US5825543A
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US
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Diffusely reflecting polarizing element including a first birefringent phase and a second phase
Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Co
•
Filing: 1996-02-29
•
Granted: 1998-10-20
•
Expires: 2016-02-29
Abstract
Abstract An optical film with a disperse phase of polymeric particles disposed within a continuous birefringent matrix. The film is oriented, typically by stretching, in one or more directions. The size and shape of the disperse phase particles, the volume fraction of the disperse phase, the film thickness, and the amount of orientation are chosen to attain a desired degree of diffuse reflection and total transmission of electromagnetic radiation of a desired wavelength in the resulting film.
Inventors
- 👤 Andrew J. Ouderkirk
- 👤 Lockwood W. Carlson
- 👤 Arthur L. Kotz
- 👤 Timothy J. Nevitt
- 👤 Carl A. Stover
- 👤 Michael F. Weber
- 👤 Richard C. Allen
- 👤 Biswaroop Majumdar
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 17:04
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B5/00; G02B5/30; G02B5/3008; G02B5/3025; G02B5/3033; G02B5/3041; G02B5/305; G02B5/3083; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/01; G02F1/13; G02F1/133; G02F1/1333; G02F1/1335; G02F1/133528; G02F1/133545
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 61
Claim 1
Independent Claim
88 words
An optical body, comprising: a first phase having a birefringence of at least about 0.05; and a second phase, disposed within said first phase, whose index of refraction differs from said first phase by greater than about 0.05 along a first axis and by less than about 0.05 along a second axis orthogonal to said first axis; wherein the diffuse reflectivity of said first and second phases taken together along at least one axis for at least one polarization state of electromagnetic radiation is at least about 30%.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
88 words
An optical body, comprising: a first phase having a birefringence of at least about 0.05; and a second phase, disposed within said first phase, whose index of refraction differs from said first phase by greater than about 0.05 along a first axis and by less than about 0.05 along a second axis orthogonal to said first axis; wherein the diffuse reflectivity of said first and second phases taken together along at least one axis for at least one polarization state of electromagnetic radiation is at least about 30%.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The optical body of claim 1, wherein said first phase has a birefringence of at least about 0 1.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The optical body of claim 1, wherein said first phase has a birefringence of at least about 0.15.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The optical body of claim 1, wherein said first phase has a birefringence of at least about 0.2.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The optical body of claim 1, wherein said second phase has a birefringence of less than about 0.02.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The optical body of claim 1, wherein said second phase has a birefringence of less than about 0.01.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
The optical body of claim 1, wherein said second phase has an index of refraction which differs from said first phase by more than about 0.1 along said first axis.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
The optical body of claim 1, wherein said second phase has an index of refraction which differs from said first phase by more than about 0.15 along said first axis.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
The optical body of claim 1, wherein said second phase has an index of refraction which differs from said first phase by more than about 0.2 along said first axis.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
The optical body of claim 1, wherein said second phase has an index of refraction which differs from said first phase by less than about 0.03 along said second axis.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
The optical body of claim 1, wherein said second phase has an index of refraction which differs from said first phase by less than about 0.01 along said second axis.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
35 words
The optical body of claim 1, wherein said first and second phases taken together have a diffuse reflectivity along said at least one axis of at least about 50% for both polarizations of electromagnetic radiation.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
50 words
The optical body of claim 1, wherein said optical body has a total reflectivity of greater than about 50% for a first polarization state of electromagnetic radiation and a total transmission of greater than about 50% for a second polarization state of electromagnetic radiation orthogonal to said first polarization state.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
The optical body of claim 13, wherein said optical body has a total reflectivity of greater than about 60% for said first polarization state of electromagnetic radiation.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
27 words
The optical body of claim 13, wherein said optical body has a total reflectivity of greater than about 70% for said first polarization state of electromagnetic radiation.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
The optical body of claim 13, wherein said optical body has a total transmission of greater than about 60% for said second polarization state of electromagnetic radiation.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
27 words
The optical body of claim 13, wherein said optical body has a total transmission of greater than about 70% for said second polarization state of electromagnetic radiation.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
38 words
