Durable optical element

• US 7,309,517 B2
• Filed: 04/04/2006
• Issued: 12/18/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Jones, Clinton L., Goenner, Emily S., Brady, John T., Haak, Christopher A., Kolb, Brant U.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Shean C
• Application Number:
  US11/278,555
• Publication Number:
  US 20060165998A1
• Time in Patent Office: 623 Days
• Field of Search: 428/411.1, 428/446, 428/457, 428/500, 428/688, 428/913, 428/1.52, 428/1.6, 977/778, 977/840, 977/962, 977/939
• US Class Current: 428/1.52
• 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 or element includes a polymerized structure having a microstructured surface and a plurality of surface modified colloidal nanoparticles of silica, zirconia, or mixtures thereof. Display devices including the durable microstructured film are also described.

Claims

1. A durable optical film comprising:

a polymerized optical film structure having a microstructured surface and a plurality of substantially fully condensed surface modified colloidal nanoparticles of silica, zirconia, or mixtures thereof.

2. The durable optical film according to claim 1, wherein the polymerized optical film structure has a plurality of ridges extending along a first surface.

3. The durable optical film according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of surface modified colloidal nanoparticles comprises having a particle size greater than 1 nm and less than 100 nm.

4. The durable optical film according to claim 1, wherein the nanoparticles further comprise titania, antimony oxides, alumina, tin oxides, mixed metal oxides thereof, or mixtures thereof.

5. The durable optical film according to claim 1, wherein the silica particle size is from 5 to 75 nm.

6. The durable optical film according to claim 1, wherein the silica particle size is from 10 to 30 nm.

7. The durable optical film according to claim 1, wherein the zirconia particle size is from 5 to 50 nm.

8. The durable optical film according to claim 1, wherein the zirconia particle size is from 5 to 15 nm.

9. The durable optical film according to claim 4, wherein the titania mixed metal oxide particle size is from 5 to 50 nm.

10. The durable optical film according to claim 4, wherein the titania mixed metal oxide particle size is from 5 to 15 nm.

11. The durable optical film according to claim 1, wherein the silica comprises 10 to 60 wt % of the microstructured surface.

12. The durable optical film according to claim 1, wherein the silica comprises 10 to 40 wt % of the microstructured surface.

13. The durable optical film according to claim 1, wherein the zirconia comprises 10 to 70 wt % of the microstructured surface.

14. The durable optical film according to claim 1, wherein the zirconia comprises 30 to 50 wt % of the microstructured surface.

15. The durable optical film according to claim 4, wherein the titania mixed metal oxide comprises 10 to 70 wt % of the microstructured surface.

16. The durable optical film according to claim 4, wherein the titania mixed metal oxide comprises 30 to 50 wt % of the microstructured surface.

17. The durable optical film according to claim 1, wherein the surface modified colloidal nanoparticles surface is modified with a surface modifying treatment agent capable of polymerizing with the polymerized optical film structure.

18. The durable optical film of claim 1 wherein the polymerized optical film structure is a brightness enhancing polymerized structure.

19. A device comprising:

(a) a lighting device having a light-emitting surface; and

(b) the durable optical film of claim 18 placed substantially parallel to said light-emitting surface.

20. A durable optical turning film comprising:

a first surface;

an array of prisms formed in the first surface, wherein the array of prisms has;

a plurality of first prisms, each of the first prisms having a first prism angular orientation with respect to a normal to the first surface;

a plurality of second prisms, each of the second prisms having a second prism angular orientation, different from the first angular orientation, with respect to the normal; and

a second surface opposing the first surface,

wherein said array of prisms having a plurality of substantially fully condensed surface modified colloidal nanoparticles.