§
Luxuse
Patent Intelligence
Sign In
← Back to Patent Explorer
US7182467B2 Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Microstructures integrated into a transparent substrate which scatter incident light to display an image

Assignee: Sun Innovations Inc
•
Filing: 2004-11-03
•
Granted: 2007-02-27
•
Expires: 2024-11-03
📄 Original PDF 🌐 Google Patents 🔄 Sync Now

Abstract

Abstract In accordance with embodiments, viewable imagines can be created in glass. Viewable images may be created in or on glass (or other at least partially transparent substrate), by using microstructures to scatter light from a projector, while the glass maintains transparent or translucent properties. In embodiments, the microstructures are integrated into glass in patterns.

Inventors

  • 👤 Jian-Qiang Liu
  • 👤 Xiao-Dong Sun

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-24 23:41
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B5/00; G02B5/02; G02B5/0205; G02B5/021; G02B5/0215; G02B5/0236; G02B5/0242; G02B5/0273; G02B5/0278; G02B5/0284

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim 64 words
An apparatus comprising: a transparent substrate; and a plurality of microstructures integrated into the transparent substrate which scatter incident light to display an image on the transparent substrate, wherein the microstructures are integrated into the transparent substrate in a pattern and the cross-sectional area of the pattern at a first angle is greater than the cross-sectional area of the pattern at a second angle.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 64 words
An apparatus comprising: a transparent substrate; and a plurality of microstructures integrated into the transparent substrate which scatter incident light to display an image on the transparent substrate, wherein the microstructures are integrated into the transparent substrate in a pattern and the cross-sectional area of the pattern at a first angle is greater than the cross-sectional area of the pattern at a second angle.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 24 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of microstructures has a diameter between about 1 nanometer and about 10 micrometers.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 24 words
The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein each of the plurality of microstructures has a diameter between about 10 nanometers and about 1 micrometer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 15 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of microstructures are isotropically scattering particles.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 37 words
The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein: the plurality of microstructures scatters light from a projector to display the image on the transparent substrate; and the projector projects light at a first angle onto the transparent substrate.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 29 words
The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the plurality of microstructures scatters the light projected from the projector at a second angle which is different from the first angle.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 15 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of microstructures are unisotropically scattering particles.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 15 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the microstructures are coated onto the transparent substrate.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 15 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the microstructures are dispersed in the transparent substrate.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 15 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the pattern is repetitive at the transparent substrate.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 24 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the pitch of the pattern is in a range of about 1 nanometer to about 10 millimeters.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 24 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the thickness of the pattern is in a range of about 1 micrometer to about 10 millimeters.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 24 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the width of the pattern is in a range of about 1 nanometer to about 10 millimeters.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 21 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the pattern has a fill-factor in a range of about 0.01% to about 99%.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 37 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein: the plurality of microstructures scatters light from a projector to display the image on the transparent substrate; and the projector projects light at the first angle onto the transparent substrate.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 22 words
The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the plurality of microstructures scatters the light projected from the projector at the second angle.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 26 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the width of each element of the pattern is less than the depth of each element of the pattern.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 18 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the transparent substrate comprises at least one of glass and plastic.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 19 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the microstructures comprise at least one of: organic pigments; and organic particles.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 19 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the microstructures comprise at least one of: inorganic pigments; and inorganic particles.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 22 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the microstructures comprise at least one of: titanium oxides; silica; alumna; latex; and polystyrene particles.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 26 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the microstructures are integrated into the transparent substrate by at least one of: printing; stamping; photolithography; and micro-contact printing.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 18 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of microstructures are comprised in a light deflecting surface.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim 16 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of microstructures are light deflecting optical material.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim 27 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of microstructures are comprised in at least one of: a light scattering surface; and a light deflecting surface.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3598995A Cited
US3881800A Cited
US3953117A Cited
US4158210A Cited
US4814666A Cited
US4689522A Cited
US5566025A Cited
US4960314A Cited
US4989956A Cited
US5162160A Cited
US5142387A Cited
JPH04281422A Cited
US5289315A Cited
US5233197A Cited
US5786582A Cited
US5347644A Cited
US6221112B1 Cited
US5424535A Cited
US5784162A Cited
US5473396A Cited
US20030213967A1 Cited
US5943160A Cited
US5684621A Cited
US5764403A Cited
US5956172A Cited
US5914807A Cited
US5646479A Cited
US5957560A Cited
US20040114219A1 Cited
US6064521A Cited
US6507436B2 Cited
US6166852A Cited
US6261402B1 Cited
US5921650A Cited
US20030198456A1 Cited
US20020024495A1 Cited
US20020088925A1 Cited
US6654161B2 Cited
US6327074B1 Cited
US6501590B2 Cited
US6381068B1 Cited
US6439888B1 Cited
US6337769B1 Cited
US6239907B1 Cited
US20010005282A1 Cited
US6804053B2 Cited
US20020048058A1 Cited
US6870671B2 Cited
US20030002153A1 Cited
US20020080482A1 Cited
US20020120916A1 Cited
US20040070551A1 Cited
US20020140338A1 Cited
US20020190224A1 Cited
US20040070824A1 Cited
US20030214724A1 Cited
US20030227004A1 Cited
US20040022071A1 Cited
US20040041988A1 Cited
US6809781B2 Cited
US20040135976A1 Cited
US20040257650A1 Cited
US20040090794A1 Cited
US20040100692A1 Cited
US20040149998A1 Cited
US6844950B2 Cited
US20040224154A1 Cited
US20040164669A1 Cited
US6769773B1 Cited
US20040233526A1 Cited
US20050030617A1 Cited
US20050088737A1 Cited
US20050152032A1 Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 2010-02-26 2010-08-28 2011-02-27 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2014-02-26 2014-08-28 2015-02-27 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2018-02-26 2018-08-28 2019-02-27 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

Assigned Categories & Tags

No categories assigned to this patent yet.

Assign Category Tag