Contrast enhancement films for direct-view displays and fabrication methods therefor

• US 20070127098A1
• Filed: 02/28/2006
• Published: 06/07/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bright View Technologies, Inc. (Tredegar Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Bright View Technologies, Inc. (Tredegar Corporation)
• Inventors: Wood, Robert
• Granted Patent: US 7,502,169 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/19
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 3/0031 Replication or moulding, e.g. hot embossing, UV-casting, injection moulding
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 3/005 arranged along a single direction only, e.g. lenticular sheets G02B3/0043 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 3/0068 arranged in a single integral body or plate, e.g. laminates or hybrid structures with other optical elements G02B5/1885, G02B17/002, G02B30/27 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/005 Diaphragms for cameras G03B9/02
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133334 Electromagnetic shields
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133507 Films for enhancing the luminance
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2201/08 light absorbing layer
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2203/02 reflective
• CPC Class Codes: H01J 11/10 AC-PDPs with at least one main electrode being out of contact with the plasma
• CPC Class Codes: H01J 11/44 Optical arrangements or shielding arrangements, e.g. filters, black matrices, light reflecting means or electromagnetic shielding means
• CPC Class Codes: H01J 2211/444 Means for improving contrast or colour purity, e.g. black matrix or light shielding means
• CPC Class Codes: H01J 2211/446 Electromagnetic shielding means; Antistatic means
• CPC Class Codes: H01J 2229/8913 Anti-reflection, anti-glare, viewing angle and contrast improving treatments or devices
• CPC Class Codes: H01J 2329/892 Anti-reflection, anti-glare, viewing angle and contrast improving means
• CPC Class Codes: H01J 2329/897 Lenses

Abstract

Contrast enhancement films for a direct-view display include a substrate having first and second opposing sides, an array of optical microstructures on the first side, and an optically blocking film including an array of apertures on the second side. The contrast enhancement film is configured to mount between a direct-view display panel and an outer panel of the direct-view display.

Claims

1. A contrast enhancement film for a direct-view display having a direct-view display panel and an outer panel that provides an outer surface for the direct-view display, the contrast enhancement film comprising:

a substrate having first and second opposing sides;

an array of optical microstructures on the first side of the substrate; and

an optically blocking film including an array of apertures therein on the second side of the substrate, wherein the array of apertures are in registry with the array of optical microstructures;

the contrast enhancement film being configured to mount between the direct-view display panel and the outer panel.

2. A contrast enhancement film according to claim 1 wherein the array of optical microstructures comprises an array of horizontally extending lenticular microlenses.

3. A contrast enhancement film according to claim 1 wherein the array of optical microstructures defines a nonplanar surface, the contrast enhancement film further comprising:

a cladding layer on the nonplanar surface of the optical microstructures, the cladding layer including a planar surface opposite the nonplanar surface of the optical microstructures.

4. A contrast enhancement film according to claim 3 wherein the cladding layer has different index of refraction than the optical microstructures.

5. A contrast enhancement film according to claim 1 wherein the optically blocking film comprises a black layer including the array of apertures therein.

6. A contrast enhancement film according to claim 5 wherein the optically blocking film further comprises a reflective layer including the array of apertures therein, on the black layer opposite the substrate.

7. A contrast enhancement film according to claim 1 wherein the array of optical microstructures is an array of first optical microstructures and wherein the contrast enhancement film further comprises a second array of optical microstructures on the optically blocking film, opposite the array of first optical microstructures.

8. A contrast enhancement film according to claim 1 further comprising:

a bonding substrate on the array of optical microstructures opposite the substrate; and

an adhesive layer on the bonding substrate that is configured to mount the contrast enhancement film between the direct-view display panel and the outer panel.

9. A contrast enhancement film according to claim 3 further comprising:

a bonding substrate on the cladding layer opposite the substrate; and

an adhesive layer on the bonding substrate that is configured to mount the contrast enhancement film between the direct-view display panel and the outer panel.

10. A contrast enhancement film according to claim 1 wherein the array of optical microstructures includes an adhesive surface that is configured to mount the contrast enhancement film between the direct-view display panel and the outer panel.

11. A contrast enhancement film according to claim 6 wherein the reflective layer comprises conductive material that is configured to suppress electromagnetic interference that is emitted by the direct-view display panel.

12. A contrast enhancement film according to claim 6 wherein the reflective layer comprises conductive material that is configured to carry electric signals that are used to operate the direct-view display panel.

13. A contrast enhancement film according to claim 1 wherein the direct-view display panel is a plasma, liquid crystal or organic light emitting diode display panel.

14. A contrast enhancement film according to claim 1 wherein the direct-view display panel is configured to emit Lambertian optical radiation and wherein the contrast enhancement film is configured to convert the Lambertian optical radiation to at least partially collimated radiation.

