Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US6306529?dq=6,666,377
Timestamp: 2017-03-29 13:41:10
Document Index: 450609460

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 10', 'art 10', 'art 20', 'art 10', 'art 10', 'art 20', 'art 10', 'art 20', 'art 10', 'art 20', 'art 10', 'art 20', 'arts 10', 'art 40', 'art 20', 'art 30', 'art 40', 'art 50', 'art 60', 'arts 50', 'art 60', 'art 60', 'art 60', 'art 50', 'art 60', 'arts 50', 'art 60']

Patent US6306529 - Minute structures for producing colors and spinnerets for manufacturing same - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign inPatentsA minute structure for producing a color comprises a first coloring part for producing a color with first wavelengths in the visible light area by physical actions such as reflection and Interference. The first coloring part includes lamellas disposed in layers at predetermined intervals. A second coloring...http://www.google.com/patents/US6306529?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US6306529 - Minute structures for producing colors and spinnerets for manufacturing sameAdvanced Patent SearchTry the new Google Patents, with machine-classified Google Scholar results, and Japanese and South Korean patents.Publication numberUS6306529 B1Publication typeGrantApplication numberUS 08/875,739PCT numberPCT/JP1996/003580Publication dateOct 23, 2001Filing dateDec 6, 1996Priority dateDec 8, 1995Fee statusPaidAlso published asCN1074473C, CN1176669A, DE69613815D1, DE69613815T2, EP0808385A1, EP0808385B1, WO1997021855A1Publication number08875739, 875739, PCT/1996/3580, PCT/JP/1996/003580, PCT/JP/1996/03580, PCT/JP/96/003580, PCT/JP/96/03580, PCT/JP1996/003580, PCT/JP1996/03580, PCT/JP1996003580, PCT/JP199603580, PCT/JP96/003580, PCT/JP96/03580, PCT/JP96003580, PCT/JP9603580, US 6306529 B1, US 6306529B1, US-B1-6306529, US6306529 B1, US6306529B1InventorsSusumu Shimizu, Akio Sakihara, Kinya Kumazawa, Hiroshi TabataOriginal AssigneeNissan Motor Co., Ltd., Tanaka Kikinzoku Kogyo K.K.Export CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (13), Non-Patent Citations (2), Referenced by (10), Classifications (25), Legal Events (4) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetMinute structures for producing colors and spinnerets for manufacturing same
US 6306529 B1Abstract
A minute structure for producing a color comprises a first coloring part for producing a color with first wavelengths in the visible light area by physical actions such as reflection and Interference. The first coloring part includes lamellas disposed in layers at predetermined intervals. A second coloring part is disposed adjacent to the first coloring part for absorbing a part of light with second wavelengths in the visible light area and reflecting the rest of light. The second coloring part contains a coloring matter.
The present invention relates to minute structures for producing colors which are applied to fabrics, coating fibers and chips, etc. The present invention also relates to spinnerets for manufacturing the minute structures.
According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a minute structure for producing a color, comprising:
FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a first preferred embodiment of a minute structure for producing a color according to the present invention;
Referring to the drawings, a description will be made with regard to preferred embodiments of the present invention.
Wb≧3Wa
Moreover, when the thickness of the slit 13 or air layer in the longitudinal direction is da, and the thickness of each lamella 11 in the longitudinal direction is db, and the refractive index of a material for forming the lamellas 11 is nb, the first coloring part 10 is constructed to meet the following relationship:
0.02 μm≦da≦0.4 μm
0.02 μm≦db
1.2≦nb≦1.8
and to have a dispersion of the thickness db of each lamella 11 in the longitudinal direction, i.e. a maximum value of a manufacturing error with respect to a reference value of the thickness db, being less than 40%. The above relationship meets the fundamental formula of coloring of a multilayer model comprising two substances or polymers with different refractive indexes by reflection and interference of light: λ=2 (na sda+nb sdb)wherein λ is a peak wavelength of reflecting spectrum, na, nb are refractive indexes of the two substances, and da, db are thicknesses thereof (see, e.g. U.S. Pat. No. 5,472,798). That is, under such condition, a designed peak wavelength which corresponds to a tone, a greater refractive index which corresponds to a tone brightness, etc. can be obtained. It will be thus understood that coloring of the first coloring part 10 by reflection and interference of light provides a brighter tone and a higher visual quality than ordinary coloring resulting from coloring matters.
