US5085977A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Focusing screen and a method of forming a microstructure array for use with a focusing screen
Assignee: Pentax Corp
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Filing: 1990-04-05
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Granted: 1992-02-04
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Expires: 2010-04-05
Abstract
Abstract A method of forming a microstructure array suitable for use in the production of a focusing screen used in a finder system of a camera. The focusing screen includes an optical material in plate form having on one surface of a plurality small lens portions that project in a regular array of equilateral triangles from the optical material and each of the which has concentric contour lines, with a central apex. A flat portion is formed between adjacent small lens portions and a constricted portion is formed in the middle portion of the inclined surface of each small lens portion, with an irregular pattern of finer asperities is formed on the surfaces of the small lens portions and the flat portion. The high and low spots can be reversed. The method of forming a microstructure array includes the steps of forming a fine pattern of elements on a layer of light-sensitive material capable of transforming a distribution of light intensity to a surface relief by exposing the layer through a microlens array to rays of light with an intensity distribution corresponding to individual elements of the fine pattern. The microlens array may be replaced with a group of pinholes.
Inventors
- 👤 Saburo Sugawara
- 👤 Toshiharu Takahashi
- 👤 Hideaki Yuda
- 👤 Moriyasu Shirayanagi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 05:29
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B3/00; G02B3/0006; G02B3/0037; G02B3/0043; G02B27/00; G02B27/40; G02B3/0056; G02B5/00; G02B5/02; G02B5/0205; G02B5/021; G02B5/0215; G02B5/0221; G02B5/0273; G02B5/0278; G03; G03B; G03B13/00; G03B13/18; G03B13/24
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
98 words
A method of forming a microstructure array in which a pattern of a plurality of fine elements is disposed on a layer of light-sensitive material, the light-sensitive material being capable of transforming a distribution of light intensity into a surface relief distribution of high and low spots, said method comprising the steps of: (a) obtaining rays of light having an intensity distribution corresponding to one of the fine elements of the pattern; and (b) forming the microstructure array by exposing the layer of light-sensitive material, through a microlens array, to the rays of light obtained in stop (a).
Claim 2
Independent Claim
98 words
A method of forming a microstructure array in which a pattern of a plurality of fine elements is disposed on a layer of light-sensitive material, the light-sensitive material being capable of transforming a distribution of light intensity into a surface relief distribution of high and low spots, said method comprising the steps of: (a) obtaining rays of light having an intensity distribution corresponding to one of the fine elements of the pattern; and (b) forming the microstructure array by exposing the layer of light-sensitive material, through a microlens array, to the rays of light obtained in stop (a).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as recited in claim 1, wherein step (b) comprises the step of (b1) telecentrically projecting the rays of light.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
99 words
A method of forming a microstructure array in which a pattern of a plurality of fine elements is disposed on a layer of light-sensitive material, the light-sensitive material being capable of transforming a distribution of light intensity into a surface relief distribution of high and low spots, said method comprising the steps of: (a) obtaining rays of light having an intensity distribution corresponding to one of the fine elements of the pattern; and (b) forming the microstructure array by exposing the layer of light-sensitive material through a group of pinholes, to the rays of light obtained in step (a).
Claim 5
Independent Claim
99 words
A method of forming a microstructure array in which a pattern of a plurality of fine elements is disposed on a layer of light-sensitive material, the light-sensitive material being capable of transforming a distribution of light intensity into a surface relief distribution of high and low spots, said method comprising the steps of: (a) obtaining rays of light having an intensity distribution corresponding to one of the fine elements of the pattern; and (b) forming the microstructure array by exposing the layer of light-sensitive material through a group of pinholes, to the rays of light obtained in step (a).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method as recited in claim 3, wherein the step (b) comprises telecentrically projecting the rays of light.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
90 words
A method of forming a microstructure array in which a pattern of fine elements is disposed on a layer of light-sensitive material capable of transforming a distribution of light intensity to a surface relief, said method comprising the steps of: (a) determining an intensity distribution for rays of light based on one of the fine elements of the pattern to be formed in accordance with transformation characteristics of the layer of light-sensitive material; and (b) exposing the layer of light-sensitive material to the rays of light through a microlens array.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
90 words
A method of forming a microstructure array in which a pattern of fine elements is disposed on a layer of light-sensitive material capable of transforming a distribution of light intensity to a surface relief, said method comprising the steps of: (a) determining an intensity distribution for rays of light based on one of the fine elements of the pattern to be formed in accordance with transformation characteristics of the layer of light-sensitive material; and (b) exposing the layer of light-sensitive material to the rays of light through a microlens array.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as recited in claim 5, wherein step (b) comprises the step of (b1) telecentrically projecting the rays of light.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
91 words
The method of forming a microstructure array in which a pattern of fine elements is disposed on a layer of light-sensitive material capable of transforming a distribution of light intensity to a surface relief, said method comprising the steps of: (a) determining an intensity distribution for rays of light based on one of the fine elements of the pattern to be formed in accordance with transformation characteristics of the layer of light-sensitive material; and (b) exposing the layer of light-sensitive material to the rays of light through a group of pinholes.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
91 words
The method of forming a microstructure array in which a pattern of fine elements is disposed on a layer of light-sensitive material capable of transforming a distribution of light intensity to a surface relief, said method comprising the steps of: (a) determining an intensity distribution for rays of light based on one of the fine elements of the pattern to be formed in accordance with transformation characteristics of the layer of light-sensitive material; and (b) exposing the layer of light-sensitive material to the rays of light through a group of pinholes.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method as recited in claim 7, wherein step (d) comprises telecentrically projecting the rays of light.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
110 words
A method for forming a microstructure array on a layer of light-sensitive material using a microlens array and a transmission chart, the microlens array having a plurality of microlens elements and the transmission chart having a predetermined pattern, said method comprising the steps of: (a) receiving rays of light; (b) passing the rays of light through the transmission chart and then the microlens array to produce images, each of the images having an intensity distribution based on the predetermined pattern of the transmission chart; and (c) forming the microstructure array on the layer of light-sensitive material by exposing the layer of light-sensitive material to the images produced in step (b).
