Abstract:
A light guide plate includes a first transparent base layer, an adhesive layer and a transparent composite layer. The adhesive layer is configured for bonding the transparent composite layer on the first transparent base layer. The transparent composite layer is located on the adhesive layer, and the transparent composite layer comprising a light emitting surface, the light emitting surface includes a plurality of microstructures.

Description:
FIELD 
       [0001]    The subject matter herein generally relates to a machining system for machining microstructures on a light guide plate, and a method for manufacturing microstructures on light guide plates. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Generally, a light guide plate includes a light output surface and microstructures are formed on the light output surface of the light guide plate to increase utilization efficiency of the light rays. Thus, microstructures on the light guide plate are very important for redirecting the light rays. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0003]    Implementations of the present technology will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the attached figures, wherein: 
           [0004]      FIG. 1  is a diagrammatic view of a machining system including a platform and a controller, in accordance with an example embodiment. 
           [0005]      FIG. 2  is a diagrammatic view, showing a light guide plate placed on the platform of the machining system of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0006]      FIG. 3  is a diagrammatic view, showing that a three-dimensional (3D) model of microstructures is established on the light guide plate of  FIG. 2  by the controller of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0007]      FIG. 4  is a diagrammatic view, showing that the machining system of  FIG. 1  machines microstructures on the light guide plate. 
           [0008]      FIG. 5  is a diagrammatic view of a light guide plate with microstructures. 
           [0009]      FIG. 6  is a flow chart of an example method for machining microstructures on a light guide plate. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0010]    It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, where appropriate, reference numerals have been repeated among the different figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements. In addition, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments described herein. However, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the embodiments described herein can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, methods, procedures and components have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the related relevant feature being described. Also, the description is not to be considered as limiting the scope of the embodiments described herein. The drawings are not necessarily to scale and the proportions of certain parts have been exaggerated to better illustrate details and features of the present disclosure. 
         [0011]    Several definitions that apply throughout this disclosure will now be presented. 
         [0012]    The term “substantially” is defined to be essentially conforming to the particular dimension, shape or other word that substantially modifies, such that the component need not be exact. For example, substantially cylindrical means that the object resembles a cylinder, but can have one or more deviations from a true cylinder. The term “comprising,” when utilized, means “including, but not necessarily limited to”; it specifically indicates open-ended inclusion or membership in the so-described combination, group, series and the like. The references “a plurality of” and “a number of” mean “at least two.” 
         [0013]    The disclosure is described in relation to a machining system for machining microstructure on a light guide plate. The machining system comprising: a platform configured for supporting a light guide plate; a controller configured for establishing a 3D model for microstructures on the light guide plate; a driving device is configured for moving three-dimensionally and electrically connecting with the controller; a 3D printer is fixed on the driving device, and driven by the driving device, the 3D printer is configured for accommodating material and configured for printing microstructures on the light guide plate according to the 3D model; and at least one solidifying device is arranged on the driving device and configured for solidifying the material injected by the 3D printer. 
         [0014]      FIG. 1  shows a machining system  100  according to one embodiment. The machining system  100  is used for machining microstructures on a light guide plate  200 . The machining system  100  includes a platform  10 , a controller  20 , a driving device  30 , a 3D printer  40 , at least one solidifying device  50 , and a container  60 . 
         [0015]    The platform  10  is configured for supporting the light guide plate  200 . 
         [0016]      FIGS. 2-3  illustrate that the controller  20  is configured for establishing a 3D model  70  on the light guide plate  200 . In the illustrated embodiment, the controller  20  is a computer. A shape of the 3D model  70  is the same as a shape of the microstructures  300  formed on the light guide plate  200 . Aided design software, such as auto CAD, is loaded in the controller  20  to establish the 3D model  70 . The controller  20  is also configured for dividing the 3D model  70  into a plurality of layers, for example, layers  71 ,  72  and so on, stacked alternatively on each other, and for capturing a location data of each layer of the 3D model  70 , and for sending the location data to the driving device  30 . In the illustrated embodiment, the location data is 3D coordinates. In the illustrated embodiment, each of the layers  71  and  72  is further divided into a plurality of segments  710  by the controller  20 . 
         [0017]    The driving device  30  is electrically connected with the controller  20 . 
         [0018]    The 3D printer  40  is fixed on the driving device  30  and is driven by the driving device  30  to move in 3D space. The 3D printer  40  is configured for accommodating material and printing microstructures on the light guide plate  200  according to the 3D model. The 3D printer  40  comprises a printing head  42  in a vertical direction. Material for forming the microstructures  300  is injected from the printing head  42 . 
