TRANSREFLECTORS, TRANSREFLECTOR SYSTEMS AND DISPLAYS AND METHODS OF MAKING TRANSREFLECTORS

• US 20090290218A1
• Filed: 08/06/2009
• Published: 11/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/1999
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Rambus Delaware LLC (Rambus Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Rambus Delaware LLC (Rambus Inc.)
• Inventors: McCollum, Timothy A., Parker, Jeffery R.
• Application Number:
  US12/536,544
• Publication Number:
  US 20090290218A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/580
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/309 using white LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0044 by the sight sense
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 21/02 for inducing sleep or relaxation, e.g. by direct nerve stimulation, hypnosis, analgesia for massage A61H; electrotherapy A61N, e.g. applying alternating or intermittent electric currents for producing anaesthesia A61N1/36021
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/063 comprising light transmitting means, e.g. optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0652 Arrays of diodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0621 Hyperbilirubinemia, jaundice treatment
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/00 Refractors for light sources characterised by cooling arrangements F21V29/504
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0018 Redirecting means on the surface of the light guide
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/002 by shaping at least a portion of the light guide, e.g. with collimating, focussing or diverging surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0021 for housing at least a part of the light source, e.g. by forming holes or recesses
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0028 Light guide, e.g. taper
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0031 Reflecting element, sheet or layer
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0036 2-D arrangement of prisms, protrusions, indentations or roughened surfaces
• 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 6/0043 provided on the surface of the light guide
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0053 Prismatic sheet or layer; Brightness enhancement element, sheet or layer
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0056 for producing polarisation effects, e.g. by a surface with polarizing properties or by an additional polarizing elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/006 to produce indicia, symbols, texts or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0061 to provide homogeneous light output intensity
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0065 Manufacturing aspects; Material aspects
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0068 : Arrangements of plural sources, e.g. multi-colour light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133555 : Transflectors
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133615 : Edge-illuminating devices, i.e. illuminating from the side
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/062 : Light conductor
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/07 : transparent

Abstract

Optical member includes at least two layers of different indices of refraction. At least one of the layers has optical deformities at an interface between at least the two layers.

Claims

1. An optical member comprising a panel, film or substrate having at least two transparent layers of different indices of refraction, wherein at least one of the layers has optical deformities at an interface between at least the two layers.

2. The optical member of claim 1 wherein the at least two layers have mating sides, the optical deformities are on one of the mating sides, and an inverse pattern of the optical deformities are on the other mating side.

3. The optical member of claim 2 wherein the pattern and inverse pattern of optical deformities comprise at least one of prismatic grooves, lenticular grooves, cross grooves, and individual optical deformities of well defined shape.

4. The optical member of claim 3 wherein the individual optical deformities have at least one of the following shapes:

pyramidal, frusto-pyramidal, planar with rounded sides, conical, frusto-conical, oppositely sloping sides with oppositely rounded ends, and semispherical.

5. The optical member of claim 1 wherein the optical deformities vary.

6. The optical member of claim 1 wherein at least one of the layers is a coating.

7. The optical member of claim 1 wherein additional optical deformities or texture are on an outer surface of at least one of the layers.

8. The optical member of claim 7 wherein the additional optical deformities or texture are on outer surfaces of the at least two layers.

9. The optical member of claim 1 which includes more than two layers.

10. The optical member of claim 1 wherein the interface between the at least two layers is provided with at least one of a film, a UV curable layer, a coating, an anti-reflective coating, a metalized coating, and a polarization coating.

11. The optical member of claim 10 wherein the interface has a different index of refraction than the at least two layers.

12. The optical member of claim 1 wherein at least one of a diffuser, a brightness enhancement film, additional optical deformities, and a texture is applied to an outer surface of at least one of the layers.

13. The optical member of claim 1 which is an optical wave guide.

14. The optical member of claim 1 which is an optical film.