Durable optical element

• US 7,713,597 B2
• Filed: 03/12/2009
• Issued: 05/11/2010
• 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 CHIU
• Application Number:
  US12/402,525
• Publication Number:
  US 20090176061A1
• Time in Patent Office: 425 Days
• Field of Search: 428/1.1, 428/1.3, 428/1.52, 428/913, 428/164, 264/337, 977/778, 977/779, 977/840, 977/952
• US Class Current: 428/1.3
• 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. An optical film comprising a polymerized resin and plurality of surface modified nanoparticles of silica, zirconia, or mixtures thereof, wherein the optical film comprises a microstructured surface having a plurality of alternating zones of prism elements having peaks that are spaced at different distances from a common reference plane.

2. The optical film of claim 1 wherein the microstructured surface comprises alternating zones of shorter and taller prism elements and the zone of shorter prism elements is at least as wide as the zone of taller prism elements.

3. The optical film of claim 2 wherein the zone of taller prism elements is between 1 and 4000 microns.

4. The optical film of claim 2 wherein the zone of shorter prisms elements is between 200 and 4000 microns.

5. The optical film of claim 1 wherein portions of prism elements comprise peaks disposed at varying heights above a common reference plane.

6. The optical film of claim 5 wherein the microstructured surface comprises a zone of shorter prism elements separated by a zone including a single taller prism element.

7. The optical film of claim 6 wherein the taller prism element limits the physical proximity of a second sheet of film to the microstructured surface.

8. The optical film of claim 1 wherein the prism elements are approximately the same size arranged in a repeating stair step or ramp pattern.

9. The optical film of claim 8 wherein repeating stair step or ramp pattern comprises a zone of higher prisms and the zone has a width of less than 300 microns.

10. The optical film of claim 1 wherein the microstructured surface comprises alternating zones of shorter and taller prism elements and the zone of shorter prism elements comprises elements of varying height.

11. The optical film of claim 1 wherein the surface modified nanoparticle have a particle size of greater than 1 nm and less than 100 nm.

12. The optical film of claim 1 wherein the nanoparticles comprise silica nanoparticles.

13. The optical film of claim 12 wherein the silica nanoparticles comprise a silane surface treatment.

14. The optical film of claim 1 wherein the nanoparticles comprise zirconia.

15. The optical film of claim 14 wherein the zirconia nanoparticles comprise a silane surface treatment.

16. The optical film of claim 14 wherein the zirconia nanoparticles comprise a carboxylic acid surface treatment.

17. The optical film of claim 1 wherein the nanoparticles comprise silica and zirconia.

18. The optical film of claim 1 wherein the nanoparticles further comprise zirconia, titania, antimony oxides, alumina, tin oxides, mixed metal oxides thereof, or mixtures thereof.

19. The optical film of claim 1 wherein the optical film is a brightness enhancing film.

20. The optical film of claim 18 wherein the microstructured surface comprises light-diffusing elements.

21. An optical film comprising a polymerized resin and a plurality of surface modified colloidal zirconia nanoparticles wherein the zirconia nanoparticles comprise a surface treatment agent consisting of carboxylic acid.

22. The optical film of claim 21 wherein the resin has a refractive index of at least 1.50.

23. The optical film of claim 21 wherein the polymerized resin composition has a refractive index greater than 1.56.

24. The optical film of claim 21 wherein the optical film is a brightness enhancing film.

25. The optical film of claim 21 wherein the optical film comprises a microstructured surface that comprises light-diffusing elements.

26. The optical film of claim 21 wherein at least one surface treatment agent is 2-[2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethoxy]acetic acid.