The second coloring part 20 produces a color resulting from a chromatic coloring matter. Note that, contrary to so-called black coloring matters having absorption in the whole visible light area, the chromatic coloring matter absorbs a part of light with given wavelengths in the visible light area, and reflects the rest of light. As for the definition of “chromatic color”, see, e.g. Japanese Industrial Standard Z8105 “Terminology for Colors”, which is incorporated herein by reference.
By way of example, when absorbing parts of light with wavelengths corresponding to both ends of the visible light area, and reflecting the rest of light with wavelengths in the vicinity of 550 nm, a green color is obtained. When absorbing a part of light with wavelengths less than 600 nm, and reflecting the rest of light with wavelengths more than 600 nm, a red color is obtained. Note that it is unpreferable to adopt dark coloring matters having lightness generally less than 4, but to adopt coloring matters having lightness more than 4, practically, more than 6. As for “dark coloring matters”, see Japanese Industrial Standard Z8721 “Method of Specifying Colors by Three Attributes”.
On the other hand, if reflection on the first coloring part 10 is not a total reflection, but, e.g. approximately 50% in reflectivity, a part of the rest of light forms stray light such as scattered light, and another part of the rest of light penetrates the first coloring part 10, and reaches the second coloring part 20 for reflection and emission with wavelengths proper to a chromatic coloring matter thereof. Thus, viewer's eyes perceive a “compound color” of a color derived from the first coloring part 10 and a color derived form the second coloring part 20. This “compound color” is due to synergistic effect of coloring of the first coloring part 10 based on interference of light and that of the second coloring part 20, having a bright and deep tone, and a characteristic visual quality which cannot be obtained by so-called ordinary colors resulting from coloring matters.
An example of manufacturing the minute structure 1 will be described. The following materials are prepared: pellets of polyethylene terephtalate (PET; refractive index n=1.56) for the first coloring part 10, pellets of polyethylene terephtalate containing as a chromatic coloring matter copper phthalocyanine (blue) of an organic coloring matter for the second coloring part 20, and pellets of polystyrene (PS) for the sea-portion material for holding the first and second coloring parts 10, 20. The melt spinning device 100 is used for spinning. Spinning is carried out at a spinning temperature of 280° C. and a winding speed of 6,000 m/min. Then, the sea-portion polymer C is removed from an island-in-a-sea type filament as obtained by a solvent of methyl ethyl ketone (MEK), obtaining the minute structure 1 with sectional shape as shown in FIG. 1. The thicknesses of a PET layer and air layer of the minute structure 1 are 0.08 μm and 0.16 μm, respectively. The total number of layers is 15 (PET: 8; air: 7).
A color of the minute structure 1 is evaluated in the air and the water. Upon evaluation in the air, the minute structure 1 is disposed as shown in FIG. 1 with respect to light, a reflection spectrum of which is measured at an incident angle of 0° and a receiving angle of 0° by a microspectrophotometer of Model U-6000 manufactured by Hitachi, Co., Ltd. Upon evaluation in the water, the coloring condition of the minute structure 1 is observed visually.
1.1≦nb/na≦1.4
The substance layers 31, 32 are made of preferably a thermoplastic polymer in the same way as in the first embodiment. Moreover, the second coloring part 40 contains a chromatic coloring matter in the same way as the second coloring part 20 in the first embodiment. The first coloring part 30 as formed in a layer structure has an arc surface which is continuous with the arc surface of the second coloring part 40, forming a circular section as a whole. Thus, the minute structure 2 produces a color with wavelength in the visible light area by reflection and interference of light based on lamination of the substance layers 31, 32 with different refractive indexes.
Used for spinning is a melt spinning device with a spinneret for enabling a diameter reduction of the above three melt polymers which join each other therein. Spinning is carried out at a spinning temperature of 200° C. and a winding speed of 5,000 m/min, obtaining the fiber-like minute structure 2 with sectional shape as shown in FIG. 10. The thicknesses of a PVDF layer and PS layer of the minute structure 2 are 0.08 μm and 0.09 μm, respectively. The total number of layers is 41 (PVDF:21; PS : 20).
A color of the minute structure 2 is evaluated in the air and the water. Upon evaluation in the air, the minute structure 2 is disposed as shown in FIG. 10 with respect to light, a reflection spectrum of which is measured at an incident angle of 0° and a receiving angle of 0° by a microspectrophotometer of Model U-6000 manufactured by Hitachi, Co., Ltd. Upon evaluation in the water, the coloring condition of the minute structure 2 is observed visually.
