Polarizing beam splitter assembly adhesive

• US 7,234,816 B2
• Filed: 02/03/2004
• Issued: 06/26/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Bruzzone, Charles L., Cheng, Ming, Ma, Jiaying, Lu, Ying-Yuh
• Primary Examiner(s): Perkey; W. B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SEVER, ANDREW T
• Application Number:
  US10/771,863
• Publication Number:
  US 20050168697A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,239 Days
• Field of Search: 353/8, 353/20, 353/33, 353/34, 353/81, 349/8, 349/9, 349/15, 359/464, 359/465, 359/490, 359494-502, 359831-837
• US Class Current: 353/20
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/283 used for beam splitting or combining
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/305 including organic materials, e.g. polymeric layers

Abstract

A polarizing beam splitter (PBS) includes a multilayer reflective polarizing film, a pressure sensitive adhesive is disposed on the multilayer reflective polarizing film, a first rigid cover is disposed on the pressure sensitive adhesive. The PBS can be used in a variety of applications.

Claims

1. A polarizing beam splitter, comprising:

a polymeric multilayer reflective polarizing film comprising alternating layers of two polymeric materials, at least one of which is birefringent and orientated;

a pressure sensitive adhesive disposed on the polymeric multilayer reflective polarizing film wherein the pressure sensitive adhesive has aggressive and permanent tack, adheres with no more than finger pressure, has sufficient ability to hold onto an adherand, has sufficient cohesive strength and requires no activation by an energy source; and

a first rigid cover disposed on the pressure sensitive adhesive.

2. The polarizing beam splitter according to claim 1, further comprising a second rigid cover disposed adjacent to the polymeric multilayer reflective polarizing film.

3. The polarizing beam splitter according to claim 2, further comprising a structural adhesive disposed between the second rigid cover and the polymeric multilayer reflective polarizing film.

4. The polarizing beam splitter according to claim 2, wherein the first cover is a prism and the second cover is a prism.

5. The polarizing beam splitter according to claim 2, wherein the first cover is a glass prism and the second cover is a glass prism.

6. The polarizing beam splitter according to claim 1, wherein the pressure sensitive adhesive is substantially free of UV-absorbing chromophores.

7. The polarizing beam splitter according to claim 1, wherein the pressure sensitive adhesive is substantially free of unreacted monomers or substantially free of unreacted oligomers.

8. The polarizing beam splitter according to claim 1, wherein the multilayer reflective polarizing film is a matched z-index polarizer film.

9. A polarizing beam splitter, comprising:

a first polymeric multilayer reflective polarizing film comprising alternating layers of two polymeric materials, at least one of which is birefringent and orientated;

a second polymeric multilayer reflective polarizing film comprising alternating layers of two polymeric materials, at least one of which is birefringent and orientated, and proximate the first polymeric multilayer reflective polarizing film, wherein a major surface of the second polymeric multilayer reflective polarizing film faces a major surface of the first polymeric multilayer reflective polarizing film;

an adhesive disposed between the first polymeric multilayer reflective polarizing film and the second polymeric multilayer reflective polarizing film;

a first pressure sensitive adhesive disposed on the first polymeric multilayer reflective polarizing film;

a first rigid cover disposed on the first pressure sensitive adhesive; and

a second rigid cover disposed adjacent to the second polymeric multilayer reflective polarizing film wherein said first pressure sensitive adhesive has aggressive and permanent tack, adheres with no more than finger pressure, has sufficient ability to hold onto an adherand, has sufficient cohesive strength and requires no activation by an energy source.

10. The polarizing beam splitter according to claim 9, further comprising a structural adhesive disposed between the second rigid cover and the second polymeric multilayer reflective polarizing film.

11. The polarizing beam splitter according to claim 9, wherein the adhesive is a second pressure sensitive adhesive.

12. The polarizing beam splitter according to claim 9, wherein the adhesive is a structural adhesive.

13. The polarizing beam splitter according to claim 9, wherein the first cover is a prism and the second cover is a prism.

14. The polarizing beam splitter according to claim 9, wherein the first cover is a glass prism and the second cover is a glass prism.

15. The polarizing beam splitter according to claim 9, wherein the first pressure sensitive adhesive is substantially free of photo initiators.

16. The polarizing beam splitter according to claim 9, wherein the first pressure sensitive adhesive is substantially free of unreacted monomers or substantially free of unreacted oligomers.

17. The polarizing beam splitter according to claim 9, wherein the first multilayer reflective polarizing film is a matched z-index polarizer film and the second multilayer reflective polarizing film is a matched z-index polarizer film.