Advances in Condensed Matter Physics

Volume 2012 (2012), Article ID 942018, 10 pages

doi:10.1155/2012/942018

Research Article

Compound Optical Film Using Gray Scale Mask Embedded with Microvoids

C. T. Pan,1,2 Y. C. Chen,¹ Y. J. Chen,¹ W. C. Wang,¹ H. C. Yang,¹ and H. C. Wu¹

¹Department of Mechanical and Electro-Mechanical Engineering, National Sun Yat-Sen University, Kaohsiung 80424, Taiwan

²National Science Council Core Facilities Laboratory for Nano-Science and Nano-Technology in Kaohsiung-Pingtung Area, Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, National Sun Yat-Sen University, Kaohsiung 80424, Taiwan

Received 15 July 2012; Accepted 11 September 2012

Academic Editor: Edvard Kokanyan

Copyright © 2012 C. T. Pan et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract.

This study presents a compound optical film to improve luminance and uniformity to apply in side-LED (light-emitting diode) backlight module. LIGA (lithographie galvanoformung abformung) technology, soft lithography, and homemade gray scale mask were combined to fabricate microlens array. Optical film with variable size microlens array embedded with microvoids was designed and manufactured. FRED software was used to simulate optical performance. Microvoids were quantitatively embedded in the PDMS (polydimethylsiloxane) optical film. Under the quantitative control of air pressure, those microvoids inside the optical film can cause light diffusion. The compound optical film with embedded microvoids, multiaspect ratio, and variable size microlens array can be fabricated quickly without substrate. Luminance colorimeter BM-7A from TOPCON was used to carry out the optical measurement. According to the measured data, the compound optical film with embedded microvoids can enhance the luminance up to 5% and the uniformity up to 6.5%  ~  8.4%. The optical efficiency can be improved via the compound optical film.

1. Introduction

A light-emitting diode (LED) is a semiconductor light source. LEDs are used in many devices and are increasingly used for other lighting. LEDs show many advantages such as high brightness, smaller size, fast switching, improved robustness, low energy consumption, and long lifetime. Lamp-LED and side-LED are emitting-light types for LED backlight of liquid crystal display (LCD). Side-LED has advantages: less LEDs usage than lamp-LED, and side-LED is normally used for small size panel. A compound optical film is combined with light guide plate, diffusion sheet, and brightness enhancement film to enhance optical effect. How to improve weakness such as poor uniformity, the multilayer film structures, and the complex manufacturing process of the side-LED backlight module is a crucial issue.

Many researches presented geometrical design to improve optical characteristics. A solar collecting optical film with horizontal cylinder microlens array (HCMA) can reduce the effect of reflection as light arrives at the surface and therefore can increase the refraction coefficient [1]. Batch fabrication of an eyeball-like spherical microlens array (ESMA) not only can reduce microassembly cost, but also can replace conventional ball lenses or costly gradient refractive index without sacrificing performance. The ESMA is an eyeball-like spherical lens which can focus light in all directions, thus providing application flexibility for optical purposes [2]. A new packaging method for LEDs with a gapless dual-curvature microlens array (GDMLA) was used to improve its ability to illuminate a panel. The fabricated GDMLA had the characteristics of dual curvatures and a high fill-factor of 100%, and the results demonstrated that the GDMLA is a good optical device for use in LED packages [3]. A UV (ultraviolet) curable polymer was used as the material of an optical film in this replication process of a microlens array with high fill-factor to enhance brightness and scatter [4]. Some researches also used aspheric geometrical structure design to improve the optical characteristics. A new fabrication process with UV laser direct writing method was developed to embed microstructures inside the glass. The optical properties of glass such as reflection and refraction indexes can be modified [5]. A modified hot-embossing process fabricated microtriangular-pyramidal array and the optical film of PMMA with microtriangular-pyramidal array were packaged on LED to improve its lighting uniformity and luminance [6]. An optical film with aspherical microlens array by using multistep lithography process for an OLED (organic light-emitting diode) package was fabricated, by which method the luminance of OLEDs can be enhanced [7]. By adjusting the heating temperature and the sealed air volume, the convex microlens shape was produced in the photoresist that was compressed by the thermal expansion of sealed air to form a semispherical shell [8]. A simple and novel method was used to fabricate nonspherical SU-8 microlens array utilizing a soft SU-8 stamping approach and an electrostatic pulling process [9]. Gray-scale technology has been applied in arbitrary 3D microstructures in various materials. Photolithography using grayscale masks provides a much higher throughput than direct-write methods. In addition, it is also capable of fabricating structures with a much higher vertical precision than multiple-step photolithography [10, 11].

