Source: http://patent-de.com/20071018/EP1830202.html
Timestamp: 2018-09-21 23:21:34
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Antireflexfeinstruktur, Anitreflexformkörper, Verfahren zur Herstellung eines Antireflexformkörpers und Automobilteil - Dokument EP1830202
Dokumentenidentifikation EP1830202 18.10.2007
EP-Veröffentlichungsnummer 0001830202
Titel Antireflexfeinstruktur, Anitreflexformkörper, Verfahren zur Herstellung eines Antireflexformkörpers und Automobilteil
Erfinder Noguchi, Yuji, Atsugi-shi Kanagawa 243-0192, JP;
Fukui, Takayuki, Atsugi-shi Kanagawa 243-0192, JP
EP-Aktenzeichen 070041801
IPC-Hauptklasse G02B 1/11(2006.01)A, F, I, 20070807, B, H, EP
IPC-Nebenklasse G02B 5/18(2006.01)A, L, I, 20070807, B, H, EP
The present invention relates to an anti-reflection fine structure which is excellent in light anti-reflectivity and scratch proof Moreover, the present invention relates to an anti-reflection mold body having the above anti-reflection fine structure, where the anti-reflection mold body as a non-reflecting panel is preferably used for such applications as i) various meters of vehicles (including automobile), ships, aircrafts and the like, ii) display devices, and the like. Furthermore, the present invention relates a method of producing the anti-reflection mold body. Still furthermore, the present invention relates to an automobile part having the above anti-reflection fine structure.
A known structure for preventing reflection of the above light includes a multi-layer anti-reflection film including a plurality of thin films having different refractive indexes. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-267815 , however, discloses an anti-reflection structure using a fine structure for further decreasing the reflection ratio than the above multi-layer anti-reflection film.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an anti-reflection fine structure which has i) a head end configuration of fine irregularities which configuration is optimized thereby preventing breakage of the head end of the fine irregularity without losing light anti-reflectivity, and ii) features both anti-reflectivity and scratch proof.
After a keen examination or study, the present inventors have found out that the following strategy works to accomplish the above object, thus completing the present invention:
According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an anti-reflection structure, comprising: a plurality of convex parts arranged at pitches each of which is shorter than a wave length of a visible light ray, each of the convex parts being formed into one of a substantially truncated cone and a substantially truncated pyramid, each including: i) a base face formed into one of a base circle and a base polygon inscribed in the base circle, a) the base circle and b) the base circle circumscribing about the base polygon each having a base diameter Db meeting the following expression: 100 nm < Db < 380 nm, ii) an upper face formed into one of an upper circle and an upper polygon inscribed in the upper circle, a) the upper circle and b) the upper circle circumscribing about the upper polygon each having an upper diameter Du meeting the following expression: 5 nm < Du < 50 nm.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an anti-reflection mold body, on at least one of a first face and a second face thereof, comprising, an anti-reflection structure, including: a plurality of convex parts arranged at pitches each of which is shorter than a wave length of a visible light ray, each of the convex parts being formed into one of a substantially truncated cone and a substantially truncated pyramid, each including: i) a base face formed into one of a base circle and a base polygon inscribed in the base circle, a) the base circle and b) the base circle circumscribing about the base polygon each having a base diameter Db meeting the following expression: 100 nm < Db < 380 nm, ii) an upper face formed into one of an upper circle and an upper polygon inscribed in the upper circle, a) the upper circle and b) the upper circle circumscribing about the upper polygon each having an upper diameter Du meeting the following expression: 5 nm < Du < 50 nm.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of producing an anti-reflection mold body, comprising: 1) preparing: A) a forming die having an anti-reflection structure including: a plurality of convex parts arranged at pitches each of which is shorter than a wave length of a visible light ray, each of the convex parts being formed into one of a substantially truncated cone and a substantially truncated pyramid, each including: i) a base face formed into one of a base circle and a base polygon inscribed in the base circle, a) the base circle and b) the base circle circumscribing about the base polygon each having a base diameter Db meeting the following expression: 100 nm < Db < 380 nm, ii) an upper face formed into one of an upper circle and an upper polygon inscribed in the upper circle, a) the upper circle and b) the upper circle circumscribing about the upper polygon each having an upper diameter Du meeting the following expression: 5 nm < Du < 50 nm, and B) a substrate for the anti-reflection mold body; U) pressing the forming die and the substrate relative to each other in such a state that at least one of the forming die and the substrate is heated; and III) forming the anti-reflection structure on at least one of a first face and a second face of the substrate.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of producing an anti-reflection mold body, comprising: 1) preparing: A) a forming die having an anti-reflection structure including: a plurality of convex parts arranged at pitches each of which is shorter than a wave length of a visible light ray, each of the convex parts being formed into one of a substantially truncated cone and a substantially truncated pyramid, each including: i) a base face formed into one of a base circle and a base polygon inscribed in the base circle, a) the base circle and b) the base circle circumscribing about the base polygon each having a base diameter Db meeting the following expression: 100 nm < Db < 380 nm, ii) an upper face formed into one of an upper circle and an upper polygon inscribed in the upper circle, a) the upper circle and b) the upper circle circumscribing about the upper polygon each having an upper diameter Du meeting the following expression: 5 nm < Du < 50 nm, and B) a substrate for the anti-reflection mold body; II) irradiating an active energy to the forming die and the substrate with an active energy line setting resin intervened between the forming die and the substrate; and III) forming the anti-reflection structure on at least one of a first face and a second face of the substrate.
