Methods of making transreflectors

• US 7,875,218 B2
• Filed: 04/18/2007
• Issued: 01/25/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rambus Delaware LLC (Rambus Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Rambus International Ltd (Rambus Inc.)
• Inventors: McCollum, Timothy A., Parker, Jeffery R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Vargot; Mathieu D.
• Application Number:
  US11/736,666
• Publication Number:
  US 20070187852A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,378 Days
• Field of Search: 264/1.6, 264/1.7, 264/1.8, 264/2.7, 264/322
• US Class Current: 264/1.7
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/309 using white LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0044 by the sight sense
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 21/02 for inducing sleep or relaxation, e.g. by direct nerve stimulation, hypnosis, analgesia for massage A61H; electrotherapy A61N, e.g. applying alternating or intermittent electric currents for producing anaesthesia A61N1/36021
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/063 comprising light transmitting means, e.g. optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0652 Arrays of diodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0621 Hyperbilirubinemia, jaundice treatment
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/00 Refractors for light sources characterised by cooling arrangements F21V29/504
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0018 Redirecting means on the surface of the light guide
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/002 by shaping at least a portion of the light guide, e.g. with collimating, focussing or diverging surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0021 for housing at least a part of the light source, e.g. by forming holes or recesses
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0028 Light guide, e.g. taper
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0031 Reflecting element, sheet or layer
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0036 2-D arrangement of prisms, protrusions, indentations or roughened surfaces
• 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 6/0043 provided on the surface of the light guide
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0053 Prismatic sheet or layer; Brightness enhancement element, sheet or layer
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0056 for producing polarisation effects, e.g. by a surface with polarizing properties or by an additional polarizing elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/006 to produce indicia, symbols, texts or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0061 to provide homogeneous light output intensity
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0065 Manufacturing aspects; Material aspects
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0068 : Arrangements of plural sources, e.g. multi-colour light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133555 : Transflectors
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133615 : Edge-illuminating devices, i.e. illuminating from the side
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/062 : Light conductor
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/07 : transparent

Abstract

The transreflectors may comprise two or more transparent substrates of different indices of refraction bonded together, with a pattern of optical deformities in the mating side of one of the substrates and an inverse pattern of optical deformities in the mating side of an other substrate in mating engagement with each other. The transreflectors are used in a transreflector system or display to transmit more of the light emitted by a backlight or other light source incident on one side of the transreflectors and reflect more of the light incident on the opposite side of the transreflectors.

Claims

1. A method of making an optical film, plate or substrate out of at least two transparent substrates having different indices of refraction comprising the steps of preforming a pattern of optical deformities on or in one side of one of the substrates, melting or heat softening one side of an other substrate and pressing the melted or softened side of the other substrate in direct contact against the preformed pattern of optical deformities on or in the one side of the one substrate to form the inverse pattern of optical deformities in or on the melted or softened side of the other substrate, and then cooling the substrates to cause the one side of the other substrate to harden and bond in direct contact to the one side of the one substrate with the optical deformities and inverse optical deformities in direct mating engagement with one another.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the film, plate or substrate includes more than two layers with interfaces between the layers, and there are optical deformities formed on at least one of the interfaces between the layers.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the film, plate or substrate is edge lit by a light source and emits light from at least one surface of the film, plate or substrate.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of forming optical deformities in the other side of the substrate that has the lower index of refraction shaped to transmit a specific distribution of light emitted from a backlight or other light source.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of forming optical deformities in the other side of the substrate that has the higher index of refraction shaped to redirect light.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of applying a texture to the other side of the substrate that has the higher index of refraction.