Patent · US Expired

Light control device

US6398370B1 · kind B1 · utility

125Cited by
13References
18Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateNov 15, 2000
Grant dateJun 4, 2002
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 15, 2020

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10T428/24612
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A light control device is disclosed that includes a two film construction, each film having a plurality of light absorbing regions. For example, the light absorbing elements can be a series of grooves or column-like indentations in the films that are filled or coated with a light absorbing material. The two films can be adjacently disposed so that their respective light absorbing regions form a plurality of light absorbing elements that extend along the thickness direction of the device. The light absorbing elements allow a viewer to view an image through the light control device within a range of viewing angles while blocking a view of the image outside that range of viewing angles. The two film construction allows for relative ease of manufacture as well as the ability to form light absorbing elements that can provide better viewing uniformity throughout a typical viewing range, a sharp privacy viewing cut off, and reduced ghost image formation.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.