Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company

David J Aastuen

Timothy L Hoopman

Andrew John Ouderkirk

Michael F Weber

Stephen J Willett

Robert P Wenz

A liquid crystal display (LCD) having an active area for display of information and an inactive area adjacent the active area. The inactive area includes a pressure relief region for relieving pressure generated within the cell, thereby minimizing the effects of pressure variation in the active area. The display is comprised of two substrates, at least one of which is flexible, which are joined at their peripheries. A plurality of spacer members placed between the substrates insures a uniform gap between the substrates in the active area. The spacer members are preferably attached to both of the substrates in the active area, but to at most one of the substrates in the inactive area. The pressure relief region serves to relieve pressure within the display (usually caused by temperature changes) by flexure of the flexible substrate, thereby eliminating distortions within the active area. The flexure of the flexible substrate is enhanced by thinning the substrate in the pressure relief region, or by the incorporation of an edge spacer member which serves to prevent attachment of the spacer members to both of the substrates in the pressure relief region.

Liquid crystal device having pressure relief structure

A device, comprising a switchable optical panel and means for switching the panel between a reflecting state and a transmitting state. The switchable optical panel includes a transparent optically active layer having a first and a second major surface, a first reflective polarizer disposed on the first major surface and a second reflective polarizer disposed on the second major surface. The optically active layer preferably comprises a liquid crystal device and the switching means preferably comprises a system of drying electronics for applying voltage across the liquid crystal device. The invention also includes a switchable window and a transflective optical display.

Optical panel capable of switching between reflective and transmissive

A microlens array and mold for making same in which the perimeter of each microlens is a modified polygon in that each edge of the lens approximates an elliptical arc, the ends of which terminate at the corners of the polygon, wherein the middle of the arc curves toward the center of each microlens. The microlenses are preferably rectangular or triangular.

Microlens array with microlenses having modified polygon perimeters

A liquid crystal projection panel for use in a projection system. The projection panel is comprised of a large number of pixels of liquid crystal defining a image forming plane provided between two transparent substrates. Microlens arrays are provided on both sides of the projection panel. The microlenses in both arrays have focal lengths such that parallel light rays entering the microlenses at an angle perpendicular to the arrays are focused at points beyond the image forming plane of the display.

Liquid crystal projection panel having microlens arrays, on each side of

A method of making a microlens array and mold, and the articles made therefrom. The method involves forming a plurality of adjacent receptacles on a surface and partially filling the receptacles with a hardenable liquid, thereby forming a meniscus in each receptacle. A lens material can then be applied to the menisci, thereby forming an array of generally spherical microlenses. In one embodiment, the perimeters of the microlenses are modified rectangles in that each edge of the lens is a symmetrical elliptical arc, the ends of which terminate at the corners of the rectangle, and the middle of which curves toward the center of the rectangle.

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Farmington, MN, United States of America

David J Aastuen