Polarizing plate with melanin
View Patent ↗The present invention is directed to the incorporation of melanin in an optical article with polarization properties. Such an article includes a first polymer layer containing a polarizing agent, a second polymer layer containing melanin and wherein the second polymer layer is disposed upon the first polymer layer.
1. An optical laminate element comprising:
a first polymer layer containing a polarizing agent, one side of said first polymer layer comprised of a first protective layer;
a second polymer layer containing melanin, one side of said second polymer layer comprised of a second protective layer;
the second polymer layer disposed upon the first polymer layer such that said first protective layer and said second protective layer form opposite outward surfaces of said laminate element;
a thickness of each of said first protective layer and said second protective layer being less than about 1.3 mm, respectively;
wherein said first protective layer is a polycarbonate layer having a retardation value of greater than about 3000 nm.
2. A laminate optical lens element comprising:
a protective polycarbonate layer;
a first urethane adhesive layer disposed upon the polycarbonate layer;
a polarizing film layer disposed on the urethane adhesive layer;
a second urethane adhesive layer disposed upon the polarizing film layer;
a melanin layer disposed upon the second urethane adhesive layer; and
a polycarbonate support layer disposed on the melanin layer;
wherein said protective polycarbonate layer has a retardation value of greater than about 3000 nm.
3. A method of making a laminate optical lens element comprising:
creating a first polymer layer containing a polarizing agent disposed on a protective layer;
creating a second polymer layer containing melanin disposed on a support layer; and
adhering said second polymer layer containing melanin to said first polymer layer containing a polarizing agent such that said protective layer forms one outside layer of said laminate and said support layer forms an opposite outside layer of said laminate;
wherein creating a first polymer layer includes disposing said polarizing agent on a protective polycarbonate layer having a retardation value of greater than about 3000 nm.
4. An optical laminate element according to claim 1 , wherein said optical laminate element is a sheet.
5. An optical laminate element according to claim 1 , wherein said second polymer layer further includes a polycarbonate layer containing said melanin, said polycarbonate layer being affixed to said second protective layer.
6. An optical laminate element according to claim 1 , wherein said second polymer layer further includes a PVA layer containing said melanin, said PVA layer being affixed to said second protective layer.
7. A laminate optical lens element according to claim 2 , wherein said laminate optical lens element is a sheet.
8. An optical laminate element comprising:
a first polymer layer containing a polarizing agent, one side of said first polymer layer comprised of a first protective layer;
a second polymer layer containing melanin, one side of said second polymer layer comprised of a second protective layer;
the second polymer layer disposed upon the first polymer layer such that said first protective layer and said second protective layer form opposite outward surfaces of said laminate element;
a thickness of each of said first protective layer and said second protective layer being less than about 1.3 mm, respectively;
wherein said melanin is a hydrophobic melanin.
9. A laminate optical lens element comprising:
a protective polycarbonate layer;
a first urethane adhesive layer disposed upon the polycarbonate layer;
a polarizing film layer disposed on the urethane adhesive layer;
a second urethane adhesive layer disposed upon the polarizing film layer;
a melanin layer disposed upon the second urethane adhesive layer; and
a polycarbonate support layer disposed on the melanin layer; wherein said melanin layer;
comprises a hydrophobic melanin layer.
10. A method of making a laminate optical lens element comprising:
creating a first polymer layer containing a polarizing agent disposed on a protective layer;
creating a second polymer layer containing melanin disposed on a support layer;
adhering said second polymer layer containing melanin to said first polymer layer containing a polarizing agent such that said protective layer forms one outside layer of said laminate and said support layer forms an opposite outside layer of said laminate; and wherein creating
a second polymer layer includes creating a second polymer layer containing hydrophobic melanin.