US Patent Application 18245290. Integral Multilayer Optical Film simplified abstract

Integral Multilayer Optical Film

Organization Name

3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY

Inventor(s)

Carl A. Stover of St. Paul MN (US)

Kristopher J. Derks of Woodbury MN (US)

Benjamin J. Forsythe of Stillwater MN (US)

Stephen A. Johnson of Woodbury MN (US)

Derek W. Patzman of Prior Lake MN (US)

David T. Yust of Woodbury MN (US)

Steven H. Kong of Woodbury MN (US)

Integral Multilayer Optical Film - A simplified explanation of the abstract

This abstract first appeared for US patent application 18245290 titled 'Integral Multilayer Optical Film

Simplified Explanation

The patent application describes an optical film with multiple layers that can control the transmission of light in different directions.

• The optical film consists of interference layers, a structured layer, and a barrier layer.
• The structured layer contains particles dispersed in a binder, which are responsible for creating surface roughness.
• The barrier layer is positioned between the structured layer and the interference layers and is co-extruded with them.
• The first major surface of the structured layer, facing away from the interference layers, has a higher surface roughness than the second major surface facing the interference layers.
• When the optical film is illuminated, it has a higher average effective transmission (T) when the first major surface faces the light source.
• When the first major surface faces away from the light source, the optical film has a lower average effective transmission (T).
• The difference between the two average effective transmissions (T-T) is at least 5%.

Original Abstract Submitted

An integral multilayer optical film includes a plurality of interference layers; a structured layer disposed on the interference layers and including a plurality of particles dispersed in a binder; and a barrier layer disposed between the structured layer and the interference layers and co-extruded with the interference layers and the structured layer. The structured layer has a first major surface facing away from the interference layers and a second major surface facing the interference layers. The barrier layer causes the particles to impart a greater surface roughness to the first major surface than the second major surface so that when the optical film is illuminated with a light source, the optical film has a first average effective transmission T when the first major surface faces the light source and a second average effective transmission T when the first major surface faces away from the light source, where T-T≥5%.