The optical body of claim 1, wherein at least about 40% of light polarized orthogonal to a first polarization state of light is transmitted through said optical body with an angle of deflection of less than about 8°.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
38 words
The optical body of claim 1, wherein at least about 60% of light polarized orthogonal to a first polarization state of light is transmitted through said optical body with an angle of deflection of less than about 8°.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
37 words
The optical body of claim 1, wherein at least about 70% of light polarized orthogonal to a first polarization of light is transmitted through said optical body with an angle of deflection of less than about 8°.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
14 words
The optical body of claim 1, wherein said first phase comprises a thermoplastic resin.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
22 words
The optical body of claim 21, wherein said thermoplastic resin is a syndiotactic vinyl aromatic polymer derived from a vinyl aromatic monomer.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
16 words
The optical body of claim 21, wherein said thermoplastic resin comprises interpolymerized units of syndiotactic polystyrene.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
13 words
The optical body of claim 21, wherein said thermoplastic resin comprises polyethylene naphthalate.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
13 words
The optical body of claim 24, wherein said second phase comprises syndiotactic polystyrene.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
17 words
The optical body of claim 21, wherein said second phase also comprises at least one thermoplastic polymer.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
21 words
The optical body of claim 1, wherein said optical body is stretched to a stretch ratio of at least about 2.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
21 words
The optical body of claim 1, wherein said optical body is stretched to a stretch ratio of at least about 4.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
21 words
The optical body of claim 1, wherein said optical body is stretched to a stretch ratio of at least about 6.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
14 words
The optical body of claim 1, wherein said first and second phases are immiscible.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
26 words
The optical body of claim 1, wherein said second phase comprises a plurality of elongated masses whose major axes are substantially aligned along a common axis.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
19 words
The optical body of claim 31, wherein said elongated masses have an aspect ratio of at least about 2.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
19 words
The optical body of claim 31, wherein said elongated masses have an aspect ratio of at least about 5.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
16 words
The optical body of claim 1, wherein said second phase comprises a plurality of rod-like structures.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
17 words
The optical body of claim 1, wherein said optical body is oriented in at least two directions.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
27 words
The optical body of claim 1, wherein said second phase is present in an amount of at least about 1% by volume relative to said first phase.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
28 words
The optical body of claim 1, wherein said second phase is present in an amount of about 5% to about 50% by volume relative to said first phase.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
28 words
The optical body of claim 1, wherein said second phase is present in an amount of about 15% to about 30% by volume relative to said first phase.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
22 words
The optical body of claim 1, wherein said second phase is discontinuous along at least two of any three mutually perpendicular axes.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
18 words
The optical body of claim 1, wherein said second phase is discontinuous along any three mutually perpendicular axes.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
41 words
The optical body of claim 1, wherein the diffuse reflectivity of said first and second phases taken together along at least one axis for at least one polarization state of visible, ultraviolet, or infrared electromagnetic radiation is at least about 30%.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
19 words
The optical body of claim 1, wherein the extinction ratio of said optical body is greater than about 3.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
19 words
The optical body of claim 1, wherein the extinction ratio of said optical body is greater than about 5.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
19 words
The optical body of claim 1, wherein the extinction ratio of said optical body is greater than about 10.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
39 words
The optical body of claim 1, wherein the optical body is a film, and wherein the index difference between said first and second phases is less than about 0.05 along an axis perpendicular to the surface of said film.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
21 words
The optical body of claim 45, wherein the diffusely reflected electromagnetic radiation is distributed anisotropically about the axis of specular reflection.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
60 words
The optical body of claim 46, wherein said optical body is stretched in at least one direction, and wherein the diffusely reflected portion of said at least one polarization state of electromagnetic radiation is distributed primarily along or near the surface of a cone whose axis is centered on the stretch direction and whose surface contains the specularly reflected direction.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
79 words
