Roll-to-roll method and system for micro-replication of a pattern of large relief three-dimensional microstructures
US8114248B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 3, 2007 |
| Grant date | Feb 14, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 17, 2027 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T156/1195
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A method and system referred to as PALM (Patterning by Adhesive of Large Relief Three-Dimensional Microstructures) with large reliefs exceeding 1 μm and being as large as 100 μm. The microstructures can be either deterministic (such as microprisms), or random (such as diffusers), the first obtained by copying an original supermaster, and latter obtained by copying a laser speckle pattern. The master process entails copying a supermaster into the form of the microstructure constituting a pattern on the patterning cylinder (called a drum), to be then continuously multiplied in the PALM system, in a continuous roll-to-roll web process. The latter method, together with the related system, is the subject of this invention. The rolls continuously repeat the master pattern, copying by adhesive with large viscosity on acrylic (hybrid) as well as by a monolithic process. The monolithic process can be accomplished using temperature and pressure, or by UV-cured polymerization. Therefore, the invention comprises three alternative processes: one, hybrid (adhesive on acrylic), and two monolithic ones. In the PALM (hybrid) process, an epoxy is wet-coated on film substrates such as polycarbonate (…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.