Method of making tool to produce optical film

• US 6,581,286 B2
• Filed: 01/16/2002
• Issued: 06/24/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Cobb, Sanford Jr., Campbell, Alan B., Kretman, Wade D., Hoopman, Timothy L., Niezgocki, Marvin J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bryant, David P.
• Application Number:
  US10/051,411
• Publication Number:
  US 20020057564A1
• Time in Patent Office: 524 Days
• Field of Search: 298/953, 298/953.1, 295/57, 362/31, 409/66, 409/67, 409/69
• US Class Current: 29/895.31
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/045 Prism arrays
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0038 Linear indentations or grooves, e.g. arc-shaped grooves or meandering grooves, extending over the full length or width of the light guide
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0065 Manufacturing aspects; Material aspects
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49561 toothed roller
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49995 Shaping one-piece blank by removing material
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 409/30028 to regulate cutting depth [e.g., relief, taper, etc.]

Abstract

An optical film having structures that vary in height along their length where the variations have a nominal period of less than forty times the nominal height of the structures is taught. In some embodiments of the invention the variation is random.

Claims

1. A method of making a tool for manufacturing an optical film, said method comprising the step of thread cutting a groove having a nominal depth and an actual depth in a metal roll with a diamond tool wherein said diamond tool is supported by a fast tool servo actuator and said fast tool servo actuator is stimulated by a random signal such that the actual depth varies continuously.