The optical body of claim 46, wherein said second phase comprises elongated inclusions whose axes of elongation are aligned in a common direction, wherein said optical body is stretched in at least one direction, and wherein the diffusely reflected portion of said at least one polarization state of electromagnetic radiation is distributed primarily along or near the surface- of a cone whose axis is centered on the axis of elongation direction and whose surface contains the specularly reflected direction.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
21 words
The optical body of claim 45, wherein diffusely transmitted the electromagnetic radiation is distributed anisotropically about an axis of specular transmission.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
73 words
The optical body of claim 1, wherein said optical body is stretched in at least one direction, wherein at least about 40% of light polarized orthogonal to a first polarization state of light is diffusely transmitted through said optical body, and wherein said diffusely transmitted rays are distributed primarily along or near the surface of a cone whose surface contains the spectrally transmitted direction and whose axis is centered on the stretch direction.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
79 words
The optical body of claim 1, wherein said second phase comprises elongated inclusions whose axes of elongation are aligned in a common direction, wherein said optical body is stretched in at least one direction, and wherein the diffusely transmitted portion of said at least one polarization state of electromagnetic radiation is distributed primarily along or near the surface of a cone whose axis is centered on the axis of elongation direction and whose surface contains the diffusely transmitted direction.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
39 words
The optical body of claim 1, wherein the optical body is a film, and wherein the index difference between said first and second phases is less than about 0.02 along an axis perpendicular to the surface of said film.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
112 words
An optical body, comprising: a first phase having a birefringence of at least about 0.05; and a second phase, disposed within said first phase; wherein the absolute value of the difference in index of refraction of said first and second phases is Δn 1 , along a first axis and Δn 2 along a second axis orthogonal to said first axis, wherein the absolute value of the difference between Δn 1 , and Δn 2 is at least about 0.05, and wherein the diffuse reflectivity of said first and second phases taken together along at least one axis for at least one polarization state of electromagnetic radiation is at least about 30%.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
112 words
An optical body, comprising: a first phase having a birefringence of at least about 0.05; and a second phase, disposed within said first phase; wherein the absolute value of the difference in index of refraction of said first and second phases is Δn 1 , along a first axis and Δn 2 along a second axis orthogonal to said first axis, wherein the absolute value of the difference between Δn 1 , and Δn 2 is at least about 0.05, and wherein the diffuse reflectivity of said first and second phases taken together along at least one axis for at least one polarization state of electromagnetic radiation is at least about 30%.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
25 words
The optical body of claim 53, wherein wherein the absolute value of the difference between Δn 1 and Δn 2 is at least about 0.1.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
18 words
The optical body of claim 53, wherein said first phase has a larger birefringence than said second phase.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
25 words
The optical body of claim 55, wherein the birefringence of said first phase is at least 0.02 greater than the birefringence of said second phase.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
25 words
The optical body of claim 55, wherein the birefringence of said first phase is at least 0.05 greater than the birefringence of said second phase.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
120 words
An optical body, comprising: a first phase having a birefringence of at least about 0.05; and a second phase which is discontinuous along at least two of any three mutually orthogonal axes; wherein the absolute value of the difference in index of refraction of said first and second phases is Δn 1 , along a first axis and Δn 2 along a second axis orthogonal to said first axis, wherein the absolute value of the difference between Δn 1 , and Δn 2 is at least about 0.05, and wherein the diffuse reflectivity of said first and second phases taken together along at least one axis for at least one polarization state of electromagnetic radiation is at least about 30%.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
120 words
An optical body, comprising: a first phase having a birefringence of at least about 0.05; and a second phase which is discontinuous along at least two of any three mutually orthogonal axes; wherein the absolute value of the difference in index of refraction of said first and second phases is Δn 1 , along a first axis and Δn 2 along a second axis orthogonal to said first axis, wherein the absolute value of the difference between Δn 1 , and Δn 2 is at least about 0.05, and wherein the diffuse reflectivity of said first and second phases taken together along at least one axis for at least one polarization state of electromagnetic radiation is at least about 30%.
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| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-10-19 | 2002-04-20 | 2002-10-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-10-19 | 2006-04-20 | 2006-10-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-10-19 | 2010-04-20 | 2010-10-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |