IP Library Granted Patent US 12687663
Granted Patent B2
US 12687663 · App. 17/266,858 · Granted Jul 21, 2026

Light control film having second louvers inclined with respect to first louvers

Inventors: Mark A. Roehrig (Stillwater, MN); Zhaohui Yang (North Oaks, MN); Tri Dinh Pham (Woodbury, MN); Cynthia Y. Tamaki (Arden Hills, MN); Owen M. Anderson (Minneapolis, MN); Robert Bennett (Berkshire, GB)
Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
G02B5/003G02B5/045G02B5/201G02B5/22G02B17/002G02B17/006G02F1/133524G02B5/223G02B2207/123
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12687663
App. No.
17/266,858
Granted
Jul 21, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A light control film includes a first portion and a second portion laminated to the first portion. The first portion includes a first functional substrate and a plurality of first louvers formed on the first functional substrate. The first functional substrate includes at least one of an optically active layer and a barrier layer. The second portion includes a second functional substrate disposed distal to the first functional substrate and a plurality of second louvers formed on the second functional substrate. The second functional substrate includes at least one of an optically active layer and a barrier layer. The plurality of first louvers extend along a first direction and the plurality of second louvers extend along a second direction. The first direction and the second direction are inclined to each other at an angle that lies within a range from about 70 degrees to about 110 degrees.

Claims (18)

1 . A light control film comprising:

a first portion including:

a first functional substrate, wherein the first functional substrate includes at least one of an optically active layer and a barrier layer; and

a first louver structure micro-replicated directly on the first functional substrate, the first louver comprising a plurality of first louvers defined by grooves in an optically clear cured resin between alternating ribs, wherein each of the plurality of first louvers is at least partially filled with a light absorbing material; and

a second portion laminated to the first portion, the second portion including:

a second functional substrate disposed distal to the first functional substrate, wherein the second functional substrate includes at least one of an optically active layer and a barrier layer; and

a second louver structure micro-replicated directly on the second functional substrate, the second louver structure comprising a plurality of second louvers defined by grooves in an optically clear cured resin between alternating ribs, wherein each of the plurality of second louvers is at least partially filled with the light absorbing material;

wherein the plurality of first louvers extend along a first direction and the plurality of second louvers extend along a second direction, and wherein the first direction and the second direction are inclined to each other at an angle that lies within a range from about 70 degrees to about 110 degrees, and wherein the plurality of first louvers and the plurality of second louvers are disposed between the first functional substrate and the second functional substrate and laminated to each other directly by an adhesive layer.

2 . The light control film of claim 1 , wherein the light control film has a viewing angle of less than about 40 degrees centered on an axis of peak transmission of the light control film, and wherein the transmission of the light control film at an incidence angle greater than half of the viewing angle is substantially zero.

3 . The light control film of claim 1 , wherein the light control film has a transmission at normal incidence greater than about 5% throughout all of a wavelength range from about 400 nm to about 700 nm.

4 . The light control film of claim 1 , wherein the first functional substrate is a multilayer optical film.

5 . The light control film of claim 1 , wherein the second functional substrate is a gas barrier film.

6 . The light control film of claim 1 , wherein the first portion and the second portion are laminated to each other by a layer of an optically clear adhesive (OCA) disposed between the plurality of first louvers and the plurality of second louvers.

7 . The light control film of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of first louvers has a tapered shape.

8 . The light control film of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of second louvers has a tapered shape.

9 . The light control film of claim 1 , further comprising first land formed during micro-replication that directly connects the first louver structure to the first functional substrate.

10 . The light control film of claim 1 , further comprising a second land formed during micro-replication that directly connects the second louver structure to the second functional substrate.

11 . An optical device using the light control film of claim 1 , comprising a cover lens and a display layer disposed adjacent to the cover lens, wherein the light control film is disposed adjacent to the display layer.