An example of manufacturing the minute structure 3 will be described. The following materials are prepared: pellets of polyethylene terephtalate (PET; refractive index n=1.56) for the first coloring part 50, pellets of polyethylene terephtalate containing as a chromatic coloring matter an organic coloring matter or lead phthalocyanine (green) for the second coloring part 60, and pellets of polystyrene (PS) for the seaportion material for holding the first and second coloring parts 50, 60. The melt spinning device with the spinneret 220 as shown in FIG. 15 is used for spinning. Spinning is carried out at a spinning temperature of 280° C. and a winding speed of 5,000 m/min. The sea-portion polymer C is removed from an island-in-a-sea type filament as obtained by a solvent of methyl ethyl ketone (MEK), obtaining the minute structure 3 as shown in FIG. 14. The thicknesses of a PET layer and air layer of the minute structure 50 are 0.08 μm and 0.13 μm, respectively. The total number of layers is 15 (PET: 8; air: 7).
A color of the minute structure 3 is evaluated in the air and the water. Referring to FIG. 17, upon evaluation in the air, the minute structure 3 is rotated every 30° up to 180° to vary the incident direction of light, a reflection spectrum of which is measured at an incident angle of 0° and a receiving angle of 0° by a microspectrophotometer of Model U-6000 manufactured by Hitachi, Co., Ltd. Upon evaluation in the water, the coloring condition of the minute structure 3 is observed visually.
The results of evaluation are as follows. In the air, with the reflectivity of approximately 80%, the reflection spectrum is obtained having a peak at wavelength of 0.52 μm at each angle of rotation within a range of 0 to 180° , producing green. The tone and deepness of this green is clearly different from those of green coloring obtained without the second coloring part 60, having a high visual quality. In the water, the minute structure 3 also produces green with no occurrence of see-through.
FIG. 19 shows a fourth embodiment of the present invention. The structure of the fourth embodiment is substantially the same as that of the third embodiment as shown in FIG. 14 except that a second coloring part 60 a of a minute structure 5 contains an achromatic coloring matter having uniform absorption in the visible light area. Note that the “achromatic coloring matter” is such as to show uniform absorption, i.e. have practically no reflection in the visible light area, including principally black and grey coloring matters. As for the definition of “achromatic color”, see, e.g. Japanese Industrial Standard Z8105 “Terminology for Colors”. Examples of achromatic coloring matters are carbon black (C), iron oxide black (Fe304), zinc white (ZnO), etc. as inorganic coloring matters or pigments, and aniline black, etc. as organic coloring matters. According to the fourth embodiment, light incident on the minute structure 5 is subjected to reflection and interference at units 70 located on the side of a plane of incidence, given wavelengths of which are perceived by viewer's eyes as a color. The units 70 are radially arranged around the second coloring part 60 a, allowing coloring regardless of the incident direction of light.
An example of manufacturing the minute structure 5 will be described. The following materials are prepared: pellets of polyethylene terephtalate (PET; refractive index n=1.56) for the first coloring part 50, pellets of polyethylene terephtalate containing as an achromatic coloring matter aniline black (black) of an organic coloring matter for the second coloring part 60 a, and pellets of polystyrene (PS) for the sea-portion material for holding the first and second coloring parts 50, 60 a. The melt spinning device with the spinneret 220 as shown in FIG. 15 is used for spinning. Spinning is carried out at a spinning temperature of 280° C. and a winding speed of 5,000 m/min. Then, the sea-portion polymer C is removed from an island-in-a-sea type filament as obtained by a solvent of methyl ethyl ketone (MEK), obtaining the minute structure 5 as shown in FIG. 19. The thicknesses of a PET layer and air layer of the minute structure 5 are 0.08 μm and 0.15 μm, respectively. The total number of layers is 15 (PET: 8; air: 7).
A color of the minute structure 5 is evaluated in the air and the water. Upon evaluation in the air, in the same way as in the example in the third embodiment, the minute structure 5 is rotated every 30° up to 180° to vary the incident direction of light, a reflection spectrum of which is measured at an incident angle of 0° and a receiving angle of 0° by a microspectrophotometer of Model U-6000 manufactured by Hitachi, Co., Ltd. Upon evaluation in the water, the coloring condition of the minute structure 5 is observed visually.
