3m Innovative Properties Company

William F Edmonds

Jason S Petaja

Michael Benton Free

Martin B Wolk

William Ward Merrill

Encai Hao

Stephen A Johnson

Adam D Haag

Rolf W Biernath

William Blake Kolb

John Allen Wheatley

Timothy J Nevitt

Claire A Jalbert

Tri Dinh Pham

Eric Wayne Nelson

Jeffrey L Solomon

Fei Lu

Brandt K Carter

John F Van Derlofske, Iii

Matthew B Johnson

William D Coggio

Michael L Steiner

Lan Hong Liu

Keith Michael Kotchick

Vivian Wynne Jones

Robert F Kamrath

Nathaniel K Naismith

Richard John Pokorny

Carl A Stover

Ramesh C Kumar

Tao Liu

David T Yust

John James Stradinger

Stephan J Pankratz

Jun Xiao

Sara Suzanne Merritt

Albert T Schmitz

John F Van Deriofske, Iii

A display system includes a display panel configured to emit a polarized image light having a first polarization state and at least one emission spectrum having a full width at half maxima (FWHM). The display system includes a reflective polarizer configured to receive and reflect the polarized image light as a first reflected polarized image light. For a first light incident at a first predetermined angle, the reflective polarizer has an average reflectance of greater than about 60% across the at least one emission spectrum for the first polarization state, a transmittance of at least about 50% for at least wavelength outside the FWHM of the at least one emission spectrum for the first polarization state, and an average total transmittance of greater than about 70% across a visible wavelength range including the FWHM of the at least one emission spectrum for an orthogonal second polarization state.

Display system for vehicle

Vehicle projection assemblies are described. In particular, vehicle projection assemblies within a housing including a projection module, and selective reflective polarizing element are described. Particular selective reflective polarizing elements may enable advantageous configurations for such vehicle projection assemblies.

Vehicle projection assembly

A microstructured diffuser is described comprising a light transmissive film comprising a first microstructured surface comprising a plurality of peaks and valleys. A coating is disposed on the first microstructured surface. The coating partially fills the valleys forming a second microstructured surface.

Microstructured diffuser comprising first microstructured layer and coating, optical stacks, and method

An optical article includes an optical element, a low refractive index layer disposed on the optical element having an effective refractive index of 1.3 or less and a polymeric protective layer disposed on the low refractive index layer. The low refractive index layer includes a binder, a plurality of metal oxide particles dispersed in the binder, and a plurality of interconnected voids. The polymeric protective layer does not increase an effective refractive index of the optical article by greater than 10%.

Optical element with a porous low refractive index layer having a protection layer

A multilayer optical film has a packet of microlayers that selectively reflect light by constructive or destructive interference to provide a first reflective characteristic. At least some of the microlayers are birefringent. A stabilizing layer attaches to and covers the microlayer packet proximate an outer exposed surface of the film. Heating element(s) can physically contact the film to deliver heat to the packet through the stabilizing layer by thermal conduction, at altered region(s) of the film, such that the first reflective characteristic changes to an altered reflective characteristic in the altered region(s) to pattern the film. The stabilizing layer provides sufficient heat conduction to allow heat from the heating elements to change (e.g. reduce) the birefringence of the birefringent microlayers disposed near the outer exposed surface in the altered region(s), while providing sufficient mechanical support to avoid substantial layer distortion of the microlayers near the outer exposed surface in the altered region(s).

Patterned marking of multilayer optical film by thermal conduction

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

Presently described are optical stacks comprising a first optical film comprising a plurality of structures comprising an optically active portion designed primarily to provide optical gain and optionally an optically in-active bonding portion disposed on a first surface bonded to a second optical film with a light-transmissive adhesive layer such that a portion of the structures penetrate the adhesive layer and a separation is provided between the adhesive layer and the first surface. In one embodiment, the optical stacks exhibit a combination of high peel strength and high retained brightness, particularly after aging. The adhesive layer preferably comprises an interpenetrating network of the reaction product of a polyacrylate component and a polymerizable monomer and the adhesive layer has an elastic modulus ranging from 100 to 2000 MPa at 25&#xb0; C.

Optical stack comprising adhesive

Articles are described such as optical films and optical film stacks. The articles include a substrateand a primer layerdisposed on the substrate wherein the primer layer comprises a polyacrylate and a nitrogen-containing polymer. The article further includes an adhesive layerdisposed onto the primer layer wherein the adhesive layer comprises a polyacrylate component. In some embodiments, the adhesive is further bonded to a second substrateor a release liner.

Articles and methods comprising polyacrylate primer with nitrogen-containing polymer

A multilayer optical film () has a packet of microlayers that selectively reflect light by constructive or destructive interference to provide a first reflective characteristic. At least some of the microlayers are birefringent. A stabilizing layer attaches to and covers the microlayer packet proximate an outer exposed surface of the film Heating elements () can physically contact the film to deliver heat to the packet through the stabilizing layer by thermal conduction, at altered regions of the film, such that the first reflective characteristic changes to an altered reflective characteristic in the altered regions to pattern the film The stabilizing layer provides sufficient heat conduction to allow heat from the heating elements to change (e.g. reduce) the birefringence of the birefringent microlayers disposed near the outer exposed surface in the altered regions, while providing sufficient mechanical support to avoid substantial layer distortion of the microlayers near the outer exposed surface in the altered regions.

An article is described comprising a substrate, a pressure sensitive polyacrylate primer layer disposed on the substrate, and an adhesive layer disposed onto the primer layer; wherein the adhesive layer comprises a polyacrylate component. The adhesive layer is typically further bonded to a second substrate or a release liner. In some embodiments, at least one substrate further comprises a microstructured surface layer and the primer layer is bonded to the microstructured surface layer. In other embodiments, the adhesive layer is further bonded to a (e.g. post) structure. In some embodiments, the articles are optical films or optical film stacks. Methods of making an (e.g. adhesive coated) article are also described.

Article comprising polyacrylate pressure sensitive primer and adhesive comprising polyacrylate component

An optical article includes an optical element and a low refractive index layer disposed on the optical element. The low refractive index layer having an effective refractive index of 1.3 or less and including a binder, a plurality of metal oxide particles dispersed in the binder and a plurality of interconnected voids. The low refractive index layer has a haze value of at least 30%.

Optically diffuse low refractive index element

Tags are made from optical films to provide a pattern that is inconspicuous to ordinary observers, but that is detectable by a camera or other imaging device. The pattern is provided by first and second portions of a patterned layer, the first portions selectively filtering at least a portion of blue visible light from other visible light wavelengths. Filtering in the portion of the blue region helps make the pattern inconspicuous. The tags may also include an indicia layer configured to mark a location of the pattern, and a contrast enhancing layer disposed behind the patterned layer and configured to enhance a contrast of the pattern. In some cases, the first portions of the patterned layer may filter optical wavelengths other than blue, such as near-infrared light. The pattern may comprise machine-readable information, e.g., a linear bar code or a 2-D bar code. Associated methods and systems are also disclosed.

Inconspicuous optical tags and methods therefor

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Minneapolis, MN, United States of America

William F Edmonds