Large-scale microlens arrays on flexible substrate with improved numerical aperture for curved integral imaging 3D display

Curved integral imaging 3D display could provide enhanced 3D sense of immersion and wider viewing angle, and is gaining increasing interest among discerning users. In this work, large scale microlens arrays (MLAs) on flexible PMMA substrate were achieved based on screen printing method. Meanwhile, an inverted reflowing configuration as well as optimization of UV resin’s viscosity and substrate’s surface wettability were implemented to improved the numerical aperture (NA) of microlenses. The results showed that the NA values of MLAs could be increased effectively by adopting inverted reflowing manner with appropriate reflowing time. With decreasing the substrate’s wettability, the NA values could be increased from 0.036 to 0.096, when the UV resin contact angles increased from 60.1° to 88.7°. For demonstration, the fabricated MLAs was combined to a curved 2D monitor to realize a 31-inch curved integral imaging 3D display system, exhibiting wider viewing angle than flat integral imaging 3D display system.