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

• US 7,612,847 B2
• Filed: 09/05/2002
• Issued: 11/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NLT Technologies, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation, NEC LCD Technologies Limited (NEC Corporation)
• Inventors: Suzuki, Teruaki, Kanoh, Hiroshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Bella; Matthew C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PERUNGAVOOR, SATHYANARAYA V
• Application Number:
  US10/487,496
• Publication Number:
  US 20040239844A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,616 Days
• Field of Search: 349/113
• US Class Current: 349/113
• 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 on a reflecting surface, said device comprising:

coordinate displacement means for generating 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

pattern generation means for arranging predetermined line patterns according to at least a portion of or all of said displaced coordinates generated by said coordinate displacement means to generate the pattern data for unevenness that is randomly arranged on the reflecting surface, wherein said coordinate displacement means includes means for displacing said base coordinates such that half width H of a distribution graph of the displacements of said displaced coordinates satisfies the relationship with a basic pitch P;

0.3 P≦

H≦

0.9 P.

2. A device according to claim 1, further comprising random number generation means for generating random numbers;

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

3. A device for generating pattern data for unevenness that is randomly arranged on a reflecting surface, said device comprising:

data entry means for entering a basic pitch, a movable range, and a line width;

array generation means for regularly arranging a multiplicity of base coordinates in two dimensions in accordance with said basic pitch entered by said data entry means;

coordinate displacement means for randomly displacing 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;

pattern generation means for arranging a line pattern with said line width at each side of a plurality of predetermined polygons that take as vertices at least a portion of said displaced coordinates generated by said coordinate displacement means to generate the pattern data; and

entry confirmation means for determining whether or not said basic pitch P, said movable range R, and said line width W entered by said data entry means satisfy the relationship;

P≧

2R+W.

4. A device according to claim 3, further comprising random number generation means for generating random numbers;

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

5. A device according to claim 3, wherein said polygons are hexagons.

6. A device according to claim 3, wherein said coordinate displacement means includes means for displacing 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.

7. A device for generating pattern data for unevenness that is randomly arranged on a reflecting surface, said device comprising:

data entry means for entering a basic pitch, a movable range, and a line width;

array generation means for regularly arranging a multiplicity of base coordinates in two dimensions in accordance with said basic pitch entered by said data entry means;

coordinate displacement means for randomly displacing 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

pattern generation means for arranging a line pattern with said line width at each side of a plurality of predetermined polygons that take as vertices at least a portion of said displaced coordinates generated by said coordinate displacement means to generate the pattern data for unevenness that is randomly arranged on the reflecting surface, wherein said array generation means includes means for arranging 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.

8. A computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program for causing a computer to execute processes for generating pattern data for unevenness that is randomly arranged on a reflecting surface, said computer program comprising executable code that provides:

a first command set for entering a pitch, a movable range, and a line width;

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, wherein the third command set provides for displacing 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; and

a fourth command set for arranging a line pattern with said line width at each side of a plurality of predetermined polygons that take as vertices at least a portion of said displaced coordinates generated by said third command set to generate the pattern data for unevenness that is randomly arranged on the reflecting surface.

9. A computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program for causing a computer to execute processes for generating pattern data for unevenness that is randomly arranged on a reflecting surface, said computer program comprising executable code that provides:

a first command set for entering a pitch, a movable range, and a line width;

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 a line pattern with said line width at each side of a plurality of predetermined polygons that take as vertices at least a portion of said displaced coordinates generated by said third command set to generate the pattern data for unevenness that is randomly arranged on the reflecting surface, wherein the line pattern is arranged according to the basic pitch P, the movable range R, and the line width W satisfying the relationship;

P≦

2R+W.

10. A computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program for causing a computer to execute processes for generating pattern data for unevenness that is randomly arranged on a reflecting surface, said computer program comprising executable code that provides:

a first command set for entering a pitch, a movable range, and a line width;

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, wherein the second command set provides for arranging 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;

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 a line pattern with said line width at each side of a plurality of predetermined polygons that take as vertices at least a portion of said displaced coordinates generated by said third command set to generate the pattern data for unevenness that is randomly arranged on the reflecting surface.