LIGHT GUIDE WITH A PRINTED FILM
A method for making a light guide includes transferring ink onto a master tool having a three-dimensional feature pattern formed thereon and then transferring ink from the master tool to a transparent light guide. The method also includes curing the ink on the light guide. Alternatively, the ink may be printed onto a substrate (e.g., a film) and then laminated to the light guide.
1 . A method for making a light guide, comprising:
transferring ink onto a master tool having a three-dimensional feature pattern formed thereon;
transferring ink from the master tool to a transparent light guide; and
curing the ink on the light guide.
2 . The method of claim 1 further comprising forming the master tool by engraving a predetermined pattern in a black resist material exposing a clear film creating a pattern of openings to the light transmission.
3 . The method of claim 2 wherein forming the master tool further comprises applying ionizing radiation through open spacing's in the black resist material to a blank elastomeric laminated photoresist.
4 . The method of claim 1 wherein the feature pattern comprises a plurality of nonuniformly-spaced, uniform-size light extraction features.
5 . The method of claim 1 wherein the feature pattern comprises a plurality of uniformly-spaced, nonuniformly-sized light extraction features.
6 . The method of claim 1 wherein the light guide comprises a polymer substrate light guide having a thickness of about 0.5 mm to 1 mm.
7 . A light guide manufactured according to the method of claim 1 .
8 . A method for making a light guide, comprising:
transferring ink onto a master tool having a three-dimensional feature pattern formed thereon;
transferring ink from the master tool to a transparent substrate;
curing the ink on the substrate; and
laminating the substrate to the light guide.
9 . The method of claim 8 further comprising attaching a diffuse reflector to the light guide.
10 . The method of claim 8 wherein laminating the substrate comprises laminating the substrate to one side of the light guide and attaching a diffuse reflector to the substrate thereby sandwiching the substrate between the light guide and the reflector.
11 . The method of claim 8 further comprising laminating the substrate to one side of the light guide and attaching a diffuse reflector an opposing side of the light guide.
12 . The method of claim 8 wherein the feature pattern comprises a plurality of nonuniformly-spaced, uniform-size light extraction features.
13 . The method of claim 8 wherein the feature pattern comprises a plurality of uniformly-spaced, nonuniformly-sized light extraction features.
14 . The method of claim 8 wherein curing comprises subjecting the substrate to ionizing radiation.
15 . The method of claim 8 further comprising forming the master tool by engraving a predetermined pattern in a black resist material exposing a clear film creating a pattern of openings to the light transmission.
16 . The method of claim 15 wherein forming the master tool further comprises applying ionizing radiation through open spacing's in the black resist material to a blank elastomeric laminated photoresist.
17 . A light guide manufactured according to the method of claim 8 .