Patent ID: 6077462
Filing Date: 2000-06-20
Classification: B29C,B29D,B29K,G02B,Y10S

Abstract:
A method microreplication using a one-piece mold comprising the steps of:providing an expandable, hollow, one-piece mold having an interior with an interior surface including a plurality of microstructured features thereon, the interior being accessible through an opening in the mold;filling the interior of the mold with a curable material;curing the curable material inside the mold to thereby form a molded article, wherein the step of curing the curable material to form a molded article substantially replicates the plurality of microstructured features of the interior surface of the mold onto the molded article; andelastically expanding the mold to thereby separate the molded article from the mold,wherein the molded article comprises a substantially optically transparent light guide, and wherein the replicated microstructured features imparted on the light guide comprise a plurality of light extraction structures.