Structured optical film with interspersed pyramidal structures

• US 20070024994A1
• Filed: 07/29/2005
• Published: 02/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Ko, Byung-Soo, Gardiner, Mark, Whitney, Leland, Chae, Dongwon
• Application Number:
  US11/193,052
• Publication Number:
  US 20070024994A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/831
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/045 Prism arrays
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0053 Prismatic sheet or layer; Brightness enhancement element, sheet or layer
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0056 for producing polarisation effects, e.g. by a surface with polarizing properties or by an additional polarizing elements

Abstract

Optical films are disclosed that include a substantially transparent body having a first surface defined by a substrate portion and a structured surface disposed over the substrate portion opposite to the first surface. The structured surface includes a plurality of smaller pyramidal structures and a plurality of larger pyramidal structures interspersed with the plurality of smaller pyramidal structures. Each pyramidal structure has a base including at least two first sides disposed opposite to each other and at least two second sides disposed opposite to each other. Also disclosed are optical devices including such optical films.

Claims

1. An optical film, comprising:

a substantially transparent body having a first surface defined by a substrate portion and a structured surface disposed over the substrate portion opposite to the first surface and comprising a plurality of smaller pyramidal structures and a plurality of larger pyramidal structures interspersed with the plurality of smaller pyramidal structures, each pyramidal structure having a base including at least two first sides disposed opposite to each other and at least two second sides disposed opposite to each other.

2. The optical film according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of smaller pyramidal structures are arranged into a plurality of first rows and the plurality of larger pyramidal structures are arranged into a plurality of second rows, and wherein the first rows are interspersed with the second rows.

3. The optical film according to claim 2, wherein at least two first rows are disposed between each two of the second rows.

4. The optical film according to claim 1, wherein each larger pyramidal structure has a peak defined by a first pair of facets and the first sides of the base are defined by a second pair of facets and wherein the first pair of facets has a first included angle and the second pair of facets has a second included angle, the first included angle being different than the second included angle.

5. The optical film according to claim 1, wherein the substrate portion has an additional optical characteristic different from an optical characteristic of the structured surface.

6. The optical film according to claim 1, wherein the substrate portion comprises at least one of:

a polarizer, a diffuser, a brightness enhancing film, and a turning film.

7. The optical film according to claim 1, wherein the bases of larger pyramidal structures have a generally square shape.

8. The optical film according to claim 1, wherein each of the pluralities of pyramidal structures are further characterized by a peak angle that lies within a range of about 30 degrees to about 120 degrees.

9. The optical film according to claim 1, wherein each larger pyramidal structure has a rounded peak.

10. The optical film of claim 1, wherein the first and second sides of different pyramidal structures are substantially parallel to each other.

11. An optical device comprising a light source and the optical film of claim 1 disposed so that the structured surface faces away from the light source.

12. The optical device according to claim 11, further comprising a light gating device disposed to receive light transmitted through the optical film.

13. An optical film, comprising:

a substantially transparent body having a first surface defined by a substrate portion and a structured surface disposed over the substrate portion opposite to the first surface and comprising a plurality of smaller pyramidal structures and a plurality of larger pyramidal structures interspersed with the plurality of smaller pyramidal structures, each pyramidal structure having a base including at least two first sides disposed opposite to each other and at least two second sides disposed opposite to each other,

wherein in the plurality of the larger pyramidal structures, the first sides are longer than the second sides.

14. The optical film of claim 13, wherein in the plurality of the smaller pyramidal structures, the first sides are longer than the second sides.

15. The optical film of claim 13, wherein the first and second sides of different pyramidal structures are substantially parallel to each other.

17. An optical device comprising a light source and the optical film of claim 13 disposed so that the structured surface faces away from the light source.

16. The optical film according to claim 16, further including a substrate portion that comprises at least one of:

a polarizer, a diffuser, a brightness enhancing film, and a turning film.

18. An optical film, comprising:

a substantially transparent body having a first surface defined by a substrate portion and a structured surface disposed over the substrate portion opposite to the first surface and comprising a plurality of pyramidal structures, each pyramidal structure having a peak and a base, the peak defined by a first pair of facets and the base including at least two first sides disposed opposite to each other defined by a second pair of facets and at least two second sides disposed opposite to each other,

wherein the first pair of prism facets has a first included angle and the second pair of prism facets has a second included angle, and wherein the first included angle is different than the second included angle.

19. The optical film of claim 18, wherein the first included angle is greater than 90°

and the second included angle is about 90°

.

20. The optical film of claim 18, wherein the peak is rounded.

21. The optical film according to claim 18, further including a substrate portion that comprises at least one of:

a polarizer, a diffuser, a brightness enhancing film, and a turning film.

22. An optical device comprising a light source and the optical film of claim 18 disposed so that the structured surface faces away from the light source.