Patent US2504339A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US5216543A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5216543A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus and method for patterning a film
Assignee: 3M Co
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Filing: 1987-03-04
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Granted: 1993-06-01
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Expires: 2007-03-04
Abstract
Abstract The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for patterning areas of a radiation absorbent film material. In the preferred embodiment, the film material is at least partially electrically conductive. The radiation is focused onto the film by a lenticular lens having a plurality of optically active elements to provide a radiation pattern on the film and remove or displace portions of the film to form a corresponding pattern, preferably a conductive pattern. The film may have one or more layers or regions, but at least one region must be radiation absorbent in order to allow the formation of patterns in the film in accordance with the present invention. The areas of the film affected by the phenomenon of radiation absorption are non-conductive voids which may separate the film into a plurality of conductive grid lines whereby the film is useful with a conductive lens film to increase the apparent efficiency of a photovoltaic cell.
Inventors
- 👤 Clyde D. Calhoun
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 06:54
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B3/00; G02B3/0006; G02B3/0037; G02B3/005; B; B23; B23K; B23K26/00; B23K26/0006; B23K26/02; B23K26/06; B23K26/067; B23K26/0676; H; H10; H10F; H10F77/00; H10F77/40; H10F77/42; H10F77/484; B23K2101/00; B23K2101/36; B23K2101/40; B23K2103/00; B23K2103/08; B23K2103/10; B23K2103/14; B23K2103/16; B23K2103/166; B23K2103/172; B23K2103/18; B23K2103/26; B23K2103/30; B23K2103/42; B23K2103/50; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E10/00; Y02E10/50; Y02E10/52; Y10; Y10S; Y10S430/00; Y10S430/147; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/24; Y10T428/24802; Y10T428/24917; Y10T428/28; Y10T428/2804; Y10T428/2848
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
99 words
A patterned sheet comprising a radiation absorbent layer containing multiple discontinuities extending transversely through the plane of said layer and wherein said radiation absorbent layer is confined between adjacent, radiation transparent layers, said radiation absorbent layer comprising both absorbent and reflective materials arranged so that the absorbent material receives incident radiation wherein at least one of said radiation transparent layers is a lenticular lens having fields of focus which lie at least partially within the plane of said absorbent layer and wherein the fields of focus of said lens correspond to the area of discontinuity of said absorbent layer.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
99 words
A patterned sheet comprising a radiation absorbent layer containing multiple discontinuities extending transversely through the plane of said layer and wherein said radiation absorbent layer is confined between adjacent, radiation transparent layers, said radiation absorbent layer comprising both absorbent and reflective materials arranged so that the absorbent material receives incident radiation wherein at least one of said radiation transparent layers is a lenticular lens having fields of focus which lie at least partially within the plane of said absorbent layer and wherein the fields of focus of said lens correspond to the area of discontinuity of said absorbent layer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
127 words
A photovoltaic device comprising a) a conductive, radiation absorbent layer containing a pattern of multiple discontinuities extending transversely through the plane of said layer, said layer supported by a radiation transparent layer adjacent one major surface, said radiation transparent layer comprising a lenticular lens means having fields of focus which lie at least partially within the plane of said absorbent layer and wherein said fields of focus correspond to the areas of discontinuity of said absorbent layer, b) a conductive, pressure sensitive adhesive layer adhered to at least a portion of the major surface of said radiation absorbent layer opposite said radiation transparent layer, and c) a photovoltaic cell having its active surface electrically and physically connected to said conductive, radiation absorbent layer by said conductive adhesive.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
127 words
A photovoltaic device comprising a) a conductive, radiation absorbent layer containing a pattern of multiple discontinuities extending transversely through the plane of said layer, said layer supported by a radiation transparent layer adjacent one major surface, said radiation transparent layer comprising a lenticular lens means having fields of focus which lie at least partially within the plane of said absorbent layer and wherein said fields of focus correspond to the areas of discontinuity of said absorbent layer, b) a conductive, pressure sensitive adhesive layer adhered to at least a portion of the major surface of said radiation absorbent layer opposite said radiation transparent layer, and c) a photovoltaic cell having its active surface electrically and physically connected to said conductive, radiation absorbent layer by said conductive adhesive.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
115 words
A conductive sheet, comprising: a) a conductive, radiation absorbent layer containing a pattern of multiple discontinuities extending transversely through the plane of said absorbent layer; b) a radiation transparent layer adjacent one major surface of said absorbent layer for supporting said absorbent layer; wherein said radiation transparent layer comprises a lenticular lens means having fields of focus which lie at least partially within the plane of said absorbent layer and wherein the fields of focus of said lens means correspond to the areas of discontinuity of said absorbent layer; and c) a conductive, pressure sensitive adhesive layer adhered to at least a portion of the surface of said absorbent layer opposite said radiation transparent layer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
115 words
A conductive sheet, comprising: a) a conductive, radiation absorbent layer containing a pattern of multiple discontinuities extending transversely through the plane of said absorbent layer; b) a radiation transparent layer adjacent one major surface of said absorbent layer for supporting said absorbent layer; wherein said radiation transparent layer comprises a lenticular lens means having fields of focus which lie at least partially within the plane of said absorbent layer and wherein the fields of focus of said lens means correspond to the areas of discontinuity of said absorbent layer; and c) a conductive, pressure sensitive adhesive layer adhered to at least a portion of the surface of said absorbent layer opposite said radiation transparent layer.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
121 words
A method for patterning a radiation absorbent film comprising the following steps: a) directing radiation from a radiation source onto a lenticular lens, b) focusing said radiation onto a radiation absorbent film, said film comprising a radiation absorbent region overlying a radiation reflective region, said radiation absorbent region capable of absorbing sufficient radiant energy to raise the temperature of the adjacent reflective region to a point where local discontinuities occur, wherein said film is in register with, but separable from said lens, said radiation forming a pattern on said film, c) disrupting said film in the radiation-incident areas as a result of absorption of the radiation by said film, and d) moving said lens and said film relative to one another.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
121 words
A method for patterning a radiation absorbent film comprising the following steps: a) directing radiation from a radiation source onto a lenticular lens, b) focusing said radiation onto a radiation absorbent film, said film comprising a radiation absorbent region overlying a radiation reflective region, said radiation absorbent region capable of absorbing sufficient radiant energy to raise the temperature of the adjacent reflective region to a point where local discontinuities occur, wherein said film is in register with, but separable from said lens, said radiation forming a pattern on said film, c) disrupting said film in the radiation-incident areas as a result of absorption of the radiation by said film, and d) moving said lens and said film relative to one another.
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| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-05-31 | 1996-11-30 | 1997-06-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-05-31 | 2000-11-30 | 2001-06-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-05-31 | 2004-11-30 | 2005-06-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |