VISIBLE LIGHT-TRANSMISSIVE IR FILTER WITH DISTORTED PORTIONS

• US 20070258133A1
• Filed: 05/02/2006
• Published: 11/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Weber, Michael, Bellanca, Michelle, Ouderkirk, Andrew, Tran, Hung
• Granted Patent: US 7,636,193 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/359
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/287 comprising at least one layer of organic material

Abstract

The present application discloses filters and methods of making filters. In one aspect, a filter comprises a multilayer optical film (MOF) having a first reflection band, the MOF including distorted portions, the distorted portions having a second reflection band different from the first reflection band, a transparent outer layer disposed on a first side of the MOF, and an IR blocking material residing on the MOF and between the transparent outer layer and the MOF, wherein the IR blocking material is selectively disposed in the distorted portions. In another aspect, a method of producing a filter comprises the steps of providing a multilayer optical film (MOF) having a first reflection band, distorting portions of the MOF, the distorted portions having a second reflection band, different from the first reflection band, and transferring a layer of IR blocking material to the distorted portions of the MOF.

Claims

1. A filter, comprising:

a multilayer optical film (MOF) having a first reflection band, the MOF including distorted portions, the distorted portions having a second reflection band different from the first reflection band;

a transparent outer layer disposed on a first side of the MOF; and

an IR blocking material residing on the MOF and between the transparent outer layer and the MOF, wherein the IR blocking material is selectively disposed in the distorted portions.

2. The filter of claim 1, wherein the filter transmits visible light.

3. The filter of claim 1, wherein the filter substantially blocks infrared light.

4. The filter of claim 1, wherein the first reflection band is an infrared reflection band.

5. The filter of claim 1, wherein the first reflection band is one of a plurality of reflection bands.

6. The filter of claim 1, wherein the transparent outer layer consists essentially of PVC.

7. The filter of claim 1, further comprising a second outer layer disposed on a second side of the MOF opposite from the first side.

8. The filter of claim 7, wherein the second outer layers is opaque.

9. The filter of claim 7, wherein the second outer layer consists essentially of PVC.

10. The filter of claim 7, wherein the filter is flat in the distorted portions.

11. A visible light transmissive card comprising the filter of claim 1.

12. A method of producing a filter, comprising the steps of:

providing a multilayer optical film (MOF) having a first reflection band;

distorting portions of the MOF, the distorted portions having a second reflection band, different from the first reflection band; and

transferring a layer of IR blocking material to the distorted portions of the MOF.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the transferring step includes transferring opaque ink to the distorted portions of the MOF.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the adding transferring includes printing digitally opaque material on the distorted portions of the MOF.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the transferring step includes painting digitally opaque material on the distorted portions of the MOF.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising a step of laminating the MOF with the layer of IR blocking material in the distorted portions between two outer plastic layers.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the distorting step includes embossing the MOF.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein the distorting step includes scribing the MOF.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein the distorting step includes partial slitting of the MOF.