Anti-reflective thin film constructions

• US 20050233123A1
• Filed: 06/02/2005
• Published: 10/20/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/1998
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Weber, Michael F., Ouderkirk, Andrew J.
• Application Number:
  US11/143,221
• Publication Number:
  US 20050233123A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 428/215
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 1/111 using layers comprising organic materials
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24942 including components having same physical characteristic in differing degree
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2495 Thickness [relative or absolute]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24967 Absolute thicknesses specified
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/269 including synthetic resin or polymer layer or component
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/3154 Of fluorinated addition polymer from unsaturated monomers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31663 As siloxane, silicone or silane
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31786 Of polyester [e.g., alkyd, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31797 Next to addition polymer from unsaturated monomers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31848 Next to cellulosic

Abstract

A broadband anti-reflective thin film article is disclosed. The articles includes a base substrate having a substrate surface and a thin film polymeric multi-layer anti-reflectivity stack having a plurality of polymer layers. Each polymer layer having a thickness no greater than 1 micrometer. The substrate surface has a broadband reflectivity value. The thin film polymeric multi-layer anti-reflectivity stack is optically coupled to the substrate surface. The thin film polymeric multi-layer anti-reflectivity stack reduces the broadband reflectivity of the substrate surface by a factor of at least 2 at normal angles of incidence.

Claims

1. A broadband anti-reflective article comprising;

a base substrate having a substrate surface, the substrate surface having a broadband reflectivity value;

a thin film polymeric multi-layer anti-reflectivity stack comprising a plurality of polymer layers, each of the polymer layers having a thickness no greater than about 1 micrometer, the thin film polymeric multi-layer anti-reflectivity stack is optically coupled to the substrate surface;

wherein, the thin film polymeric multi-layer anti-reflectivity stack reduces the broadband reflectivity of the substrate surface by a factor of at least 2 at normal angles of incidence.

2. An article according to claim 1 wherein the thin film polymeric multi-layer anti-reflectivity stack reduces visible light broadband spectrum reflectivity of the substrate surface by a factor of at least 2 at normal angles of incidence.

3. An article according to claim 1 wherein the thin film polymeric multi-layer anti-reflectivity stack reduces a broadband light spectrum from 420 nm to 750 nm reflectivity of the substrate surface by a factor of at least 2 at normal angles of incidence.

4. An article according to claim 1 wherein the base has an index of refraction of about 1.5.

5. An article according to claim 1 wherein the plurality of polymer layers comprises a low index polymer layer selected from the group consisting of silicone polymers and fluoropolymers, and combinations thereof.

6. An article according to claim 1 where the plurality of polymer layers comprises a high index polymer layer selected from the group consisting of polyethylene naphthalate, polyethylene terephthalate, and copolymers thereof.

7. An article according to claim 1 wherein the plurality of polymer layers comprises a low index polymer layer selected from the group consisting of silicone polymers and fluoropolymers, and combinations thereof and the plurality of polymer layers comprises a high index polymer layer selected from the group consisting of polyethylene naphthalate, polyethylene terephthalate, and copolymers thereof.

8. An article according to claim 1 wherein each polymer layer has an optical thickness in a range from 1/16 to 1 wavelength.

9. An article according to claim 1 wherein each polymer layer has a thickness in a range from 10 to 250 nm.

10. A broadband anti-reflective article comprising;

a base substrate having a substrate surface, the substrate surface having a broadband reflectivity value measured in air of 6% or greater, at normal angles of incidence;

a thin film polymeric multi-layer anti-reflectivity stack comprising a plurality of polymer layers, each of said polymer layers having a thickness no greater than about 1 micrometer, the thin film polymeric multi-layer anti-reflectivity stack optically coupled to the substrate surface;

wherein, the thin film polymeric multi-layer anti-reflectivity stack reduces the broadband reflectivity value measured in air to a value of less than 6%, at normal angles of incidence.

11. An article according to claim 10 wherein the thin film polymeric multi-layer anti-reflectivity stack reduces visible light broadband spectrum reflectivity value measured in air to a value of less than 3%, at normal angles of incidence.

12. An article according to claim 10 wherein the thin film polymeric multi-layer anti-reflectivity stack reduces a broadband light spectrum from 420 nm to 750 nm reflectivity value measured in air to a value of less than 3%, at normal angles of incidence.

13. An article according to claim 10 wherein the thin film polymeric multi-layer anti-reflectivity stack reduces a broadband light spectrum from 420 nm to 750 nm reflectivity value measured in air to a value of less than 1%, at normal angles of incidence.

14. An article according to claim 10 wherein the base has an index of refraction of about 1.5.

15. An article according to claim 10 wherein the plurality of polymer layers comprises a low index polymer layer selected from the group consisting of silicone polymers and fluoropolymers, and combinations thereof.

16. An article according to claim 10 where the plurality of polymer layers comprises a high index polymer layer selected from the group consisting of polyethylene naphthalate, polyethylene terephthalate, and copolymers thereof.

17. An article according to claim 10 wherein the plurality of polymer layers comprises a low index polymer layer selected from the group consisting of silicone polymers and fluoropolymers, and combinations thereof and the plurality of polymer layers comprises a high index polymer layer selected from the group consisting of polyethylene naphthalate, polyethylene terephthalate, and copolymers thereof.

18. An article according to claim 10 wherein each polymer layer has an optical thickness in a range from 1/16 to 1 wavelength.

19. An article according to claim 10 wherein each polymer layer has a thickness in a range from 10 to 250 nm.