The study presents a new compound optical film to improve luminance and uniformity to apply in side-LED backlight module. The microlens array was fabricated by using LIGA (lithographie galvanoformung abformung), technology, soft lithography, and homemade gray scale mask. This compound optical film with microlens array was designed optically so that this compound optical film is better in respect of luminance and uniformity. An embedded-voids optical film of variable size microlens array is designed and manufactured. This optical film with embedded microvoids, multiaspect ratio, and variable size microlens array can be fabricated quickly without substrate. The optical film can enhance the luminance and uniformity.

2. Design

In the study, a new compound optical film was designed, and it integrates the functions of the light guide plate, brightness enhancement film, and reflection layer all together. Light is guided to the emission surface by diffusion and guide structure. The design of compound optical film includes variable size microlens array, embedded microvoids, reflection layer, and light source, as shown in Figure 1. The results of UV/VIS spectrophotometer show that the transmittance of PDMS (polydimethylsiloxane) can be obtained up to 90% for the wavelength from 390 nm to 780 nm, as shown in Figure 2. Therefore, PDMS polymer was used as film material to embed microvoids as diffusion and light guide structure.

Figure 1: Design of optical film.

Figure 2: The curve diagram of PDMS transmittance.

The gray scale microlens array was designed and simulated by commercial optical software, FRED. Figure 3 shows the illustration of the gray scale microlens array, and Table 1 shows the parameters of the design of the gray scale microlens array. Two different diameters of 20 μm and 40 μm, and four different heights of microlens array of 5 μm, 15 μm, 25 μm, and 35 μm, were selected. A gap between adjacent two microlens is 70 μm.

Table 1: Parameters of gray scale microlens array.

No.
Diameter
Height of microlens array (the order is from close to far of the light source)

20-A
 μm
5 μm, 15 μm, 25 μm, 35 μm

20-B
 μm
35 μm, 25 μm, 15 μm, 5 μm

40-A
 μm
5 μm, 15 μm, 25 μm, 35 μm

40-B
 μm
35 μm, 25 μm, 15 μm, 5 μm

Figure 3: Gray scale microlens array.

In FRED optical simulation, the result shows that when optical film is embedded voids in the structure, no extra diffuser film is needed. The simulated result of luminance distribution of the analysis layer is shown in Figure 4. The result without lens shows that most light intensity focuses on the film close to the light source—the average luminance is calculated as 48.5 (cd/m²) and the uniformity is 24.4%.

Figure 4: Luminance of embedded voids optical film.

In addition, the optical simulation of vairous sizes of microlens array with embedded micro-void film was carried out. The purpose is to improve the luminance uniformity of backlight module. Figures 5 and 6 show four simulation results of average luminance and the uniformity, as listed in Table 2. D20-B and D40-B have better uniformity than other two cases, so they were adopted as the parameters to produce compound optical films. The determined parameters are shown in Table 3.

Table 2: Gray scale microlens array simulated average luminance and uniformity.

No.
Average Luminance (cd/)
Uniformity

20-A
45.8
26.1%

20-B
46.4
31.6%

40-A
50.4
27.2%

40-B
49.7
33.4%

Table 3: The parameter layouts of gray microlens array optical films.

No.
Height layout (μm)
Diameter layout (μm)
Average luminance (cd/)
Uniformity (%)

No lense
0
0
48.5
24.4

40-B
35, 25, 15, 5
40
49.7
33.4

20-B
35, 25, 15, 5
20
46.4
31.6

Figure 5: -axis 2D contour data analysis diagram.

Figure 6: -axis 2D contour data analysis diagram.

3. Experiment

3.1. Gray Scale Microlens Array Mold

A nine gray-scale image was designed to fabricate the mask, as shown in Figure 7. A photography film was defined by a nine-scale gray scale image in computer monitor, as shown in Figure 8. The dimension of the photography film is 2 cm × 2 cm, the image on monitor of 20 cm × 20 cm, the distance between the photography film and the shutter is 4.5 cm (L₂), and the distance between the shutter and the monitor is 45 cm (L₁).

Figure 7: Nine-scale gray scale.

Figure 8: Gray scale mask production sketch.

3.2. Measurement of Optical Transmittance and Contour of the Surface

The optical transmittances of each gray scale of the mask were measured by UV/VIS spectrophotometer. The wavelength of UV light source is 365 nm of I-line. The relationship between the light transmittance at wavelength 365 nm and the contour of the surface of the gray scale mask is shown in Table 4. Comparing simulation with measurement, no. 2, no. 3, no. 6, and no. 8 are close to the previously designed height, so that the four cases were chosen to fabricate the gray scale mask, and the heights are 6.22 μm, 13.24 μm, 27.33 μm, and 35.46 μm, respectively. The four steps of gray scale image are arranged, as shown in Figure 9, and the homemade gray scale mask is shown in Figure 10.

