Display incorporating reflective polarizer

• US 7,852,560 B2
• Filed: 12/04/2008
• Issued: 12/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Cobb, Sanford Jr., Wortman, David I., Weber, Michael F., Ouderkirk, Andrew J., Stover, Carl A., Benson, Olester Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shafer; Ricky D
• Application Number:
  US12/328,127
• Publication Number:
  US 20090079909A1
• Time in Patent Office: 740 Days
• Field of Search: 359/495, 359/497, 359/500, 349/57, 349/61, 349/62, 349/65, 349/96, 349/97, 349/106, 349/113, 362/19, 362/609, 362/611, 362/615, 362/617, 362/561
• US Class Current: 359/489.08
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 55/023 using multilayered plates or sheets
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 11/00 Producing optical elements, e.g. lenses or prisms grinding or polishing of optical elements B24B; constructional form of optical elements G02B; optical parts of spectacles G02C7/00
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2995/003 Reflective
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2995/0034 Polarising
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/08 of synthetic resin
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/36 comprising polyesters
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 7/023 Optical properties
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/283 used for beam splitting or combining
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/3025 Polarisers, i.e. arrangements capable of producing a definite output polarisation state from an unpolarised input state G02B5/3008, G02B5/3016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/305 including organic materials, e.g. polymeric layers
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/3083 Birefringent or phase retarding elements G02B5/3008, G02B5/3016 take precedence; systems for polarisation control G02B27/286; manufacturing phase modulating patterns by lithographic processes G03F7/001
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133536 Reflective polarizers G02F1/13362 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133545 Dielectric stack polarisers
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13362 providing polarized light, e.g. by converting a polarisation component into another one

Abstract

A display includes a liquid crystal display panel, an optical cavity producing substantially collimated light and a birefringent reflective polarizer.

Claims

1. A display comprising:

a liquid crystal display panel;

a light source; and

an asymmetric mirror positioned between the liquid crystal display panel and the light source to receive incident light generated by the light source, wherein the asymmetric mirror is operable to reflect incident light having a first polarization and partially reflect and transmit incident light having a second polarization different than the first polarization, wherein the asymmetric mirror has an average transmission of the first polarization of less than 20% and an average transmission of the second polarization of less than 50%.

2. The display of claim 1, further comprising a structured surface element disposed between the liquid crystal display panel and the light source.

3. The display of claim 1, further comprising a reflective layer positioned to reflect light generated by the light source toward the asymmetric mirror.

4. The display of claim 3, wherein the reflective layer comprises a multilayer polymeric film.

5. The display of claim 3, wherein the reflective layer comprises a multilayer birefringent mirror film.

6. The display of claim 3, wherein the light source is positioned between the reflective layer and the asymmetric mirror.

7. The display of claim 1, wherein the asymmetric mirror comprises a multilayer polymeric film.

8. The display of claim 1, wherein the asymmetric mirror has a % RMS color of less than 10% at 30 degrees from normal.

9. The display of claim 1, wherein the asymmetric mirror has a % RMS color of less than 8% at 30 degrees from normal.

10. The display of claim 1, wherein the asymmetric mirror has a % RMS color of less than 3.5% at 30 degrees from normal.

11. The display of claim 1, wherein the asymmetric mirror is planar.