Thin light reflectant surface and method for making and using same

• US 5,982,548 A
• Filed: 05/19/1997
• Issued: 11/09/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: W. L. Gore & Associates (W.L. Gore & Associates)
• Original Assignee: W. L. Gore & Associates (W.L. Gore & Associates)
• Inventors: Minor, Raymond B., McGregor, Gordon L.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, THONG Q
• Application Number:
  US08/858,115
• Time in Patent Office: 904 Days
• Field of Search: 359/350, 359/361, 359/599, 359/515, 359/588, 359/270, 372/35, 372/54, 372/72, 372/89, 385/129-131, 385/141, 385/146, 428/212, 428/213, 428/311.1, 428/315.5, 362/200, 362/221, 362/299, 349/113
• US Class Current: 359/599
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/08 Mirrors vehicle mirrors involving special optical features B60R1/08

Abstract

The present invention is an improved material and method for use for providing diffuse reflectivity of light. It has been determined that by employing a polymer having an index of refraction of greater than or equal to 1.42 and a porosity of greater than 10%, improved reflectivity can be achieved over existing reflectant materials having only one of these properties. Suitable materials for use in the present invention include nylon, polyvinylidene (PVDF), and cellulose acetate.

Claims

1. A method of improving light reflectivity in a device requiring diffuse reflectivity of light comprising

providing a microporous polymer comprising a reflectant material with an index of refraction greater than or equal to 1.42,and selected from the group consisting of nylon, polyvinylidene (PVDF), and cellulose acetate, a porosity of greater than 10%, and less than about 0.25 mm in thickness;

and

mounting the reflectant material within the device to cause light energy to reflect off it;

whereby the reflectant material provides diffuse reflectivity with greater than 90% of the light striking the reflectant material reflecting from the material.

2. The method of claim 1 that further comprises

providing as the reflectant material a flexible sheet of nylon, allowing the reflectant material to be readily formed into different shapes;

and

forming the reflective material to provide a non-planar reflective surface.

3. The method of claim 1 that further comprises thickness of less than about 0.15 mm.

4. The method of claim 1 that further comprise providing a reflectant material with a porosity of about 25% to 85%.

5. The method of claim 4 that further comprises

providing as the reflectant material a material with a thickness of less than about 0.15 mm.

6. The method of claim 1 that further comprise providing a reflectant material with a porosity of about 40% to 80%.

7. The method of claim 1 that further comprises

employing the reflectant material as a light reflectant panel.

8. The method of claim 1 that further comprises

employing the reflectant material as a light reflective surface within a luminaire.

9. The method of claim 1 that further comprises

choosing the light reflectant material from the group consisting of nylon, polyvinylidene (PVDF), and cellulose acetate.

10. A method of providing improved diffuse reflectivity of light in a device comprising

providing a reflectant material comprising a polyamide polymer having an index of refraction of greater than or equal to 1.42, a porosity of greater than 10%, less than about 0.25 mm in thickness, the reflectant material being flexible so as to allow the material to be readily formed into various shapes;

and

mounting the reflectant material within the device to cause light energy to reflect off it;

whereby the reflectant material provides diffuse reflectivity with greater than 90% of the light striking the reflectant material reflecting from material.

11. The method of claim 10 that further comprises

forming the flexible reflectant material to provide a non-planar reflective surface.

12. The method of claim 10 that further comprises

providing as the reflectant material a reflectant material with a thickness of less than about 0.15 mm.

13. The method of claim 10 that further comprises

employing the reflectant material as a light reflectant panel.

14. The method of claim 10 that further comprises

employing the reflectant material as a light reflective surface within a luminaire.