Claim 14
Independent Claim
110 words
A method for forming a microstructure array on a layer of light-sensitive material using a microlens array and a transmission chart, the microlens array having a plurality of microlens elements and the transmission chart having a predetermined pattern, said method comprising the steps of: (a) receiving rays of light; (b) passing the rays of light through the transmission chart and then the microlens array to produce images, each of the images having an intensity distribution based on the predetermined pattern of the transmission chart; and (c) forming the microstructure array on the layer of light-sensitive material by exposing the layer of light-sensitive material to the images produced in step (b).
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
52 words
A method as recited in claim 9, wherein the number of images produced in step (b) equals the number of the microlens elements of the microlens array, and wherein the predetermined pattern of the transmission chart comprises a plurality of concentric zones, each of the concentric zones having a different transmittance value.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method as recited in claim 9, wherein the microstructure array formed in step (c) comprises: a plurality of small lens portions; and a flat portion formed around a periphery of each of the small lens portions.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method as recited in claim 11, wherein the small lens portions project from the layer of light-sensitive material in an array of equilateral triangles and include an inclined surface extending from the periphery to an apex thereof.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method as recited in claim 9, wherein said method further comprises the steps of: (d) producing a mold based on the microstructure array formed on the layer of light-sensitive material in step (c); and (e) producing the microstructure array on a material using the mold.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
102 words
A method for forming a microstructure array on a layer of light-sensitive material using a group of pinholes and a transmission chart, the transmission chart having a predetermined pattern, said method comprising the steps of: (a) receiving rays of light; (b) passing the rays of light through the transmission chart and then the group of pinholes to produce images, each of the images having an intensity distribution based on the predetermined pattern of the transmission chart; and (c) forming the microstructure array on the layer of light-sensitive material by exposing the layer of light-sensitive material to the images produced in step (b).
Claim 20
Independent Claim
102 words
A method for forming a microstructure array on a layer of light-sensitive material using a group of pinholes and a transmission chart, the transmission chart having a predetermined pattern, said method comprising the steps of: (a) receiving rays of light; (b) passing the rays of light through the transmission chart and then the group of pinholes to produce images, each of the images having an intensity distribution based on the predetermined pattern of the transmission chart; and (c) forming the microstructure array on the layer of light-sensitive material by exposing the layer of light-sensitive material to the images produced in step (b).
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as recited in claim 14, wherein the pinholes in the group of pinholes are arranged in a right triangular array.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
52 words
A method as recited in claim 14, wherein the number of images produced in step (b) equals the number of the pinholes in the group of pinholes, and wherein the predetermined pattern of the transmission chart comprises a plurality of concentric zones, each of the concentric zones having a different transmittance value.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method as recited in claim 14, wherein the microstructure array formed in step (c) comprises: a plurality of small lens portions; and a flat portion formed around a periphery of each of the small lens portions.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method as recited in claim 17, wherein the small lens portions project from the layer of light-sensitive material in an array of equilateral triangles and include an inclined surface extending from the periphery to an apex thereof.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method as recited in claim 14, wherein said method further comprises the steps of: (d) producing a mold based on the microstructure array formed on the layer of light-sensitive material in step (c); and (e) producing the microstructure array on a material using the mold.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method as recited in claim 19, wherein the material is acrylic resin.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-02-03 | 1995-08-05 | 1996-02-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-02-03 | 1999-08-05 | 2000-02-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-02-03 | 2003-08-05 | 2004-02-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |