LIGHT MANAGEMENT ASSEMBLY

• US 20090034268A1
• Filed: 08/01/2007
• Published: 02/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2007
• Status: Active Application

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: DiZio, James P., Nelson, Maureen C., Yamamuro, Masaki, Gehisen, Mark D., Fabick, Ryan T., Etzkorn, Stephen J., Hanley, Kenneth J.
• Application Number:
  US11/832,066
• Publication Number:
  US 20090034268A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/317
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133507 Films for enhancing the luminance
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133604 with lamps
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133606 including a specially adapted diffusing, scattering or light controlling members

Abstract

The present application describes light management assemblies comprising a light transmissive plate, optical film, and a cover film which covers at least one major surface of the light transmissive plate. Optical film(s) may be adjacent or attached to the outside of the cover film or contained within the cover film between the light transmissive plate and the cover film. The present application also describes a method of making a liquid crystal display device using the light management assemblies described in this application.

Claims

1. A light management assembly comprising:

a light-transmissive plate having a light input surface and a light output surface;

a cover film having inside and outside surfaces covering at least one of the light input or light output surfaces of the light-transmissive plate; and

a first optical film adjacent or attached to the outside surface of the cover film.

2. The light management assembly of claim 1 wherein the light transmissive plate has a light output surface that is structured.

3. The light management assembly of claim 2 wherein the structured surface is a matte surface.

4. The light management assembly of claim 1 wherein the cover film encapsulates the light-transmissive plate.

5. The light management assembly of claim 1 wherein the optical film is a reflective polarizer or an absorbing polarizer.

6. The light management assembly of claim 1 wherein the cover film comprises polyolefin, polyester, polycarbonate, acrylic, or polystyrene.

7. The light management assembly of claim 6 wherein the cover film is heat-shrinkable.

8. The light management assembly of claim 1 further comprising a second optical film between the light-transmissive plate and the cover film.

9. The light management assembly of claim 8 wherein the second optical film is between a light output surface of the light-transmissive plate and a light input surface of the cover film.

10. The light management assembly of claim 1 wherein the optical film is adjacent to the outside surface of the cover film that is also a light input surface.

11. The light management assembly of claim 1 further comprising a second cover film covering at least an outside surface of the first optical film.

12. The light management assembly of claim 11 wherein the second cover film encapsulates the first optical film and the first cover film.

13. The light management assembly of claim 4 wherein the cover film covers the input surface of the light-transmissive plate and further comprising a second optical film adjacent or attached to the outside surface of the cover film that covers the input surface of the light transmissive plate.

14. A light management assembly comprising:

a light-transmissive plate having a light input surface and a light output surface;

a cover film covering at least one of the light input or light output surfaces of the light-transmissive plate; and

a first optical film between the cover film and the light-transmissive plate, wherein the light-transmissive plate and the optical film each have a major facing surface, and wherein at least one of the major facing surfaces of the light-transmissive plate or of the optical film, is a structured surface.

15. The light management assembly of claim 14 wherein the light output surface of the light-transmissive plate is structured.

16. The light management assembly of claim 14 wherein the cover film encapsulates the light-transmissive plate and the optical film.

17. The light management assembly of claim 14 wherein the cover film is heat-shrinkable.

18. The light management assembly of claim 14 wherein the first optical film is a reflective polarizer, turning film, or a brightness enhancement layer.

19. The light management assembly of claim 14 wherein light-transmissive plate is a diffuser plate, a clear plate, or a lightguide plate.

20. The light management assembly of claim 14 further comprising a second optical film between the first optical film and the light-transmissive plate.

21. The light management assembly of claim 14 further comprising a second optical film on an outside surface of the cover film.

22. The light management assembly of claim 14 wherein the first optical film is between the cover film and the input surface of the light-transmissive plate and further comprising a second optical film between the output surface of the light-transmissive plate and the cover film.

23. The light management assembly of claim 14 further comprising a second cover film encapsulating the cover film.

24. A light management assembly comprising:

a light-transmissive plate having a light input surface and a light output surface;

a cover film having inside and outside surfaces covering at least one of the light input or light output surfaces of the light-transmissive plate;

a window in the cover film adjacent either the light input or light output surface of the light-transmissive plate and defining a cover film frame and an opening; and

a first optical film positioned between the cover film frame and the light-transmissive plate.

25. The light management assembly of claim 24 wherein the opening defines a viewing area.

26. The light management assembly of claim 24 wherein the optical film is between the cover film frame and the output surface of the light-transmissive plate.

27. A method of making a liquid crystal display device comprising:

providing a light management assembly comprising;

a light-transmissive plate having a light input surface and a light output surface;

a cover film having covering at least one major surface of the light-transmissive plate; and

a first optical film between the cover film and the light-transmissive plate; and

combining the light management assembly with at least a liquid crystal panel and a backlight to form the liquid crystal display device.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein the light management assembly is assembled at a location and transported to another location to be combined with at least a liquid crystal panel and a backlight.

29. A method of making a liquid crystal display device comprising:

providing a light management assembly comprising;

a light-transmissive plate having a light input surface and a light output surface;

a cover film having inside and outside surfaces covering at least one major surface of the light-transmissive plate; and

an optical film adjacent to the outside surface of the cover film; and

combining the light management assembly with at least a liquid crystal panel and a backlight to form the liquid crystal display device.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein the light management assembly is assembled at a location and transported to another location to be combined with at least a liquid crystal panel and a backlight.