Integrated sub-assembly having a light collimating or transflecting device

• US 20070133097A1
• Filed: 09/29/2006
• Published: 06/14/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rambus Delaware LLC (Rambus Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Brilliant Film, LLC
• Inventors: Lubart, Neil, Lash, Thomas, Wojciechowski, Timothy
• Granted Patent: US 7,595,934 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/641
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 17/002 Arrays of reflective systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0972 Prisms prisms per se G02B5/04
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0983 being curved
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/30 Collimators
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133524 Light-guides, e.g. fibre-optic bundles, louvered or jalousie light-guides
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133555 Transflectors
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133607 the light controlling member including light directing or refracting elements, e.g. prisms or lenses

Abstract

Integrated sub-assemblies for light management are disclosed herein. The integrated sub-assemblies include a plurality of films and/or elements, including a light collimating device and/or a transflecting device. At least two of the elements are coupled such that there is no air layer between the coupled elements.

Claims

1. An integrated sub-assembly comprising:

a light collimating device having a first side and a second side bounding a light containing region;

an element having a first side and a second side, configured as a reflective polarizer, an absorptive polarizer, a transflector, or a light diffusing film, wherein

the light collimating device is arranged with the element such that the first side of the light collimating device faces the first side of the element and there is no air layer between the light collimating device and the element.

2. The integrated sub-assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

a material layer having a first and second side, and having a lower index of refraction than the light containing region of the light collimating device, wherein the first side of the light collimating device is coupled to the first side of the material layer and the first side of the element is coupled to the second side of the material layer.

3. The integrated sub-assembly of claim 2, wherein the material layer comprises a polymer, glass, a pressure sensitive adhesive, or a structural adhesive.

4. The integrated sub-assembly of claim 2, wherein the index of refraction of the material layer is lower than an index of refraction of the light containing region of the collimating device by at least 0.05.

5. The integrated sub-assembly of claim 2, wherein the index of refraction of the material layer is lower than an index of refraction of the light containing region of the collimating device by at least 0.15.

6. The integrated sub-assembly of claim 1, wherein the light collimating device is a single element and light management is controlled by an air boundary internal to the collimating device, or an internal polymer with an index of refraction lower than an index of refraction of the light containing region.

7. The integrated sub-assembly of claim 6, further comprising:

a material layer having a first and second side, wherein the first side of the light collimating device is coupled to the first side of the material layer and the first side of the element is coupled to the second side of the material layer.

8. The integrated sub-assembly of claim 7, wherein the material layer has an index of refraction equal to or greater than an index of refraction of the light containing region of the light collimating device

9. The integrated sub-assembly of claim 7, wherein the material layer is comprises a polymer, glass, a pressure sensitive adhesive, or a structural adhesive.

10. The integrated sub-assembly of claim 1, wherein the light collimating device includes at least a first light collimator having a first and second side and having a light containing region, and second light collimator having a first and second side and having a light containing region, wherein the first side of the first light collimator is associated with the first side of the second light collimator such that there is no air layer between the first side of the first light collimator and the first side of the second light collimator.

11. The integrated sub-assembly of claim 10, wherein the first light collimator includes an internal air boundary or an internal polymer with an index of refraction lower than an index of refraction of the light containing region of the first light collimator, and the second light collimator includes an internal air boundary or an internal polymer with an index of refraction lower than an index of refraction of the light containing region of the second light collimator.

12. The integrated sub-assembly of claim 11, further comprising:

a material layer having a first and second side, wherein the first side of the first light collimator is coupled to the first side of the material layer and the first side of the second light collimator is coupled to the second side of the material layer.

13. The integrated sub-assembly of claim 12, wherein the material layer has an index of refraction equal to or greater than the index of refraction of the light containing region of the first light collimator.

14. The integrated sub-assembly of claim 12, wherein the material layer is composed of a polymer, glass, a pressure sensitive adhesive, or a structural adhesive.

15. The integrated sub-assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

a backlight associated with the light collimating device and the element such that there are no air layers between the light collimating device, the element, and the backlight.

16. The integrated sub-assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

a liquid crystal suspension associated with the light collimating device and the element such that there are no air layers between the light collimating device, the element, and the liquid crystal suspension.

17. The integrated sub-assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

a second element having a first and second side, wherein the second element is configured as a reflective polarizer, an absorptive polarizer, a transflector, or a light diffusing film, and the second element is associated with the light collimating device and the element such that there are no air layers between any of the light collimating device, the element, and the second element.

18. The integrated sub-assembly of claim 17, wherein the first side of the element is directly laminated to the first side of the light collimating device and the first side of the second element is directly laminated to the second side of the element.

19. The integrated sub-assembly of claim 17, wherein the first side of the element is directly laminated to the first side of the light collimating device and the first side of the second element is directly laminated to the second side of the light collimating device.

20. The integrated sub-assembly of claim 17, further comprising:

a first material layer having a first side and a second side, and a second material layer having a first side and a second side, wherein the first side of the light collimating device is coupled to the first side of the material layer, the first side of the element is coupled to the second side of the first material layer, the second side of the element is coupled to the first side of the second material layer, and the first side of the second element is coupled to the second side of the second material layer.

21. The integrated sub-assembly of claim 17, further comprising:

a first material layer having a first side and a second side, and a second material layer having a first side and a second side, wherein the first side of the element is coupled to the first side of the first material layer, the first side of the light collimating device is coupled to the second side of the first material layer, the second side of the light collimating device is coupled to the first side of the second material layer, and the first side of the second element is coupled to the second side of the second material layer.

22. The integrated sub-assembly of claim 21, wherein the material layer is composed of a polymer, glass, a pressure sensitive adhesive, or a structural adhesive.

23. The integrated sub-assembly of claim 21, wherein the material layer has an index of refraction that is lower than the index of refraction of each of the light collimating device, the element, and the second element.

24. An assembly comprising:

at least two elements, including a first element having a first side and a second side and a second element having a first side and a second side, wherein the first element is a transflector, the second element is a reflective polarizer, an absorptive polarizer, backlight, a liquid crystal suspension, or a light diffusing film, and

the transflector is associated with the second element such that the first side of the transflector faces the first side of the second element and there is no air layer between the transflector and the second element.

25. The assembly of claim 24, further comprising:

a material layer having a first and second side, wherein the first side of the transflector is coupled to the first side of the material layer and the first side of the second element is coupled to the second side of the material layer.

26. The assembly of claim 25, wherein the material layer is one of a polymer, glass, a pressure sensitive adhesive, or a structural adhesive.

27. The assembly of claim 25, wherein the material layer has a lower index of refraction relative to each of the transflector and the second element.

28. A method of making an assembly comprising:

providing a first optical element having an external air boundary that controls light management;

providing a second optical element, selected from the group of a reflective polarizer, an absorptive polarizer, a transflector, a light diffusing film, a backlight, and a liquid crystal suspension; and

associating the first optical element with the second optical element such that the external air boundary is eliminated at a side where the first optical element is associated with the second optical element.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the step of associating the first optical element with the second optical element includes placing the first optical element in direct contact with one side of a material layer, and placing the second optical element in direct contact with another side of the material layer.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the material layer is one of a polymer layer, a glass layer, a pressure sensitive adhesive, or a structural adhesive.

31. The method of claim 28, wherein the step of associating the first optical element with the second optical element includes directly laminating the first optical element to the second optical element.

32. The method of claim 28, wherein the step of associating the first optical element with the second optical element includes coupling the first optical element to the second optical element.

33. The method of claim 28, further comprising:

providing at least one additional optical element; and

associating the at least one additional optical element with the first optical element and the second optical element such that no air layers exist between the elements.