15. A contrast enhancement film according to claim 1 in combination with the direct-view display panel and the outer panel that provides an outer surface for the direct-view display, wherein the contrast enhancement film is mounted between the direct-view display panel and the outer panel.

16. A contrast enhancement film according to claim 6 wherein the direct-view display panel includes a reflective surface.

17. A contrast enhancement film for a direct-view display having a direct-view display panel and an outer panel that provides an outer surface for the direct-view display, the contrast enhancement film comprising:

a substrate having first and second opposing sides;

an array of optical microstructures on the first side of the substrate to define a nonplanar surface;

a black layer including an array of apertures therein on the second side of the substrate;

a reflective layer including the array of apertures therein, on the black layer opposite the substrate;

a cladding layer on the nonplanar surface of the optical microstructures, the cladding layer including a planar surface opposite the nonplanar surface of the optical microstructures; and

an adhesive layer on the reflective layer that is configured to mount the contrast enhancement film on the direct-view display panel between the direct-view display panel and the outer panel.

18. A contrast enhancement film according to claim 17 wherein the array of optical microstructures comprises an array of horizontally extending lenticular microlenses.

19. A contrast enhancement film according to claim 17 wherein the cladding layer has different index of refraction than the optical microstructures.

20. A contrast enhancement film according to claim 17 wherein the reflective layer comprises conductive material that is configured to suppress electromagnetic interference that is emitted by the direct-view display panel.

21. A contrast enhancement film according to claim 17 wherein the reflective layer comprises conductive material that is configured to carry electric signals that are used to operate the direct-view display panel.

22. A contrast enhancement film according to claim 17 wherein the direct-view display panel is a plasma, liquid crystal or organic light emitting diode display panel.

23. A contrast enhancement film according to claim 17 wherein the direct-view display panel is configured to emit Lambertian optical radiation and wherein the contrast enhancement film is configured to convert the Lambertian optical radiation to at least partially collimated radiation.

24. A contrast enhancement film according to claim 17 in combination with the direct-view display panel and the outer panel that provides an outer surface for the direct-view display, wherein the adhesive layer is adhesively attached to the direct-view display panel.

25. A contrast enhancement film according to claim 17 wherein the direct-view display panel includes a reflective surface.

26. A contrast enhancement film for a direct-view display having a direct-view display panel and an outer panel that provides an outer surface for the direct-view display, the contrast enhancement film comprising:

a substrate having first and second opposing sides;

a black layer including an array of apertures therein on the second side of the substrate;

a reflective layer including the array of apertures therein, on the black layer opposite the substrate; and

an adhesive layer on the reflective layer that is configured to mount the contrast enhancement film between the direct-view display panel and the outer panel.

27. A contrast enhancement film according to claim 26 wherein the reflective layer comprises conductive material that is configured to suppress radio frequency interference that is emitted by the direct-view display panel.

28. A contrast enhancement film according to claim 26 wherein the reflective layer comprises conductive material that is configured to carry electric signals that are used to operate the direct-view display panel.

29. A contrast enhancement film according to claim 26 wherein the direct-view display panel is a plasma, liquid crystal or organic light emitting diode display panel.

30. A contrast enhancement film according to claim 26 wherein the direct-view display panel includes a reflective surface.

31. A contrast enhancement film according to claim 26 in combination with the direct-view display panel and the outer panel that provides an outer surface for the direct-view display, wherein the adhesive layer is adhesively attached to the direct-view display panel.

32. A contrast enhancement method for a direct-view display having a direct-view display panel and an outer panel that provides an outer surface for the direct-view display, the contrast enhancement method comprising:

directly passing a first portion of light that is emitted from the direct-view display panel through apertures in a reflective layer and apertures in a black layer;

reflecting a second portion of light that is emitted from the direct-view display panel from the reflective layer back to the direct-view display panel one or more times and then through the apertures in the reflective layer and the apertures in the black layer; and

passing the first and second portions of light that emerge from the apertures in the black layer through an array of optical microstructures and through the outer panel.

33. A contrast enhancement method according to claim 32 wherein the direct-view display panel includes a reflective surface.

34. A method of fabricating a contrast enhancement film for a direct-view display having a direct-view display panel and an outer panel that provides an outer surface for the direct-view display, the method comprising:

forming an array of optical microstructures on a first side of a substrate;

forming an optically blocking film on a second side of the substrate opposite the first side;

impinging radiation through the array of optical microstructures and through the substrate onto the optically blocking film such that the radiation that impinges on the optically blocking film forms apertures in the optical blocking film; and

placing an adhesive layer on the substrate that is configured to mount the contrast enhancement film between the direct-view display panel and the outer panel.