Microlens array, manufacturing method thereof, image acquisition device, and display device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016299263-A1
Application number	US-201514776884-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 19, 2015
Priority date	Oct 28, 2014
Publication date	Oct 13, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

The present invention provides a microlens array, a manufacturing method thereof, an image acquisition device, and a display device. The manufacturing method of a microlens array includes steps of: providing a substrate; forming a plurality of accommodation grooves on the substrate; instilling a colloidal prepolymer into each of the plurality of accommodation grooves, so that a top surface of the prepolymer forms a curved surface protruding outwards; and curing the prepolymer, so that the prepolymer in each of the plurality of accommodation groove is cured to form a microlens unit, thereby obtaining the microlens array. The manufacturing method provided by the present invention is simple, is applicable to a large-scale microlens array, and the manufactured microlens array has better precision and uniformity.

First claim

1 . A manufacturing method of a microlens array, including steps of:
providing a substrate; forming a plurality of accommodation grooves on the substrate; instilling a colloidal prepolymer into each of the plurality of accommodation grooves, so that a top surface of the prepolymer forms a curved surface protruding outwards; and curing the prepolymer, so that the prepolymer in each of the plurality of accommodation grooves is cured to form a microlens unit, thereby obtaining the microlens array.

2 . The manufacturing method according to claim 1 , wherein, the step of forming a plurality of accommodation grooves on the substrate includes steps of:
forming a photoresist layer on the substrate; and etching the substrate by a photolithographic patterning process, so as to form the plurality of accommodation grooves in the substrate.

3 . The manufacturing method according to claim 1 , wherein, the step of forming a plurality of accommodation grooves on the substrate includes steps of:
forming a photosensitive resin material layer on the substrate; and performing exposure and development on the photosensitive resin material layer, so as to form the plurality of accommodation grooves in the photosensitive resin material layer.

4 . The manufacturing method according to claim 1 , further including, before the step of instilling a colloidal prepolymer into each of the plurality of accommodation grooves, a step of:
forming an opaque immiscible layer on a top surface of sidewall of each of the plurality of accommodation grooves.

5 . The manufacturing method according to claim 4 , wherein, a focal length of the microlens unit is changed by changing any one of shape of each of the plurality of accommodation grooves, volume of the prepolymer in each of the plurality of accommodation grooves, and force of interaction between the prepolymer and the immiscible layer.

6 . The manufacturing method according to claim 4 , wherein, a material of the immiscible layer includes polystyrene and/or poly(silyl ester)s.

7 . The manufacturing method according to claim 1 , wherein, a material of the prepolymer includes any one of or a combination of more than one of methacrylate, epoxy acrylate, and silicone acrylate.

8 . The manufacturing method according to claim 7 , wherein, a viscosity of the prepolymer ranges from 4000 cps to 7000 cps.

9 . The manufacturing method according to claim 7 , wherein, in the step of curing the prepolymer, the prepolymer is cured by irradiation with ultraviolet light.

10 . The manufacturing method according to claim 3 , wherein, a material of the photosensitive resin material layer includes any one or a combination of TMPTA and TPGDA.

11 . A microlens array, including a substrate, a plurality of accommodation grooves formed on the substrate, and a plurality of microlens units provided in the plurality of accommodation grooves, respectively, each of the microlens units being polymer.

12 . The microlens array according to claim 11 , wherein, the substrate includes a substrate body, and the plurality of accommodation grooves are formed in the substrate body.

13 . The microlens array according to claim 11 , wherein, the substrate includes a substrate body, a photosensitive resin material layer is provided on the substrate body, and the plurality of accommodation grooves are formed in the photosensitive resin material layer.

14 . The microlens array according to claim 11 , wherein, an opaque immiscible layer is provided on a top surface of sidewall of each of the plurality of accommodation grooves.

15 . The microlens array according to claim 14 , wherein, a material of the immiscible layer includes polystyrene and/or poly(silyl ester)s.

16 . The microlens array according to claim 11 , wherein, a material of the prepolymer includes any one or a combination of more than one of methacrylate, epoxy acrylate, and silicone acrylate.

17 . The microlens array according to claim 13 , wherein, a material of the photosensitive resin material layer includes any one or a combination of TMPTA and TPGDA.

18 . An image acquisition device, including a camera and a microlens array provided on the camera, wherein, the microlens array is the microlens array according to claim 11 .

19 . A display device, including a display panel and a microlens array provided on a light-outgoing surface of the display panel, wherein, the microlens array is the microlens array according to claim 11 .

Assignees

• Boe Technology Group Co Ltd

Inventors

• Zhou Chunmiao

Classifications

• B29D11/00298

  Producing lens arrays · CPC title

• G02B3/0018 Primary

  Reflow, i.e. characterized by the step of melting microstructures to form curved surfaces, e.g. manufacturing of moulds and surfaces for transfer etching · CPC title

• B29K2995/0031

  Refractive · CPC title

• G02B3/0012 Primary

  characterised by the manufacturing method · CPC title

• G03F7/0005

  Production of optical devices or components in so far as characterised by the lithographic processes or materials used therefor · CPC title