Curved Transparent Substrate with Differential Antiglare Glossiness
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing transparent substrates with curved surfaces for image display devices face challenges in achieving optimal antiglare performance, as uniform antiglare properties are not sufficient, particularly for applications like on-vehicle displays where high visibility is required from specific directions.
Innovation Solution
A transparent substrate with a curved surface featuring an antiglare layer on the center and edge regions, where the absolute difference in 60° specular glossiness between the two regions is greater than 20%, achieved through surface roughening or coating with a silica-based antiglare film, ensuring high visibility from one direction while minimizing reflections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If an antiglare film is disposed on the entire display surface to diffusely reflect outside light, then reflection suppression is improved, but uniform antiglare performance is imparted to the entire surface which is not suitable for curved substrates requiring directional visibility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating different surface regions with distinct antiglare properties. Specifically, the curved surface is divided into a first region (higher curvature) and a second region (lower curvature), where only the first region receives the antiglare film coating. This selective application allows the high-curvature edges to diffuse light and suppress reflections, while the low-curvature center maintains higher glossiness for better visibility and appearance, thus resolving the contradiction between reflection suppression and directional performance adaptability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the display surface into functionally distinct zones based on curvature characteristics. The curved surface is divided into a first curved surface portion (with first curvature radius) and a second curved surface portion (with second curvature radius), allowing independent optical property optimization for each segment. This segmentation enables the system to achieve both reflection suppression in critical areas and maintained visibility in other areas, solving the contradiction between uniform antiglare performance and directional adaptability
2Object-affected harmful factors
If uniform antiglare performance is imparted to the entire curved surface, then reflection suppression is improved, but appearance and visibility from specific directions deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements local quality by applying the antiglare film selectively to the first region (higher curvature) while leaving the second region (lower curvature) with different optical properties. This creates a gradient of surface characteristics where light diffusion is concentrated in areas needing reflection suppression, while the center region maintains higher glossiness for better appearance and visibility from specific viewing angles, thus resolving the contradiction between reflection suppression and directional visibility
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes optical property variations (analogous to color changes in the broader sense of optical characteristics) by creating regions with different glossiness levels. The first region develops a matte, light-diffusing appearance due to the antiglare film, while the second region maintains a glossy, reflective appearance. This optical property differentiation allows simultaneous achievement of reflection suppression in critical zones and maintained visibility in viewing-critical zones
3Productivity
If the nozzle area is large to improve coating efficiency, then productivity is improved, but uniform coating on curved surface becomes difficult achieving required glossiness difference
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the coating target into distinct regions based on curvature: a first curved surface portion requiring antiglare coating and a second curved surface portion requiring different optical properties. By segmenting the coating process and target areas, the system can use a relatively large nozzle for efficient coating while still achieving precise regional differentiation through selective masking or positioning, thus resolving the contradiction between coating efficiency and manufacturing precision
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements local quality by applying the coating material selectively to specific regions of the curved surface. The coating process is controlled to deposit the antiglare film primarily on the first region (higher curvature) while minimizing or preventing coating on the second region (lower curvature). This localized application approach allows the use of efficient large-area coating equipment while maintaining precise control over regional optical properties, resolving the contradiction between productivity and manufacturing precision
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
The substrate provides excellent appearance and high visibility from a predetermined direction, effectively suppressing reflections and enhancing user interaction by varying antiglare properties across the surface.
Implementation Method 1
a step of disposing a nozzle on the curved surface of the substrate, a step of discharging a coating liquid containing silicon from the nozzle to form a coating film on the substrate
Implementation Method 2
a step of baking the coating film
Implementation Method 3
a method of disposing an antiglare film having irregularities on its surface, on the display surface of an image display device to diffusely reflect the outside light thereby to blur the reflected image
Data Source
AI summary
To provide a transparent substrate with excellent appearance and with high visibility when observed from a predetermined direction, and a process for producing it. A transparent substrate comprising a substrate having a curved surface on at least a part of its front surface, and an antiglare layer formed on the center region and the edge region of the curved surface, wherein the absolute value of the difference between the 60° specular glossiness at the center region and the 60° specular glossiness at the edge region is higher than 20%.