Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a die suitable for producing an optical panel having an optical pattern (e.g. dots or lines) integrally formed on at least one side of the optical panel, which is, for example, an edge light panel or a light diffusion panel, which is used in a backlight or front light for a liquid crystal display, and various illuminators such as electric signs. According to the present invention, there are provided an optical-panel molding die for integrally forming an optical pattern on at least one side of an optical panel, which comprises a metal substrate and a molding pattern corresponding to said optical pattern and formed of a photosensitive heat-resistant resin on one side of the metal substrate, the whole of the surface having the molding pattern of the metal substrate being covered with a layer of said heat-resistant resin; a process for producing the die; and a process for producing an optical panel by using the die.

Abstract: A photosensitive polyimide resin 12 is exposed and developed via a computer-aided designed (CAD) pattern film 14 to form a pattern onto a mold base 11 by means of photoresisit method. A molded pattern 13 is thus formed to construct a mold 10. An optical panel 2 is formed by the use of the mold 10 with an optical pattern 3 comprising circular or rectangular dot holes or dot projections each of which is several &mgr;ms and arranged in high density which is a reversal of the molded pattern 13. The optical pattern 3 performs light guiding or diffusion of incident light in high luminance and with a high degree of uniformity, thereby achieving secondary illumination without having see-through of the optical pattern.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a die suitable for producing an optical panel having an optical pattern (e.g. dots or lines) integrally formed on at least one side of the optical panel, which is, for example, an edge light panel or a light diffusion panel, which is used in a backlight or front light for a liquid crystal display, and various illuminators such as electric signs. According to the present invention, there are provided an optical-panel molding die for integrally forming an optical pattern on at least one side of an optical panel, which comprises a metal substrate and a molding pattern corresponding to said optical pattern and formed of a photosensitive heat-resistant resin on one side of the metal substrate, the whole of the surface having the molding pattern of the metal substrate being covered with a layer of said heat-resistant resin; a process for producing the die; and a process for producing an optical panel by using the die.

Abstract: A photosensitive polyimide resin 12 is exposed and developed via a computer-aided designed (CAD) pattern film 14 to form a pattern onto a mold base 11 by means of photoresisit method. A molded pattern 13 is thus formed to construct a mold 10. An optical panel 2 is formed by the use of the mold 10 with an optical pattern 3 comprising circular or rectangular dot holes or dot projections each of which is several &mgr;ms and arranged in high density which is a reversal of the molded pattern 13. The optical pattern 3 performs light guiding or diffusion of incident light in high luminance and with a high degree of uniformity, thereby achieving secondary illumination without having see-through of the optical pattern.