Optical film with variable angle prisms

• US 6,707,611 B2
• Filed: 01/29/2003
• Issued: 03/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Kretman, Wade D., Epstein, Kenneth A., Gardiner, Mark E., Cobb, Sanford
• Primary Examiner(s): Epps, Georgia
• Assistant Examiner(s): Harrington, Alicia
• Application Number:
  US10/353,888
• Publication Number:
  US 20030112521A1
• Time in Patent Office: 412 Days
• Field of Search: 359/619, 359/620, 359/625-628, 359/638, 359/640, 345/36, 345/901, 349/62
• US Class Current: 359/619
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0031 Reflecting element, sheet or layer
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0046 Tapered light guide, e.g. wedge-shaped light guide
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/005 provided by one optical element, or plurality thereof, placed on the light output side of the light guide
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0053 Prismatic sheet or layer; Brightness enhancement element, sheet or layer
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0068 Arrangements of plural sources, e.g. multi-colour light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0071 with elongated shape, e.g. tube

Abstract

An optical turning film has a first surface including an array of prisms. The array has a plurality of first prisms, with each of the first prisms having a first prism configuration, and a plurality of second prisms, with each of the second prisms having a second prism configuration different from the first prism configuration. The optical film also has a second surface opposing the first surface, and light rays incident to the first surface are directed by the plurality of first prism and the plurality of second prisms along a direction substantially parallel to a viewing axis.

Claims

1. An optical turning film comprising:

a first surface;

an array of prisms formed in the first surface, wherein the array of prisms has;

a plurality of first prisms, each of the first prisms having a first prisms reflecting surface and a first prisms refracting surface and a first prism included angle between the first prisms reflecting surface and the first prisms refracting surface;

a plurality of second prisms, each of the second prisms having a second prisms reflecting surface and a second prisms refracting surface and a second prisms included angle between the first prisms reflecting surface and the first prisms refracting surface, different than the first prisms included angle; and

a second surface opposing the first surface.

2. The optical turning film as recited in claim 1, wherein the plurality of first prisms and the plurality of second prisms are arranged in clusters within the array.

3. The optical turning film as recited in claim 1, wherein the plurality of first prisms comprise at least one group of first prisms having the first prism included angle and the plurality of second prisms comprise at least one group of second prisms having the second prisms included angle and being formed in the first surface adjacent the at least one group of first prisms.

4. The optical turning film as recited in claim 1, wherein the first prisms included angle and the second prisms included angle are in the range from 30°

to 120°

.

5. The optical turning film as recited in claim 1, wherein the array comprises a transition between one of the plurality of first prisms and one of the plurality of second prisms, the transition comprising a substantially continuous angular reconfiguration from the first prism angular orientation to the second prism angular orientation.