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an automobile part, comprising: an anti-reflection structure including: a plurality of convex parts arranged at pitches each of Which is shorter than a wave length of a visible light ray, each of the convex parts being formed into one of a substantially truncated cone and a substantially truncated pyramid, each including: i) a base face formed into one of a base circle and a base polygon inscribed in the base circle, a) the base circle and b) the base circle circumscribing about the base polygon each having a base diameter Db meeting the following expression: 100 nm < Db < 380 nm, ii) an upper face formed into one of an upper circle and an upper polygon inscribed in the upper circle, a) the upper circle and b) the upper circle circumscribing about the upper polygon each having an upper diameter Du meeting the following expression: 5 nm < Du < 50 nm.
Fig. 1A is a perspective view of an anti-reflection fine structure and Fig. 1B is a perspective view of an anti-reflection mold body having the anti-reflection fine structure, under the present invention.
Fig. 4A, Fig. 4B and Fig. 4C show different schematic configurations of a head end face of the fine convex part of the anti-reflection fine structure.
Fig. 5A and Fig. 5B show thai the configurations of a ridge line of the fine convex part of the anti-reflection fine structure are expressed by the respective n-order linear expressions [1] and [2], under the present invention.
In addition, unless otherwise set forth hereinafter, the term "cone" denotes a circular cone, to be distinguished from the term "pyramid" while the term "truncated cone" denotes a circler truncated cone, to be distinguished from the term "truncated pyramid."
The anti-reflection fine structure under the present invention includes a myriad of fine convex parts each of which formed into a truncated cone or a truncated pyramid. The fine convex parts are arranged at a pitch shorter than a wave length of visible light ray, with a base face and an upper face of the fine convex parts formed into a circle form or a polygon each having a certain size.
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an anti-reflection fine structure 1 and Fig. 1B is a perspective view of an anti-reflection mold body 10 (to be set forth afterward) having the anti-reflection fine structure 1, according to an embodiment of the present invention. The anti-reflection fine structure 1 of the present invention has such a structure that a head end face 1pe is formed into a flat truncated cone 5 or a flat truncated pyramid 6 (in Fig. 1, truncated cone), and a myriad of fine convex parts 1p are arranged at a pitch 4 shorter than a wave length of visible light ray.
Therefore, a light retractive index at each cross section which index is determined by an occupying ratio (the anti-reflection fine structure 1's raw material relative to air) at each step face in thickness direction of the anti-reflection fine structure 1 serially varies from an air refractive index to the raw material refractive index in the thickness direction, thereby bringing about light anti-reflectivity. Meanwhile, the head end face 1pe of each of the fine convex parts 1p is flattened in after-described numerical ranges. Therefore, the anti-reflection fine structure 1 even having friction or collision with other part materials is unlikely to be damaged or scratched, meeting both light anti-reflectivity and scratch proof, with the harmful effect on the anti-reflectivity minimized.
Fig. 2A shows a scale of the fine convex part 1p for the truncated cone 5. A base diameter Db of a base circle 2bc of a base face 2 and an upper diameter Du of an upper circle 3uc of an upper face 3 respectively meet 100 nm < Db < 380 nm and 5 nm < Du < 50 nm.
Moreover, Fig. 2B shows a scale of the fine convex part 1p for the truncated pyramid 6, typically, a quadrangle truncated pyramid 5. Likewise, the base diameter Db of a circumscribing circle (i.e., the base circle 2bc) about a base polygon 2bp of the base face 2 and the upper diameter Du of a circumscribing circle (i.e., the upper circle 3uc) about an upper polygon 3up of the upper face 3, respectively, meet 100 nm < Db <380 nm and 5 nm < Du <50 nm
That is, the base diameter Db of more than or equal to 380 nm that is the shortest wave length of the visible light ray cannot make the pitch 4 between the adjacent fine convex parts 1p shorter than the wave length of the visible light ray, causing a light diffraction and thereby decreasing the anti-reflectivity.
