Optical substrate with modulated structure

• US 7,483,195 B2
• Filed: 07/23/2007
• Issued: 01/27/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: SABIC Global Technologies BV (Government of Saudi Arabia)
• Original Assignee: Sabic Innovative Plastics IP BV (Government of Saudi Arabia)
• Inventors: Olczak, Eugene
• Primary Examiner(s): Thompson; Timothy J
• Application Number:
  US11/878,289
• Publication Number:
  US 20070263273A1
• Time in Patent Office: 554 Days
• Field of Search: 359/279, 359/245, 359/239, 359/238, 359/626, 359/625, 359/622, 359/637
• US Class Current: 359/279
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/0221 the surface having an irregular structure G02B5/0226 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/0268 characterized by the fabrication or manufacturing method
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/0278 used in transmission
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/045 Prism arrays
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0038 Linear indentations or grooves, e.g. arc-shaped grooves or meandering grooves, extending over the full length or width of the light guide
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0053 Prismatic sheet or layer; Brightness enhancement element, sheet or layer
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0065 Manufacturing aspects; Material aspects

Abstract

There is provided an optical substrate. The optical substrate includes at least one surface. The at least one surface includes at least one optical structure having a shape and dimensions, wherein the shape and dimensions of each optical structure represents in part a modulation of a corresponding idealized structure. The shape and dimensions of each of the at least one optical structure are determined in part by at least one randomly generated component of modulation wherein the modulation of each of the at least one optical structure is limited by a neighboring optical structure comprised by the surface.

Claims

1. An optical substrate comprising:

at least one surface, said at least one surface comprising at least one optical structure having a shape and dimensions, wherein the shape and dimensions of each optical structure represents in part a modulation of a corresponding idealized structure, and wherein said shape and dimensions of each of said at least one optical structure is determined in part by at least one randomly generated component of modulation wherein the modulation of each of said at least one optical structure is limited by a neighboring optical structure comprised by the surface, wherein said at least one optical structure represents an idealized prismatic structure having a peak, the peak following a surface path laterally modulated along a length of the idealized prismatic structure.

2. The optical substrate of claim 1, wherein the optical substrate comprises an optically transparent film having a second surface opposite to the first surface, the second surface being smooth.

3. An optical substrate comprising:

at least one surface, said at least one surface comprising at least one optical structure having a shape and dimensions, wherein the shape and dimensions of each optical structure represents in part a modulation of a corresponding idealized structure, and wherein said shape and dimensions of each of said at least one optical structure is determined in part by at least one randomly generated component of modulation wherein the modulation of each of said at least one optical structure is limited by a neighboring optical structure comprised by the surface, wherein said at least one optical structure represents an idealized prismatic structure following a surface path laterally modulated along a length of the idealized prismatic structure,

wherein the modulation comprises a sinsusoidal function modulation, and a phase of the sinusoidal function is randomly or pseudo randomly modulated.

4. A backlight display device comprising:

a light source for generating light;

a light guide for guiding the light therealong including a reflective surface for reflecting the light out of the light guide; and

an optical film comprising;

at least one surface, said at least one surface comprising at least one optical structure having a shape and dimensions, wherein the shape and dimensions of each optical structure represents in part a modulation of a corresponding idealized structure, and wherein said shape and dimensions of each of said at least one optical structure is determined in part by at least one randomly generated component of modulation wherein the modulation of each of said at least one optical structure is limited by a neighboring optical structure comprised by the surface, wherein said at least one optical structure represents an idealized prismatic structure having a peak, the peak following a surface path laterally modulated along a length of the idealized prismatic structure.

5. The backlight display device of claim 4, wherein the optical film comprises an optically transparent film having a second surface opposite to the first surface, the second surface being smooth.

6. A backlight display device comprising:

a light source for generating light;

a light guide for guiding the light therealong including a reflective surface for reflecting the light out of the light guide; and

an optical film comprising;

at least one surface, said at least one surface comprising at least one optical structure having a shape and dimensions, wherein the shape and dimensions of each optical structure represents in part a modulation of a corresponding idealized structure, and wherein said shape and dimensions of each of said at least one optical structure is determined in part by at least one randomly generated component of modulation wherein the modulation of each of said at least one optical structure is limited by a neighboring optical structure comprised by the surface, wherein said at least one optical structure represents an idealized prismatic structure following a surface path laterally modulated along a length of the idealized prismatic structure,

wherein the modulation comprises a sinsusoidal function modulation, and a phase of the sinusoidal function is randomly or pseudo randomly modulated.