Aluminium reflector with composite reflectivity-enhancing surface layer

• US 5,978,133 A
• Filed: 06/16/1997
• Issued: 11/02/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hormel Foods LLC (Hormel Foods)
• Original Assignee: Alusuisse Technology & Management Limited
• Inventors: Gillich, Volkmar
• Primary Examiner(s): HENRY, JON W
• Application Number:
  US08/876,332
• Time in Patent Office: 869 Days
• Field of Search: 359/584, 359/585, 359/580, 359/577, 359/884, 359/883, 359/359, 359/360, 205/116, 205/324-331
• US Class Current: 359/359
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/0833 comprising inorganic materials only
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/0858 the reflecting layers comprising a single metallic layer with one or more dielectric layers
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/0866 incorporating one or more organic, e.g. polymeric layers
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/0891 Ultraviolet [UV] mirrors apparatus for microlithography exposure G03F7/70; X-ray multilayer structures G21K1/06
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/26 Reflecting filters G02B5/28 takes precedence

Abstract

Reflector having a composite reflectivity-enhancing layer as reflecting surface layer on a reflector body where the composite layer has an outer layer facing the radiation to be reflected, the HI-layer, with a refractive index n₂, and, between the reflector body and the outer layer, an LI-layer with a refractive index n₁ which is smaller than n₂ and the LI and HI layers are λ/4 layers. The HI layer is a sol-gel layer and the optical layer thickness d_opt,1 of the LI layer and d_opt,2 of the HI layer are such that

d.sub.opt,i =d.sub.i.n.sub.i =l.sub.i.λ/4±20 nm, i=1 or 2

where d₁ represents the thickness of the LI layer in nm, d₂ the thickness of the HI layer in nm, λ the average wavelength in nm of the light striking the reflector surface and l₁, l₂ are uneven natural numbers. The LI layer is a barrier layer of aluminium oxide made by anodizing, or a sol-gel layer.

Claims

1. A reflector having a composite reflectivity-enhancing layer as a reflecting surface layer on a reflector body where the reflector is a metal, where the said composite layer has an outer layer facing the radiation to be reflected, the HI-layer, with a refractive index n₂, and, between the reflector body and the outer layer, an LI-layer with a refractive index n₁ which is smaller than n₂ and the LI and HI layers are λ

/4 layers, the composite reflectivity-enhancing layer has a porosity of less than 1 percent, the HI layer is a sol-gel layer and the optical layer thickness do_opt,1 of the LI layer and d_opt,2 of the HI layer are such that;

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">d.sub.opt,1 =d.sub.i.n.sub.i =l.sub.i.λ

/4±

20 nm, i=1 or 2

where d₁ represents the thickness of the LI layer in nm, d₂ the thickness of the HI layer in nm, λ

the average wavelength in nm of the light striking the reflector surface and l₁, l₂ are uneven natural numbers, the thickness d₁ of the LI layer and the thickness d₂ of the HI layer are each between 30 and 350 nm, and are such that the thickness d₁ and d₂ measured at a particular site does not vary by more than ±

5 percent from the average values of d_1av and d_2av over the whole of the composite layer, and the quotient n₁ /n₂ lies between 0.5 and 0.7.

2. A process comprising using the reflectors according to claim 1 as reflectors for lamps for technical lighting applications.

3. A process comprising using the reflectors according to claim 1 as reflectors for lamps for daylight technical lighting applications.

4. A process comprising using the reflectors according to claim 1 as reflectors for infra-red radiation.

5. A process comprising using the reflectors according to claim 1 as reflectors for UV radiation.

6. A process comprising using the reflectors according to claim 1 as reflectors for secondary lighting lamps.

7. A process comprising using the reflectors according to claim 1 as reflectors for lamps operated in conjunction with computer screen monitors in work places.

8. A process comprising using the reflectors according to claim 1 as reflectors for scanning lamps.

9. A process comprising using the reflectors of claim 1 reflectors for lighting elements.

10. A process comprising using the reflectors of claim 1 as reflectors for illuminated ceilings.

11. A process comprising using the reflectors of claim 1 as reflectors for light deflecting channels.

12. The reflector according to claim 11, wherein the HI layer is or contains an oxide of an alkali, alkaline earth or transition metal, a lanthanide or an alloy of these materials, or mixtures of the mentioned oxides, or a metal fluoride.

13. The reflector according to claim 1, wherein the reflector body or at least the surface layer of the reflector body that has to be provided with the composite layer is of aluminum or aluminum alloy.

14. The reflector according to claim 1, wherein the LI layer is a sol-gel layer and contains a silicon oxide, aluminum oxide or an oxide of an alkali, alkaline earth or transition metal, a lanthanide or an alloy of these materials, or mixtures of the mentioned oxides, or a metal fluoride.

15. The reflector according to claim 1, wherein the LI layer is a sol-gel layer and comprises a silicon oxide, aluminum oxide or an oxide of an alkali, alkaline earth or transition metal, a lanthanide or an alloy of these materials, or mixtures of the mentioned oxides, or a metal fluoride.

16. The reflector according to claim 1, wherein the composite layer absorbs less than 3 percent of the incident light energy.

17. The reflector according to claim 12, wherein the HI layer is or contains Ti-oxide, PrTi-oxide, LaTi-oxide, Ta-oxide, Hf-oxide, Nb-oxide, Zn-oxide, Ce-oxide, Zr-oxide, Mo-oxide or an oxide of an alloy of the mentioned metals.

18. The reflector according to claim 13, wherein the aluminum is pure aluminum having a purity of 98.3 wt. percent Al and higher.

19. The reflector according to claim 13, wherein the aluminum is an aluminum alloy having an aluminum content of 98.3 wt. percent and higher and containing at least one of the elements Si, Mg, Mn, Cu, Zn and Fe.

20. The reflector according to claim 13, wherein the LI layer is a transparent and pore-free barrier layer produced by anodizing the aluminum layer and having a dielectric constant ε

₁ of 6 to 10.5 at 20°

C.

21. The process comprising using the reflector according to claim 13, for reflecting electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength λ

corresponding to the average wavelength of visible light best perceived by the human eye in daylight.