Meanwhile, the lower limit of the base diameter Db is to be set forth. For securing the anti-reflectivity, the light refractive index is to be serially changed in the cross section in the thickness direction by inclining to a certain extent a side face of the fine convex part 1p. With this, the base diameter Db of less than or equal to 100 nm cannot bring about a sufficient anti-reflectivity due to an insufficient side face inclination in view of an upper limit 50 nm of the upper diameter Du (to be set forth in detail afterward) of the upper face 3.
Fig. 3 is a graph showing the upper diameter Du of the upper face 3 of each of the fine convex parts lp of the anti-reflection fine structure 1, relative to a mean reflection ratio. The more the upper diameter Du is, the more the flat face ratio is increased, resulting in higher reflection ratio. As obvious from Fig. 3, however, the upper diameter Du of more than or equal to 50 nm starts rapidly increasing the reflection ratio. In the range less than 50 nm, however, the graph is substantially similar to a non-flattening case (Du = 0). With this, the upper diameter Du of the upper face 3 of the fine convex part 1 p is to be set less than 50 nm.
In the above anti-reflection fine structure 1, however, even an electron beam lithography and the like finds an extreme difficulty in molding the upper diameter Du to less than or equal to 5 mm, which is a lower limit
Moreover, for further decreasing the reflection ratio, the upper face 3 (head end face 1 pe) of the above fine convex part 1p is preferred to be a curved face such as a dome in Fig. 4A, rather than the flat face. A curvature radius R of the above curved face is preferred to meet the following expression [X], where H denotes height of the fine convex part 1p. R ≥ ( Du 2 - Du ⋅ Db ) / 4 ⋅ H 2 + Du / 2 2 1 / 2
That is, the right hand of the above expression [X] denotes a length of a vertical line from a normal line (passing through a center point of a circumscribing circle of the base face 2) downward to a ridge line 12 at a head end of the anti-reflection fine structure 1, in other words, the length of the vertical line denotes the curvature radius of the head end face 1 pe. The curvature radius R of the head end face 1 pe of the fine convex part 1p less than or equal to the thus calculated value sharpens the head end, causing, as the case may be, scratches attributable hooks.
Herein, the configuration of the head end face 1pe of the fine convex part 1p may be variable (amorphous) as shown in Fig. 4B and Fig. 4C, provided that the head end face 1pe be received (included) in the domed curved face having the above curvature radius R.
The configuration of the fine convex part 1p of the present invention, as set forth above, is the truncated cone or the truncated pyramid. In this case, however, the configuration is not necessarily limited to an accurate truncated cone or an accurate truncated pyramid, that is, a generating line of the truncated cone or a ridge line 12 of the truncated pyramid is not limited to be straight, but can be curved. The generating line or the ridge line 12 is preferred to be curved, meeting the following n-order linear expressions [1] and [2]. With this, the change in the refractive index in the thickness direction of the anti-reflection fine structure 1 becomes more gentle, thereby more effectively decreasing the light reflection ratio. Herein, the n-order of the linear expressions [1] and [2] is preferred to be in the range of more than 1 to less than or equal to 3.
The above is to be more specifically set forth referring to Fig. 5A or Fig. 5B. With a base side defined as an X axis and an apex 11 disposed on a Z axis in a vertical cross section passing through a center of the fine convex part 1p, i) the height H of each of the fine convex parts 1 p of the anti-reflection fine structure 1, ii) a height Ha up to the apex 11 which height is defined by an extension of the ridge line 12 of the fine convex part 1p, and iii) the base diameter Db of the base circle 2bc of the base face 2 or the base diameter Db of the base circle 2bc circumscribing about the base polygon 2bp of the base face 2, in combination, bring about an X coordinate on the ridge line 12 given by one of the following n-order linear expressions [1] and [2]: X = ( Db / 2 ) × 1 - Z / Ha n see Fig. 5A Z = Ha / Db / 2 n × X n see Fig. 5B
Moreover, the configuration of the base face 2 of the fine convex part 1p is preferred to be such that the base faces 2 of the adjacent fine convex parts 1p be in contact with each other not being spaced apart, from the view point of further decreasing the reflection ratio by deceasing the flat face part between the fine convex parts 1p.
From the above view point, i) orientation-less circles, ii) equilateral triangles, iii) squares and iv) equilateral hexagons which can be lined on a flat face without a space are preferable.
