Abstract: A flexible stamp includes at least one strengthening layer and texturing layer with a relief area. At least part of the at least one strengthening layer is positioned below the at least one texturing layer and at least partially supports the relief area and texturing layer. The combination of this part of strengthening layer, texturing layer and relief area forms an active area. The flexible stamp includes a non-active area having at least one further part of the at least one strengthening layer which does not support the texturing layer and relief area or at least one further strengthening layer. Each strengthening layer has a thermal expansion coefficient of 10 ppm/°C or lower, a Young’s modulus of 10 GPa-200 GPa, and thickness below 300 µm. The active area and the non-active area of the flexible stamp represent at least 90% of the total area of the flexible stamp.

Abstract: A process is for replicating a texture. A method continuously produces a flex stamp and applies the flex stamp in texturing a resin by combination of a roll-to-plate and a plate-to-roll process. An apparatus is suited for the continuous process.

Abstract: An assembly includes a master for imprinting of micro-structures and nano-structures. The master has on its upper surface an active area with relief structure for imprinting of the micro-structures and nano-structures, and the master has a thickness dmaster. The assembly includes frame pieces arranged around and flushing along the outer circumference of the master, with the frame pieces having a thickness dframe. The thickness dframe of the frame pieces deviates from the thickness dmaster of the master by at most 250 µm. A a flexible stamp has improved alignment.

Abstract: A method is for creating an upscaled master for an imprinting process. At least two masters are welded together, whereby at least one master includes at least partially at least one textured area. A photosensitive resin is at least applied between the two masters, whereby light of a light source is guided within a waveguiding system and cures the photosensitive resin at least between the at least two submasters when the photosensitive resin comes into contact with the waveguiding system. An upscaled master is obtained by the method, and an imprinting product is obtained from the upscaled master. An apparatus makes an upscaled master by carrying out the method.

Abstract: An imprinting, texturing or embossing system for a roll-to-plate process including at least one roller and at least one device capable to exert a resetting force to the starting position of the imprinting process after imprinting wherein the roller is a freely rotating roller.

Abstract: The invention pertains to an imprinting apparatus for a roll-to-plate process comprises a flexible master with an imprint pattern, a plate carrier and a substrate and curable imprint resin. The substrate is located on the plate carrier. The flexible master carries an inverse structure (imprint pattern), which is required for the desired product. The curable resin (also mentioned as lacquer) is placed on the substrate and/or the flexible master. During the imprinting process the flexible master is pressed upon the substrate with the curable resin in between. The plate carrier comprises a cavity in which the substrate is located. At least one substrate side-face is at least partially unenclosed by the cavity. A further idea of this invention pertains to two roll-to-plate imprinting processes.

Abstract: The invention relates to a scaled-up master for imprinting of micro- and nano-structures, the master being made-up from a plurality of tile-shaped master units, wherein the plurality of tile-shaped master units making-up the master comprises tile-shaped master units having a non-hexagonal shape wherein adjoining edges of neighbouring master units are parallel with each other and wherein the master units forming the master are arranged such that the splice lines between the master units only have junctions between master units where at most three corners of neighbouring master units are brought together. The invention further relates to a flexible stamp for imprinting of micro- and nano-structures, the flexible stamp being copied from such scaled-up master. Also an imprinted product is claimed which is copied from the flexible stamp.

Abstract: An imprinting apparatus for a roll-to-plate process includes a flexible master (105), a plate carrier (101) and a substrate (102). The flexible master is pressable upon the substrate during the imprinting process and the plate carrier holds the substrate. The plate carrier includes a compensating material (114). The compensating material is larger than the area of the substrate and boundaries of the substrate and boundaries of the compensating material do not touch.

Abstract: A roll-to-plate process for texturing or patterning discrete substrates, such as displays, lighting or solar panels comprising the steps of supplying an imprinting lacquer, texturing or patterning the imprinting lacquer with an imprint texture which imprint texture is formed by openings and elevations thus creating volumes in the imprint texture to obtain an imprinted lacquer and optionally followed by curing the imprinted lacquer to obtain a solidified textured or patterned layer, characterized in that the texturing or patterning is performed with an imprint texture that comprises domains of greater volumes at its edges, and with a flexible stamp with a Young's Modulus of between 0.1 Giga Pascal (GPa) and 10 Giga Pascal (GPa).

Abstract: A roll-to-plate process for texturing or patterning discrete substrates, such as displays, lighting or solar panels comprising the steps of supplying an imprinting lacquer, texturing or patterning the imprinting lacquer with an imprint texture which imprint texture is formed by openings and elevations thus creating volumes in the imprint texture to obtain an imprinted lacquer and optionally followed by curing the imprinted lacquer to obtain a solidified textured or patterned layer, characterized in that the texturing or patterning is performed with an imprint texture that comprises domains of greater volumes at its edges, and with a flexible stamp with a Young's Modulus of between 0.1 Giga Pascal (GPa) and 10 Giga Pascal (GPa).

