Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080197518 | Shaped article with polymer domains and process - A process for making a multiphase birefringent film and resulting shaped article comprise (a) a first polymeric material forming a continuous phase in all directions and (b) a second polymeric material that is continuous in only one direction disposed within the first phase, the second polymeric material being predominately curvilinear in shape and substantially extending the length of the film, at least one of the phases being birefringent and the two phases being substantially matched in refractive index in at least one direction | 08-21-2008 |
20080259634 | DOUBLE-SIDED TURNING FILM - A backlight device for a display comprising (1) a side-lit light source, (2) a light guide plate and (3) a turning film comprising a light entry and a light exit surface comprising lenticular elements on the exit surface and prismatic structures on the entry surface, wherein the average values of the parameters of the features and the thickness of the film are selected to provide a peak output angle of ±10° from normal to the light exit surface of the light guide plate and an optical gain of at least 1.25. Also disclosed are methods of making the turning film and a display incorporating the backlight. | 10-23-2008 |
20080310003 | TURNING FILM, DISPLAY APPARATUS, AND PROCESS - A light redirecting article for redirecting light toward comprises:
| 12-18-2008 |
20090040771 | Thin light guiding plate and methods of manufacturing - The present invention provides a composite light guiding plate comprising a light guiding layer comprising an incident face for receiving light from at least one light source, a light guiding output surface that is also generally orthogonal to the incident face, a featured surface, opposite the light-guiding output surface and generally orthogonal to the input face for redirecting light through the light guiding output surface. Further, the featured surface comprises a plurality of rows of linear prismatic structures extended in a length direction that is substantially perpendicular to the incident face and having height and width dimensions of 10 to 200 microns and wherein the length-to-width aspect ratio of the linear prismatic structures is greater than 100:1 the thickness of the light guiding layer is less than 1 mm. Further, the plate is formed from polymeric materials comprising polyesters, amorphous polyesters, polyarylates, polycarbonates, polyamides, polyether-amides, polyamide-imides, polyimides, polyetherimides, cyclic olefin polymers, impact-modified polymethacrylates, polyacrylates, polyacrylonitrile, polystyrenes, polyethers, cellulosics, sulfur-containing polymers and blends or alloys of two or more polymers or copolymers thereof. Additionally, the plate comprises a light extraction layer comprising an input surface having a plurality of protruding light extraction features that have tips that are bonded to the light-guiding output surface of the light guiding layer and provide optical contact between the light guiding and light extraction layers and an illumination output surface for providing light output from the composite illumination plate. Further, the thickness of the light extraction layer is less than 1 mm and wherein one or more channels of air or other gas are sandwiched between the light guiding layer and the light extraction layer. | 02-12-2009 |
20090323184 | Dissfusely-reflecting polarizer having nearly isotropic continuous phase - The present invention provides a diffusely-reflecting polarizer comprising:
| 12-31-2009 |
20100110342 | Novel turning film for liquid crystal displays - The present invention provides a light redirecting article for redirecting light toward a target angle, the light redirecting article comprising: an input surface comprising a plurality of light redirecting structures. Each light redirecting structure has (i) a near surface having two slopes, sloping away from normal in one direction as defined by a first inclination base angle β | 05-06-2010 |
20110095442 | THIN LIGHT GUIDING PLATE AND METHODS OF MANUFACTURING - The present invention provides a composite light guiding plate comprising a light guiding layer comprising an incident face for receiving light from at least one light source, a light guiding output surface that is also generally orthogonal to the incident face, a featured surface, opposite the light-guiding output surface and generally orthogonal to the input face for redirecting light through the light guiding output surface. Further, the featured surface comprises a plurality of rows of linear prismatic structures extended in a length direction that is substantially perpendicular to the incident face and having height and width dimensions of 10 to 200 microns and wherein the length-to-width aspect ratio of the linear prismatic structures is greater than 100:1 the thickness of the light guiding layer is less than 1 mm. Further, the plate is formed from polymeric materials comprising polyesters, amorphous polyesters, polyarylates, polycarbonates, polyamides, polyether-amides, polyamide-imides, polyimides, polyetherimides, cyclic olefin polymers, impact-modified polymethacrylates, polyacrylates, polyacrylonitrile, polystyrenes, polyethers, cellulosics, sulfur-containing polymers and blends or alloys of two or more polymers or copolymers thereof. Additionally, the plate comprises a light extraction layer comprising an input surface having a plurality of protruding light extraction features that have tips that are bonded to the light-guiding output surface of the light guiding layer and provide optical contact between the light guiding and light extraction layers and an illumination output surface for providing light output from the composite illumination plate. Further, the thickness of the light extraction layer is less than 1 mm and wherein one or more channels of air or other gas are sandwiched between the light guiding layer and the light extraction layer. | 04-28-2011 |
