Abstract:
A multilayer optical film including a stack of microlayers arranged into optical repeat units. At a design angle of incidence, such as normal incidence, the stack provides a 1st order reflection band, a 2nd order reflection band, and optionally a 3rd order reflection band. The 2nd order reflection band substantially overlaps the 1st and/or 3rd order reflection bands to form a single wide reflection band. The wide reflection band may cover at least a portion of visible and infrared wavelengths. The multilayer optical film may include an additional optical layer which maybe be an anti-glare layer and/or may be an absorbing layer. The multilayer optical film is suitable for use as a window film.
Abstract:
Polarizer stacks are described. More particularly, polarizer stacks that include an absorbing polarizer and multiple reflective polarizers, including at least one collimating reflective polarizer are described. Such polarizer stacks are capable of emitted light that is both collimated and color neutral. Backlights incorporating such polarizer stacks are also described.
Abstract:
A broadband partial reflector includes a multilayer polymeric optical film having a total number of optical repeating units that monotonically increases in thickness value from a first side to a second side of the multilayer polymeric optical film. A baseline optical repeating unit thickness profile is defined by a first plurality of optical repeating units and having a first average slope, and a first apodized thickness profile of the multilayer polymeric optical film is defined by a second plurality of optical repeating units having a second average slope being at least 5 times greater than the first average slope. The second plurality of optical repeating units define the first side of the multilayer polymeric optical film and join the first plurality of optical repeating units. The second plurality of optical repeating units are in a range from 3-15% of the total number of optical repeating units.
Abstract:
Hybrid polarizers are described. More particularly, hybrid polarizers including reflective polarizer portions and hybrid polarizing portions, including embedded absorbing polarizing elements are described. The hybrid polarizers may be used in backlights or display devices.
Abstract:
A film construction (330) includes a broad band reflective polarizing film (312) that may be immersed in an ultra low refractive index medium (332, 334). The reflecting polarizing film is characterized by a pass axis and a block axis, and its reflectivity for white light of the pass state polarization increases with increasing incidence angle to provide a compressed or narrowed viewing cone selectively in one plane of incidence. In some embodiments, the plane of incidence associated with the compressed viewing cone is aligned with the pass axis. In other embodiments it is aligned with the block axis.
Abstract:
A backlight unit (10), for a display or for general Iighting purposes, has a hollow cavity (16) instead of a solid Iight guide. One or more Iight sources (24a-c), e.g. LEDs, emit Iight into the cavity, which is formed by a front (12) and a back reflector (14). The backlight has either a directly-lit or an edge-lit configuration; it can have a Iarge area and still be thin; it consists of fewer components than conventional devices and its design permits the reuse of Iight reflected internally (Iight recycling). The unit emits Iight of a predefined polarisation and its viewing angle properties can be tailored. Light is uniformly distributed within the guide and the guide's output (20b, 20d) is substantially collimated. Such backlights occupy a specific region in a parameter space defined by two parameters: first, the ratio of the output emission area to the total source emission area should lie in the range from 0.0001 to 0.1 ; and second, the ratio of SEP (an average plan view source separation, which is a measure of the average spacing of the Iight sources in the plane of the unit) to the height of the cavity (H) should be in the range from 3 to 10. There is also a discussion of the required number of light sources N, their arrangement near the periphery of the cavity, as well as the shape and size of the output emission area. The backlight exhibits a minimum brightness uniformity (VESA) value, even when a subset of M adjacent sources is switched off (where M is at least 0.1 N or M>2 or both).