Multifunctional optical assembly

• US 7,010,212 B2
• Filed: 05/28/2002
• Issued: 03/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Yang, Jie, Meixner, Larry A., Lamb, David J., Pokorny, Richard J., Whitney, Leland R., Lu, Ying-Yuh, Emmons, Robert M., Liu, Yaoqi J., Moshrefzadeh, Robert S., Watson, Philip E., Rhyner, Steven J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ullah, Akm Enayet
• Assistant Examiner(s): Petkovsek, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US10/156,674
• Publication Number:
  US 20030223216A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,379 Days
• Field of Search: 362/31, 362/602, 385/146, 385/901, 359591-598, 359/833, 359/837
• US Class Current: 385/146
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/045 Prism arrays
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0025 Diffusing sheet or layer; Prismatic sheet or layer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 385/901 Illuminating or display apparatus

Abstract

An integrated optical assembly including a light management component with an entry surface and a light delivery component having an exit surface attached to the entry surface of the light management component is disclosed The light management component and the light delivery component are attached together in a manner that defines voids between the entry surface of the light management component and the exit surface of the light delivery component. The voids between the light management component and the light delivery component may provide an air interface over substantial portions of the entry surface of the light management component.

Claims

1. An optical assembly comprising:

a light management component comprising an entry surface;

a light delivery component comprising an exit surface facing the entry surface of the light management component;

spacers located between the entry surface of the light management component and the exit surface of the light delivery component;

wherein the exit surface of the light delivery component is adhesively attached to the entry surface of the light management component at one or more attachment points, the one or more attachment points defining unfilled voids located between the exit surface and the entry surface;

wherein each of the voids comprises a void entry surface and a void exit surface, wherein the void entry surface and the void exit surface are generally parallel to each other and to the entry surface of the light management component and the exit surface of the light delivery component;

and wherein one or both of the light management component and the light delivery component exhibit an optical gain of one or more.

2. An optical assembly according to claim 1, wherein, outside of the voids, substantially all of the exit surface of the light delivery component is attached to the entry surface of the light management component within the optical assembly.

3. An optical assembly according to claim 1, wherein the voids are interconnected with each other.

4. An optical assembly according to claim 1, wherein the voids are independent of each other.

5. An optical assembly according to claim 1, wherein the voids contain air.

6. An optical assembly according to claim 1, wherein the void exit surfaces are coincident with the entry surface of the light management component.

7. An optical assembly according to claim 1, wherein the void entry surfaces are coincident with the exit surface of the light delivery component.

8. An optical assembly according to claim 1, wherein the spacers occupy 5% or less of the entry surface of the light management component.

9. An optical assembly according to claim 1, wherein the spacers comprise adhesive.

10. An optical assembly according to claim 1, wherein the spacers comprise curable adhesive.

11. An optical assembly according to claim 1, wherein the spacers comprise reflective surfaces.

12. An optical assembly according to claim 1, wherein the spacers comprise a layer of adhesive.

13. An optical assembly according to claim 1, wherein the spacers comprise a layer of pressure sensitive adhesive and curable material.

14. An optical assembly according to claim 1, wherein the light management component comprises first and second major surfaces, the first major surface comprising the entry surface and the second major surface comprising a prismatic structured surface.

15. An optical assembly according to claim 1, wherein the light delivery component comprises a diffuser.

16. An optical assembly according to claim 1, wherein the light delivery component comprises a light guide.

17. An optical assembly according to claim 1, wherein the spacers occupy 10% or less of the entry surface of the light management component.

18. An optical assembly comprising:

a light management component comprising an entry surface;

a light delivery component comprising an exit surface facing the entry surface of the light management component;

spacers located between the entry surface of the light management component and the exit surface of the light delivery component, wherein the spacers consist essentially of adhesive;

wherein the exit surface of the light delivery component is adhesively attached to the entry surface of the light management component by the spacers, the spacers defining unfilled voids located between the exit surface and the entry surface;

and wherein one or both of the light management component and the light delivery component exhibit an optical gain of one or more.

19. An optical assembly according to claim 18, wherein the adhesive of the spacers comprises a curable adhesive.

20. An optical assembly according to claim 18, wherein the adhesive of the spacers comprises a curable adhesive and a pressure sensitive adhesive.

21. An optical assembly according to claim 18, wherein each of the voids comprises a void entry surface and a void exit surface, wherein the void entry surface and thee void exit surface are generally parallel to each other and to the entry surface of the light management component and the exit surface of the light delivery component.

22. An optical assembly according to claim 18, wherein, outside of the voids, substantially all of the exit surface of the light delivery component is attached to the entry surface of the light management component within the optical assembly.

23. An optical assembly according to claim 18, wherein the voids are interconnected with each other.

24. An optical assembly according to claim 18, wherein the voids are independent of each other.

25. An optical assembly according to claim 18, wherein the voids contain air.

26. An optical assembly according to claim 18, wherein the voids comprise void exit surfaces proximate the entry surface of the light management component, and further wherein the void exit surfaces are flat.

27. An optical assembly according to claim 18, wherein the voids comprise exit void surfaces proximate the light management component, and further wherein the void exit surfaces are coincident with the entry surface of the light management component.

28. An optical assembly according to claim 18, wherein the voids comprise void entry surfaces proximate the light delivery component, and further wherein the void entry surfaces are coincident with the exit surface of the light delivery component.

29. An optical assembly according to claim 18, wherein the spacers occupy 10% or less of the entry surface of the light management component.

30. An optical assembly according to claim 18, wherein the spacers occupy 5% or less of the entry surface of the light management component.

31. An optical assembly according to claim 18, wherein the light management component comprises first and second major surfaces, the first major surface comprising the entry surface and the second major surface comprising a prismatic structured surface.

32. An optical assembly according to claim 18, wherein the light delivery component comprises a diffuser.

33. An optical assembly according to claim 18, wherein the light delivery component comprises a light guide.