Optical films having at least one particle-containing layer

US6268961A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY · US

Inventors

• Timothy J. Nevitt · Red Wing, US
• Carl A. Stover · Okabena, US
• William L. Kausch · Cottage Grove, US
• Guy M. Kallman · Woodbury, US
• Robert W. Horn · Woodbury, US
• Timothy J. Hebrink · Scandia, US
• James A. Olson · Delta, CA
• Mark B. O'Neill · New Brighton, US
• Elisa M. Cross · Windom, US
• Susan L. Kent · Shorewood, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Feb 4, 2000
• Grant date: Jul 31, 2001
• Expiry date: Feb 4, 2020

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10S359/90
• WIPO field: Optics
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

An optical film includes a reflective polarizing element and a particle-containing layer. The reflective polarizing element substantially reflects light having a first polarization state and substantially transmits a second polarization state. The particle-containing layer is disposed on the reflective polarizing element and in a same optical path as the reflective polarizing element. The particle-containing layer is configured and arranged to transmit light and includes a plurality of particles that roughen an exterior surface of the optical film. Preferably, using the optical film in an optical device does not substantially reduce the gain advantage of the optical device when compared with an optical device utilizing the same optical film without particles in the surface layer. Also described are optical devices using the optical film and methods of making and using the optical films.