Optical component with a structured element

• US 6,801,276 B1
• Filed: 02/24/2000
• Issued: 10/05/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Ouderkirk, Andrew J., Epstein, Kenneth A., Benson, Olester Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Parker, Kenneth
• Application Number:
  US09/510,722
• Time in Patent Office: 1,685 Days
• Field of Search: 359/601, 359/609, 359/59.R, 349/112, 349/64, 349/113
• US Class Current: 349/112
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/0231 the surface having microprismatic or micropyramidal shape macroscopic prism arrays G02B5/045
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/0242 by means of dispersed particles
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/0278 used in transmission
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/0284 used in reflection
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133504 Diffusing, scattering, diffracting elements associated to illuminating devices G02F1/133606

Abstract

An optical component including a mirror surface, a structured polymer layer including one side having structured elements, and a filler layer adjacent to the side of the structured polymer layer having the structured elements. The filler layer fills in the structured elements and has one substantially planar side. The filler layer has a refractive index N_f, the structured polymer layer has a refractive index of N_s, and N_s is different from N_f. The optical component is useful to direct backreflected ambient light to a peak angle that is different than a glare peak. A display device is also described including a first and second polarizer, a liquid crystal layer below the first polarizer, a mirror surface below the liquid crystal layer, and a structured polymer layer comprising one side having structured elements. The display device also includes a filler layer adjacent to the side of the structured polymer layer having the structured elements, the filler layer filling in the structured elements and having one substantially planar side.

Claims

1. An optical component, comprising:

a structured polymer layer comprising one side having structured elements;

a filler layer adjacent to the side of the structured polymer layer having the structured elements, the filler layer filling in the structured elements and having one substantially planar side, wherein the filler layer comprises a diffusing material;

a mirror surface positioned to backreflect light transmitted through the structured polymer and the filler layer;

wherein the filler layer has a refractive index N_f, the structured polymer layer has a refractive index of N_s, and Ns is different from N_f;

whereby ambient light that is backreflected from the mirror surface is directed to a peak angle that is different from a glare peak angle of the optical component.

2. The optical component of claim 1, wherein the difference between N_s and N_f is at least 0.05.

3. The optical component of claim 1, wherein the difference between N_s and N_f is at least 0.1.

4. The optical component of claim 1, wherein the difference between N_s and N_f is at least 0.15.

5. The optical component of claim 1, wherein N_s is greater than N_f.

6. The optical component of claim 1, wherein N_s is greater than or equal to about 1.34 and less than or equal to about 1.63.

7. The optical component of claim 1, wherein N_s is greater than or equal to about 1.34.

8. The optical component of claim 1, wherein N_s is about 1.6.

9. The optical component of claim 1, wherein N_f is greater than or equal to about 1.35 and less than or equal to about 1.49.

10. The optical component of claim 1, wherein N_f is about 1.43.

11. The optical component of claim 1, wherein the filler layer comprises a diffuse adhesive material.

12. The optical component of claim 1, further comprising a diffusing layer.

13. The optical component of claim 12, wherein the diffusing layer is adjacent to the filler layer.

14. The optical element of claim 1, wherein the structured elements comprise prismatic elements.

15. The optical component of claim 14, wherein the prismatic elements comprise a first facet and a second facet and the first facet is at an angle of about 5 degrees to about 75 degrees from a plane of the mirror surface.

16. The optical component of claim 15, wherein the first facet is at an angle of about 15 degrees to about 45 degrees from the plane of the mirror surface.

17. The optical component of claim 15, wherein the first facet is at an angle of about 25 degrees to about 35 degrees from the plane of the mirror surface.

18. The optical component of claim 14, wherein the prismatic elements comprise a first facet and a second facet and the second facet is at an angle of about 5 degrees from a normal to a plane of the mirror surface.

19. The optical component of claim 1 wherein the structured elements of the structured polymer layer comprise linear pyramidally shaped elements.

20. The optical component of claim 1 wherein the structured elements of the structured polymer layer comprise lens shaped elements.

21. The optical component of claim 1 wherein the structured elements of the structured polymer layer comprise differently-shaped elements.

22. The optical component of claim 1 wherein the structured elements of the structured polymer layer comprise rounded prismatic structures.

