Device having reflective and transmissive properties
View Patent ↗A device which simultaneously maximizes light reflectivity from one side of the device while maximizing light transmissivity from the opposite side of the device. The device is configured with distinct regions of transparency and reflectivity including a plurality of reflective structures. The structures are generally smaller towards a light transmitting side of the device and larger towards a light reflective side of the device.
1. A device having transmissive and reflective properties produced by the process comprising the steps of:
providing a transparent photosensitive film;
providing a reflective metal layer on a selected region of the surface of the photosensitive film, wherein the selected region is less than the complete surface of the photosensitive film and defines a non-selected region; and
changing the optical characteristics of the photosensitive film in the non-selected region to alter the index of refraction of the photosensitive film in the non-selected region to thereby form an altered refractive index area.
2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the selected region of the photosensitive film comprises an unaltered refractive index area.
3. The device of claim 2 , wherein the altered refractive index structure has a higher index of refraction than the unaltered refractive index area.
4. The device of claim 1 , wherein the selected region of the photosensitive film comprises a plurality of unaltered refractive index areas.
5. The device of claim 4 , wherein the unaltered refractive index areas are triangular cross-section structures each having a base, a height, and a pair of sidewalls each having an outside surface, the base is associated with said reflective metal layer, each sidewall is at an angle relative to said base.
6. The device of claim 1 , wherein said reflective metal layer has a desired reflectivity percentage.