Articles and methods of making articles having a concavity or convexity

Abstract

Articles and methods of making an articles having at least one convexity or at least one concavity are described. A first article having at least one concavity is prepared using a molding surface that includes at least one gas bubble. A second article having at least one convexity is prepared using the first article as a mold.

1 . A molding surface comprising a plurality of gas bubbles forming a lattice pattern. 
     
     
         2 . The molding surface of  claim 1 , wherein the gas bubbles comprise concavities or convexities. 
     
     
         3 . The molding surface of  claim 1 , wherein the gas bubbles comprise linear side walls. 
     
     
         4 . The molding surface of  claim 1 , wherein the lattice pattern comprises a row pattern. 
     
     
         5 . The molding surface of  claim 1 , wherein the lattice pattern comprises a zigzag pattern. 
     
     
         6 . The molding surface of  claim 1 , wherein the lattice pattern comprises a radial pattern. 
     
     
         7 . A surface comprising a lattice pattern of concavities or convexities and a lattice pattern of prisms. 
     
     
         8 . The surface of  claim 7 , wherein the concavities or convexities comprise substantially spherical surfaces. 
     
     
         9 . The surface of  claim 7 , wherein the concavities or convexities have the same shape. 
     
     
         10 . The surface of  claim 7 , wherein the concavities or convexities have the same size. 
     
     
         11 . The surface of  claim 7 , wherein the concavities or convexities are in direct contact with gas bubbles. 
     
     
         12 . The surface of  claim 7 , wherein the concavities or convexities are in direct contact with a hardenable fluid. 
     
     
         13 . The surface of  claim 7 , wherein the concavities or convexities are in direct contact with a hardened fluid. 
     
     
         14 . An article comprising a plurality of concavities, each concavity being surrounded by grooves. 
     
     
         15 . The article of  claim 14 , wherein the concavities are arranged at predetermined positions. 
     
     
         16 . The article of  claim 14 , wherein the concavities form a lattice pattern. 
     
     
         17 . The article of  claim 14 , wherein the grooves comprise prism portions. 
     
     
         18 . The article of  claim 14  further comprising a hardened fluid. 
     
     
         19 . An article comprising a plurality of convexities, each convexity being surrounded by walls. 
     
     
         20 . The article of  claim 19 , wherein the convexities are arranged at predetermined positions. 
     
     
         21 . The article of  claim 19 , wherein the convexities form a lattice pattern. 
     
     
         22 . The article of  claim 19 , wherein the walls comprise prism portions. 
     
     
         23 . The article of  claim 19  further comprising a hardened fluid. 
     
     
         24 . An article comprising:
 a mold comprising a first structured surface comprising a plurality of walls separating a plurality of depressions; and   a hardenable fluid covering the first structured surface of the mold and contacting at least the plurality of the walls, such that if the fluid is hardened and removed from the mold, then the removed hardened fluid comprises a second structured surface that is substantially different than the inverse of the first structured surface.   
     
     
         25 . The article of  claim 24  wherein the second, but not the first, structured surface has a plurality of concavities or convexities. 
     
     
         26 . An article comprising:
 a mold comprising a plurality of depressions;   a fluid covering the mold; and   one or more gas bubbles in each depression, the one or more bubbles forming a concavity in the fluid.   
     
     
         27 . The article of  claim 26 , wherein the plurality of depressions form a lattice pattern. 
     
     
         28 . The article of  claim 26 , wherein each of the plurality of depressions has a pointed bottom. 
     
     
         29 . The article of  claim 26 , wherein each of the plurality of depressions has an edge line at the bottom. 
     
     
         30 . The article of  claim 26 , wherein each of the plurality of depressions comprises a pyramid portion. 
     
     
         31 . The article of  claim 26 , wherein each of the plurality of depressions comprises one or more planar sides. 
     
     
         32 . The article of  claim 26 , wherein each of the plurality of depressions has a shape that tapers. 
     
     
         33 . The article of  claim 26 , wherein the one or more gas bubbles in each depression comprise a sidewall. 
     
     
         34 . The article of  claim 26 , wherein the concavity in the fluid comprises an over-hang portion. 
     
     
         35 . A display device comprising:
 a backlight emitting light;   a display panel displaying an image; and   an optical film disposed between the backlight and the display panel and having an optical gain of at least 1.2, the optical film comprising a structured major surface comprising a plurality of discrete structures, each structure comprising:
 a concavity or a convexity; and 
 a side wall. 
   
     
     
         36 . The display device of  claim 35 , wherein the sidewall comprises a prism portion. 
     
     
         37 . The display device of  claim 35 , wherein the structured major surface of the optical film faces the backlight. 
     
     
         38 . The display device of  claim 35 , wherein the structured major surface of the optical film faces the display panel. 
     
     
         39 . The display device of  claim 35 , wherein the concavity or the convexity comprises a substantially spherical concavity or convexity.