Layered structure with embedded graphical pattern

Abstract

A method is presented for producing an optically transmissive layered structure for use as a display protector for electronic devices. The method comprises printing an ink pattern on a base layer, where said base layer is substantially optically transparent, and the base layer and ink are configured so that the ink reflects light with high incidence angle and transmits light with low incidence angle, when in use, thus displaying the pattern in the absence of light with high intensity and low incidence angle, the pattern becoming substantially undetectable otherwise.

Claims

1. An optical multilayer structure for use as a display protector for electronic devices, comprising a base layer, onto which an ink pattern has been provided, and a protective layer laminated thereon, wherein the base layer is substantially optically transparent, and the base layer, the protective layer, and ink of the ink pattern are configured so that the ink reflects, when in use, light reaching the structure in higher incidence angles more effectively than light reaching the structure in lower incidence angles, thus rendering the ink pattern more visible in presence of light with higher incidence angles and intensity higher than intensity of light present with lower incidence angles, and transmits light reaching the structure in lower incidence angles more effectively than light reaching the structure in higher incident angles, thus displaying the pattern less clearly in the presence of light with lower incidence angles and intensity higher than intensity of light present with higher incidence angles.

2. The structure of claim 1, wherein the ink is translucent or partially transparent, at predefined wavelengths including wavelengths of visible light.

3. The structure of claim 1, configured such that when in use as a display protector for an electronic device, the ink pattern is less visible when the display is turned on than when the display is off.

4. The structure of claim 1, wherein said ink comprises at least one constituent selected from the group of: silver powder, gloss oil, matt varnish oil, base oil, acrylic acid polymers, isophorone, defoamer, oil-proof agent, dispersant, and thickener.

5. The structure of claim 1, wherein said ink comprises 15-25 percent by weight silver powder.

6. The structure of claim 1, wherein said ink comprises 20-30 percent by weight gloss oil.

7. The structure of claim 1, wherein said ink comprises 40-50 percent by weight matt varnish oil.

8. The structure of claim 1, wherein said ink comprises 5-10 percent by weight base oil.

9. The structure of claim 1, wherein said base layer comprises at least one constituent selected from the group of: acrylic acid and vinyl acetate.

10. The structure of claim 1, additionally comprising an optically substantially transparent adhesive layer.

11. The structure of claim 10, wherein a disposable layer is attached to the adhesive layer and is to be removed prior to attachment to said target entity.

12. The structure of claim 1, wherein said protective layer comprises at least one material selected from the group of: glass, flexible glass, polyethylene terephthalate, polycarbonate, and acrylic.

13. The structure of claim 1, wherein thickness of the structure amounts to under about 0.6 mm.

14. The structure of claim 1, additionally comprising an optically substantially transparent multi-component adhesive.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The present invention will be described next in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 illustrates the layers and their respective order in one embodiment of the present invention.

(3) FIG. 2 depicts the use of one embodiment of the present invention.

(4) FIG. 3 shows the steps taken in a method according to an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(5) The term “light” herein refers to, but is not limited to wavelengths in the visible range of the electromagnetic spectrum.

(6) According to one embodiment of the present invention, a layered structure 100 depicted in FIG. 1 may be manufactured through integration incorporating lamination, for instance.

(7) The embodiment comprises a disposable layer 102, an adhesive layer 104, a base layer 106, ink pattern 108, and a protective layer 110. In some embodiments, one or all of the layers 102, 104, or 110 may be excluded from the embodiment.

(8) The disposable layer 102 may be composed of a material of choice which is convenient for the embodiment. For the embodiment of FIG. 1, for example paper or a plastic such as polyvinyl chloride or polyethylene may be used. The disposable layer 102 may basically protect the adhesive layer 104 during storage and transportation, for example.

(9) The adhesive layer 104 may comprise any transparent adhesive, such as a multi-component adhesive, for example NB epoxy.

(10) The base layer 106 may comprise a transparent material onto which ink may be printed and should preferably have thickness of under 0.1 mm, thus a plastic or adhesive may be used, for example. Considerable elasticity is a desirable physical quality in the base layer 106, along with adhesive properties, making a cured layer of acrylic adhesive a suitable base layer 106 in some embodiments, in which case the thickness of the base layer 106 may amount to approximately 0.05 mm.

(11) The ink used for the ink pattern 108 can be a printable ink that, when positioned and generally configured within structure 100, generally more effectively reflects light with high incidence angle and correspondingly, more effectively transmits light with low incidence angle.

