Electronic projection system with polymeric film optical components

• US 6,407,862 B2
• Filed: 05/14/1999
• Issued: 06/18/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Moshrefzadeh, Robert S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Schuberg, Darren
• Assistant Examiner(s): ASSAF, FAYEZ G
• Application Number:
  US09/312,339
• Publication Number:
  US 20010015852A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,131 Days
• Field of Search: 359/584, 359/589, 428/212
• US Class Current: 359/584
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/0841 comprising organic materials, e.g. polymers
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/0866 incorporating one or more organic, e.g. polymeric layers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/74 Projection arrangements for image reproduction, e.g. using eidophor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24942 including components having same physical characteristic in differing degree

Abstract

An electronic projection system that includes specularly reflective optical components made of a multilayered polymeric material with a reflectivity of at least 96% from about 400 nm to about 700 nm, and a method for enhancing the optical quality of a projected image in a projection display device comprising the step of incorporating at least one specular mirror component in the optical train of the device.

Claims

1. An electronic rear screen projection display device comprising:

a light source producing an image,

a screen having a rear surface for receiving light from the light source, and a front surface adapted to be viewed, and

at least one mirror disposed in a light path between the light source and the screen so that it reflects the image produced by the light source, the mirror comprising a multilayered, non-metallic, polymeric optical film with a reflectivity of at least 96% from 400 nm to 700 nm.

2. A method of enhancing the optical quality of an image to be viewed in a projection display device comprising the steps of:

producing an image from a light source,

providing a screen having a rear surface for receiving light from the light source, and a front surface for viewing,

placing at least one mirror in a light path between the light source and the screen, the mirror comprising a multilayered optical film, and

reflecting at least 96% of light in the wavelength range from 400 nm to 700 nm in the mirror, and

receiving the reflected light on the back surface of the screen.

3. A method of using a mirror in a rear projection screen display device, the mirror comprising a multilayered, non-metallic, polymeric optical film with a reflectivity of at least 96% from 400 nm to 700 nm, the rear projection display device comprising a light source for producing an image, a screen having a rear surface for receiving light from the light source, and a front surface adapted to be viewed,

the method comprising the step of placing the one mirror in a light path between the light source and the screen so that at least 96% of light in the wavelength range from 400 nm to 700 nm is reflected in the mirror.