The results of evaluation are as follows. In the air, with the 5 reflectivity of approximately 85%, the reflection spectrum is obtained having a peak at wavelength of 0.48 μm at each angle of rotation within a range of 0 to 180°, producing blue. The tone and deepness of this blue is clearly different from those of blue coloring obtained without the second coloring part 60 a, having a high visual quality. In the water, the minute structure 5 produces a dark color or black with no occurrence of see-through.
Patent CitationsCited PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS4514459May 23, 1984Apr 30, 1985Kuraray Co., Ltd.Woven fabric having a velvety appearanceUS5407738 *Jun 21, 1993Apr 18, 1995Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.Minute structure for showing colors by reflection and interference of natural lightUS5472798Jul 11, 1994Dec 5, 1995Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.Coloring structure having reflecting and interfering functionsEP0686858A2 *Jun 7, 1995Dec 13, 1995Nissan Motor Company, Ltd.Minute structure for showing colors by reflection and interference of natural lightGB2297943A * Title not availableJP43014185A Title not availableJPH0357984A Title not availableJPH01139803A Title not availableJPS6024847A Title not availableJPS6364535A Title not availableJPS59228042A Title not availableJPS62170510A Title not availableJPS63120642A Title not available* Cited by examinerNon-Patent CitationsReference1Matsumoto et al., Journal of the Textile Machinery, Society of Japan, vol. 42 No. 10, pp. 60-68 (1989).2Matsumoto et al., Journal of the Textile Machinery, Society of Japan, vol. 42, No. 2, pp. 55-62 (1989).Referenced byCiting PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS6913811 *Dec 29, 2000Jul 5, 2005Agency Of Industrial Science & TechnologyPhotocatalytic colored member and method of manufacturing the sameUS7221512Jan 23, 2003May 22, 2007Nanoventions, Inc.Light control material for displaying color information, and imagesUS7729053 *Mar 24, 2006Jun 1, 2010Nalux Co., Ltd.Wavelength filter with a broad bandwidth of reflection spectrumUS8000009May 21, 2007Aug 16, 2011Nanoventions, Inc.Light control material for displaying color, information, and imagesUS9063274Aug 11, 2011Jun 23, 2015Nanoventions, Inc.Light control material for displaying color, information, and imagesUS20030232179 *Jan 23, 2003Dec 18, 2003Nanoventions, Inc.Light control material for displaying color information, and imagesUS20060002656 *May 25, 2005Jan 5, 2006Cowan James JSurface relief structureUS20070269725 *May 21, 2007Nov 22, 2007Nanoventions, Inc.Light control material for displaying color, information, and imagesUS20080007832 *Mar 24, 2006Jan 10, 2008Masato OkanoWavelength FilterWO2003062900A1 *Jan 24, 2003Jul 31, 2003Nanoventions, Inc.Light control material for displaying color, information, and images* Cited by examinerClassifications U.S. Classification428/38, 428/913International ClassificationD06M101/16, D01D5/30, D01D5/36, D06M101/00, D01F1/04, D02G3/44, D06M23/00, D01D5/253, D06M13/02, D06M13/12, D01F8/04, D01F8/14, D01D5/32, D06M13/127Cooperative ClassificationY10S428/913, D01D5/253, D01F1/04, D01D5/36, D01F8/04European ClassificationD01F8/04, D01D5/36, D01F1/04, D01D5/253Legal EventsDateCodeEventDescriptionAug 4, 1997ASAssignmentOwner name: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD., JAPANFree format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:SHIMIZU, SUSUMU;SAKIHARA, AKIO;KUMAZAWA, KINYA;AND OTHERS;REEL/FRAME:008827/0186;SIGNING DATES FROM 19970616 TO 19970627Owner name: TANAKA KIKINZOKU KOGYO K.K., JAPANFree format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:SHIMIZU, SUSUMU;SAKIHARA, AKIO;KUMAZAWA, KINYA;AND OTHERS;REEL/FRAME:008827/0186;SIGNING DATES FROM 19970616 TO 19970627Mar 29, 2005FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 4Mar 25, 2009FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 8Mar 6, 2013FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 12RotateOriginal ImageGoogle Home - Sitemap - USPTO Bulk Downloads - Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - About Google Patents - Send FeedbackData provided by IFI CLAIMS Patent Services