Polarization preserving projection screen with engineered particle and method for making same

• US 8,194,315 B2
• Filed: 12/22/2010
• Issued: 06/05/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: RealD Incorporated
• Original Assignee: RealD Incorporated, Wavefront Technology, Inc.
• Inventors: Sharp, Gary D., Coleman, David A., Petersen, Joel, Rich, Christopher, Lewandowski, Raymond Jacob
• Primary Examiner(s): LaBalle, Clayton E
• Assistant Examiner(s): Butler, Kevin
• Application Number:
  US12/976,986
• Publication Number:
  US 20110149389A1
• Time in Patent Office: 531 Days
• Field of Search: 359/129, 359/443, 359/452, 427/180, 427/194, 430/321, 117/22, 252/463
• US Class Current: 359/452
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 11/0074 Production of other optical elements not provided for in B29D11/00009- B29D11/0073
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/604 Polarised screens
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1052 with cutting, punching, tearing or severing

Abstract

Polarization preserving projection screens provide optimum polarization preservation for 3D viewing. The projection screens additionally provide improved light control for enhanced brightness, uniformity, and contrast for both 2D and 3D systems. Generally, the disclosed method for providing a projection screen comprises embossing at least a first side of a first substrate to produce an optically functional material and then cutting the optically functional material into pieces to produce a plurality of engineered particles. The plurality of engineered particles may then be deposited on a second substrate to produce a substantially homogeneous optical appearance of the projection screen.

Claims

1. A method for providing a projection screen, the method comprising:

embossing at least a first side of a first substrate to produce an optically functional material;

cutting the optically functional material into pieces to produce a plurality of engineered particles;

combining the plurality of engineered particles with a binder to produce a coating;

matching the refractive index of the first substrate and the binder; and

depositing the plurality of engineered particles on a second substrate to produce a substantially homogeneous optical appearance of the projection screen.

2. A method for providing a projection screen, the method comprising:

embossing at least a first side of a first substrate to produce an optically functional material;

cutting the optically functional material into pieces to produce a plurality of engineered particles; and

depositing the plurality of engineered particles on a second substrate to produce a substantially homogeneous optical appearance of the projection screen, wherein the second substrate has an adhesive layer.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the adhesive layer is a pressure sensitive adhesive.

4. A method for providing a projection screen, the method comprising:

embossing at least a first side of a first substrate to produce an optically functional material, wherein the first substrate has a thickness in the range of five to fifty microns;

cutting the optically functional material into pieces to produce a plurality of engineered particles; and

depositing the plurality of engineered particles on a second substrate to produce a substantially homogeneous optical appearance of the projection screen.

5. A method for providing a projection screen, the method comprising:

embossing at least a first side of a first substrate;

embossing at least a first side of a second substrate, wherein the first and second substrate have a thickness range of 5 to 50 microns;

laminating the first substrate and the second substrate together to produce an optically functional material;

cutting the optically functional material into pieces to produce engineered particles; and

depositing the engineered particles on a third substrate to produce a substantially homogeneous optical appearance of the projection screen.

6. A method for providing a projection screen, the method comprising:

embossing at least a first side of a first substrate;

embossing at least a first side of a second substrate;

laminating the first substrate and the second substrate together to produce an optically functional material;

combining the plurality of engineered particles with a binder to produce a coating;

matching the refractive index of the first substrate and the binder;

cutting the optically functional material into pieces to produce engineered particles; and

depositing the engineered particles on a third substrate to produce a substantially homogeneous optical appearance of the projection screen.

7. A method for providing a projection screen, the method comprising:

embossing at least a first side of a first substrate;

embossing at least a first side of a second substrate;

wherein the second substrate has a adhesive layer;

laminating the first substrate and the second substrate together to produce an optically functional material;

cutting the optically functional material into pieces to produce engineered particles; and

depositing the engineered particles on a third substrate to produce a substantially homogeneous optical appearance of the projection screen.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the adhesive layer is a pressure sensitive adhesive.

9. A projection screen with a substantially homogeneous appearance, wherein the substantially homogeneous appearance is achieved through web shuffling, the projection screen comprising:

a first substrate; and

a coating adjacent to the first substrate, the coating comprising a plurality of engineered particles produced by cutting an optically functional material into pieces, wherein the plurality of engineered particles are operable to primarily in behavior of light, further wherein the optically functional material further comprises a second substrate has a thickness in the range of five to fifty microns.