3m Innovative Properties Company

Ragunath Padiyath

Richard John Pokorny

Jeffrey C Chang

Robert S Moshrefzadeh

Hsin-hsin Chou

Colleen M Brenner

A beaded light dispersing film has a substrate layer, and an optically transparent layer, having a predetermined thickness, disposed over a side of the substrate layer. Optically transmitting beads are arranged to penetrate at least partially into the transparent layer to define clear apertures at interfaces between the beads and the transparent layer. The bead radius is greater than the predetermined thickness. An absorbing layer is disposed on the transparent layer, in interstices between the beads. A method of manufacturing the film includes disposing optically transparent beads partially in an optically transparent layer disposed over a transparent substrate layer. The optically transparent layer has a thickness less than half a diameter of a transparent bead. An absorbing layer overlies the optically transparent layer.

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Saint Paul, MN, United States of America

Ragunath Padiyath