(12) In some advantageous embodiments, the ink may comprise at least the following constituents in percent by weight ranges as follows: silver powder 15%-25%, gloss oil 20%-30%, matt varnish oil 40-50%, and/or base oil 5%-10%. This formulation may be especially advantageous in embodiments where the structure 100 is to be used as a display protector for electronic devices.

(13) In one other embodiment, for instance PUV-110 (trade name, a UV-curable ink, available from Shenzhen dahe ink Technology Co., Ltd.), may be used as the printed ink.

(14) In embodiments of the invention, as may be appreciated by a person skilled in the art, constituents of the ink may be tailored to obtain a formula exhibiting the desired characteristics and/or behavior with regard to the visibility of an ink pattern 108 in different lighting conditions. Alternatively or additionally, either the composition of the ink, in relation the relative amounts of its constituents, may be altered to reach the desired functionality, e.g. through a tailored viscosity, and/or a thickness or amount of the ink that is printed may be fine-tuned for the purpose.

(15) It may be comprehended that an appropriate formulation for the used ink may be different for different use purposes. The aforementioned formulation with constituents in amounts according to the disclosed percentages may be particularly advantageous for use with a screen protector for a mobile phone. In other use scenarios, such as providing decorative structures for use with windows, the used ink may have an at least slightly differing consistency.

(16) The protective layer 110 can be any transparent material. In some embodiments, a considerably thin (thickness under about 0.4 mm in preferred embodiments) but durable material is advantageously used, such as glass, flexible glass, polyethylene terephthalate, polycarbonate, or acrylic. A user is in preferred use cases of the structure 100 viewing it, the included pattern 108, and the target entity such as the (display of the) electronic device, which is underlying or situated behind the structure 100, from the side of the protective layer 110, i.e. from the environment. The protective layer 110 may have a substantially even, or smooth, surface.

(17) The protective layer 110 has the prospective function of shielding the target entity from damages. These damages may, for instance, be caused by objects colliding with the target entity, which lead to breaking, scratching, or cracking of the target entity. In the case of an electronic device for example, maintaining integrity of the display is often a matter of interest for the user of the device.

(18) Further prevention of damages to the target entity and/or a user of the entity may in some embodiments be provided by the base layer 106. The prospective physical qualities of the base layer material can aid in protection of the target entity itself, for example a base layer 106 having considerable elasticity can absorb shocks administered to the target entity, preventing its breakage. In the event of breakage of the protective layer 110 into fragments, adhesive properties of the base layer 106 may ensure that the fragments are adhered to the base layer 106 with such strength that the fragments are not separated from the rest of the embodiment, protecting a user of the embodiment and the environment from potential harm caused by the fragments.

(19) The placement of the ink pattern 108 on the base layer 106 enables the production of a structure 100 with a visual design to be placed on the surface of a target entity. The ink that is used to print the ink pattern 108 of the structure 100 is configured to reflect light with high incidence angle and transmit light, optionally in a regular (specular) fashion, with low incidence angle, thereby rendering the ink pattern 108, depending on the lighting conditions, as either visible or considerably undetectable to the human eye. For example, the ink PUV-110 may retain the aforementioned qualities to a sufficient degree if positioned as a thin-enough layer upon the base 106.

(20) As alluded to hereinbefore, the disposable layer 102 is provided in some embodiments in order to prevent curing and/or tarnishing of the adhesive layer 104, for example, which might inhibit the use of the embodiment, until the embodiment is to be attached to the target entity. In this case, the disposable layer 102 is detached from the rest of the embodiment at a time before the embodiment is attached to the target entity. Accordingly, the layer 102 is used during storage and transport of the structure 100 prior to actual installation thereof.

(21) The layered structure 100 preferably has a thickness of under about 0.6 mm and the materials employed permit considerable flexibility of the structure. The aforementioned characteristics make the embodiment 100 suitable for use as a display protector for electronic devices, also for those with, for example, a curved display. Thinness and flexibility of some embodiments leads to practically no restrictions to the shape of the target entity, and the embodiment can be utilized without noticeably altering the dimensions of the target entity.

(22) The functional aspect of the embodiment of FIG. 1 is illustrated in FIG. 2.

(23) 200A shows the layered structure 100 and the intended target entity 202, an electronic device in this embodiment, with the display 204 facing the structure 100. The incidence angle 206 is defined as the angle between the normal of the face of the target entity (or structure 100) and light that the target entity or structure 100 is subjected to.