Molding the above anti-reflection fine structure 1 of the present invention on a substrate 15, typically on a first face 15A of a transparent substrate 15 or preferably on both faces (the first face 15A and a second face 15B) thereof can form the anti-reflection mold body 10. Applying the above anti-reflection mold body 10 to panels of various display devices, a transparent panel of a show window or show case and the like can decrease reflections of an outside light or of an in-house illumination, effectively preventing imaging-in of reflection image, thus improving visibility of image, display and inner show piece.
Methods of producing the anti-reflection mold body 10 is to be set forth, under the present invention. A forming die having the above myriad of fine convex parts 1p is prepared. Then, the forming die and the substrate 15 are relatively pressed in such a state that at least one of the forming die and the substrate 15 is heated. Thereby, the anti-reflection fine structure 1 is formed on at least one of the first face 15A and second face 15B of the substrate 15.
Preferably, typical materials for the above substrate 15 are those having transparency, specifically, i) thermoplastic resins such as polymethyl methacrylate, polymethyl acrylate, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinylidene chloride, polyethylene terephthalate, polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene, ABS resin, AS resin, acrylic resin, polyamide, polyacetal, polybuthylene terephthalate, glass-reinforced polyethylene terephthalate, polycarbonate, modified polyphenylene ether, polyphenylene sulfide, polyetherether ketone, liquid crystalline polymer, fluorine resin, polyallate, polysulfone, polyethersulfone, polyamideimide, polyetherimide, thermoplastic polyimide and the like, ii) thermo-setting resins such as phenol resin, melamine resin, urea resin, epoxy resin, unsaturated polyester resin, alkyd resin, silicone resin, diallyl phthalate resin, polyamide bismaleimide, polybisamide triazole and the like, and iii) a combination of two or more of the above.
Moreover, examples of the active energy line setting resin which initiates polymerization by an irradiating such as ultraviolet ray and the like and then sets (cures) include i) ultraviolet ray setting acryl urethane resin, ultraviolet ray setting polymethyl methacrylate, ultraviolet ray setting polymethyl acrylate, ultraviolet ray setting polyesteracrylate resin, ultraviolet ray setting epoxyacrylate resin, ultraviolet ray setting polyol acrylate resin, ultraviolet ray setting epoxy resin and the like. Polymerization initiator causing radicals by irradiating the active energy line can be used when necessary. Moreover, a setting agent (curing agent, hardening agent) such as isocyanate can be added for further strengthening the setting. Typical examples of the active energy line used herein include ultraviolet ray, X ray, other electron beams, other electromagnetic wave and the like, but not specifically limited thereto.
Moreover, an inorganic transparent material such as glass can be used for the substrate 15. In this case, the anti-reflection fine structure 1 can be formed on at least one of the first face 15A and second face 15B of the substrate 15 through methods such as i) cutting a surface of the glass by an electron beam and the like, and ii) pouring the fused inorganic transparent material into a mold having the anti-reflection fine structure 1 under the present invention.
In the latter method hereinabove, after pouring the fused inorganic transparent material, when necessary, a second mold having a like anti-reflection structure is to be pressed before the above material is cooled, to thereby form the anti-reflection fine structure 1 on the first and second faces 15A, 15B of the substrate 15, Otherwise, when necessary, the inorganic transparent material with both faces thereof pressed by molds is heated up to a softening point and then is pressed for transfer-printing the configuration, to thereby form the anti-reflection fine structure 1 on the first and second faces 15A, 15B of the substrate 15.
Hereinafter, the present invention is to be more specifically set forth based on the following examples. The present invention is, however, not limited to the examples.
A die developed by a commercially-available electron beam drawing device was heated up to 150° C. Then, the die was pressed at a pressure of 10 MPa to both faces (first face 15A and second face 15B) ofpolymethyl methacrylate substrate 15 for 1 hour, followed by cooling to less than or equal to 70° C, to thereby form the anti-reflection mold body 10 having both faces (first face 15A and second face 15B) each provided with the anti-reflection fine structure 1 where the fine convex parts 1p are arranged in a hexagonal closed packed structure (pitch 4: 200 nm). Each of the fine convex parts 1p is formed into a truncated cone having the base face 2 with the base diameter Db of 200 nm, the upper face 3 with the upper diameter Du of 20 nm, the height H of 400 nm, and the curvature radius R (at the head end face 1pe) of 10.25 nm.
Operations like those according to the above first example were implemented using a die developed by a like electron beam drawing device, to thereby form the anti-reflection mold body 10 including the polymethyl methacrylate substrate 15 having both faces (first face 15A and second face 15B) each provided with the anti-reflection fine structure 1 where the fine convex parts 1p are arranged in the hexagonal closest packed state (pitch 4: 250 nm). Each of the fine convex parts 1p is formed into the truncated cone having the base face 2 with the base diameter Db of 250 nm, the upper face 3 with the upper diameter Du of 25 nm, the height H of 250 nm, and the head end face 1pe being flat.
Operations like those according to the above first example were implemented using the die developed by the like electron beam drawing device, to thereby form the anti-reflection mold body 10 including the polymethyl methacrylate substrate 15 having both faces (first face 15A and second face 15B) each provided with the anti-reflection fine structure 1 where the fine convex parts 1p are arranged in the hexagonal closest packed state (pitch 4: 250 nm). Each of the fine convex parts 1p is formed into the truncated cone having the base face 2 with the base diameter Db of 250 nm, the upper face 3 with the upper diameter Du of 25 nm, the height H of 250 nm, and the curvature radius R (at the head end face 1pe) of 13.71 nm.
Operations like those according to the above first example were implemented using the die developed by the like electron beam drawing device, to thereby form the anti-reflection mold body 10 including the polymethyl methacrylate substrate 15 having both faces (first face 15A and second face 15B) each provided with the anti-reflection fine structure 1 where the fine convex parts 1p are arranged in the hexagonal closest packed state (pitch 4: 177 nm). Each of the fine convex parts 1p is formed into a square truncated pyramid having the base face 2 with the base diameter Db (of a circle circumscribing about a square) of 250 nm, the upper face 3 with the upper diameter Du (of a circle circumscribing about a square) of 50 nm, the height H of 500 nm, and the curvature radius R (at the head end face 1pe) of 25.50 nm.
Operations like those according to the above first example were implemented using the die developed by the like electron beam drawing device, to thereby form the anti-reflection mold body 10 including the polymethyl methacrylate substrate 15 having a backface (second face 15B) provided with the anti-reflection fine structure 1 where the fine convex parts 1p are arranged in the hexagonal closest packed state (pitch 4: 300 nm). Each of the fine convex parts 1p is formed into the truncated cone having the base face 2 with the base diameter Db of 300 nm, the upper face 3 with the upper diameter Du of 50 nm, the height H of 600 nm, and the curvature radius R (at the head end face 1pe) of 25.54 nm.
Operations like those according to the above first example were implemented using the die developed by the like electron beam drawing device, to thereby form the anti-reflection mold body 10 including the polymethyl methacrylate substrate 15 having both faces (first face 15A and second face 15B) each provided with the anti-reflection fine structure 1 where the fine convex parts 1p are arranged in the hexagonal closest packed state (pitch 4: 177 nm). Each of the fine convex parts 1p is formed into the square truncated pyramid having the base face 2 with the base diameter Db (of the circle circumscribing about the square) of 250 nm, the upper face 3 with the upper diameter Du (of the circle circumscribing about the square) of 30 nm, a height Ha (up to the apex 11) of 640 nm, the height H of 550 nm, and the head end face 1pe being flat. In each of the fine convex parts 1p, the ridge line 12 extending from an outer peripheral part of the head end face 1pe to an outer peripheral part of the base face 2 is given by the following linear expression [1] having an order n = 1.2. X = ( Db / 2 ) × 1 - Z / Ha n
Operations like those according to the above first example were implemented using the die developed by the like electron beam drawing device, to thereby form the anti-reflection mold body 10 including the polymethyl methacrylate substrate 15 having both faces (first face 15A and second face 15B) each provided with the anti-reflection fine structure 1 where the fine convex parts 1p are arranged in the hexagonal closest packed state (pitch 4: 177 nm). Each of the fine convex parts 1p is formed into the square truncated pyramid having the base face 2 with the base diameter Db (of the circle circumscribing about the square) of 250 nm, the upper face 3 with the upper diameter Du (of the circle circumscribing about the square) of 50 nm, the height Ha (up to the apex 11) of 720 nm, the height H of 550 nm, and the curvature radius R (at the head end face 1pe) of 50 nm. In each of the fine convex parts 1p, the ridge line 12 extending from the outer peripheral part of the head end face 1pe to the outer peripheral part of the base face 2 is given by the linear expression [1] having the order n = 1.2.
Operations like those according to the above first example were implemented using the die developed by the like electron beam drawing device, to thereby form the anti-reflection mold body 10 including the polymethyl methacrylate substrate 15 having both faces (first face 15A and second face 15B) each provided with the anti-reflection fine structure 1 where the fine convex parts 1p are arranged in the hexagonal closest packed state (pitch 4: 212 nm). Each of the fine convex parts 1p is formed into the square truncated pyramid having the base face 2 with the base diameter Db (of the circle circumscribing about the square) of 300 nm, the upper face 3 with the upper diameter Du (of the circle circumscribing about the square) of 40 nm, the height Ha (up to the apex 11) of 400 nm, the height H of 300 nm, and the curvature radius R (at the head end face 1pe) of 45 nm. In each of the fine convex parts 1p, the ridge line 12 extending from the outer peripheral part of the head end face 1pe to the outer peripheral part of the base face 2 is given by the following linear expression [2] having an order n = 2. Z = Ha / Db / 2 n × X n
Operations like those according to the above first example were implemented using the die developed by the like electron beam drawing device, to thereby form the anti-reflection mold body 10 including the polymethyl methacrylate substrate 15 having both faces (first face 15A and second face 15B) each provided with the anti-reflection fine structure 1 where the fine convex parts 1p are arranged in the hexagonal closest packed state (pitch 4: 141 nm). Each of the fine convex parts 1p is formed into the square truncated pyramid having the base face 2 with the base diameter Db (of the circle circumscribing about the square) of 200 nm, the upper face 3 with the upper diameter Du (of the circle circumscribing about the square) of 10 nm, the height Ha (up to the apex 11) of 555 nm, the height H of 500 nm, and the curvature radius R (at the head end face 1pe) of 15 nm. In each of the fine convex parts 1p, the ridge line 12 extending from the outer peripheral part of the head end face 1pe to the outer peripheral part of the base face 2 is given by the linear expression [2] having the order n=2}.
Operations like those according to the above first example were implemented using the die developed by the like electron beam drawing device, to thereby form the anti-reflection mold body 10 including the polymethyl methacrylate substrate 15 having both faces (first face 15A and second face 15B) each provided with the anti-reflection fine structure 1 where the fine convex parts 1p are arranged in the hexagonal closest packed state (pitch 4: 250 nm). Each of the fine convex parts 1p is formed into a cone having the base face 2 with the base diameter Db of 250 nm and the height H of 750 nm.
Operations like those according to the above first example were implemented using the die developed by the like electron beam drawing device, to thereby form the anti-reflection mold body 10 including the polymethyl methacrylate substrate 15 having both faces (first face 15A and second face 15B) each provided with the anti-reflection fine structure 1 where the fine convex parts 1p are arranged in the hexagonal closest packed state (pitch 4: 400 nm). Each of the fine convex parts 1p is formed into the truncated cone having the base face 2 with the base diameter Db of 400 nm, the upper face 3 with the upper diameter Du of 25 nm, the height H of 800 nm, and the curvature radius R (at the head end face 1pe) of 12.84 nm.
Operations like those according to the above first example were implemented using the die developed by the like electron beam drawing device, to thereby form the anti-reflection mold body 10 including the polymethyl methacrylate substrate 15 having both faces (first face 15A and second face 15B) each provided with the anti-reflection fine structure 1 where the fine convex parts 1p are arranged in the hexagonal closest packed state (pitch 4: 250 nm). Each of the fine convex parts 1p is formed into the truncated cone having the base face 2 with the base diameter Db of 250 nm, the upper face 3 with the upper diameter Du of 100 nm, the height H of 500 nm, and the curvature radius R (at the head end face 1pe) of 50.56 nm.
A variable angle spectrometer (made by Otsuka Electronics Co., Ltd.) was used for measuring the reflection ratio of each of the anti-reflection mold bodies 10 at light incidence angle of 0 and measurement angle of 0. The measurements were implemented at stepwise wave lengths (10 nm) from 380 nm to 780 um. The mean value of the measurements was defined as mean reflection ratio.
Based on the pencil hardness test specified in JIS K5600-5-4 (where JIS stands for Japan Industrial Standard), an HB pencil was used for scratching the test samples at a load of 1 kg. Through a visual check, thereafter, the samples determined to have scratches were evaluated as "Unacceptable" while those determined not to have scratches were evaluated as "Acceptable."
Relative visibility: less than or equal to 0.1% Section Fine convex part 1p Evaluation test results Configuration Base diameter Db (nm) Upper diameter Du (nm) Height H (nm) of 1p Configuration of ridges line 12 Curvature radius R (nm) at head end face 1pe * C (mn) Mean reflection ratio (%) Scratch proof
First example Truncated cone 200 20 400 Straight 10.25 10.25 0.18 Acceptable Second example Truncated cone 250 25 750 Straight Infinite (flat) 12.64 0.12 Acceptable Third example Truncated cone 250 25 250 Straight 13.71 13.71 0.32 Acceptable Fourth example Truncated pyramid 250 50 500 Straight 25.50 25.50 0.18 Acceptable Fifth example Truncated cone 300 50 600 Straight 25,54 25.54 0.38 Acceptable Sixth example Truncated pyramid 250 30 530 Linear expression [1], n=1.2 Infinite (flat) 15.30 0.10 Acceptable Seventh example Truncated pyramid 250 50 550 Linear expression [1], n=1.2 50 25.41 0.07 Acceptable Eighth example Truncated pyramid 300 40 300 Linear expression [2], n=2 45 21.80 0.53 Acceptable Ninth example Truncated pyramid 200 10 500 Linear expression [2], n=2 15 5.09 0.08 Acceptable First comparative example Cone 250 Not available 750 straight Not available Not available 0.08 Unacceptable Second comparative example Truncated cone 400 25 800 Straight 12.84 12.84 1.15 Acceptable Third comparative example Truncated cone 250 100 500 Straight 50.56 50.56 1.02 Acceptable
*C = [((Du2 - Du·Db)/(4H)}2+ (Du/2)2]1/2
As a result, the first example to the ninth example having such a structure that each of the fine convex parts 1p of the anti-reflection fine structure 1 is formed substantially into the truncated cone or the truncated pyramid, and the base diameter Db and the upper diameter Du are each within a certain range show i) the mean reflection ratios that are low at the visible light ray wave length and ii) the excellent scratch proof.
On the contrary, the anti-reflection mold body 10 provided with the anti-reflection fine structure 1 having the fine convex part 1p formed into a cone (instead of the truncated cone) according to the first comparative example is excellent in anti-reflectivity but is likely to cause scratches, therefore is not practical (unacceptable).
Moreover, the anti-reflection mold body 10 according to the second comparative example, though having the fine convex part 1p formed into the truncated cone while having the base face 2 (base diameter Db) so large as to cause the pitch 4 (= 400 nm) larger than the shortest wave length of visible light ray, is excellent in scratch proof but deteriorated in anti-reflectivity.
Furthermore, the anti-reflection mold body 10 according to the third comparative example, though having the fine convex part 1p formed into the truncated cone while having the extremely large upper face 3 (upper diameter Du), is excellent in scratch proof but deteriorated in anti-reflectivity.
This application is based on prior Japanese Patent Applications No. P2006-054262 (filed on March 1, 2006 in Japan) and No. P2006-293705 (filed on October 30, 2006 in Japan). The entire contents of the Japanese Patent Applications No. P2006-054262 and No. P2006-293705 from which priorities are claimed are incorporated herein by reference, in order to take some protection against translation errors or omitted portions.
An anti-reflection structure (1), comprising: a plurality of convex parts (1p) arranged at pitches (4) each of which is shorter than a wave length of a visible light ray, each of the convex parts (1p) being formed into one of a substantially truncated cone (5) and a substantially truncated pyramid (6), each including: i) a base face (2) formed into one of a base circle (2bc) and a base polygon (2bp) inscribed in the base circle (2bc), a) the base circle (2bc) and b) the base circle (2bc) circumscribing about the base polygon (2bp) each having a base diameter Db meeting the following expression: 100 nm < Db < 380 nm , ii) an upper face (3) formed into one of an upper circle (3uc) and an upper polygon (3up) inscribed in the upper circle (3uc), a) the upper circle (3uc) and b) the upper circle (3uc) circumscribing about the upper polygon (3up) each having an upper diameter Du meeting the following expression: 5 nm < Du < 50 nm . The anti-reflection structure (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein
each of the convex parts (1p) has ahead end face (1pe) which is so curved as to define a curvature radius R meeting the following expression: R > ( Du 2 - Du ⋅ Db ) / 4 ⋅ H 2 + Du / 2 2 1 / 2
where H denotes a height (H) of the each of the convex parts (1p). The anti-reflection structure (1) as claimed in any one of claims 1 and 2, wherein
the base faces (2) of the convex parts (1p) adjacent to each other are in contact with each other. The anti-reflection structure (1) as claimed in claim 3, wherein
each of the base faces (2) is formed into any of the following: i) an orientation-less circle, ii) an equilateral triangle, iii) a square, and iv) an equilateral hexagon. The anti-reflection structure (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein
with a base side defined as an X axis and an apex (11) disposed on a Z axis in a vertical cross section passing through a center of each of the convex parts (1p), i) a height H of each of the convex parts (1p) of the anti-reflection structure (1), ii) a height Ha up to the apex (11) which height is defined by an extension of a ridge line (12) of the each of the convex parts (1p), and iii) the base diameter Db of the base circle (2bc) of the base face (2) or the base diameter Db of the base circle (2bc) circumscribing about the base polygon (2bp) of the base face (2), in combination, bring about an X coordinate on the ridge line (12) given by one of the following n-order linear expressions [1] and [2]: X = ( Db / 2 ) × 1 - Z / Ha n Z = Ha / Db / 2 n × X n An anti-reflection mold body (10), on at least one of a first face (15A) and a second face (15B) thereof, comprising,
an anti-reflection structure (1), including: a plurality of convex parts (1p) arranged at pitches (4) each of which is shorter than a wave length of a visible light ray, each of the convex parts (1p) being formed into one of a substantially truncated cone (5) and a substantially truncated pyramid (6), each including: i) a base face (2) formed into one of a base circle (2bc) and a base polygon (2bp) inscribed in the base circle (2bc), a) the base circle (2bc) and b) the base circle (2bc) circumscribing about the base polygon (2bp) each having a base diameter Db meeting the following expression: 100 nm < Db < 380 nm , ii) an upper face (3) formed into one of an upper circle (3uc) and an upper polygon (3up) inscribed in the upper circle (3uc), a) the upper circle (3uc) and b) the upper circle (3uc) circumscribing about the upper polygon (3up) each having an upper diameter Du meeting the following expression: 5 nm < Du < 50 nm . The anti-reflection mold body (10) as claimed in claim 6, wherein the anti-reflection mold body (10) is substantially transparent. A method of producing an anti-reflection mold body (10), comprising: I) preparing: A) a forming die having an anti-reflection structure (1) including: a plurality of convex parts (1p) arranged at pitches (4) each of which is shorter than a wave length of a visible light ray, each of the convex parts (1p) being formed into one of a substantially truncated cone (5) and a substantially truncated pyramid (6), each including: i) a base face (2) formed into one of a base circle (2bc) and a base polygon (2bp) inscribed in the base circle (2bc), a) the base circle (2bc) and b) the base circle (2bc) circumscribing about the base polygon (2bp) each having a base diameter Db meeting the following expression: 100 nm < Db < 380 nm , ii) an upper face (3) formed into one of an upper circle (3uc) and an upper polygon (3up) inscribed in the upper circle (3uc), a) the upper circle (3uc) and b) the upper circle (3uc) circumscribing about the upper polygon (3up) each having an upper diameter Du meeting the following expression: 5 nm < Du < 50 nm , and B) a substrate (15) for the anti-reflection mold body (10); II) pressing the forming die and the substrate (15) relative to each other in such a state that at least one of the forming die and the substrate (15) is heated; and III) forming the anti-reflection structure (1) on at least one of a first face (15A) and a second face (15B) of the substrate (15). A method of producing an anti-reflection mold body (10), comprising: I) preparing: A) a forming die having an anti-reflection structure (1) including: a plurality of convex parts (1p) arranged at pitches (4) each of which is shorter than a wave length of a visible light ray, each of the convex parts (1p) being formed into one of a substantially truncated cone (5) and a substantially truncated pyramid (6), each including: i) a base face (2) formed into one of a base circle (2bc) and a base polygon (2bp) inscribed in the base circle (2bc), a) the base circle (2be) and b) the base circle (2bc) circumscribing about the base polygon (2bp) each having a base diameter Db meeting the following expression: 100 nm < Db < 380 nm , ii) an upper face (3) formed into one of an upper circle (3uc) and an upper polygon (3up) inscribed in the upper circle (3uc), a) the upper circle (3uc) and b) the upper circle (3uc) circumscribing about the upper polygon (3up) each having an upper diameter Du meeting the following expression: 5 nm < Du < 50 nm , and B) a substrate (15) for the anti-reflection mold body (10); II) irradiating an active energy to the forming die and the substrate (15) with an active energy line setting resin intervened between the forming die and the substrate (15); and III) forming the anti-reflection structure (1) on at least one of a first face (15A) and a second face (15B) of the substrate (15). An automobile part, comprising: an anti-reflection structure (1) including: a plurality of convex parts (1p) arranged at pitches (4) each of which is shorter than a wave length of a visible light ray, each of the convex parts (1p) being formed into one of a substantially truncated cone (5) and a substantially truncated pyramid (6), each including: i) a base face (2) formed into one of a base circle and a base polygon inscribed in the base circle, a) the base circle and b) the base circle circumscribing about the base polygon each having a base diameter Db meeting the following expression: 100 nm < Db < 380 nm , ii) an upper face (3) formed into one of an upper circle and an upper polygon inscribed in the upper circle, a) the upper circle and b) the upper circle circumscribing about the upper polygon each having an upper diameter Du meeting the following expression: 5 nm < Du < 50 nm .