Light control films and method of making
First Claim
1. A film for controlling the transmission of radiation between surfaces thereof comprising a continuous, solid matrix and disposed in said matrix a set of linear, side-by-side louvers composed of agglomerates of particles of a magnetically-alignable material which differs in permeability relative to the matrix material with respect to at least some selected radiation, wherein said louvers are aligned at a essentially a common angle to the surface of said film and are randomly disposed between said surfaces at a spacing between said louvers of less than 50 microns;
- and wherein, when radiation impinges on one of said surfaces of said film, said radiation is transmitted through said film so that the angle of maximum transmission through said film is essentially parallel to said common angle of alignment of said louvers and the transmission of radiation is reduced at angles divergent from said common angle.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Radiation transmission control films comprising closely spaced agglomerates of small particles, e.g. in linear, side-by-side louvers, in a solid matrix where the agglomerates exhibit different radiation permeability than the matrix. Methods of making such films include magnetically aligning particles into louvers in an uncured matrix then curing the matrix to provide louvered film. Such films are useful to control the transmission of light, other electromagnetic radiation and particle radiation.
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Citations
42 Claims
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1. A film for controlling the transmission of radiation between surfaces thereof comprising a continuous, solid matrix and disposed in said matrix a set of linear, side-by-side louvers composed of agglomerates of particles of a magnetically-alignable material which differs in permeability relative to the matrix material with respect to at least some selected radiation, wherein said louvers are aligned at a essentially a common angle to the surface of said film and are randomly disposed between said surfaces at a spacing between said louvers of less than 50 microns;
- and wherein, when radiation impinges on one of said surfaces of said film, said radiation is transmitted through said film so that the angle of maximum transmission through said film is essentially parallel to said common angle of alignment of said louvers and the transmission of radiation is reduced at angles divergent from said common angle.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
- 15. A process of preparing radiation control materials which comprises subjecting a viscous, film matrix material containing a small concentration of magnetically alignable particles, to a magnetic field to align the particles into agglomerates in the shape of walls of appreciable thickness and curing the matrix material to fix the agglomerates, wherein the film is subjected to relative movement with respect to magnetic fields to align the particles into agglomerates in louver shape.
- 31. A method of affecting the transmission of radiation by employing a film having a solid matrix permeable to at least some radiant energy rays and having disposed therein a set of agglomerates of radiation limiting particles, which individual agglomerates have on the average a minimum dimension no less than about 0.7 micron, and with distances between adjacent agglomerates being on the average at least about 3 microns, and controlling the direction from which radiant rays pass through the film, or the direction of rays emerging from the film, or both.
- 38. A method of affecting the transmission of light which comprises permitting light rays to impinge upon a film which is composed of a light-transmitting solid monolithic matrix having disposed therein linear louvers in side-by-side relationship, which louvers are composed of agglomerates of aligned optically limiting particles, and in which the louvers are no more than about 75 microns apart.
Specification