Non-attenuating light collimating articles for graphic arts

• US 8,867,135 B2
• Filed: 04/03/2013
• Issued: 10/21/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Xiper Innovations, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Xiper Innovations, Inc.
• Inventors: Kanga, Rustom Sam
• Primary Examiner(s): CHOI, WILLIAM C
• Application Number:
  US13/855,903
• Publication Number:
  US 20130222917A1
• Time in Patent Office: 566 Days
• Field of Search: 359/619, 359/641, 359/741, 359/742, 430/306
• US Class Current: 359/619
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/30 Collimators
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 3/0006 Arrays G02B3/02, G02B5/188 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 3/08 with discontinuous faces, e.g. Fresnel lens diffractive Fresnel lenses G02B5/1876
• CPC Class Codes: G03F 7/2008 characterised by the reflectors, diffusers, light or heat filtering means or anti-reflective means used
• CPC Class Codes: G03F 7/2014 Contact or film exposure of light sensitive plates such as lithographic plates or circuit boards, e.g. in a vacuum frame

Abstract

Various systems and methods are provided for non-attenuating light collimating articles. In one embodiment, among others, a phototool comprises a substrate; and a microstructured surface disposed on a first surface of the substrate, the microstructured surface comprising a plurality of light collimating articles.

Claims

1. A combination for producing relief images, comprising:

a source of actinic radiation;

a phototool system positioned to receive actinic radiation from the source at a first side of the phototool system, the phototool system comprising a microstructured surface, the microstructured surface comprising a plurality of Fresnel lenses; and

a printing plate disposed adjacent to a second side of the phototool system.

2. A combination for producing relief images, comprising:

a source of actinic radiation;

a phototool system positioned to receive actinic radiation from the source at a first side of the phototool system, where the phototool system comprises an integrated single-layer phototool system including a photographic negative and a microstructured surface, the microstructured surface comprising a plurality of light collimating articles; and

a printing plate disposed adjacent to a second side of the phototool system.

3. The combination of claim 2, wherein the microstructured surface is disposed on the first side of the integrated single-layer phototool system.

4. The combination of claim 3, wherein the integrated single-layer phototool system comprises an imaged negative emulsion on the second side of the phototool system.

5. The combination of claim 4, wherein the printing plate is disposed adjacent to the imaged negative emulsion.

6. The combination of claim 2, wherein the printing plate is a sheet photopolymer flexographic printing plate or a transfer pad printing plate.

7. A combination for producing relief images, comprising:

a source of actinic radiation;

a phototool system positioned to receive actinic radiation from the source at a first side of the phototool system, the phototool system comprising a microstructured surface, the microstructured surface comprising a plurality of light collimating articles that comprise an array of a plurality of prismatic light deflecting microlenses or an array of cylindrical microlenses; and

a printing plate disposed adjacent to a second side of the phototool system.

8. The combination of claim 7, wherein the printing plate is a sheet photopolymer flexographic printing plate.

9. The combination of claim 7, wherein the printing plate is a transfer pad printing plate.

10. The combination of claim 7, wherein the plurality of light collimating articles are non-attenuating.

11. The combination of claim 7, wherein the phototool system is a non-integrated bi-layer phototool system comprising a photographic negative and a separate light collimating layer that includes the microstructured surface disposed on a first surface facing the source of actinic radiation.

12. The combination of claim 11, wherein the non-integrated bi-layer phototool system comprises an imaged negative emulsion on a surface of the photographic negative that is facing away from the source of actinic radiation.

13. The combination of claim 7, wherein the phototool system is a non-integrated bi-layer phototool system comprising a photographic negative and a separate light collimating layer that includes the microstructured surface disposed on a surface facing away from the source of actinic radiation.

14. The combination of claim 13, wherein the non-integrated bi-layer phototool system comprises an imaged negative emulsion on a surface of the photographic negative that is facing away from the source of actinic radiation.

15. A combination for producing relief images, comprising:

a source of actinic radiation;

a phototool system positioned to receive actinic radiation from the source at a first side of the phototool system, the phototool system comprising a microstructured surface, the microstructured surface comprising a plurality of light collimating articles that comprise an array of a plurality of prismatic light deflecting microlenses or an array of cylindrical microlenses;

a coversheet disposed adjacent to a second side of the phototool system; and

a liquid photopolymer disposed adjacent to the coversheet.

16. The combination of claim 15, wherein the phototool system is a non-integrated bi-layer phototool system comprising a photographic negative and a separate light collimating layer that includes the microstructured surface disposed on a surface facing the source of actinic radiation.

17. The combination of claim 15, wherein the phototool system is a non-integrated bi-layer phototool system comprising a photographic negative and a separate light collimating layer that includes the microstructured surface disposed on a surface facing away from the source of actinic radiation.

18. The combination of claim 15, further comprising an imaged negative emulsion on the second side of the phototool system.

19. A combination for producing relief images, comprising:

a source of actinic radiation;

a phototool system positioned to receive actinic radiation from the source at a first side of the phototool system, where the phototool system comprises an integrated single-layer phototool system including a photographic negative and a microstructured surface, the microstructured surface comprising a plurality of light collimating articles;

a coversheet disposed adjacent to a second side of the phototool system; and

a liquid photopolymer disposed adjacent to the coversheet.

20. The combination of claim 19, wherein the microstructured surface is disposed on the first side of the single-layer phototool system facing the source of actinic radiation.

21. The combination of claim 20, wherein the integrated single-layer phototool system comprises an imaged negative emulsion on the second side of the phototool system.