Variable pitch structured optical film
Assignee3M Innovative Properties Company
InventorsSanford Cobb, Jr., Mark E. Gardiner, Keith M. Kotchick, Kazuhiko Toyooka, William A. Hibbard
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Abstract
The present invention includes a structured optical film with variable pitch peaks and/or grooves to reduce the visibility of moire interference patterns and optical displays incorporating one or more layers of the film. The pitch variations can be over groups of adjacent peaks and/or valleys or between adjacent pairs of peaks and/or valleys.
Claims35
A structured optical film having a structured surface, wherein the structured surface comprises:
- a) a plurality of generally parallel peaks, each peak having a length and the length of each peak extending substantially uninterrupted across the structured surface, each pair of adjacent peaks being separated by a valley, wherein each of the plurality of peaks has the same dihedral angle;
- b) a first group of three or more adjacent peaks having a first peak pitch;
- and
- c) a second group of adjacent peaks having a second peak pitch, the second group of adjacent peaks being located adjacent to the first group of adjacent peaks, wherein the first peak pitch is different than the second peak pitch.
A structured optical film having a structured surface, wherein the structured surface comprises:
- a) a plurality of generally parallel peaks, each peak having a length and the length of each peak extending substantially uninterrupted across the structured surface, each pair of adjacent peaks being separated by a valley, wherein each of the plurality of peaks has the same dihedral angle;
- b) a first group of three or more adjacent peaks having a first peak pitch;
- and
- c) a second group of three or more adjacent peaks having a second peak pitch, the second group of adjacent peaks being located adjacent to the first group of adjacent peaks, wherein the first peak pitch is different than the second peak pitch.
A structured optical film having a structured optical surface, wherein the structured optical surface comprises:
- a) a plurality of prisms, each of the prisms comprising a peak having a length, a pair of adjacent valleys, and a dihedral angle defined by facets extending from the peak to the pair of adjacent valleys defining the prism, wherein each of the prisms extends substantially uninterrupted across the structured surface along the length of its peak and the dihedral angles of each of the prisms in the plurality of prisms are the same, and further wherein each pair of adjacent prisms are immediately adjacent each other;
- b) a first group of three or more adjacent prisms having a first peak pitch;
- c) a second group of adjacent prisms having a second peak pitch, the second group of adjacent prisms being located adjacent to the first group of adjacent prisms, wherein the first peak pitch is different than the second peak pitch.
An optical display assembly comprising:
- a) a display panel;
- b) a backlight assembly;
- c) a first structured optical film located between the backlight assembly and the display panel, the film having a structured optical surface facing the display panel, the structured optical surface comprising:
- 1) a plurality of prisms, each of the prisms comprising a peak having a length, a pair of adjacent valleys, and a dihedral angle defined by facets extending from the peak to the pair of adjacent valleys defining the prisms, wherein each of the prisms extends substantially uninterrupted across the structured surface along the length of its peak and the dihedral angles of each of the prisms in the plurality of prisms are the same, and further wherein each pair of adjacent prisms are immediately adjacent each other;
- 2) a first group of three or more adjacent peaks having a first peak pitch;
- and
- 3) a second group of adjacent peaks having a second peak pitch, the second group of adjacent peaks being located adjacent to the first group of adjacent peaks, wherein the first peak pitch is different than the second peak pitch.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.