Durable optical element

• US 7,179,513 B2
• Filed: 09/10/2004
• Issued: 02/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Goenner, Emily S., Jones, Clinton L., Kolb, Brant U., Haak, Christopher A., Brady, John T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu; Shean C
• Application Number:
  US10/939,184
• Publication Number:
  US 20050151119A1
• Time in Patent Office: 893 Days
• Field of Search: 428/1.1, 428/1.51, 428/1.52, 428/1.3, 428/141, 428/143, 428/1.6, 359/452, 359/529, 359/599
• US Class Current: 428/1.5
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 2323/00 Functional layers of liquid crystal optical display excluding electroactive liquid crystal layer characterised by chemical composition
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 2323/03 Viewing layer characterised by chemical composition
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 2323/031 Polarizer or dye
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 2323/05 Bonding or intermediate layer characterised by chemical composition, e.g. sealant or spacer
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 2323/051 Inorganic, e.g. glass or silicon oxide
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 2323/053 Organic silicon compound, e.g. organosilicon
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 2323/06 Substrate layer characterised by chemical composition
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/0226 having particles on the surface
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/0231 the surface having microprismatic or micropyramidal shape macroscopic prism arrays G02B5/045
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/0284 used in reflection
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/045 Prism arrays
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/124 plural reflecting elements forming part of a unitary plate or sheet
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0051 Diffusing sheet or layer
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0053 Prismatic sheet or layer; Brightness enhancement 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: Y10S 428/913 Material designed to be responsive to temperature, light, moisture
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/773 Nanoparticle, i.e. structure having three dimensions of 100 nm or less
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/778 within specified host or matrix material, e.g. nanocomposite films
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/779 Possessing nanosized particles, powders, flakes, or clusters other than simple atomic impurity doping
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/84 Manufacture, treatment, or detection of nanostructure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/932 : for electronic or optoelectronic application
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/939 : Electron emitter, e.g. spindt emitter tip coated with nanoparticles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/952 : Display
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/962 : for carrying or transporting
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24355 : Continuous and nonuniform or irregular surface on layer or component [e.g., roofing, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24413 : Metal or metal compound
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24479 : including variation in thickness
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24521 : with component conforming to contour of nonplanar surface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24545 : Containing metal or metal compound
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24612 : Composite web or sheet
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/25 : Web or sheet containing structurally defined element or component and including a second component containing structurally defined particles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/252 : Glass or ceramic [i.e., fired or glazed clay, cement, etc.] [porcelain, quartz, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/254 : Polymeric or resinous material
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/256 : Heavy metal or aluminum or compound thereof
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/257 : Iron oxide or aluminum oxide
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31504 : Composite [nonstructural laminate]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31678 : Of metal
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31855 : Of addition polymer from unsaturated monomers

Abstract

A durable optical film includes a polymerized optical film structure having a microstructured surface and a scratch contrast ratio value in a range of 1.0 to 1.65 or 1.0 to 1.15. These durable optical films can include a plurality of nanoparticles and a rounded prism apexes microstructure.

Claims

1. A durable optical film comprising:

a polymerized optical film structure having a microstructured surface having a plurality of rounded ridges wherein the microstructured surface comprises a plurality of surface modified colloidal nanoparticles and a scratch contrast ratio value in a range of 1.0 to 1.15.

2. A durable optical film according to claim 1, wherein the polymerized optical film structure has a scratch contrast ratio value in a range of 1.0 to 1.12.

3. A durable optical film according to claim 1, wherein the polymerized optical film structure has a scratch contrast ratio value in a range of 1.0 to 1.10.

4. A durable optical film according to claim 1, wherein the polymerized optical film structure has a scratch contrast ratio value in a range of 1.0 to 1.05.

5. A durable optical film according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of ridges extending along a first surface are rounded.

6. A durable optical film according to claim 5, wherein the rounded ridges have a radius in a range of 4 to 7 micrometers.

7. A durable optical film according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of surface modified colloidal nanoparticles are modified by a first surface modifier and a second surface modifier different than the first surface modifier.

8. A durable optical film comprising:

a polymerized optical film structure having a microstructured surface comprising a plurality of rounded prism apexes extending along a first surface and a scratch contrast ratio value in a range of 1.0 to 1.65.

9. A durable optical film according to claim 8, wherein the polymerized optical film structure has a scratch contrast ratio value in a range of 1.0 to 1.4.

10. A durable optical film according to claim 8, wherein the polymerized optical film structure has a scratch contrast ratio value in a range of 1.0 to 1.10.

11. A durable optical film according to claim 8, wherein the polymerized optical film structure comprises a plurality of surface modified colloidal nanoparticles of silica, zirconia, or mixtures thereof.

12. A durable optical film according to claim 8, wherein the rounded prism apexes have a radius in a range of 4 to 7 micrometers.

13. A durable optical film according to claim 11, wherein the plurality of surface modified colloidal nanoparticles are modified by a first surface modifier and a second surface modifier different than the first surface modifier.

14. A durable optical film comprising:

a polymerized optical film structure having a microstructured surface comprising a plurality of surface modified colloidal nanoparticles of silica, zirconia, or mixtures thereof and a scratch contrast ratio value in a range of 1.0 to 1.65.

15. A durable optical film according to claim 14, wherein the polymerized optical film structure has a scratch contrast ratio value in a range of 1.0 to 1.4.

16. A durable optical film according to claim 14, wherein the polymerized optical film structure has a scratch contrast ratio value in a range of 1.0 to 1.10.

17. A durable optical film according to claim 14, wherein the silica particle size is from 5 to 75 nanometers.

18. A durable optical film according to claim 14, wherein the silica comprises 10 to 60 wt % of the microstructured surface.

19. A durable optical film according to claim 14, wherein the polymerized optical film structure comprises a plurality of prism apexes extending along a first surface.

20. A durable optical film according to claim 19, wherein the polymerized optical film structure comprises a plurality of rounded prism apexes extending along a first surface.

21. A durable optical film according to claim 20, wherein the rounded prism apexes have a radius in a range of 4 to 7 micrometers.

22. A durable optical film according to claim 14, wherein the plurality of surface modified colloidal nanoparticles are modified by a first surface modifier and a second surface modifier different than the first surface modifier.