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

• US 7,787,079 B2
• Filed: 08/07/2009
• Issued: 08/31/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NLT Technologies, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation, NEC LCD Technologies Limited (NEC Corporation)
• Inventors: Suzuki, Teruaki, Kanoh, Hiroshi
• Primary Examiner(s): PERUNGAVOOR, SATHYANARAYA V
• Application Number:
  US12/462,710
• Publication Number:
  US 20090322757A1
• Time in Patent Office: 389 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:

a coordinate displacement device that generates 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 dot patterns;

a pattern generator that arranges said dot patterns according to at least a portion of or all of said displaced coordinates generated by said coordinate displacement device to generate pattern data; and

further comprising at least one of;

(i) an entry confirmation device that determines whether or not a basic pitch P, a movable range R, and a dot diameter D, entered in connection with the limitation on the arrangement of patterns, satisfy the relationship;

P≧

2R+D;

(ii) an arranging device that arranges the displaced coordinates in positions such that even-numbered rows of the displaced coordinates are displaced by one-half of said basic pitch in the column direction relative to odd-numbered rows of the displaced coordinates; and

(iii) a displacement device that displaces said displaced 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.

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

a coordinate displacement device that generates 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;

a pattern generator that arranges predetermined dot patterns according to at least a portion of or all of said displaced coordinates generated by said coordinate displacement device to generate pattern data; and

further comprising at least one of;

(i) an entry confirmation device that determines whether or not a basic pitch P, a movable range R, and a dot diameter D, entered in connection with the limitation on the arrangement of patterns, satisfy the relationship;

P≧

2R+D;

(ii) an arranging device that arranges the displaced coordinates in positions such that even-numbered rows of the displaced coordinates are displaced by one-half of said basic pitch in the column direction relative to odd-numbered rows of the displaced coordinates; and

(iii) a displacement device that displaces said displaced 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.

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

a data entry device for entering a basic pitch, a movable range, and a dot diameter;

an array generation device that regularly arranges a multiplicity of base coordinates in two dimensions in accordance with said basic pitch entered by said data entry device;

a coordinate displacement device that randomly displaces 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;

a pattern generator that arranges a dot pattern with said dot diameter at each of the multiplicity of said displaced coordinates generated by said coordinate displacement means to generate pattern data; and

further comprising at least one of;

(i) an entry confirmation device that determines whether or not said basic pitch P, said movable range R, and said dot diameter D entered by said data entry device satisfy the relationship;

P≧

2R+D;

(ii) an arranging device, included in the array generation device, that arranges the displaced coordinates in positions such that even-numbered rows of the displaced coordinates are displaced by one-half of said basic pitch in the column direction relative to odd-numbered rows of the displaced coordinates; and

(iii) a displacement device, included in the coordinate displacement device, that displaces said displaced 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.

4. A device according to claim 3, further comprising a random number generator that generates random numbers, wherein said coordinate displacement device displaces said base coordinates according to random numbers generated by said random number generator.

5. A non- transitory 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 basic pitch, a movable range, and a dot diameter;

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 dot patterns with said dot diameter at least a portion of the multiplicity of said displaced coordinates generated by said third command set,

wherein, at least one of the following is further provided;

(i) 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;

(ii) 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

(iii) the fourth command set provides that dot patterns are arranged according to the basic pitch P, the movable range R, and the dot diameter D satisfying the relationship;

P≧

2R+D.