Table 4: The relationship between the light transmittance at wavelength 365 nm and the contour of the surface of the negative of gray scale.

Gray scale no.
Transmittance at wavelength 365 nm
Height of scale (μm)

1
5.69%
—

2
6.91%
6.22

3
9.28%
13.24

4
10.52%
16.96

5
12.16%
20.1

6
13.83%
27.33

7
14.91%
30.15

8
16.02%
35.46

9
17.56%
39.89

Figure 9: Arrangement of gray scale image.

Figure 10: Homemade gray scale mask.

3.3. Manufacturing Process of the Mold

The mold with multistep microlens array was fabricated. The manufacturing process includes lithography using gray scale mask and electroplating as shown in Figure 11. Negative photoresist, THB-126N, was coated on the glass substrate, as shown in Figure 11(a), and the thickness of photoresist is about 50 μm. The photoresist was exposed by I-line of 365 nm in wavelength with gray scale mask, as shown in Figure 11(b). After development, microcolumn array image can be obtained, as shown in Figure 11(c). The microcolumn array was then heated up to 120°C to reflow THB-126N to form spherical surface and obtain multistep microlens array mold, as shown in Figure 11(d). The micro-spherical photoresist was sent to sputtered silver film as a seed layer which has the best electrical conductivity. Then, Ni-Co (Nickel cobalt) alloy was electroformed on the seed layer as shown in Figure 11(e). The microlens array structure was transformed into PDMS mold, as shown in Figure 11(f). The mold was released, and PDMS mold with the microlens array structure was formed, as shown in Figure 11(g). Then PDMS with embedded microvoids was molded by PDMS mold, as shown in Figure 11(h). The PDMS mold was released, and the embedded void optical compound film was obtained, as shown in Figure 11(i). Figure 12 shows the gray scale microlens mold after development process.

Figure 11: Manufacturing process of the embedded void optical compound film with gray scale microlens array.

Figure 12: Gray scale microlens mold after development.

3.4. Embedded Microvoids PDMS Solvent

The microvoids structure can be embedded in solution by controlling the pressure and rate of air into solution during preparing the PDMS solution, as schematically shown in Figure 13. The embedded microvoids PDMS solvent is as shown in Figure 14.

Figure 13: Embedded microvoids PDMS polymer solvent.

Figure 14: Embedded microvoids OM.

PDMS with embedded microvoids solvent was poured into molds and the compound optical films with variable size of microlens array were obtained. Figures 15 and 16 are the embedded microvoids optical films with and without the microlens array structure, respectively. By observation, the surface without the microlens array structure seems smoother and more transparent. On contrary, the surface with the microlens array structure seems hazer, which has diffusion effect when it is lighted up.

Figure 15: Embedded microlens optical film with no lens structure.

Figure 16: Embedded microvoids film with microlens array structure.

4. Results and Discussion

4.1. Gray Scale Microlens Array Molds

Figures 17 and 18 show the SEM images of each scale of gray scale microlens array mold for no. D40-B and D20-B, respectively. Each scale has different aspect ratios. However, since THB-126N is the negative photoresist, the effect of thermal reflow is not desirable as expected. However, the sizes of each scale are the same as designs.

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

Figure 17: D40-B SEM image of each scale (a) the first scale (34 μm), (b) the second scale (23 μm), (c) the third scale (13 μm), and (d) the forth scale (6 μm).

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

Figure 18: D20-B SEM image of each scale (a) the first scale (34 μm), (b) the second scale (23 μm), (c) the third scale (13 μm), and (d) the forth scale (6 μm).

4.2. Soft Lithography

The results of twice molding of the mold by using PDMS and gray scale microlens array are shown in Figures 19 and 20, respectively. After molding, each scale of microlens array has different effect. Besides, in OM images, beneath the microlens array, the black dots are the embedded microvoids structure in the optical film.

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

Figure 19: The PDMS optical film of D40-B microlens array (a) the first scale (34 μm), (b) the second scale (23 μm), (c) the third scale (13 μm), and (d) the forth scale (6 μm).

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

Figure 20: The PDMS optical film of no. D20-B microlens array (a) the first scale (34 μm), (b) the second scale (23 μm), (c) the third scale (13 μm), and (d) the forth scale (6 μm).

