Microstructures integrated into a transparent substrate which scatter incident light to display an image

• US 7,182,467 B2
• Filed: 11/03/2004
• Issued: 02/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sun Innovations Inc.
• Original Assignee: SuperImaging, Inc. (Sun Innovations Inc.)
• Inventors: Sun, Xiao-Dong, Liu, Jian-Qiang
• Primary Examiner(s): Dowling; William C.
• Application Number:
  US10/979,160
• Publication Number:
  US 20050094266A1
• Time in Patent Office: 846 Days
• Field of Search: 353/79, 353/122, 359/452, 359/453, 359/615
• US Class Current: 353/79
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/0215 the surface having a regular structure
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/0242 by means of dispersed particles
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/0278 used in transmission
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/0284 used in reflection

Abstract

In accordance with embodiments, viewable imagines can be created in glass. Viewable images may be created in or on glass (or other at least partially transparent substrate), by using microstructures to scatter light from a projector, while the glass maintains transparent or translucent properties. In embodiments, the microstructures are integrated into glass in patterns.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a transparent substrate; and

a plurality of microstructures integrated into the transparent substrate which scatter incident light to display an image on the transparent substrate, wherein the microstructures are integrated into the transparent substrate in a pattern and the cross-sectional area of the pattern at a first angle is greater than the cross-sectional area of the pattern at a second angle.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of microstructures has a diameter between about 1 nanometer and about 10 micrometers.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein each of the plurality of microstructures has a diameter between about 10 nanometers and about 1 micrometer.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of microstructures are isotropically scattering particles.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein:

the plurality of microstructures scatters light from a projector to display the image on the transparent substrate; and

the projector projects light at a first angle onto the transparent substrate.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the plurality of microstructures scatters the light projected from the projector at a second angle which is different from the first angle.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of microstructures are unisotropically scattering particles.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the microstructures are coated onto the transparent substrate.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the microstructures are dispersed in the transparent substrate.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pattern is repetitive at the transparent substrate.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pitch of the pattern is in a range of about 1 nanometer to about 10 millimeters.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the thickness of the pattern is in a range of about 1 micrometer to about 10 millimeters.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the width of the pattern is in a range of about 1 nanometer to about 10 millimeters.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pattern has a fill-factor in a range of about 0.01% to about 99%.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the plurality of microstructures scatters light from a projector to display the image on the transparent substrate; and

the projector projects light at the first angle onto the transparent substrate.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the plurality of microstructures scatters the light projected from the projector at the second angle.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the width of each element of the pattern is less than the depth of each element of the pattern.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the transparent substrate comprises at least one of glass and plastic.

19. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the microstructures comprise at least one of:

organic pigments; and

organic particles.

20. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the microstructures comprise at least one of:

inorganic pigments; and

inorganic particles.

21. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the microstructures comprise at least one of:

titanium oxides;

silica;

alumna;

latex; and

polystyrene particles.

22. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the microstructures are integrated into the transparent substrate by at least one of:

printing;

stamping;

photolithography; and

micro-contact printing.

23. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of microstructures are comprised in a light deflecting surface.

24. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of microstructures are light deflecting optical material.

25. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of microstructures are comprised in at least one of:

a light scattering surface; and

a light deflecting surface.