(24) In 200B and 200C, the embodiment 100 after removal of the disposable layer 102, the structure now being represented by 100z, comprising of adhesive layer 104, base layer 106, ink pattern 108, and protective layer 110, has been attached to the target entity, in this case onto the display 204 of the mobile device 202. In particular, two functional modes of the resulting aggregate device are shown at 200B and 200C, respectively.

(25) With reference to a scenario depicted at 200B, the ink pattern 108 will be visible in ambient light in the absence of (display) light with substantial intensity that is perpendicular to the face of the structure 100z. The aforementioned conditions are fulfilled in 200B, in which, in this embodiment, the ink pattern 108 is visible in daylight while the display 204 of the mobile device 202 is turned off, i.e. does not give off any light. Visual designs printed in ink can thus be seen by a user of the device 202 or other beings within appropriate visual range of the target entity. In some embodiments, the layered structure 100, 100z according to the invention has a substantial surface area, along with the target entity, submitting large audiences to the visual design.

(26) In the scenario of 200C, the display 204 is turned on, i.e. gives off light, fulfilling the condition of providing light perpendicular to the face of the structure 100z with intensity of such magnitude that the ink pattern 108 is substantially transparent to the human eye. That is, when the display 204 is turned on, light with intensity that is substantially higher than the intensity of ambient light is present, this light also having a substantially lower incidence angle than the incidence angle of ambient light.

(27) The ink pattern 108 becoming essentially transparent in the scenario of 200C ensures that the device 202 may be used without distraction or obstruction of the visibility of the display 204 when it is turned on. Various embodiments of the invention permit its use in circumstances where the structure 100 should retain its transparency in at least some situations.

(28) FIG. 3 exhibits the steps taken to produce an embodiment according to the method of the present invention, for example the embodiment of FIG. 1.

(29) The step 302 may in some embodiments involve curing of the base layer material, for example an adhesive.

(30) The obtained layer of adhesive such as acrylic glue may substantially have an even surface whereon an ink pattern 108 will be provided.

(31) After a suitable base layer 106 has been obtained, the ink pattern 108 is printed onto the base layer 106 in step 304 with an applicable printing method, which may include screen, flat-bed screen, rotary screen, inkjet, or flexography type printing methods, among other options. The ink pattern 108 may be printed on either or both sides of the base layer 106, for example the side subsequently in some embodiments facing the protective layer 110 and/or the side facing the possible adhesive layer 104 in the future.

(32) After this, the base layer 106 with the ink pattern 108 is preferably laminated onto the adhesive layer 104 in step 306, which is optionally followed by attachment of the disposable layer 102 in step 308. In some embodiments these steps may, however, be omitted or replaced with other applicable solutions.

(33) Suitable lamination techniques in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention may involve application of an adhesive, pressure, and/or heat, for example.

(34) In 310, the layered structure 100 that is obtained thus far is optionally cleaved to a shape that is appropriate for the embodiment in question using a convenient method for cutting, which may include die or laser cutting.

(35) In the final step of 312, the structure 100 obtained after step 310 is laminated onto the protective layer 110, using a suitable laminating method.

(36) The manufactured structure 100 may next be attached to a target entity, e.g. electronic device or window surface as discussed herein earlier, the disposable layer 102 (if any) being removed in advance.

(37) When in use and attached to the target electronic device, for example, the ink will then reflect ambient light arriving at the structure 100 from the environment via the top (protective) layer 110 and pass (transmit) light arriving thereat from the opposing device (display) side, i.e. via the adhesive layer 104, preferably in a regular fashion. Reflection from the ink is preferably more efficient with larger incidence angles than with smaller incidence angles. Likewise, transmission is more efficient with more perpendicular, more collimated, light emitted by e.g. the display of the target device in this particular application.

(38) A person skilled in the art will appreciate the fact that the execution order of previously presented method steps may be flexibly altered depending on the particular use scenario.

(39) For example, in some embodiments the lamination step 312 could be executed prior to the step 310 provided that that protective layer 110 survives the associated shaping or cutting activities without breakage.

(40) Likewise, in some embodiments the attaching step 308 of the disposable layer may be executed after item 310 and/or 312.

(41) The duration of various process steps, those introduced above and/or other process steps possibly not explicitly incorporated herein, may vary between embodiments, depending on the used materials and/or the included material layers from very short durations in the order of magnitude of seconds to several hours, for instance. For example, in one embodiment a protective layer 110 with advantageous qualities may be obtained through a toughening or tempering process that may have a duration of about 4 hours.