4.3. Embedded Microvoids Optical Film

The embedded microvoids optical film was shined by LED light source. In Figure 21, light distribution of embedded microvoids optical film without microlens structure concentrates on the portions close to the source. The light distribution is not uniform. After inserting the reflection layer, the light distribution is more uniform (Figure 22). Regarding the microlens array embedded microvoids optical film, the light distribution is more uniform, and the scattering effect is better than other two cases. Both luminance and uniformity are enhanced as shown Figure 23.

Figure 21: Embedded microvoids optical film with no structure.

Figure 22: Embedded microvoids optical film with no structure + the reflection film.

Figure 23: Microlens array with embedded microvoids optical film.

4.4. Optical Measurement Device

The optical characters were measured by Luminance Colorimeter BM-7A, as shown in Figure 24. Nine-spot measurement frequently is used by the industry, as shown in Figure 25.

Figure 24: Set up of optical measurement.

Figure 25: Schematic of the nine-spot measurement.

The embedded microvoids compound optical films with and without microlens array were measured, respectively. The luminance data is listed in Tables 5, 6, and 7, and the average luminance and uniformity values are listed in Table 8. The result shows that the uniformity of the optical film with microlens array is better than that of the optical film without microlens array. The average luminance and uniformity value of D40-B is higher than that of D20-B and the average luminance of the microlens array compound optical film is 4.7% higher than that of the original optical film without microlens structure. The uniformity of the microlens array compound optical film is 8.4% higher than the original optical film without lens structure.

Table 5: The average value of luminance of no-lens nine-spot measurement (unit: cd/m²).

:
:
:

:
:
:

:
:
:

Table 6: The average value of luminance of gray scale 40-B’s nine-spot measurement (Unit: cd/m²).

:
:
:

:
:
:

:
:
:

Table 7: The average value of luminance of gray scale 20-B’s nine-spot measurement (Unit: cd/m²).

:
:
:

:
:
:

:
:
:

Table 8: The optical measurement of the average luminance and the average uniformity.

No.
The average luminance (cd/m²)
The increase/decrease of the average luminance
Uniformity
The increase/decrease of the uniformity

No lens

—
21.3%
—

40-B

4.7%
29.7%
8.4%

20-B

−3.0%
27.8%
6.5%

4.5. Comparing the Results of Measurement with the Simulated Values

Comparing the experimental with simulation data by -axis contour model, the 4, 5, and 6 points on the -axis of the nine-spot measurement of the experimental data were collected in Table 9, and then the comparison diagrams of the average luminance and average uniformity of the experiment and simulation were drawn. The average luminance data between experiment and simulation are a lot different, as shown Figure 26. But the trend is correct. In addition, the luminance values do not show a lot variation.

Table 9: The measurement data of the 4, 5, 6 point of -axis in the experiment.

No.
(cd/m²)
(cd/m²)
6 (cd/)
Average luminance (cd/)
Uniformity %

No lens

26.5%

40-B

35.4%

20-B

31.6%

Figure 26: Comparison of the average luminance.

The uniformity has been improved greatly, as shown Figure 27. Experimental result shows a close agreement with simulation. It also shows that the uniformity with microlens array structure is better than the optical film without microlens array structure.

Figure 27: Comparison of uniformity.

5. Conclusions

An embedded-voids optical film of variable-sized microlens array which has diffused and light guide capabilities is designed and manufactured in this paper. The results of UV/VIS spectrophotometer show that the transmittance of PDMS can be obtained up to 90% for the wavelength from 390 nm to 780 nm. PDMS polymer was used as film material to embed microvoids as diffusion and light guide structure. The design and simulation of gray scale microlens array were carried out by FRED. Two different diameters of 20 μm and 40 μm, and four different heights of microlens array of 5 μm, 15 μm, 25 μm, and 35 μm, were selected. A gap between adjacent two microlens is 70 μm. The result of simulation shows that most light intensity focuses on the film close to the light source—the average luminance is calculated as 48.5 (cd/m²) and the uniformity is 24.4%. D20-B and D40-B have better uniformity than other two cases, so they were adopted as the parameters to produce compound optical films. According to the measured data, an optical film with variable-sized microlens array can enhance the luminance up to about 5%, and can enhance substantially the uniformity up about 6.5%–8.4%. In simulation and experiment, no. D40-B has better gaining effects. The gray scale lithography is utilized to manufacture fourth-levels structure arrays according to the variable-sized microlens array data, and the soft molds of PDMS are utilized to manufacture optical films with variable-sized micro lens array by UV-cured process.

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