Using UV roll-to-plate imprint lithography to fabricate light guide plates with microdot patterns

Conventional methods used to fabricate the light guide plates (LGPs), such as injection molding and hot embossing, are difficult and unsuitable. In this study, the authors propose a new manufacturing process for the roll-to-plate UV imprint lithography (RPIL) technique that fabricates LGPs with dot patterns. A flexible and transparent sheet mold with microstructures required by the RPIL machine replicated from an LGP made from injection molding used in the RPIL process will be described. The study describes the RPIL machine equipped with an automatic release mechanism, roller, UV light source and loading system. With the RPIL process, a replica LGP was successfully fabricated and experimental results demonstrate the excellent optical properties of proposed device. These results demonstrate the potential of this process for the fabrication of thin LGPs with microstructures.