Optical Element Having A Randomizing Digital Lens Array And A Diffuser Function

1 . An optical element comprising a micro lens array of lenslets and a randomizing function wherein both the micro lens array of lenslets and the randomizing function reside on the same surface of the optical element; wherein the micro lens array comprises identical lenslets arrayed in both an X and a Y direction; and wherein the randomizing function is an overlaid diffuser.

2 . The optical element of claim 1 wherein distances of lens neighbor centers or pitch are identical in the X direction.

3 . The optical element of claim 1 wherein distances of lens neighbor centers or pitch are identical in the Y direction.

4 . The optical element of claim 1 wherein the optical element comprises a substrate comprising one or more layers comprising a plastic, a metal, a silicon wafer, or a glass plate.

5 . An optical element comprising a micro lens array of lenslets and a randomizing function wherein both the micro lens array of lenslets and the randomizing function reside on the same surface for the optical element; and wherein the randomizing function is provided by scaled lenslets in a one dimensional cylindrical or lenticular arrangement.

6 . The optical element of claim 5 comprising an additional randomizing function provided by an overlaid diffuser.

7 . The optical element of claim 5 wherein the micro lens array comprises scaled lenslets in a two-dimensional crosshatch pattern.

8 . The optical element of claim 5 wherein the optical element comprises a substrate comprising one or more layers comprising a plastic, a metal, a silicon wafer, or a glass plate.

9 . An optical element comprising a micro lens array of lenslets and a randomizing function wherein both the micro lens array of lenslets and the randomizing function reside on the same surface for the optical element; and wherein the randomizing function is provided by randomly alternating concave and convex lenslets in a sinusoid-like pattern in a one dimensional cylindrical or lenticular arrangement.

10 . The optical element of claim 9 comprising an additional randomizing function provided by an overlaid diffuser.

11 . The optical element of claim 9 wherein the optical element comprises a substrate comprising a plastic, a metal, a silicon wafer, or a glass plate.

12 . A method of manufacturing an optical element comprising creating the regular lens array and the diffuser function in one or two separate passes on a same surface of the optical element wherein the optical element comprises a substrate comprising a plastic, a metal, a silicon wafer, or a glass plate.

13 . The method of claim 12 wherein the two separate passes comprise at least one or more of:

(A) exposing the lens array, developing the plate, exposing the digital diffuser pattern and developing the plate a second time;

(B) exposing the lens array, exposing the digital diffuser pattern, and developing the plate;

(C) exposing the digital diffuser pattern, developing the plate, exposing the lens array and developing the plate a second time;

(D) exposing the digital diffuser pattern, exposing the lens array, and developing the plate;

(E) exposing the lens array, developing the plate, and holographically exposing the diffuser pattern;

(F) holographically exposing the diffuser pattern, developing the plate, and (G) exposing the lens array;

(G) exposing the lens array, making a replicate, coating a photoresist layer on the replicate, and holographically exposing the diffuser pattern; and

(H) holographically exposing the diffuser pattern, making replicate, coating a photoresist layer on the replicate, and exposing the lens array.