Methods for forming sheeting with a composite image that floats and a master tooling
First Claim
1. A method of forming a sheeting from a master tool, comprising:
- providing a first sheeting comprising a first array of microlenses and a photopolymerizable first material layer adjacent to the first array of microlenses;
exposing the first sheeting to a radiation source to form a master tool comprising a plurality of polymerized first structured areas in the first material layer, wherein said exposing the first sheeting to the radiation source comprises directing collimated light from a laser through a lens toward the first array of microlenses such that the resulting divergent light impinges on the array of microlenses is then transmitted through the microlenses and causes a chemical change to the photopolymerizable first material layer, wherein at least some of the first structured areas comprise a portion shape in common with at least some of the other first structured areas, and wherein each first structured area is associated with one of the first array of microlenses, wherein the photopolymerizable first material layer is polymerized upon exposure to conditions resulting in simultaneous absorption of two or more photons;
replicating the plurality of first structured areas using a substance that conforms to the plurality of structured areas to form a second material layer having a plurality of replicated structured areas;
associating the second material layer with a second array of microlenses to form a second sheeting, wherein individual replicated structured areas are associated with individual microlenses in the second array of microlenses;
wherein each of the second array of microlenses has a refractive surface that transmits light to a position of the second material layer to produce, under reflected or transmitted light, a composite image from the replicated structured areas formed within the second material layer, where the composite image appears to float above or below the second sheeting.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A sheeting and a method of forming a sheeting from a master tool are described where the sheeting has a composite image that floats above or below the sheeting. The method includes providing a first sheeting comprising a first array of microlenses and a photopolymerizable first material layer adjacent to the first array of microlenses. Another step is exposing the first sheeting to a radiation source to form a master tool comprising a plurality of polymerized first structured areas in the first material layer, wherein at least some of the first structured areas include a portion shape in common with at least some of the first structured areas and wherein each first structured area is associated with one of the first array of microlenses. Yet another step is replicating the plurality of first structured areas using a substance that conforms to the plurality of structured areas to form a second material layer having a plurality of replicated structured areas.
213 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A method of forming a sheeting from a master tool, comprising:
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providing a first sheeting comprising a first array of microlenses and a photopolymerizable first material layer adjacent to the first array of microlenses; exposing the first sheeting to a radiation source to form a master tool comprising a plurality of polymerized first structured areas in the first material layer, wherein said exposing the first sheeting to the radiation source comprises directing collimated light from a laser through a lens toward the first array of microlenses such that the resulting divergent light impinges on the array of microlenses is then transmitted through the microlenses and causes a chemical change to the photopolymerizable first material layer, wherein at least some of the first structured areas comprise a portion shape in common with at least some of the other first structured areas, and wherein each first structured area is associated with one of the first array of microlenses, wherein the photopolymerizable first material layer is polymerized upon exposure to conditions resulting in simultaneous absorption of two or more photons; replicating the plurality of first structured areas using a substance that conforms to the plurality of structured areas to form a second material layer having a plurality of replicated structured areas; associating the second material layer with a second array of microlenses to form a second sheeting, wherein individual replicated structured areas are associated with individual microlenses in the second array of microlenses; wherein each of the second array of microlenses has a refractive surface that transmits light to a position of the second material layer to produce, under reflected or transmitted light, a composite image from the replicated structured areas formed within the second material layer, where the composite image appears to float above or below the second sheeting. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of using a master tool to form a sheeting, comprising:
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providing a first sheeting comprising a first array of microlenses and a photopolymerizable first material layer adjacent to the first array of microlenses, wherein the photopolymerizable material is polymerized upon exposure to conditions resulting in simultaneous absorption of two or more photons; exposing the first sheeting to a radiation source to form a master tool comprising a plurality of polymerized first structured areas in the first material layer, wherein said exposing the first sheeting to the radiation source comprises directing collimated light from a laser through a lens toward the first array of microlenses such that the resulting divergent light impinges on the array of microlenses is then transmitted through the microlenses and causes a chemical change to the photopolymerizable first material layer, wherein at least some of the first structured areas comprise a portion of some of the other first structured areas, and wherein each first structured area is associated with one of the first array of microlenses; replicating the plurality of first structured areas using a substance that conforms to the plurality of structured areas to form a second material layer having a plurality of replicated structured areas; associating the second material layer with a second array of microlenses to form a second sheeting, wherein individual replicated structured areas are associated with individual microlenses in the second array of microlenses; wherein each of the second array of microlenses has a refractive surface that transmits light to a position of the second material layer to produce, under reflected or transmitted light, a composite image from the replicated structured areas formed within the second material layer, where the composite image appears to float above or below the second sheeting. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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13. A photolithography process using visible or infrared radiation, comprising:
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providing a first array of microlenses and a photopolymerizable first material layer adjacent to the microlenses; exposing the first material layer to a radiation source including visible or infrared radiation, wherein said exposing the first sheeting to the radiation source comprises directing collimated light from a laser through a lens toward the first array of microlenses such that the resulting divergent light impinges on the array of microlenses is then transmitted through the microlenses and causes a chemical change to the photopolymerizable first material layer; developing the photopolymerizable first material layer to form a master tool comprising a plurality of polymerized first structured areas in the first material layer, wherein at least some of the first structured areas comprise a portion shape in common with some of the other first structured areas, wherein the first structured areas within the first material layer form a composite image, wherein the composite image appears to float above or below the master sheeting, wherein each first structured area is associated with one of the first array of microlenses, wherein the polymerized first structured areas are polymerized upon exposure to conditions resulting in simultaneous absorption of two or more photons; and wherein at least one feature dimension of a plurality of the first structured areas is less than or equal to 70 nanometers.
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Specification