Conductive Lenticular Lens Imprinting for Direct Electrode Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current manufacturing methods for lenticular lenses in 2D/3D switchable autostereoscopic displays face challenges in making the planar electrode electrically accessible due to the formation of a thick resin layer that isolates the electrode, requiring additional processing steps and generating waste, while alternative methods like laser ablation cause damage.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the use of conductive particles in the curable resin to create a conductive path between the conductive surface and the lenticular lens, allowing direct electrical access without the need for post-processing steps such as resin removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a highly protruding part of the stamp (a so-called 'dam') is pressed onto the electrode surface, then the resin coverage is maximized, but a thin layer of cured resin always forms between the electrode and the dam, isolating the electrode
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the conductive property from the electrode and transfers it to the resin layer by incorporating conductive particles into the curable resin. This allows the resin layer itself to become conductive, eliminating the need for direct electrode access while maintaining electrical connectivity through the resin layer.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite material by combining curable resin with conductive particles. This composite resin layer serves dual functions: it provides the necessary structural coverage over the electrode while simultaneously conducting electricity, resolving the contradiction between coverage and accessibility.
2Ease of operation
If resin is removed by burning it with a laser, then electrical access is achieved, but this causes damage to the conductive surface
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using harmful laser ablation to remove resin, the patent converts the resin layer itself into a beneficial conductive element by incorporating conductive particles. The previously harmful resin coverage becomes the solution, as it now provides both coverage and electrical conductivity without requiring removal or damage to surrounding surfaces.
3Ease of operation
If resin is removed from certain desired areas of the conductive surface, then electrical connection is made available, but this requires an extra processing step and generates waste
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary action by incorporating conductive particles into the resin before curing. This pre-preparation ensures that the resin layer is already conductive before it is applied and cured over the electrode, eliminating the need for subsequent removal steps and reducing overall process complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the resin layer multi-functional by giving it both structural coverage function and electrical conductivity function simultaneously. This universal approach eliminates the need for separate processes to achieve coverage and accessibility, reducing the number of processing steps and waste generation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enables easy and direct electrical connectivity to the planar electrode, reducing waste and simplifying the manufacturing process by eliminating the need for additional resin removal, thus enhancing the production efficiency of 2D/3D switchable autostereoscopic displays.
Implementation Method 1
a part of the layer of curable resin comprises first conductive particles, which after curing provide the lenticular lens with a conductive path between the conductive surface of the support and the shaped surface of the lenticular lens
Implementation Method 2
curing the curable resin to form a layer of a transparent cured resin
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for preparing a lenticular lens on a conductive surface of a transparent support, the method comprising imprinting a curable resin on the support with a lenticular mold, followed by curing the resin and removing the mold to yield a lenticular device comprising the transparent support and a lenticular lens provided thereon. A small part of the curable resin comprises conductive particles, which after curing provide the lenticular lens with a conductive path between the conductive support surface and the lenticular lens surface. The conductive support surface is in this way easily and directly electrically accessible as a planar electrode, when the lenticular device is incorporated in an electrically switchable liquid crystal cell. Accordingly, the invention further relates to such lenticular device, to a liquid crystal cell comprising such lenticular device, and to an autostereoscopic display device comprising such liquid crystal cell.