Method of making polarizer and antireflection microstructure for mobile phone display and window

• US 6,888,676 B2
• Filed: 03/20/2003
• Issued: 05/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Parikka, Marko, Saarinen, Kaj
• Primary Examiner(s): Juba, Jr., John
• Application Number:
  US10/396,733
• Publication Number:
  US 20040184147A1
• Time in Patent Office: 775 Days
• Field of Search: 264/1.31, 264/1.34, 264/1.35, 264/1.6, 264/1.7, 359/490, 359/491, 359/900, 359/2.6, 359/134, 359/135, 359/171.1, 359/171.13
• US Class Current: 359/487.02
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2059/023 Microembossing
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 59/02 by mechanical means, e.g. pressing B29C59/007 takes precedence; embossing expanded porous articles B29C44/5627
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 1/11 Anti-reflection coatings
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 1/118 having sub-optical wavelength surface structures designed to provide an enhanced transmittance, e.g. moth-eye structures
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 359/90 Methods

Abstract

A method of producing an antireflection structure for use on a display or a window surface or both in an electronic device, such as a mobile phone. The display can be an LCD with a top polarizer and a bottom polarizer. The antireflection structure is imparted on the top polarizer by a roller embossing process. In particular, the embossing is carried out in the same manufacturing process when the polarizer is produced. The antireflection structure has a plurality of sub-wavelength periodic grooves. The antireflection structure on the window surface can be imparted using an embossing process or an injection molding process.

Claims

1. A method of realizing a light reflection reduction structure on at least one surface of a display, wherein the display has at least one optical polarizing component disposed thereon and the reflection reduction structure comprises a plurality of sub-wavelength periodic grooves, and wherein the polarizing component comprises an impressible film and a directional optical filter sheet, said method characterized by

attaching the impressible film to the directional optical filter sheet for forming a laminated sheet, and by

imparting the periodic grooves on the impressible film, said method is further characterized in that the attaching of the impressible film to the filter sheet is carried out prior to the imparting of the periodic grooves.

2. The method of claim 1, characterized in that the directional optical filter sheet has a first side and an opposing second side, wherein the impressible film is attached to the first side of the filter sheet, said method further characterized by

attaching a further film to the filter sheet on the second side thereof.

3. The method of claim 1, characterized in that the directional optical filter sheet comprises a stretched film, said method further characterized by

applying iodine molecules onto the stretched film for effecting optical polarization.

4. The method of claim 3, characterized in that said applying is carried out before the directional optical filter sheet is attached to the impressible film.

5. The method of claim 1, characterized in that the display comprises a liquid-crystal display.

6. The method of claim 5, characterized in that the display has a first side facing a user and an opposing second side, wherein the optical polarizing component is disposed on the first side.

7. The method of claim 6, characterized in that the display further has a further optical polarizing component disposed on the second side of the display.

8. The method of claim 1, characterized in that the imparting step is carried out using an embossing process.

9. The method of claim 8, characterized in that the imparting of the periodic grooves on the impressible film is carried out using a roller having a surface with a pattern for imparting the periodic grooves.

10. The method of claim 1, further characterized in that the directional optical filter sheet comprises a stretched film, said method further characterized by:

applying iodine molecules onto the stretched film for effecting optical polarization, said applying carried out prior to the imparting of the periodic grooves.

11. The method of claim 1, further characterized in that the directional optical filter sheet comprises a stretched film, said method further characterized by:

applying iodine molecules onto the stretched film for effecting optical polarization, said applying carried out after the imparting of the periodic grooves.

12. A method of realizing a light reflection reduction structure on at least one surface of a display, wherein the display has at least one optical polarizing component disposed thereon and the reflection reduction structure comprises a plurality of sub-wavelength periodic grooves, and wherein the polarizing component comprises an impressible film and a directional optical filter sheet, said method characterized by

attaching the impressible film to the directional optical filter sheet for forming a laminated sheet, and by

mechanically imparting the periodic grooves on the impressible film, wherein the directional optical filter sheet comprises a stretched film, said method further characterized by

applying iodine molecules onto the stretched film for effecting optical polarization, and that said applying is carried out after the directional optical filter sheet is attached to the impressible film and that the imparting of the periodic grooves is carried out prior to said attaching.

13. A method of realizing a light reflection reduction structure on at least one surface of a display, wherein the display has at least one optical polarizing component disposed thereon and the reflection reduction structure comprises a plurality of sub-wavelength periodic grooves, and wherein the polarizing component comprises an impressible film and a directional optical filter sheet, said method characterized by

attaching the impressible film to the directional optical filter sheet for forming a laminated sheet, and by

mechanically imparting the periodic grooves on the impressible film, said method characterized in that the impressible film is part of a film roll and the optical filter sheet is part of a sheet roll when they are attached together to form a laminated sheet as part of a laminated sheet roll, said method further characterized by

cutting at least a part of the laminated sheet roll into sections after said imparting.