Polarizer constructions and display devices exhibiting unique color effects

• US 6,574,044 B1
• Filed: 10/25/1999
• Issued: 06/03/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Sahouani, Hassan, Kotchick, Keith M., Moshrefzadeh, Robert S., Vogel, Kim Marie, Hibbard, William A., OʼNeill, Mark B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Spyrou, Cassandra
• Assistant Examiner(s): Curtis, Craig
• Application Number:
  US09/426,461
• Time in Patent Office: 1,317 Days
• Field of Search: 359/498, 359/494, 359/495, 359/484, 349/1, 349/115
• US Class Current: 359/487.02
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/3025 Polarisers, i.e. arrangements capable of producing a definite output polarisation state from an unpolarised input state G02B5/3008, G02B5/3016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133533 Colour selective polarisers G02F1/1347 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133536 Reflective polarizers G02F1/13362 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133626 providing two modes of illumination, e.g. day-night

Abstract

A polarizer construction is disclosed that includes a reflective polarizer disposed on a first side of the construction to transmit light having one polarization and reflect light having an orthogonal polarization, and one or more colored dichroic polarizers disposed on a second side of the construction. The one or more colored dichroic polarizers are arranged so that when the construction is illuminated from the first side, an observer viewing the construction from the second side will observe a first spectral distribution of visible light, and when the construction is illuminated from the second side, an observer viewing the construction from the second side will observe a second spectral distribution of visible light different from the first spectral distribution. Various display constructions using colored polarizers to achieve color changing and image reversal effects are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A polarizer construction comprising:

a reflective polarizer disposed on a first side of the construction to transmit light having one polarization and reflect light having an orthogonal polarization; and

one or more colored dichroic polarizers disposed on a second side of the construction,

wherein the one or more colored dichroic polarizers are arranged to transmit a first color of light having a first polarization state and a second color of light having a second polarization state, the first and second colors being different and each including at least a portion of the visible spectrum, and the first and second polarization states being mutually orthogonal.

2. The polarizer construction of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more colored dichroic polarizers comprises a guest-host polarizer that includes a host matrix, one or more first guest dyes. disposed in the host matrix and oriented to absorb the first portion of visible. light having a first polarization state, and one or more second guest dyes disposed in the host matrix and oriented to absorb the second portion of visible light having a second polarization state.

3. The polarizer construction of claim 1, wherein the one or more colored dichroic polarizers includes a first colored dichroic polarizer and a second colored dichroic polarizer disposed to have crossed extinction axes.

4. The polarizer construction of claim 1, wherein the reflective polarizer is a multilayer birefringent reflective polarizer.

5. The polarizer construction of claim 1, wherein the reflective polarizer is a cholesteric reflective polarizer, and further comprising a quarter wave plate disposed between the cholesteric reflective polarizer and the one or more colored dichroic polarizers.

6. The polarizer construction of claim 1, further comprising an adhesive disposed between the reflective polarizer and the one or more colored dichroic polarizers.

7. The polarizer construction of claim 1, further comprising a retarder disposed between the reflective polarizer and the one or more colored dichroic polarizers.

8. The polarizer construction of claim 1, further comprising a liquid crystal material disposed between the reflective polarizer and the one or more colored dichroic polarizers, the liquid crystal material disposed to selectively alter a polarization of light transmitted therethrough.

9. A transflective liquid crystal display comprising:

a backlight;

a liquid crystal material disposed between a top substrate and a bottom substrate to selectively alter a polarization of light transmitted therethrough; and

a polarizer construction according to claim 1 disposed between the backlight and the bottom substrate with the reflective polarizer of the polarizer construction oriented toward the backlight.

10. The polarizer construction of claim 6, wherein the adhesive is a diffuse adhesive that substantially maintains the polarization of light transmitted therethrough.