3m Innovative Properties Company

Joseph T Aronson

Tri Dinh Pham

Gary Timothy Boyd

Robert A Yapel

Steven H Kong

Mitchell A F Johnson

Steven D Solomonson

Fei Lu

Scott R Kaytor

Slah Jendoubi

Steven J McMan

Nicholas A Johnson

Haiyan Zhang

Joseph A Zigal

Robert B Secor

Qingbing Wang

Matthew R C Atkinson

Michael R Leaf

Steven Hin-Chung Kong

Kyle J Lindstrom

Christopher Bland Walker, Jr

Anthony M Renstrom

Taun L McKenzie

Michelle Lund Toy

Stephen J Etzkorn

Oanh V Pham

Corey D Balts

Sara Suzanne Merritt

Christopher P Tebow

Michael K Gerlach

Mitchell AF Johnson

Matthew RC Atkinson

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 diffuser including opposing structured first and second major surfaces is described. The first major surface includes a first plurality of surface structures providing a uniform first haze. The second major surface includes a first portion adjacent an edge and a second portion adjacent the first portion. The first portion includes a first region and a second region between the first region and the second portion. The second major surface includes a second plurality of surface structures providing a uniform second haze over the second portion and providing a third haze in the first portion. The third haze in the first region is higher than the second haze, and the third haze in the second region is monotonically decreasing. The second portion has a surface area of at least 90 percent of a surface area of the second major surface.

Graded diffuser

Optical diffusing films are made by microreplication from a structured surface tool. The tool is made using a 2-part electroplating process, wherein a first electroplating procedure forms a first metal layer with a first major surface, and a second electroplating procedure forms a second metal layer on the first metal layer, the second metal layer having a second major surface with a smaller average roughness than that of the first major surface. The second major surface can function as the structured surface of the tool. A replica of this surface can then be made in a major surface of an optical film to provide light diffusing properties. The structured surface and/or its constituent structures can be characterized in terms of various parameters such as optical haze, optical clarity, Fourier power spectra of the topography along orthogonal in-plane directions, ridge length per unit area, equivalent circular diameter (ECD), and/or aspect ratio.

Optical diffusing films and methods of making same

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%.

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

The present invention concerns antireflective films comprising a high refractive index layer () and low refractive index layer () disposed on the high refractive index layer. The antireflective films have a microstructured surface () that can be derived from a microreplicated tool.

Antireflective films comprising microstructured surface

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.

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 in a range from about 4% to about 20% and an optical clarity that is in a range from about 20% to about 60%. The light redirecting film has an average effective transmission that is not less than about 1.55.

A light redirecting film () includes a first major surface () that includes first microstructures () that extend along a first direction and a second major surface (), which may form part of a matte layer, the second major surface being opposite to the first major surface and including 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. The light redirecting film () may comprise particles. The second microstructures may have a slope distribution.

Growing community of inventors

Menomonie, WI, United States of America

Joseph T Aronson