20110115109 | Method of manufacturing a reflective polarizer - The present invention provides a method for manufacturing a diffusely reflecting polarizer, comprising: extruding and stretching a film containing a first polymer having a birefringence of less than 0.02, with said first polymer being a substantially amorphous nano-composite material, and a second polymer, the first polymer being a major phase, and the second polymer being a dispersed minor phase, wherein said first and second polymers taken together along a first axis for one polarization state of electromagnetic radiation exhibit a diffuse reflectivity R | 05-19-2011 |
20110116167 | Diffusely-reflecting polarizer having substantially amorphous nano-composite major phase - The present invention provides a diffusely reflecting polarizer comprising a layer containing: a first polymer being a substantially amorphous nano-composite material and being a major phase having a birefringence of less than about 0.02, and a second polymer being a dispersed minor phase within the first polymer major phase, the major and minor phases differing in index of refraction by more than about 0.05 along a first axis and by less than about 0.05 along a second axis orthogonal to said first axis; wherein the major phase comprises a continuous amorphous phase and at least one additional phase dispersed into domains within said continuous amorphous phase, the domains having characteristic dimensions smaller than the wavelength of light such that these domains do not contribute to scattering of light passing through the first polymer; wherein the diffuse reflectivity of said first and second polymers taken together along at least one axis for at least one polarization state of electromagnetic radiation is at least about 50%. | 05-19-2011 |
20110242847 | LAMINATED DOUBLE-SIDED LIGHT GUIDE PLATE - The present invention provides a light guide plate having an input surface for receiving light from a light source, a micro-patterned output surface for emitting light, and a micro-patterned bottom surface opposing to the output surface, made in steps comprising: extruding a first resin into the nip between a first pressure roller and a first patterned roller to form a first layer. Extruding a second resin into the nip between a second pressure roller and a second patterned roller to form a second layer. Laminating the first layer and the second layer at their unpatterned surfaces to form an optical sheet comprising a plurality of light guide plate patterns, and cutting and finishing the optical sheet into a plurality of double-sided light guide plates having the specified length and width dimensions. | 10-06-2011 |
20110242848 | PRINTED DOUBLE-SIDED LIGHT GUIDE PLATE - The present invention provides a light guide plate having an input surface for receiving light from a light source, a micro-patterned output surface for emitting light, and a micro-patterned bottom surface opposing to the output surface, made in steps comprising: extruding a resin into the nip between a pressure roller and a patterned roller to form a layer at a patterned roller surface temperature T1 and a nip pressure P1, the layer having an un-patterned surface and a patterned surface, the patterned surface having a pattern transferred from the patterned roller. Printing a discrete pattern on the un-patterned surface of the layer to form an optical sheet comprising a plurality of light guide plate patterns, and cutting and finishing the said optical sheet into a plurality of double-sided light guide plates having the specified length and width dimensions. | 10-06-2011 |
20110242849 | THIN DOUBLE-SIDED LIGHT GUIDE PLATE - The present invention provides a light guide plate having an input surface for receiving light from a light source, a micro-patterned output surface for emitting light, and a micro-patterned bottom surface opposing to the output surface, made in steps comprising: extruding a first resin into the nip between a first pressure roller and a first patterned roller to form a first layer. Extruding a second resin into the nip between a second pressure roller and a second patterned roller and onto the unpatterned surface of the first layer to form a second layer. The second layer having a pattern transferred from the second patterned roller; the combined first and second layers form an optical sheet comprising a plurality of light guide plate patterns and cutting and finishing the optical sheet into a plurality of double-sided light guide plates having the specified length and width dimensions. | 10-06-2011 |
20110242850 | DOUBLE-SIDED LIGHT GUIDE PLATE MANUFACTURED WITH MICRO-PATTERNED CARRIER - The present invention provides a light guide plate having an input surface for receiving light from a light source, a micro-patterned output surface for emitting light, and a micro-patterned bottom surface opposing to the output surface, made in steps comprising: extruding a resin into the nip between a patterned roller and a patterned carrier film at a nip pressure P | 10-06-2011 |
20110242851 | DOUBLE-SIDED LIGHT GUIDE PLATE MANUFACTURED WITH PATTERNED ROLLERS - The present invention provides a light guide plate having an input surface for receiving light from a light source, a micro-patterned output surface for emitting light, and a micro-patterned bottom surface opposing to the output surface. The invention provides extruding a resin into the nip between a first patterned roller and a second patterned roller at a first patterned roller surface temperature T | 10-06-2011 |
