Transparent Anti-reflective article and method of fabricating same

Abstract

A transparent anti-reflective article includes a transparent substrate having a first refractive index and a first surface. An anti-reflective layer is formed within the first surface of the transparent substrate through use of one of nanosphere lithography, deep ultra-violet photolithography, electron beam lithography, and nano-imprinting. The anti-reflective layer includes a subwavelength nano-structured second surface including a plurality of protuberances. Such protuberances have a predetermined maximum distance between adjacent protuberances and a predetermined height for a given wavelength such that the anti-reflective layer includes a second refractive index lower than the first refractive index to minimize light diffraction and random scattering therethrough. The predetermined height is approximately equal to a quarter of the given wavelength divided by the second refractive index.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 12 / 050,807 filed on Mar. 18, 2008, entitled “TRANSPARENT HYDROPHOBIC ARTICLE HAVING SELF-CLEANING AND LIQUID REPELLANT FEATURES AND METHOD OF FABRICATING SAME,” which is a continuation of International Application No. PCT / US2006 / 036187 filed on Sep. 15, 2006, entitled “TRANSPARENT HYDROPHOBIC ARTICLE HAVING SELF-CLEANING AND LIQUID REPELLANT FEATURES AND METHOD OF FABRICATING SAME” and claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60 / 718,587 filed on Sep. 19, 2005, entitled “TRANSPARENT HYDROPHOBIC ARTICLE HAVING SELF-CLEANING AND LIQUID REPELLANT FEATURES AND METHOD OF FABRICATING SAME,” the entire contents of each are incorporated herein by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates to transparent articles having an anti-reflection surface and method of fabricating a transparent anti-reflective structure.[0003]Transparent ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008]In one embodiment, an anti-reflective transparent article comprises a transparent substrate having a first refractive index and a first surface. An anti-reflective layer is formed within the first surface of the transparent substrate through use of one of nanosphere lithography, deep ultra-violet photolithography, electron beam lithography, or nano-imprinting. The anti-reflective layer includes a subwavelength nano-structured second surface which includes a plurality of protuberances. Such protuberances have relatively similar shape and size, as well as a predetermined maximum distance between adjacent protuberances and a predetermined height for a given wavelength such that the anti-reflective layer includes a second refractive index lower than the first refractive index to minimize light diffraction and random scattering therethrough. The predetermined height is approximately equal to a quarter of the given wavelength divided by the second refractive index.

[0010]In another embodiment, a method of fabricating an anti-reflective optically transparent structure comprises providing an optically transparent substrate having a first refractive index and a first surface. The method further includes forming an anti-reflective layer within the first surface of the transparent substrate which includes forming a nano-scale pattern within the first surface defining a subwavelength nano-structured second surface of the anti-reflective layer including a plurality of protuberances. Such protuberances have relatively similar shape and size, as well as a predetermined maximum distance between adjacent protuberances and a predetermined height for a given wavelength such that the anti-reflective layer includes a second refractive index lower than the first refractive index to minimize light diffraction and random scattering therethrough. The predetermined height is approximately equal to a quarter of the given wavelength divided by the second refractive index.

Problems solved by technology

Transparent electronic display screens made of glass or plastic, such as cell phone screens, computer screens, and TV monitors including liquid crystal displays (LCD), are difficult to view as external ambient light reflects off their surface.

While this reduces the intensity of light, it does, however, leave a hazy image of the reflection which may block the onscreen image.

However, there are very few transparent coating materials available with a low refractive index for index matching.

Furthermore, it is difficult to find a transparent coating material to match the particular range of most glass and polymers.

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