Patent · US Expired

Process for making a optical transparency having a diffuse antireflection coating

US5948481A · kind A · utility

12Cited by
7References
24Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateNov 12, 1996
Grant dateSep 7, 1999
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 12, 2016

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10T428/2982
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A coated transparency, and method for making it, is disclosed, the transparency having a multi-layer antireflection coating that provides high transmittance with low specular reflectance, yet that also provides reduced visibility of surface defects. The coating includes alternating layers of polymerized silicon dioxide and polymerized titanium dioxide on a transparent substrate, with at least one of the layers incorporating discrete particles having a refractive index different from that of surrounding polymer. This provides the coating with a diffuse reflectance that is comparable to, or larger than, its specular reflectance, yet that still is negligible when compared to the coating's transmittance. The diffuse reflectance creates a loss of contrast for any reflected image or glare, thus masking any surface defects and providing a comfortable visual appearance. The successive layers of the antireflection coating are deposited on the substrate by applying separate solutions of an alkoxide, an alcohol, and water, and by curing the layer at an elevated temperature before the next succeeding layer is applied.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.