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US6297908B1 Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Directional light-diffusing film, a method of manufacturing same, and a display device that uses same

Assignee: Dai Nippon Printing Co Ltd
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Filing: 1999-06-02
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Granted: 2001-10-02
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Expires: 2019-06-02
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Abstract

Abstract A directional light-diffusing film is formed by minute light-transmitting regions which pass light and minute light-diffusing regions which diffuse light, these light-transmitting regions and light-diffusing regions being arranged in an alternating pattern on a surface of a transparent base material film in either the direction of one dimension or the direction of two dimensions. Light which passes through the light-diffusing regions is diffused, while light that passes through the light-transmitting regions is transmitted without diffusion, and when this directional light-diffusing film is mounted to the light-exiting surface of a liquid-crystal display or the like, there is an increase in the amount of undiffused light that reaches the eye, and prevention of defocusing of the display image.

Inventors

  • 👤 Taiji Suga

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-01 19:32
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B5/00; G02B5/02; G02B5/0205; G02B5/0236; G02B5/0242; G02B5/0247; G02B5/0263; G02B5/0268; G02B5/0273; G02B5/0278; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/01; G02F1/13; G02F1/133; G02F1/1333; G02F1/1335; G02F1/133504; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S359/00; Y10S359/90

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim 118 words
A directional light-diffusing film, comprising: a tansparent base material film; a plurality of minute light-transmitting regions that are directly formed on a surface of the transparent base material film and pass light in a thickness direction of the transparent base material film; and a plurality of minute light-diffising regions that are directly formed on the surface of the transparent base material film and diffuse light in the thickness direction, said light-transmitting regions and said light-diffusing regions being arranged in an alternating manner without space therebetween along at least one side of said transparent base material film, said light-transmitting regions being formed of a light-transmitting resin, and a boundary surface being between each adjacent light-transmitting region and light-diffusing region.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 118 words
A directional light-diffusing film, comprising: a tansparent base material film; a plurality of minute light-transmitting regions that are directly formed on a surface of the transparent base material film and pass light in a thickness direction of the transparent base material film; and a plurality of minute light-diffising regions that are directly formed on the surface of the transparent base material film and diffuse light in the thickness direction, said light-transmitting regions and said light-diffusing regions being arranged in an alternating manner without space therebetween along at least one side of said transparent base material film, said light-transmitting regions being formed of a light-transmitting resin, and a boundary surface being between each adjacent light-transmitting region and light-diffusing region.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 29 words
A directional light-diffusing film according to claim 1 , wherein said light-diffusing regions have a polygonal cross-section in a cutting direction that is perpendicular to said transparent base material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 27 words
A directional light-diffusing film according to claim 1 , wherein said light-diffusing regions and said light-transmitting regions are configured in parallel lines arranged in an alternating manner.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 24 words
A directional light-diffusing film according to claim 1 , wherein said light-diffusing regions is made by including a light-diffusing substance in a transparent resin.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 32 words
A directional light-diffusing film according to claim 1 , wherein the boundary surfaces between said light-diffusing regions and said light-transmitting regions are uneven surfaces in which minute depressions and protrusions are formed.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 38 words
A directional light-diffusing film according to claim 1 , wherein a surface of each said light-transmitting region is used as either a convex lens or a concave lens, while a surface of each said light-diffusing region is flat.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 29 words
A directional light-diffusing film according to claim 1 , further comprising an anti-reflective layer which covers a top surface of each of said light-diffusing regions and said light-transmitting regions.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 25 words
A directional light-diffusing film according to claim 1 , further comprising a light-transmitting adhesive layer positioned on one side of the transparent resin material film.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 22 words
A directional light-diffusing film according to claim 1 , further comprising a polarizer positioned on one side of the transparent base material.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 23 words
A directional light-diffusing film according to claim 9 , wherein said polarizer is a polarizer on a front surface of a liquid-crystal display.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 27 words
A directional light diffusing film according to claim 1 , wherein the boundary surface extends through an entire thickness of the light-diffusing regions and the light-transmitting regions.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 142 words
A display device comprising; a display panel that displays an image; and a directional light-diffusing film positioned on a display surface of the display device, said directional light-diffusing film comprising: a transparent base material film, a plurality of minute light-transmitting regions that are directly formed on a surface of the transparent base material film and pass light in a thickness direction of the transparent base material film, a plurality of minute light-diffusing regions that are directly formed on the surface of the transparent base material film and diffuse light in the thickness direction, said light-transmitting regions and said light-diffusing regions being arranged in an alternating manner without space therebetween along at least one side of said transparent base material film, said light-transmitting regions being formed of a light-transmitting resin, and a boundary surface being between each adjacent light-transmitting region and light-diffusing region.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 142 words
