Light directing film

• US 7,950,838 B2
• Filed: 05/31/2006
• Issued: 05/31/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Johnson, Todd M., Marushin, Patrick H., Toma, Tetsuya
• Primary Examiner(s): AMARI, ALESSANDRO V
• Application Number:
  US11/421,342
• Publication Number:
  US 20070279773A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,826 Days
• Field of Search: 359/599, 362/617, 362/618, 362/620, 362/627, 349/57, 349/64, 349/95, 349/112
• US Class Current: 362/620
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/045 Prism arrays
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0053 Prismatic sheet or layer; Brightness enhancement element, sheet or layer
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133504 Diffusing, scattering, diffracting elements associated to illuminating devices G02F1/133606

Abstract

A light directing film and an optical system incorporating same are disclosed. The light directing film includes a first major surface and a microstructured second major surface. The microstructured second major surface has at least two periodic microstructured patterns. The first periodic pattern is arranged along a first direction. The second periodic pattern is arranged along a second direction different from the first direction.

Claims

1. A light directing film, comprising:

a first major surface; and

a microstructured second major surface comprising a plurality of linear prisms extending along a third direction different than first and second directions, the microstructured second major surface having at least two periodic microstructured patterns, a first of the at least two periodic microstructured patterns being arranged along a first direction with a first period, a second of the at least two periodic microstructured patterns being arranged along a second direction with a second period, the second direction being different from the first direction.

2. The light directing film of claim 1, wherein all microstructures in the first and second periodic patterns extend along a third direction, the third direction being different from the first and second directions.

3. The light directing film of claim 1, wherein at least one microstructure in each of the first and second periodic patterns has a prismatic profile.

4. The light directing film of claim 1, wherein the second of the at least two periodic microstructured patterns forms a two-dimensional periodic pattern.

5. The light directing film of claim 1, wherein each microstructure in the first and second periodic microstructured patterns has a peak and a peak height measured from the peak to a common reference plane disposed between the first and second major surfaces, and wherein the height of at least one microstructure in the first periodic pattern is different from the height of at least one microstructure in the second periodic pattern.

6. The light directing film of claim 1, further comprising a third of the at least two periodic microstructured patterns arranged along a third direction with a third period, the third direction being different from the first and second directions.

7. A light guide assembly for use in a liquid crystal display, the light guide assembly comprising at least one light directing film of claim 1.