Seiko Epson Corporation

Michael K Gerlach

Pradnya V Nagarkar

Gerald N Nkwantah

Philip J Ralli

Jonathan M Mack

James P DiZio

Xuequn Hu

Gregg S Cannavo

An optical element includes a polarizer having oriented vinylene segments; a substrate; and an adhesive layer disposed between the polarizer and the substrate, the adhesive layer comprising aliphatic urethane(meth)acrylate oligomer, (meth)acryl monomer, silane, and crosslinker, the crosslinker comprising ethylene glycol diacrylate and/or pentaerythritol triacrylate. The optical element can have additional layers such as hardcoat layers, additional adhesive layers, and/or additional substrates. A method of making the optical element is also disclosed, as are optical devices including the optical element.

Optical element having optical adhesive layer and polarizer

An intrinsic polarizer, including a sheet of PVA-type matrix that includes vinylene polymer blocks, the sheet defining a pass polarization axis and a block polarization axis perpendicular to the pass polarization axis, light having an electrical vector parallel to the pass polarization axis being substantially transmitted through the sheet and light having an electrical vector parallel to the block polarization axis being substantially absorbed by the vinylene blocks, the sheet exhibiting a dichroic ratio of more than 100.

Intrinsic polarizer

An improved method of forming an intrinsic polarizer, referred to as a K-type polarizer, includes stretching a polymeric film a first stretching step. The polymeric film comprises a hydroxylated linear polymer which is converted after the first stretching step to form dichroic, copolymer polyvinylene blocks aligned in the polymeric film. The polymeric film is stretched in a second stretching step while converting the hydroxylated linear polymer. This method produces an improved K-type polarizer with excellent polarizing and color characteristics. For example, the dichroic ratio is higher than 100, the color shift for light passed through the polarizer in a crossed configuration is low, and the absorption of light in the blue region of the visible spectrum is more than one half of the absorption for light in the middle of the visible spectrum.

Intrinsic polarizer and method of manufacturing an intrinsic polarizer

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Brookline, MA, United States of America

Michael K Gerlach