Optical film assembly and display device

• US 8,168,271 B2
• Filed: 06/18/2010
• Issued: 05/01/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Jones, Clinton L., Kolb, Brant U., Olson, David B., Goenner, Emily S., Hart, Shandon D., Cowher, John T.
• Primary Examiner(s): WU, SHEAN CHIU
• Application Number:
  US12/818,224
• Publication Number:
  US 20100253885A1
• Time in Patent Office: 683 Days
• Field of Search: 428/1.1, 428/1.3, 428/411, 428/1.31, 349/201, 349/96, 359/485.02
• US Class Current: 428/1.31
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 20/00 Nanooptics, e.g. quantum optics or photonic crystals
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 30/00 Nanotechnology for materials or surface science, e.g. nanocomposites
• CPC Class Codes: C08F 2/44 Polymerisation in the presence of compounding ingredients, e.g. plasticisers, dyestuffs, fillers
• CPC Class Codes: C08F 222/1025 of aromatic dialcohols
• CPC Class Codes: C08F 222/103 of trialcohols, e.g. trimethylolpropane tri(meth)acrylate
• 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: G02B 5/02 Diffusing elements; Afocal elements
• 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 6/0053 Prismatic sheet or layer; Brightness enhancement element, sheet or layer
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0065 Manufacturing aspects; Material aspects
• 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 977/84 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: Y10T 428/24355 Continuous and nonuniform or irregular surface on layer or component [e.g., roofing, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24372 : Particulate matter
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31504 : Composite [nonstructural laminate]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31855 : Of addition polymer from unsaturated monomers

Abstract

Microstructured optical films, assemblies of films including at least one microstructured optical film, and (e.g. illuminated) display devices including a single microstructured optical film or assembly.

Claims

1. An assembly comprising a first microstructured reflective polarizing optical film proximate a second microstructured substantially non-polarizing optical film and the relative gain of the first and second optical films is at least 3.33 when the first microstructured reflective polarizing optical film is on top of the second microstructured substantially non-polarizing optical film.

2. A device comprising:

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

(b) the assembly of optical films of claim 1 disposed proximate the light-emitting surface.

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein the lighting device is a backlit display device.

4. The device according to claim 2, wherein the lighting device is a backlit liquid crystal display device.

5. The device according to claim 2, wherein the device is a handheld device, a computer display or a television.

6. The device of claim 2 wherein the device comprises an absorbing polarizer having a pass axis proximate a microstructured optical film comprising a pattern of substantially parallel prisms and the prisms are substantially orthogonal to the pass axis of the absorbing polarizer.

7. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the first or second optical film comprises the reaction product of a polymerizable resin wherein the polymerizable resin has a refractive index of at least 1.61.

8. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the first and second optical film comprises the reaction product of a polymerizable resin wherein the polymerizable resin has a refractive index of at least 1.61.

9. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the first or second optical film comprises a repeating pattern of linear prisms.

10. The assembly of claim 9 wherein the prisms have an apex angle of about 90°

, a mean distance between adjacent apices of about 50 micrometers, and the prisms have heights that are substantially the same or vary.

11. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the first or second optical film comprises the reaction product of a polymerizable composition wherein the polymerizable composition has an absorbance of less than 2.5 for a wavelength of 450 nm and an absorbance of less than 1 for wavelengths ranging from about 575 nm to 800 nm.

12. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the first or second optical film comprises a polymerizable composition comprising surface modified inorganic nanoparticles.

13. The assembly of claim 12 wherein the inorganic nanoparticles comprise zirconia.

14. The assembly of claim 13 wherein the zirconia nanoparticles have a particle size from 5 to 50 nm.

15. The assembly of claim 13 wherein the zirconia nanoparticles have a particle size from 5 to 15 nm.

16. The assembly of claim 12 wherein the nanoparticles comprise a silane surface treatment.

17. The assembly of claim 12 wherein the nanoparticles comprise a carboxylic acid surface treatment.

18. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the first or second optical film comprises a base layer coupled to a microstructured surface comprising the reaction product of a polymerized resin.

19. The assembly of claim 18 where the base layer has a high-index axis and the microstructured surface comprises parallel prisms aligned 90 degrees+/−

20 degrees to the high-index axis of the base layer.

20. The assembly of claim 18 wherein the base layer comprises styrene-acrylonitrile polymer, cellulose triacetate, polymethyl methacrylate, polyester, polycarbonate, polyethylene naphthalate, copolymers of naphthalene dicarboxylic acids, norbornene polymer, or mixtures thereof.