Optical device and system for privacy or contrast enhancement and methods of use thereof

1. An optical device having first and second opposing surfaces, wherein the optical device comprises a first portion having a first plurality of transparent protrusions extending from the first surface and a second portion having a second plurality of transparent protrusions extending from the second surface, wherein the first plurality of transparent protrusions directly engage to mate and self-align with the second plurality of transparent protrusions to form a plurality of spaced openings, said openings being at least partially filled with an opaque material and positioned to create alternating opaque and transparent sections.

2. The optical device according to claim 1 , wherein the refractive index of the first and second portions is substantially equal.

3. The optical device according to claim 1 , wherein the refractive index of the opaque material is within 0.03 of the refractive index of the first and second plurality of transparent protrusions.

4. The optical device according to claim 1 , wherein the refractive index of the opaque material is greater than the refractive index of the first and second plurality of transparent protrusions.

5. The optical device according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second portions are substantially the same in cross-section, but the first portion is inverted as compared to the second portion.

6. The optical device according to claim 1 , wherein the first plurality of transparent protrusions includes at least one mating surface that self-aligns with at least one mating surface of the second plurality of protrusions.

7. The optical device according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second plurality of transparent protrusions have a cross-sectional shape which is at least one of triangular, trapezoidal, rectangular, and square.

8. The optical device according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of openings have a cross-sectional shape which is at least one of triangular, trapezoidal, rectangular, and square.

9. The optical device according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second plurality of transparent protrusions have an aspect ratio of from about 1 to about 5.

10. The optical device according to claim 1 , wherein the opaque sections have an aspect ratio of from about 0.5 to about 10.

11. The optical device according to claim 1 , wherein the duty factor of the opaque sections is from about 0.05 to about 0.85.

12. The optical device according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second plurality of transparent protrusions extend horizontally in the plane of the first or second surface of the optical device.

13. The optical device according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second plurality of transparent protrusions extend vertically in the plane of the first or second surface of the optical device.

14. The optical device according to claim 1 , wherein the thickness of the optical device is from about 0.1 mm to about 2.5 mm.

15. The optical device according to claim 1 , wherein sides of the opaque sections are linear.

16. The optical device according to claim 1 , wherein sides of the opaque sections are curved.

17. The optical device according to claim 1 further comprising:

a transparent layer adjacent at least a portion of the first or second surface of the optical device.

18. A system comprising:

an optical device having first and second opposing surfaces, wherein the optical device comprises a first portion having a first plurality of transparent protrusions extending from the first surface and a second portion having a second plurality of transparent protrusions extending from the second surface, wherein the first plurality of transparent protrusions directly engage to mate and self-align with the second plurality of transparent protrusions to form a plurality of spaced openings, said openings being at least partially filled with an opaque material and positioned to create alternating opaque and transparent sections; and

a viewing display, wherein the second surface of the optical device is proximate at least a portion of the viewing display.

19. The system according to claim 18 , wherein the refractive index of the first and second portions is substantially equal.

20. The system according to claim 18 , wherein the refractive index of the opaque material is within 0.03 of the refractive index of the first and second plurality of transparent protrusions.

21. The system according to claim 18 , wherein the refractive index of the opaque material is greater than the refractive index of the first and second plurality of transparent protrusions.

22. The system according to claim 18 , wherein the first and second portions are substantially the same in cross-section, but the first portion is inverted as compared to the second portion.

23. The system according to claim 18 , wherein the first plurality of transparent protrusions includes at least one mating surface that self-aligns with at least one mating surface of the second plurality of protrusions.

24. The system according to claim 18 , wherein the first and second plurality of transparent protrusions have a cross-sectional shape which is at least one of triangular, trapezoidal, rectangular, and square.

25. The system according to claim 18 , wherein the plurality of openings have a cross-sectional shape which is at least one of triangular, trapezoidal, rectangular, and square.

26. The system according to claim 18 , wherein the first and second plurality of transparent protrusions have an aspect ratio of from about 1 to about 5.

27. The system according to claim 18 , wherein the opaque sections have an aspect ratio of from about 0.5 to about 10.

28. The system according to claim 18 , wherein the duty factor of the opaque sections is from about 0.05 to about 0.85.

29. The system according to claim 18 , wherein the first and second plurality of transparent protrusions extend horizontally in the plane of the first or second surface of the optical device.

30. The system according to claim 18 , wherein the first and second plurality of transparent protrusions extend vertically in the plane of the first or second surface of the optical device.

31. The system according to claim 18 , wherein the thickness of the optical device is from about 0.1 mm to about 2.5 mm.

32. The system according to claim 18 , wherein sides of the opaque sections are linear.

33. The system according to claim 18 , wherein sides of the opaque sections are curved.

34. The system according to claim 18 further comprising:

a transparent layer adjacent at least a portion of the first or second surface of the optical device.

35. The system according to claim 18 , wherein the viewing display is at least one of a plasma display panel, a liquid crystal display panel, an inorganic light emitting diode display panel, and an organic light emitting diode display panel.

36. The system according to claim 18 , wherein the viewing display is a plasma display panel.

37. A method for improving privacy or contrast of viewing display comprising:

providing an optical device having first and second opposing surfaces, wherein the optical device comprises a first portion having a first plurality of transparent protrusions extending from the first surface and a second portion having a second plurality of transparent protrusions extending from the second surface, wherein the first plurality of transparent protrusions directly engage to mate and self-align with the second plurality of transparent protrusions form a plurality of spaced openings, said openings being at least partially filled with an opaque material and positioned to create alternating opaque and transparent sections; and

positioning at least a portion of the second surface of the optical device proximate at least a portion of an output surface of a viewing display, wherein a portion of ambient light is absorbed by the optical device before reaching the viewing display and a portion of ambient light reflected from the viewing display is absorbed by the optical device.

38. The method according to claim 37 , wherein the refractive index of the first and second portions is substantially equal.

39. The method according to claim 37 , wherein the refractive index of the opaque material is within 0.03 of the refractive index of the first and second plurality of transparent protrusions.

40. The method according to claim 37 , wherein the refractive index of the opaque material is greater than the refractive index of the first and second plurality of transparent protrusions.

41. The method according to claim 37 , wherein the first and second portions are substantially the same in cross-section, but the first portion is inverted as compared to the second portion.

42. The method according to claim 37 , wherein the first plurality of transparent protrusions includes at least one mating surface that self-aligns with at least one mating surface of the second plurality of protrusions.

43. The method according to claim 37 , wherein the first and second plurality of transparent protrusions have a cross-sectional shape which is at least one of triangular, trapezoidal, rectangular, and square.

44. The method according to claim 37 , wherein the plurality of openings have a cross-sectional shape which is at least one of triangular, trapezoidal, rectangular, and square.

45. The method according to claim 37 , wherein the first and second plurality of transparent protrusions have an aspect ratio of from about 1 to about 5.

46. The method according to claim 37 , wherein the opaque sections have an aspect ratio of from about 0.5 to about 10.

47. The method according to claim 37 , wherein the duty factor of the opaque sections is from about 0.05 to about 0.85.

48. The method according to claim 37 , wherein the first and second plurality of transparent protrusions extend horizontally in the plane of the first or second surface of the optical device.

49. The method according to claim 37 , wherein the first and second plurality of transparent protrusions extend vertically in the plane of the first or second surface of the optical device.

50. The method according to claim 37 , wherein the thickness of the optical device is from about 0.1 mm to about 2.5 mm.

51. The method according to claim 37 , wherein sides of the opaque sections are linear.

52. The method according to claim 37 , wherein sides of the opaque sections are curved.

53. The method according to claim 37 further comprising:

a transparent layer adjacent at least a portion of the first or second surface of the optical device.

54. The method according to claim 37 , wherein the viewing display is at least one of a plasma display panel, a liquid crystal display panel, an inorganic light emitting diode display panel, and an organic light emitting diode display panel.

55. The method according to claim 54 , wherein the viewing display is a plasma display panel.