         [0019]    The at least one solidifying device  50  is arranged on the driving device  30  and is configured for solidifying the material injected by the 3D printer  40 . Each of the at least one solidifying device  50  is arranged slanted relative to a central axis of the printing head  42 . In this situation, light rays  52  emitting from the solidifying device  50  are also slanted relative to a central axis of the printing head  42 , and the light rays arrive directly to the material injected from the printing head  42 , thereby solidifying the material injected from the printing head  42  quickly. 
         [0020]    The container  60  is configured for receiving material for printing the microstructures  300 , and the container  60  is connected with the 3D printer  40  via a flexible tube  62 . In the illustrated embodiment, the container  60  further includes a measure unit  64 . The measure unit  64  includes a sensor and the sensor is configured to pre-measure an amount of material and transmit the pre-measured material to the 3D printer  40 . In this way, the printing head  42  only loads a certain amount of material, for example, the amount material is configured for forming one layer of microstructures  300 , thus, avoiding the use of too much material which can affect the sensitivity of the print head  42 . 
         [0021]      FIG. 6  illustrates a flowchart presented in accordance with an example embodiment. The example method  400  for manufacturing microstructures  300  on the light guide plate  200  (shown in  FIG. 5 ) is provided by way of an example, as there are a variety of ways to carry out the method. The method  400  described below can be carried out using the configurations illustrated in  FIG. 1 , for example, and various elements of these figures are referenced in explaining the method  400 . Each block shown in  FIG. 6  represents one or more processes, methods or subroutines, carried out in the method  400 . Additionally, the illustrated order of blocks is by example only and the order of the blocks can change according to the present disclosure. The method  400  can begin at block  401 . 
         [0022]    At block  401 , a machining system  100  as mentioned in  FIG. 1 , is provided.  FIGS. 4-5  illustrate that material for manufacturing the microstructures  300  are received in the container  60 . The material is select from a group of UV glue, polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), polycarbonate (PC) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET). In one embodiment, the material is UV glue, and the solidifying device  50  is an UV solidifying device. A refractive index of the material used for forming the microstructures  300  is the same as or similar to a material of the light guide plate  200 , which can stop the microstructures  300  from absorbing light entering the light guide plate  200 . 
         [0023]    At block  402 , a light guide plate  200  including a to-be-machined surface  201 , as shown in  FIG. 2 , is provided. The machining surface  201  faces toward the printing head  42 . The printing head  42  also contains material for machining the microstructures  300 , material in the container  60  is suctioned into the printing head  42  by a pump (not shown). 
         [0024]    At block  403 , a 3D model  70  of microstructures  300  on the light guide plate  200  is established using the controller  20 , and the 3D model  70  is divided into a plurality of layers  71 , 72  stacked alternatively on each other, location data of each layer  71 , 72  of the 3D model is captured, and is sent to the driving device  30 . The shape of the microstructures&#39; cross-section is circular or V-shaped. In the illustrated embodiment, each of the layers  71  and  72  has the same thickness and is divided into a plurality of segments  710 . The controller  20  is configured for obtaining 3D coordinates of each small fragment of data. 
         [0025]    At block  404 , the 3D printer  40  is driven to move with the driving device  30 , three dimensionally according to the location data. 
         [0026]    At block  405 , material is injected to print microstructures  300  on the to-be-machined surface  201  by the 3D printer  40 , when the lower layer  71  is formed, the driving device  30  can move in a vertical direction away from the platform  10  to form an upper layer  72 , until a shape of the microstructures are the same as the 3D model, at the same time, the microstructures  300  are solidified by the solidifying device  50 . In this way, the material from the printing head  42  is timely solidified, this can avoid deformation of the lower layer  71 . 
         [0027]    In summary, as mentioned above, the microstructures on the light guide plate are formed using the 3D printer, thereby, having a free choice of the materials, and no mold design for the microstructures is needed, thus, saving time and reducing the cost of the mold development. 
         [0028]    The embodiments shown and described above are only examples. Many details are often found in the art such as other features of a protection system and protection method. Therefore, many such details are neither shown nor described. Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present technology have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the present disclosure, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in the detail, including in matters of shape, size and arrangement of the parts within the principles of the present disclosure, up to and including the full extent established by the broad general meaning of the terms used in the claims. It will therefore be appreciated that the embodiments described above may be modified within the scope of the claims.