Abstract: A flexible stamp comprising at least three layers, an upper layer as a texturing layer (203) having a relief area (203B), a strengthening layer (202) and a protective layer (201), characterized in that the strengthening layer (202) has a thermal expansion coefficient of 10 ppm/° C. or lower, a Young's modulus in the range of 10 GPa-200 GPa, a layer thickness of below 300 ?m and an area which at least covers the relief area (203B).

Abstract: A process and equipment texture substrates. A discrete substrate and a resilient stamp with a patterned outer surface having openings and elevations are coated with a formable imprint lacquer and the stamp is bent around an axis of an imaginary cylinder parallel to the plane of the substrate and perpendicular to the imprint direction to obtain a bent resilient stamp having a particular imprint-curvature. The bent stamp contacts formable imprint lacquer to apply imprint pressure onto a substrate contact area. The imprint pressure is generated by a resilience force of the stamp. The substrate and/or stamp move relative to one another while pressing the outer surface openings/elevations with the imprint pressure into the lacquer to attain an imprint texture while maintaining constant imprint-curvature. The formable imprint lacquer with the imprint texture solidifies on the substrate, and the stamp is separated from the textured substrate.

Abstract: A roll-to-plate process comprising at least one roll for texturing or patterning discrete substrates, such as displays, lighting or solar panels comprising the steps of supplying an imprinting lacquer in the shape of a continuous layer, texturing the imprinting lacquer with a mold having a rear side and a front side, wherein the rear side is in frictional contact with the at least one roll, and wherein the front side exhibits an imprint texture comprising a functional area which functional area is formed by openings and elevations thus creating volumes in the imprint texture to obtain an imprinted lacquer and optionally followed by curing the imprinted lacquer to obtain a solidified textured or patterned layer, characterized in that the texturing or patterning is performed with an imprint texture that comprises a starting area which is a lead-in area with a texture for which gas can escape followed by the functional area with a texture which is different from the texture of the lead-in area.

Abstract: An apparatus for texturing or patterning discrete substrates by imprinting a curable lacquer with a discrete flexible stamp and curing the imprinted lacquer resulting in an additional functional textured layer on a discrete substrate is provided having at least a first and a second clamp, a first roller and at least one driven belt connected with the first clamp and with the second clamp and capable of moving the clamped flexible stamp wherein either the roller is not able to cause its own rotation, but is driven by the stamp which in turn is driven by the belt which in turn is driven by a belt driving device, or the roller is driven at the same speed as the belt by a roller driving device which follows the belt driving device in a master slave configuration.

Abstract: A process and equipment texture substrates. A discrete substrate and a resilient stamp with a patterned outer surface having openings and elevations are coated with a formable imprint lacquer and the stamp is bent around an axis of an imaginary cylinder parallel to the plane of the substrate and perpendicular to the imprint direction to obtain a bent resilient stamp having a particular imprint-curvature. The bent stamp contacts formable imprint lacquer to apply imprint pressure onto a substrate contact area. The imprint pressure is generated by a resilience force of the stamp. The substrate and/or stamp move relative to one another while pressing the outer surface openings/elevations with the imprint pressure into the lacquer to attain an imprint texture while maintaining constant imprint-curvature. The formable imprint lacquer with the imprint texture solidifies on the substrate, and the stamp is separated from the textured substrate.

Abstract: An apparatus for texturing or patterning discrete substrates by imprinting a curable lacquer with a discrete flexible stamp and curing the imprinted lacquer resulting in an additional functional textured layer on a discrete substrate is provided having at least a first and a second clamp, a first roller and at least one driven belt connected with the first clamp and with the second clamp and capable of moving the clamped flexible stamp wherein either the roller is not able to cause its own rotation, but is driven by the stamp which in turn is driven by the belt which in turn is driven by a belt driving device, or the roller is driven at the same speed as the belt by a roller driving device which follows the belt driving device in a master slave configuration.

Abstract: A roll-to-plate process for texturing or patterning discrete substrates, such as displays, lighting or solar panels comprising the steps of supplying an imprinting lacquer, texturing or patterning the imprinting lacquer with an imprint texture which imprint texture is formed by openings and elevations thus creating volumes in the imprint texture to obtain an imprinted lacquer and optionally followed by curing the imprinted lacquer to obtain a solidified textured or patterned layer, characterized in that the texturing or patterning is performed with an imprint texture that comprises domains of greater volumes at its edges, and with a flexible stamp with a Young's Modulus of between 0.1 Giga Pascal (GPa) and 10 Giga Pascal (GPa).

Abstract: A roll-to-plate process comprising at least one roll for texturing or patterning discrete substrates, such as displays, lighting or solar panels comprising the steps of supplying an imprinting lacquer in the shape of a continuous layer, texturing the imprinting lacquer with a mold having a rear side and a front side, wherein the rear side is in frictional contact with the at least one roll, and wherein the front side exhibits an imprint texture comprising a functional area which functional area is formed by openings and elevations thus creating volumes in the imprint texture to obtain an imprinted lacquer and optionally followed by curing the imprinted lacquer to obtain a solidified textured or patterned layer, characterized in that the texturing or patterning is performed with an imprint texture that comprises a starting area which is a lead-in area with a texture for which gas can escape followed by the functional area with a texture which is different from the texture of the lead-in area.