Light-collimating film

• US 5,204,160 A
• Filed: 05/28/1991
• Issued: 04/20/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Unova IP Corp. (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Co (3M Company)
• Inventors: Rouser, Forrest J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Loney, Donald J.
• Application Number:
  US07/707,413
• Time in Patent Office: 693 Days
• Field of Search: 428/144, 428/65, 428/212, 428/522, 428/34, 428/412, 428/167, 428/168, 428/173, 428/161, 428/166, 428/156, 428/38, 428/68, 428/120, 428/141, 428/142, 428/143, 428/156, 428/163 , 428/409, 428/201, 428/206, 428/172, 428/204, 428/203, 428/207, 428/, 428/908.8, 428/913, 52/473, 350/102, 350/103, 350/104, 350/345, 362/390, 362/325, 362/317, 362/342, 362/347, 351/47, 351/165, 351/166, 359/321, 359/513, 359/614, 359/641, 359/738
• US Class Current: 428/167
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 3/00 Simple or compound lenses
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/00 Optical elements other than lenses light guides G02B6/00; optical logic elements G02F3/00
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/22 Absorbing filters G02B5/201 - G02B5/208 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 428/913 Material designed to be responsive to temperature, light, moisture
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/23 Sheet including cover or casing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24182 Inward from edge of web or sheet
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24355 Continuous and nonuniform or irregular surface on layer or component [e.g., roofing, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24364 with transparent or protective coating
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24479 including variation in thickness
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24521 with component conforming to contour of nonplanar surface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24537 Parallel ribs and/or grooves
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2457 Parallel ribs and/or grooves
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24579 with particulate matter
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24612 Composite web or sheet
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2462 with partial filling of valleys on outer surface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24851 Intermediate layer is discontinuous or differential
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24868 Translucent outer layer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24876 Intermediate layer contains particulate material [e.g., pigment, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24893 including particulate material
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24901 including coloring matter
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24942 : including components having same physical characteristic in differing degree
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31 : Surface property or characteristic of web, sheet or block

Abstract

A plastic film has a series of grooves the interiors of which are rendered light absorbing to form a light-collimating film.

Claims

1. A light control film comprising a transparent plastic film having first and second major surfaces, said first major surface having a plurality of grooves, the interiors of said grooves being rendered light absorbing, said film further comprising cylindrical lenses between adjacent grooves.

2. The light control film of claim 1 wherein the interiors of said grooves are rendered light absorbing by filling said interiors with a light-absorbing material.

3. The light control film of claim 1 wherein the interiors of said grooves are rendered light absorbing by treating said interiors with a light-absorbing ink.

4. The light control film of claim 1 wherein each of said grooves has two side walls and a flat bottom, said side walls forming an included angle with one another.

5. The light control film of claim 4 wherein said included angle is no greater than 5°

.

6. The light control film of claim 5 wherein the interiors of said grooves are rendered light absorbing by filling said interiors with a light-absorbing material.

7. The light control film of claim 5 wherein the interiors of said grooves are rendered light absorbing by treating said interiors with a light-absorbing ink.

8. The light control film of claim 5 wherein said included angle is no greater than 3.5°

.

9. The light control film of claim 1 wherein said second surface is planar and optically smooth.

10. The light control films of claim 9 wherein each of said grooves has two side walls and a flat bottom, said side walls forming an included angle with one another.

11. The light control film of claim 10 wherein said included angle is no greater than 5°

.

12. The light control film of claim 11 wherein the interiors of said grooves are rendered light absorbing by filling said interiors with a light-absorbing material.

13. The light control film of claim 11 wherein the interiors of said grooves are rendered light absorbing by treating said interiors with a light-absorbing ink.

14. The light control film of claim 1 wherein said second surface is planar and has a matte finish.

15. The light control film of claim 1 further comprising a cover sheet adhered to said first surface.

16. The light control film of claim 1 wherein said grooves are linear and parallel.