A display device comprising; a display panel that displays an image; and a directional light-diffusing film positioned on a display surface of the display device, said directional light-diffusing film comprising: a transparent base material film, a plurality of minute light-transmitting regions that are directly formed on a surface of the transparent base material film and pass light in a thickness direction of the transparent base material film, a plurality of minute light-diffusing regions that are directly formed on the surface of the transparent base material film and diffuse light in the thickness direction, said light-transmitting regions and said light-diffusing regions being arranged in an alternating manner without space therebetween along at least one side of said transparent base material film, said light-transmitting regions being formed of a light-transmitting resin, and a boundary surface being between each adjacent light-transmitting region and light-diffusing region.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 20 words
A display device according to claim 12 , wherein the light-diffusing regions comprise a resin that contains a light-diffusing substance.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 25 words
A display device according to claim 12 , wherein the boundary surface extends through an entire thickness of the light-diffusing regions and the light-transmitting regions.
Claim 17
Independent Claim 155 words
A method of manufacturing a directional light-diffusing film comprising the steps of: feeding a transparent base material film; rotating a roller die having intermittently formed shape-imparting depressions along an outer periphery thereof, while applying a fluid first resin into the depressions of the roller die; winding the transparent base material film around the outer periphery of the roller die so as to come into contact with the first resin in the depressions; hardening the first resin, thereby directly forming one of light-diffusing regions and light-transmitting regions on a surface of the transparent base material film; peeling both the hardened first resin and the transparent base material film from the roller die; and filling spaces between the hardened first resin that forms the one of light-diffusing regions and light transmitting regions by directly forming a second resin that forms another one of light-diffusing regions and light transmitting on the surface of the transparent base material film.
Claim 18
Independent Claim 155 words
A method of manufacturing a directional light-diffusing film comprising the steps of: feeding a transparent base material film; rotating a roller die having intermittently formed shape-imparting depressions along an outer periphery thereof, while applying a fluid first resin into the depressions of the roller die; winding the transparent base material film around the outer periphery of the roller die so as to come into contact with the first resin in the depressions; hardening the first resin, thereby directly forming one of light-diffusing regions and light-transmitting regions on a surface of the transparent base material film; peeling both the hardened first resin and the transparent base material film from the roller die; and filling spaces between the hardened first resin that forms the one of light-diffusing regions and light transmitting regions by directly forming a second resin that forms another one of light-diffusing regions and light transmitting on the surface of the transparent base material film.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 25 words
A method of manufacturing a directional light-diffusing film according to claim 15 , wherein the light-diffusing regions comprise a resin that contains a light-diffusing substance.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 124 words
A directional light-diffusing film, comprising: a transparent base material film; a plurality of minute light-transmitting regions that pass light in a thickness direction of the transparent base material film; and a plurality of minute light-diffusing regions that diffuse light in the thickness direction, said light-transmitting regions and said light-diffusing regions being arranged in an alternating manner without space therebetween along at least one side of said transparent base material film, said light-transmitting regions being formed of a light-transmitting resin, and a boundary surface being between each adjacent light-transmitting region and light-diffusing region and extending through an entire thickness of the light-diffusing regions and the light-transmitting regions, wherein a top surface of the light-diffusing regions is level with a top surface of the light-transmitting regions.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 124 words
A directional light-diffusing film, comprising: a transparent base material film; a plurality of minute light-transmitting regions that pass light in a thickness direction of the transparent base material film; and a plurality of minute light-diffusing regions that diffuse light in the thickness direction, said light-transmitting regions and said light-diffusing regions being arranged in an alternating manner without space therebetween along at least one side of said transparent base material film, said light-transmitting regions being formed of a light-transmitting resin, and a boundary surface being between each adjacent light-transmitting region and light-diffusing region and extending through an entire thickness of the light-diffusing regions and the light-transmitting regions, wherein a top surface of the light-diffusing regions is level with a top surface of the light-transmitting regions.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 21 words
A directional light-diffusing film according to claim 17 , wherein the light-diffusing regions comprise a resin that contains a light-diffusing substance.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 2004-10-01 2005-04-02 2005-10-02 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2008-10-01 2009-04-02 2009-10-02 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2012-10-01 2013-04-02 2013-10-02 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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