23. The optical component of claim 1 wherein the structured elements comprises more than two facets.

24. The optical component of claim 1 wherein the structured elements have a spatially varying pitch.

25. The optical component of claim 1 wherein the structured elements comprise at least one facet having a spatially varying facet angle.

26. A display device comprising:

a first and second polarizer;

a liquid crystal layer below the first polarizer;

a mirror surface below the liquid crystal layer; and

an optical component including a structured polymer layer and a filler layer, the structured polymer layer comprising one side having structured elements and the filler layer being adjacent to the side of the structured polymer layer having the structured elements, the filler layer filling in the structured elements and having one substantially planar side, wherein the filler layer comprises a diffusing material;

wherein the filler layer has a refractive index N_f, the structured polymer layer has a refractive index of N_s, N_s is different from N_f;

whereby ambient light that is backreflected from the mirror surface is directed to a peak angle that is different from a glare peak angle of the optical component.

27. The display device of claim 26, wherein the structured polymer layer and filler layer are between the first and second polarizers.

30. The display device according to any of claims 26-29, wherein the display device is a reflective liquid crystal display.

31. The display device according to any of claims 26-29, wherein the display device is a transflective liquid crystal display.

28. A display device comprising:

a polarizer;

a liquid crystal layer below the polarizer;

a mirror surface below the liquid crystal layer; and

an optical component including a structured polymer layer and a filler layer, the optical component being above the liquid crystal layer, the structured polymer layer comprising one side having structured elements, the filler layer being adjacent to the side of the structured polymer layer having the structured elements, the filler layer filling in the structured elements and having one substantially planar side, wherein the filler layer comprises a diffusing material;

wherein the filler layer has a refractive index N_f and the structured polymer layer has a refractive index of N_s, N_s is different from N_f, and the structured polymer layer and the filler layer are between the polarizer and the mirror layer;

whereby ambient light that is backreflected from the mirror surface is directed to a peak angle that is different from a glare peak angle of the optical component.

29. A display device comprising:

a polarizer

a liquid crystal layer below the polarizer;

a mirror surface below the liquid crystal layer; and

a structured polymer layer comprising one side having structured elements; and

an optical component including a structured polymer layer and a filler layer, the optical component being between the liquid crystal and the mirror surface, the structured polymer layer comprising one side having structured elements, the filler layer being adjacent to the side of the structured polymer layer having the structured elements, the filler layer filling in the structured elements and having one substantially planar side, wherein the filler layer comprises a diffusing material;

wherein the filler layer has a refractive index N_f and the structured polymer layer has a refractive index of N_s, N_s is different from N_f, and the structured polymer layer and the filler layer are between the polarizer and the mirror layer;

whereby ambient light that is backreflected from the mirror surface is directed to a peak angle that is different from a glare peak angle of the optical component.

32. An optical component, comprising:

a structured polymer layer comprising one side having structured elements;

a filler layer adjacent to the side of the structured polymer layer having the structured elements, the filler layer filling in the structured elements and having one substantially planar side;

a diffusing layer adjacent to the filler layer;

a mirror surface positioned to backreflect light transmitted through the structured polymer and the filler layer;

wherein the filler layer has a refractive index N_f, the structured polymer layer has a refractive index of N_s, and Ns is different from N_f;

whereby ambient light that is backreflected from the mirror surface is directed to a peak angle that is different from a glare peak angle of the optical component.

33. The optical component of claim 32, wherein the difference between N_s and N_f is at least 0.05.

34. The optical component of claim 32, wherein the difference between N_s and N_f is at least 0.1.

35. The optical component of claim 32, wherein the difference between N_s and N_f is at least 0.15.

36. The optical component of claim 32, wherein N_s is greater than N_f.

37. The optical component of claim 32, wherein N_s is greater than or equal to about 1.34 and less than or equal to about 1.63.

38. The optical component of claim 32, wherein N_s is greater than or equal to about 1.34.

39. The optical component of claim 32, wherein N_s is about 1.6.

40. The optical component of claim 32, wherein N_f is greater than or equal to about 1.35 and less than or equal to about 1.49.

41. The optical component of claim 32, wherein N_f is about 1.43.

42. The optical component of claim 32, wherein the filler layer comprises a diffusing material.

43. The optical component of claim 32, wherein the filler layer comprises a diffuse adhesive material.

44. The optical element of claim 32, wherein the structured elements comprise prismatic elements.

45. The optical component of claim 44, wherein the prismatic elements comprise a first facet and a second facet and the first facet is at an angle of about 5 degrees to about 75 degrees from a plane of the mirror surface.

46. The optical component of claim 45, wherein the first facet is at an angle of about 15 degrees to about 45 degrees from the plane of the mirror surface.

47. The optical component of claim 45, wherein the first facet is at an angle of about 25 degrees to about 35 degrees from the plane of the mirror surface.

48. The optical component of claim 44, wherein the prismatic elements comprise a first facet and a second facet and the second facet is at an angle of about 5 degrees from a normal to a plane of the mirror surface.

49. The optical component of claim 32 wherein the structured elements of the structured polymer layer comprise linear pyramidally shaped elements.

50. The optical component of claim 32 wherein the structured elements of the structured polymer layer comprise lens shaped elements.

51. The optical component of claim 32 wherein the structured elements of the structured polymer layer comprise differently-shaped elements.

52. The optical component of claim 32 wherein the structured elements of the structured polymer layer comprise rounded prismatic structures.

53. The optical component of claim 32 wherein the structured elements comprises more than two facets.

54. The optical component of claim 32 wherein the structured elements have a spatially varying pitch.

55. The optical component of claim 32 wherein the structured elements comprise at least one facet having a spatially varying facet angle.

56. A display device comprising:

a first and second polarizer;

a liquid crystal layer below the first polarizer;

a mirror surface below the liquid crystal layer; and

an optical component including a structured polymer layer and a filler layer, the structured polymer layer comprising one side having structured elements and the filler layer being adjacent to the side of the structured polymer layer having the structured elements, the filler layer filling in the structured elements and having one substantially planar side, the optical component further comprising a diffusing layer adjacent to the filler layer;

wherein the filler layer has a refractive index N_f, the structured polymer layer has a refractive index of N_s, N_s is different from N_f;

whereby ambient light that is backreflected from the mirror surface is directed to a peak angle that is different from a glare peak angle of the optical component.

57. The display device of claim 56, wherein the structured polymer layer and filler layer are between the first and second polarizers.

58. The display device of claim 56, wherein the display device is a reflective liquid crystal display.

59. The display device of claim 56, wherein the display device is a transflective liquid crystal display.

60. A display device comprising:

a polarizer;

a liquid crystal layer below the polarizer;

a mirror surface below the liquid crystal layer; and

an optical component including a structured polymer layer and a filler layer, the optical component being above the liquid crystal layer, the structured polymer layer comprising one side having structured elements, the filler layer being adjacent to the side of the structured polymer layer having the structured elements, the filler layer filling in the structured elements and having one substantially planar side, the type optical component further comprising a diffusing layer adjacent to the filler layer;

wherein the filler layer has a refractive index N_f and the structured polymer layer has a refractive index of N_s, N_s is different from N_f, and the structured polymer layer and the filler layer are between the polarizer and the mirror layer;

whereby ambient light that is backreflected from the mirror surface is directed to a peak angle that is different from a glare peak angle of the optical component.

61. The display device of claim 60, wherein the display device is a reflective liquid crystal display.

62. The display device of claim 60, wherein the display device is a transflective liquid crystal display.

63. A display device comprising:

a polarizer

a liquid crystal layer below the polarizer;

a mirror surface below the liquid crystal layer; and

a structured polymer layer comprising one side having structured elements; and

an optical component including a structured polymer layer and a filler layer, the optical component being between the liquid crystal and the mirror surface, the structured polymer layer comprising one side having structured elements, the filler layer being adjacent to the side of the structured polymer layer having the structured elements, the filler layer filling in the structured elements and having one substantially planar side, the 50 optical component further comprising a diffusing layer adjacent to the filler layer;

wherein the filler layer has a refractive index N_f and the structured polymer layer has a refractive index of N_s, N_s is different from N_f; and

the structured polymer layer and the filler layer are between the polarizer and the mirror layer;

whereby ambient light that is backreflected from the mirror surface is directed to a peak angle that is different from a glare peak angle of the optical component.

64. The display device of claim 63, wherein the display device is a reflective liquid crystal display.

65. The display device of claim 63, wherein the display device is a transflective liquid crystal display.