Plastic optical member and light-quantity-controlling member eac

Details Plastic optical member and light-quantity-controlling member eac Plastic optical member and light-quantity-controlling member eac

1992-04-27

1995-01-24

Sugarman, Scott J.

Optical: systems and elements

Lens

Diffusing

359599, 362 33, G02B 1320, G02B 502, A61G 1300

Patent

active

053846583

DESCRIPTION:

BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention is a technique utilizing light diffusion, and relates to a plastic optical member having a specific micro-joints layer on its surface, and a light-quantity-controlling member having a white pattern of the aforementioned micro-joints on its surface.
Here, the term "optical member" refers to an optical member used in any part of various optical systems in which light is desired to be subjected to diffuse reflection or diffuse transmission. Specific examples thereof are optical members used in planar light sources, projection screens, window materials for building, various displays, office automation appliances, and precision optical instruments. The term "light-quantity-controlling member" refers to a specific optical member used for controlling the quantity of light. Specific examples thereof are optical members for homogenizing the lightness of the illumination surface in the so-called "thin light box" such as a backlight used in liquid crystal displays of personal computers, a schaukasten for medical treatment, an electrically illuminated display, etc., to render the brightness uniform. The optical member and the light-quantity-controlling member commonly utilize the light-diffusing properties imparted by the provision of the aforementioned specific micro-joints layer on the whole or a part of their surfaces.


BACKGROUND ART

Using conventional such as surface chemical treatment, sandblasting method (see JP-B-49-8711), coating with a light-diffusing white coating material (see, for example, JP-B-34-9168), etc., it is difficult to obtain on the surface of a plastic material a thin light-diffusing layer which can be formed partly or in the shape of a pattern, permits adjustment of light diffuse reflection properties and light diffuse transmission properties, and can be formed not only on planar surfaces but also on any curved surfaces. The reason for the difficulty is explained below for each method.
In the surface chemical treatment, a violent reaction is carried out using a strong acid, a strong base, etc., so that the spectral absorption characteristics of the surface of the resulting light-diffusing layer are changed by the chemical reaction. In other words, coloring and the like are caused. Moreover, the chemical treatment merely forms depressions and protuberances in the surface and hence does not impart significant light diffuse reflection properties or light diffuse transmission properties to the surface. Furthermore, when the treatment is carried out so as to form a pattern, it is difficult to prepare a resist which is resistant to the above-mentioned violent chemical reaction.
In the sandblasting method, sand grains are caused to collide with a plastic material at high speeds. For the collision of the grains, high energy is required. In addition, the finer the sand grains, the greater the air resistance, so that the fineness of the plastic material surface achieved by the treatment has its own limit and it cannot be expected to impart very high light diffuse reflection properties or light diffuse transmission properties to the surface of the plastic material.
When a light-diffusing white coating material is applied on a plastic material, the spectral absorption characteristics of the coated material tend to be imbalanced because the light-diffusing white coating material is composed of a white pigment, a binder, various additives, etc. The reason is that in the case of such a coating material, coating properties should be given priority. It is difficult to make the content of the white pigment in the coating material much higher than that of the binder from the viewpoint of the film-forming properties of the coating material. In addition, in this case, it is the boundary surface between the binder and the white pigment that scatters light. A small difference between their refractive indexes results in a small light-scattering effect. Therefore, if a large light diffuse reflection effect is desired, it is necessary to thicken the coating of the light-diffusin

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patent: 4573766 (1986-03-01), Bournay, Jr. et al.
patent: 4989933 (1991-02-01), Duguay
English language translation of claim of JP-A-34-9167.
English language translation of claim of JP-A-49-8711.
English language translation of claim of JP-B-59-8809.
English language translation of claims of JP-A-57-128383.
English language Abstract of JP reference No. 2-126501.
English language translation of Claims of JP-A-58-155947.
English language Abstract of JP Reference No. 61-276831.
Derwent Publications Ltd. London, GB; AN 89-183663 & JP 1 123 201 May 16, 1989.
Derwent Publications Ltd. London, GB AN 86-058934 & JP 61 010499 Jan. 17, 1986.

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