patent Office: 733 Days
• Field of Search: 359/483, 359/608, 359/494, 359/495, 348/58
• US Class Current: 359/489.11
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/3083 Birefringent or phase retarding elements G02B5/3008, G02B5/3016 take precedence; systems for polarisation control G02B27/286; manufacturing phase modulating patterns by lithographic processes G03F7/001
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/305 using lenticular lenses, e.g. arrangements of cylindrical lenses
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/31 using parallax barriers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/337 using polarisation multiplexing

Abstract

A micro-retarder plate using a single plate with phase retardation. The plate with phase retardation having a pattern that further comprises a plurality of first retardation state areas and second retardation state areas alternating with each other is formed on the micro-retarder plate. The pattern is formed using an infra-red laser to expose the plate with phase retardation, or using a circuit board with a pattern of electrothermal resistor thereon in contact with the plate of phase retardation. The linear polarized lights with direction of polarization being 45 degrees to the stretching direction of the retardation film passing through the first retardation state areas and the second retardation state areas are perpendicular to each other. The micro-retarder is laminated between two protection layers with index matching glue to remove the scattering effect caused by the heat process.

Claims

1. A method for forming a micro-retarder plate, comprising:

providing a plate with phase retardation having a first surface and a second surface;

laminating a first protection layer on the first surface of the plate with an index-matching glue layer;

patterning the plate with phase retardation to form a micro-retarder with a plurality of first retardation state areas and a plurality of second retardation state areas alternating with each other, wherein linear polarized lights with direction of polarization being 45 degrees to the stretching direction of the retardation film passing through the first retardation state areas and the second retardation state areas are perpendicular to each other; and

laminating a second protection layer on the second surface of the micro-retarder with a second index-matching glue layer.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of patterning the plate with phase retardation comprises using an infra-red laser for exposure.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of patterning the plate with phase retardation comprises disposing a circuit board with a pattern of electrothermal resistor in contact with the plate with phase retardation.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first and the second protection layers are formed by the materials without birefringence effect.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the plate with phase retardation comprises a half-wavelength retardation.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first retardation state comprises half-wave retardation and the second retardation state comprises zero retardation or vice versa.