3m Innovative Properties Company

Brian A Kinder

Gary Timothy Boyd

Clinton L Jones

Jeffrey L Solomon

Jeremy O Swanson

Sara Jouzdani

Tao Liu

Stephen K Eckhardt

Linda Mae Rivard

Chun-Yi Ting

Han-Lin Tung

Reflective stacks including heat spreading layers are described. In particular, reflective stacks including polymeric multilayer reflectors. Heat spreading layers may include natural or synthetic graphite or copper.

Reflective stack with heat spreading layer

Reflective stacks including heat spreading layers () are described. In particular, reflective stacks including polymeric multilayer reflectors (). Heat spreading layers () may include natural or synthetic graphite or copper.

Flexible unitary lightguide and a method of making the same are disclosed. The lightguide includes a structured input side that includes a first pattern having smaller features superimposed on a second pattern having larger features. The lightguide further includes a structured top surface that includes a first region and a different second region. The first region includes a plurality of discrete light extractors for extracting light that propagates within the flexible unitary lightguide by total internal reflection. The second region includes a taper portion for directing light from the structured input side to the first region. The light extractors form a periodic array that has a first period along the length of the flexible unitary lightguide. The first period is such that substantially no visible moire fringes occur when the flexible unitary lightguide is used as a backlight in a pixelated display.

Lightguide

A light guide includes a substrate having opposing first and second major surfaces and an input edge coupler disposed along an edge of the substrate. The ratio of a light guide input edge thickness to a light guide thickness is greater than 2:1.

Input edge coupler having taper region

Flexible unitary lightguide and a method of making the same are disclosed. The lightguide includes a structured input side that includes a first pattern having smaller features superimposed on a second pattern having larger features. The lightguide further includes a structured top surface that includes a first region and a different second region. The first region includes a plurality of discrete light extractors for extracting light that propagates within the flexible unitary lightguide by total internal reflection. The second region includes a taper portion for directing light from the structured input side to the first region. The light extractors form a periodic array that has a first period along the length of the flexible unitary lightguide. The first period is such that substantially no visible moir fringes occur when the flexible unitary lightguide is used as a backlight in a pixelated display.

A back reflector for a lightguide in a turning film backlight includes a prism film layer in direct contact with a reflective layer. The lightguide includes a light guiding region having a refractive index that is substantially spatially uniform. The reflective layer may be specular or diffuse and may include a multilayer polymeric film.

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Woodbury, MN, United States of America

Brian A Kinder