3m Innovative Properties Company

Fei Lu

William Blake Kolb

Encai Hao

Michael Benton Free

John Allen Wheatley

Gary Timothy Boyd

Adam D Haag

Robert A Yapel

Tri Dinh Pham

Steven D Solomonson

Mitchell A F Johnson

Scott R Kaytor

Joseph T Aronson

Slah Jendoubi

Steven J McMan

Steven H Kong

Brant Ulrick Kolb

Scott Melvyn Tapio

Eric Wayne Nelson

Charles David Hoyle

William F Edmonds

Brian W Ostlie

Jason S Petaja

Joseph A Zigal

Michael F Weber

William D Coggio

Michael L Steiner

Kui Chen-Ho

Lan Hong Liu

Robert F Kamrath

Robert B Secor

Matthew R C Atkinson

Soemantri Widagdo

Steven Hin-Chung Kong

Audrey A Sherman

Naiyong Jing

Terry Lee Smith

Richard John Pokorny

Robert L Brott

Sergey Lamansky

Jun-Ying Zhang

Ding Wang

Ha T Le

Leslie A Todero

Hui Ren

Shoichi Masuda

Mitchell AF Johnson

Matthew RC Atkinson

Optical constructions are disclosed. A disclosed optical construction includes a reflective polarizer layer, and an optical film that is disposed on the reflective polarizer layer. The optical film has an optical haze that is not less than about 50%. Substantial portions of each two neighboring major surfaces in the optical construction are in physical contact with each other. The optical construction has an axial luminance gain that is not less than about 1.2.

Optical construction and display system incorporating same

Optical films for redirecting light are described, and optical systems, such as display systems, incorporating such optical films are described. The optical film may include a first structured surface including a plurality of prismatic structures, and a second structured surface opposing the first structured surface and including a plurality of microstructures. An effective transmission of the optical film is not more than 1% less than a film with a comparable construction except for a smooth, non-structured second surface.

Light redirecting film and display system incorporating same

A lightguide defines an optical axis and has an optical absorption coefficient of at least 0.02 cmat a wavelength of 500 nm. The light guide includes a plurality of discrete light extracting structures, each with a first surface configured to extract light propagating in a first direction along the light guide, a second surface configured to extract light propagating in a second direction along the light guide, and a light extraction efficiency of less than 2%. The first surface and the second surface in each of the light extracting structures making an angle with each other larger than 90 degrees; the angle between the first and second surfaces of at least one of the light extracting structures being different from the angle between the first and second surfaces of at least another one of the light extracting structures.

Lightguides with asymmetric light extracting structures

Optical film is disclosed. The optical film includes a binder, a plurality of particles, and a plurality of interconnected voids. The volume fraction of the plurality of interconnected voids in the optical film is not less than about 20%. The weight ratio of the binder to the plurality of the particles is not less than about 1:2.

Optical film

The present disclosure generally relates to patterned gradient polymer films and methods for making the same, and more particularly to patterned gradient optical films that have regions that include variations in optical properties such as refractive index, haze, transmission, clarity, or a combination thereof. The variation in optical properties can occur across a transverse plane of the film as well as through a thickness direction of the film.

Patterned gradient polymer film and method

A process and apparatus for producing a gradient nanovoided article, a gradient nanovoided coating, and a gradient low refractive index coating is described. The process includes providing a first solution of a polymerizable material in a solvent, and providing a first environment proximate a first region of the coating and a different second environment proximate an adjacent region of the coating. The process further includes at least partially polymerizing the polymerizable material to form a composition that includes an insoluble polymer matrix and a second solution. The insoluble polymer matrix includes a plurality of nanovoids that are filled with the second solution, and a major portion of the solvent from the second solution is removed. A first volume fraction of the plurality of nanovoids proximate the first region of the coating is less than a second volume fraction of the plurality of nanovoids proximate an adjacent of the coating. An apparatus for the process is also described, and includes a web line, a coating section, a partial polymerization section, and a solvent removal section.

Process for gradient nanovoided article

An optical film having a structured surface is described. At least 90% of the structured surface has a slope magnitude that is less than about 5 degrees. The optical film may have an optical haze of less than about 10% and an optical clarity of less than about 50%, or may have an optical haze of less than about 7.5% and an optical clarity of less than about 60%, or may have an optical haze of less than about 3% and an optical clarity of less than about 65%.

A lightguide includes a center optical axis and includes a plurality of light extracting structures formed on a surface of the light guide, each structure includes a reflecting surface adapted to extract light propagating along the optical axis by reflecting the propagating light toward a light exit side of the light guide. The reflecting surface makes an angle of less than 45 degrees and greater than 10 degrees with the optical axis.

Lightguides having angled light extracting surfaces and specific optical absorption coefficient

Optical films, optical stacks including the optical films, and display systems including the optical films are described. The optical film includes a first major surface that may include a plurality of first microstructures that extend along a first direction. The optical film also includes a second major surface that is opposite to the first major surface and includes a plurality of second microstructures. The second major surface has an optical haze that is not greater than about 3% and an optical clarity that is not greater than about 85%.

Optical film and display system incorporating same

A gradient optical film and an optical construction including the gradient optical film are described. The gradient optical film includes a binder, a plurality of particles, and a plurality of interconnected voids having a local volume fraction. The local volume fraction of the plurality of interconnected voids varies along a thickness direction of the gradient optical film. The refractive index of the gradient optical film can also varies along a thickness direction of the gradient optical film, as the refractive index can also depend upon the local volume fraction of the plurality of interconnected voids.

Gradient low index article and method

Light redirecting film is disclosed. The light redirecting film includes a first major surface that includes a plurality of first microstructures that extend along a first direction. The light redirecting film also includes a second major surface that is opposite to the first major surface and includes a plurality of second microstructures. The second major surface has an optical haze that is not greater than about 3% and an optical clarity that is not greater than about 85%. The light redirecting film has an average effective transmission that is not less than about 1.75.

A voided diffuser and an optical construction incorporating the voided diffuser are provided. The voided diffuser includes a plurality of beads and a binder composition in contact with the plurality of beads. The binder composition includes a binder and a plurality of interconnected voids. The optical construction includes the voided diffuser disposed on a substrate.

Voided diffuser

Optical constructions are disclosed. A disclosed optical construction includes first and second optical layers having first and second major surfaces that face each other and are separated by an air gap. The first and second surfaces are susceptible to physically contacting each other at a location in the air gap. The optical construction further includes an optical film that is disposed at the location to prevent the first and second major surfaces from contacting each other at the location. The optical film has an effective index of refraction that is not greater than about 1.3.

Optical film for preventing optical coupling

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Woodbury, MN, United States of America

Fei Lu