US5714247A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Reflective surface for LCD and method for forming it
Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
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Filing: 1996-06-14
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Granted: 1998-02-03
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Expires: 2016-06-14
Abstract
Abstract A non-specular reflecting surface for use in a Liquid Crystal Display is obtained by randomly embedding particles in a layer of a resin solution and then baking to hardness. The particles' sizes are approximately the same as the layer's thickness, so a randomly uneven surface is the result. The particles are most commonly, but not necessarily, commercially available plastic microspheres. If a photosensitive resin is selected, it may be shaped into a desired pattern without the need for a separate photoresist and etch step. When a high reflectance metal is deposited onto the resin surface it becomes an effective non-specular reflector.
Inventors
- 👤 Chen-Lung Kuo
- 👤 Dong-Yuan Goang
- 👤 Chun-hsia Chen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 22:07
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B5/00; G02B5/02; G02B5/0205; G02B5/021; G02B5/0226; G02B5/0273; G02B5/0284; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/01; G02F1/13; G02F1/133; G02F1/1333; G02F1/1335; G02F1/133553; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/25; Y10T428/252; Y10T428/256; Y10T428/31504; Y10T428/31678
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
45 words
A non-specular reflector comprising: a substrate; a resin layer, having an upper surface, on said substrate; particles, of a size similar to the thickness of the resin layer, suspended in said resin layer; and a metallic layer on the upper surface of the resin layer.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
45 words
A non-specular reflector comprising: a substrate; a resin layer, having an upper surface, on said substrate; particles, of a size similar to the thickness of the resin layer, suspended in said resin layer; and a metallic layer on the upper surface of the resin layer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
The reflector described in claim 1 wherein said resin layer comprises thermoset plastic such as epoxy, acrylic, or methacrylate resins, or a soluble thermoplastic such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polycarbonate, or polymethyl methacrylate.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The reflector described in claim 1 wherein the thickness of said resin layer is between about 0.1 and 10 microns.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
The reflector described in claim 1 wherein said particles comprise spheres formed of material that is taken from the group consisting of glass, ceramic, metal, including stainless steel, and plastic, including acrylic resin and divinylbenzene copolymer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The reflector described in claim 1 wherein the surface density of the particles is between about 10 2 and 10 8 particles per sq. cm.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The reflector described in claim 1 wherein said metallic layer is taken from the group consisting of aluminum, silver, chromium, and gold.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The reflector described in claim 1 wherein the thickness of said metallic layer is between about 10 3 and 10 4 Angstroms.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
45 words
A method for manufacturing a non specular reflector comprising: (a) providing a substrate; (b) coating said substrate with a solution of a resin in which particles are suspended; (c) baking the resin coated substrate; and (d) depositing a layer of a metal on said resin.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
45 words
A method for manufacturing a non specular reflector comprising: (a) providing a substrate; (b) coating said substrate with a solution of a resin in which particles are suspended; (c) baking the resin coated substrate; and (d) depositing a layer of a metal on said resin.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 8 wherein step (b) further comprises: first dispersing said particles in said resin solution; and then coating said substrate.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 8 wherein step (b) further comprises: first coating said substrate with the resin solution; then spraying the particles onto said resin coating; and allowing the particles to settle within said resin coating before proceeding to step (c).
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 8 wherein the size of the particles is between about 0.1 and 20 microns.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 8 wherein the particles have a spherical shape and are formed of material that is taken from the group consisting of glass, ceramic, metal, including stainless steel, and plastic, including acrylic resin and divinylbenzene copolymer.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 8 wherein the method for depositing the metallic layer is taken from the group consisting of sputtering, vacuum evaporation, and chemical vapor deposition.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 8 wherein the method for coating the substrate with the resin solution is spin coating or print coating or extrusion coating.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 8 wherein the volume density of the particles suspended in the resin solution is between about 10 6 and 10 12 particles/cc.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 8 wherein step (c) further comprises baking at a temperature between about 90° and 250° C. for between about 5 and 120 minutes in atmospheric air.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
76 words
A method for manufacturing a non specular reflector, for use in a liquid crystal display, comprising: (a) providing a substrate; (b) coating said substrate with a solution of a photosensitive resin in which particles are suspended; (c) baking the resin coated substrate; (d) exposing said resin coated substrate to actinic radiation through a pattern bearing mask; (e) developing said resin to form said pattern; and (f) depositing a layer of a metal on said patterned resin.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
76 words
A method for manufacturing a non specular reflector, for use in a liquid crystal display, comprising: (a) providing a substrate; (b) coating said substrate with a solution of a photosensitive resin in which particles are suspended; (c) baking the resin coated substrate; (d) exposing said resin coated substrate to actinic radiation through a pattern bearing mask; (e) developing said resin to form said pattern; and (f) depositing a layer of a metal on said patterned resin.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 17 wherein step (b) further comprises: first dispersing said particles in said resin solution; and then coating said substrate.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 17 wherein step (b) further comprises: first coating said substrate with the resin solution; then spraying the particles onto said resin coating; and allowing the particles to settle within said resin coating before proceeding to step (c).
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-02-02 | 2005-08-04 | 2006-02-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-02-02 | 2009-08-04 | 2010-02-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |