High efficiency optical devices

• US 6,924,014 B2
• Filed: 11/03/2003
• Issued: 08/02/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Cobb, Sanford Jr., Weber, Michael F., Ouderkirk, Andrew J., Wortman, David L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chen, Vivian
• Application Number:
  US10/700,137
• Publication Number:
  US 20040175552A1
• Time in Patent Office: 638 Days
• Field of Search: 428/212, 428/36.9, 428/36.91, 428/35.7, 359/485, 359/487, 359/489, 359/494, 359/497, 359/500, 359/591, 359/592, 359/595, 359/597, 359/598, 359/594
• US Class Current: 428/35.7
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2250/05 5 or more layers
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2250/42 Alternating layers, e.g. ABAB(C), AABBAABB(C)
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/42 Polarizing, birefringent, filtering
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/518 bi-axially
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/704 Crystalline
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2457/20 Displays, e.g. liquid crystal displays, plasma displays
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2551/00 Optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/08 of synthetic resin
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/30 comprising vinyl (co)polymers; comprising acrylic (co)polymers
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/302 comprising aromatic vinyl (co)polymers, e.g. styrenic (co)polymers
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/304 comprising vinyl halide (co)polymers, e.g. PVC, PVDC, PVF, PVDF
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/322 comprising halogenated polyolefins, e.g. PTFE
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/36 comprising polyesters
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 7/023 Optical properties
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/0841 comprising organic materials, e.g. polymers
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/305 including organic materials, e.g. polymeric layers
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/3083 Birefringent or phase retarding elements G02B5/3008, G02B5/3016 take precedence; systems for polarisation control G02B27/286; manufacturing phase modulating patterns by lithographic processes G03F7/001
• 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 6/0055 Reflecting element, sheet or layer
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0056 : for producing polarisation effects, e.g. by a surface with polarizing properties or by an additional polarizing elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0096 : the lights guides being of the hollow type
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133545 : Dielectric stack polarisers
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133615 : Edge-illuminating devices, i.e. illuminating from the side
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13362 : providing polarized light, e.g. by converting a polarisation component into another one
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 428/91 : Product with molecular orientation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/13 : Hollow or container type article [e.g., tube, vase, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1352 : Polymer or resin containing [i.e., natural or synthetic]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/139 : Open-ended, self-supporting conduit, cylinder, or tube-type article
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1393 : Multilayer [continuous layer]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24322 : Composite web or sheet
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24942 : including components having same physical characteristic in differing degree
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24967 : Absolute thicknesses specified
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31504 : Composite [nonstructural laminate]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31786 : Of polyester [e.g., alkyd, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31797 : Next to addition polymer from unsaturated monomers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31935 : Ester, halide or nitrile of addition polymer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31938 : Polymer of monoethylenically unsaturated hydrocarbon

Abstract

Optical devices according to the present invention include a multilayer optical film in which at least one of the layers comprises an oriented birefringent polymer. The multilayer optical film exhibits low absorptivity and can reflect light approaching at shallow angles as well as normal to the film.

Claims

1. An optical device comprising opposing optical surfaces arranged to form a wedge, at least a portion of the opposing optical surfaces comprising a multilayer optical film that comprises alternating layers of at least two materials, wherein the multilayer optical film reflects light over a wavelength band of interest as a function of thicknesses of the alternating layers, and further wherein at least one of the materials has a stress induced birefringence.

4. The optical device of claim 1, wherein the multilayer optical film comprises alternating first and second polymeric materials, wherein the first polymeric material is birefringent and the second polymeric material is isotropic.

5. The optical device of either of claim 1 or 2, wherein the multilayer optical film is a mirror.

6. The optical device of either of claim 1 or 2, wherein the optical device is hollow.

7. The optical device of either of claim 1 or 2, wherein the opposing optical surfaces form a cone.

8. The optical device of either of claim 1 or 2, wherein the opposing optical surfaces form a parabola.

9. The optical device of either of claim 1 or 2, wherein the opposing optical surfaces are portions of a continuous surface.

10. The optical device of either of claim 1 or 2, wherein the optical device is suitable for receiving solar illumination.

2. An optical device comprising opposing optical surfaces arranged to form a wedge, at least a portion of the opposing optical surfaces comprising a multilayer optical film that comprises alternating layers of at least two materials, and further wherein at least one of the materials has a stress induced birefringence, wherein the multilayer optical film comprises alternating first and second polymeric materials, wherein the absolute value of the difference in index of refraction between the first and second polymeric material is Δ

nx along a first axis in the plane of the film and is Δ

nz along a second axis orthogonal to the plane of the film, and wherein the ratio Δ

nz/Δ

nx is less than 0.5.

3. An optical device comprising opposing optical surfaces arranged to form a wedge, at least a portion of the opposing optical surfaces comprising a multilayer optical film that comprises alternating layers of at least two materials, and further wherein at least one of the materials has a stress induced birefringence, wherein the multilayer optical film comprises alternating first and second polymeric materials, wherein the absolute value of the difference in index of refraction between the first and second polymeric material is Δ

nx along an in-plane direction of the film and is Δ

nz along a thickness direction of the film, end wherein Δ

nx is at least 0.05 and Δ

nz is less than Δ

nx.

11. An optical device comprising opposing optical surfaces arranged to form a light pipe, at least a portion of the opposing optical surfaces comprising a multilayer optical film that comprises alternating layers of at least two materials, wherein the multilayer optical film reflects light over a wavelength band of interest as a function of thicknesses of the alternating layers, and further wherein at least one of the materials has a stress induced birefringence.

14. The optical device of claim 11, wherein the multilayer optical film comprises alternating first and second polymeric materials, wherein the first polymeric material is birefringent and the second polymeric material is isotropic.

15. The optical device of either of claim 11 or 12, wherein the multilayer optical film is a mirror.

16. The optical device of either of claim 11 or 12, wherein the optical device is hollow.

17. The optical device of either of claim 11 or 12, wherein the opposing optical surfaces are portions of a continuous surface.

18. The optical device of either of claim 11 or 12, wherein the optical device has a circular cross-sectional shape.

19. The optical device of either of claim 11 or 12, wherein the optical device has a cross-sectional shape selected from the group consisting of ellipses and closed irregular curves.

20. The optical device of either of claim 11 or 12, wherein the optical device has a cross-sectional shape selected from the group consisting of triangles, squares, rectangles, and other polygonal shapes.

12. An optical device comprising opposing optical surfaces arranged to form a light pipe, at least a portion of the opposing optical surfaces comprising a multilayer optical film that comprises alternating layers of at least two materials, and further wherein at least one of the materials has a stress induced birefringence, wherein the multilayer optical film comprises alternating first and second polymeric materials, wherein the absolute value of the difference in index of refraction between the first and second polymeric material is Δ

nx along a first axis in the plane of the film and is Δ

nz along a second axis orthogonal to the plane of the film, and wherein the ratio Δ

nz/Δ

nx is less than 0.5.

13. An optical device comprising opposing optical surfaces arranged to form a light pipe, at least a portion of the opposing optical surfaces comprising a multilayer optical film that comprises alternating layers of at least two materials, and further wherein at least one of the materials has a stress induced birefringence, wherein the multilayer optical film comprises alternating first and second polymeric materials, wherein the absolute value of the difference in index of refraction between the first and second polymeric material is Δ

nx along an in-plane direction of the film and is Δ

nz along a thickness direction of the film, and wherein Δ

nx is at least 0.05 and Δ

nz is less than Δ

nx.