20120161344 | METHOD OF MANUFACTURING A DIFFUSELY-REFLECTING POLARIZER HAVING A NEARLY ISOTROPIC CONTINUOUS PHASE - The present invention provides a method for manufacturing a diffusely reflecting polarizer, comprising the steps of: coextruding first and second polymers through a chaotic mixer and a sheeting die to produce a cast sheet with a desired blend morphology and stretching said cast sheet to produce a composite film containing a first polymer having a birefringence of less than 0.02, with said first polymer being an amorphous material and a continuous phase, and a second polymer which forms a dispersed phase, and having an index of refraction that differs from said continuous phase by greater than about 0.05 along a first axis and by less than about 0.05 along a second axis orthogonal to said first axis, wherein said first and second polymers taken together along a first axis for one polarization state of electromagnetic radiation exhibit a diffuse reflectivity R | 06-28-2012 |
20120161345 | METHOD OF MANUFACTURING A DIFFUSELY-REFLECTING POLARIZER HAVING A SUBSTANTIALLY AMORPHOUS NANO-COMPOSITE CONTINUOUS PHASE - The present invention provides a method for manufacturing a diffusely reflecting polarizer, comprising the steps of: coextruding first and second polymers through a chaotic mixer and a sheeting die to produce a cast sheet with a desired blend morphology and stretching said cast sheet to produce a composite film containing a first polymer having a birefringence of less than 0.02, with said first polymer being a substantially amorphous nano-composite material, and a second polymer, the first polymer being a major phase, and the second polymer being a dispersed minor phase, wherein said first and second polymers taken together along a first axis for one polarization state of electromagnetic radiation exhibit a diffuse reflectivity R | 06-28-2012 |
20130277870 | METHOD OF MANUFACTURING A NANO-LAYERED LIGHT GUIDE PLATE - The present invention provides a method of manufacturing a nano-layered light guide plate comprising, forming by a coextrusion method a multi-layered molten sheet comprising a plurality of two or more different alternating material layers and casting the coextruded sheet into a nip between a pressure roller and a pattern roller to form a nano-layered sheet having a discrete micro-pattern on at least one principal surface thereof. In addition, the invention further provides cutting and finishing the extruded micro-patterned sheet to form the nano-layered light guide plate, comprising a plurality of two or more different alternating material layers, with each layer having a thickness of less than a quarter wavelength of visible light. | 10-24-2013 |
20130279196 | NANO-LAYERED LIGHT GUIDE PLATE - The present invention provides a nano-layered light guide plate comprising a light input surface for receiving light from at least one light source, a bottom surface comprising a plurality of discrete surface features for extracting the received light and a light output surface for emitting the extracted light, the light guide plate further comprising a plurality of two or more different alternating layers wherein the layers have a thickness less than a quarter wavelength of visible light. | 10-24-2013 |
20140092632 | COMPOSITE LIGHT GUIDE PLATE - The present invention provides a composite light guide plate having a thickness of more than about 1 mm, for use in LCD backlights or in general illumination devices. In the fabrication method of the present invention the extrusion roll molding process is combined with coating and lamination steps to enable a cost effective roll-to-roll or roll-to-sheet manufacture of the thick composite light guide plate wherein one or both principal surfaces of the light guide plate contain a pattern to enable extraction and redirection of light by the light guide plate from a light source or multiple light sources placed at one or multiple edges of the light guide plate. The composite light guide plate comprises a patterned film and a pre-cut sheet joined together by an adhesive layer. In order to attain good light extraction efficiency the adhesive layer and the two constituent layers of the light guide plate must be optically matched such that the refractive indices of any two of the three materials of the composite light guide plate can differ by no more than 0.01. | 04-03-2014 |
20140093650 | METHOD OF MANUFACTURING A COMPOSITE LIGHT GUIDE - The present invention provides an extrusion casting method for making composite light guide plates with a thickness of more than about 1 mm, for use in LCD backlights or in general illumination devices. In the fabrication method of the present invention the extrusion roll molding process is combined with coating and lamination steps to enable a cost effective roll-to-roll or roll-to-sheet manufacture of thick composite light guide plates wherein one or both principal surfaces of the light guide plate contain a pattern to enable extraction and redirection of light by the light guide plate from a light source or multiple light sources placed at one or multiple edges of the light guide plate. The composite light guide plate comprises a patterned film and a pre-cut sheet joined together by an adhesive layer. In order to attain good light extraction efficiency the adhesive layer and the two constituent layers of the light guide plate must be optically matched such that the refractive indices of any two of the three materials of the composite light guide plate can differ by no more than 0.01. | 04-03-2014 |