IP Library Granted Patent US 11,467,329
Granted Patent B2
US 11,467,329 · App. 15/733,257 · Granted Oct 11, 2022

Optical film device

Inventors: Robert M. Jennings (Shoreview, MN); Jo A. Etter (Kirkland, WA); Susan L. Kent (Shorewood, MN); Erin A. McDowell (Afton, MN); Timothy L. Wong (St. Paul, MN); Zhisheng Yun (Sammamish, WA)
Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
G02B5/3033G02B5/10G02B5/3041G02B5/3066G02B27/0172G02B2003/0093G02B2027/013
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,467,329
App. No.
15/733,257
Granted
Oct 11, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

A reflective polarizing imaging lens includes at least one optical film having an active area that is curved in two orthogonal directions. Edges of the optical film are arranged to form seams between segments of the optical film in the active area of the reflective polarizing imaging lens.

Claims (29)

1. A device, comprising:

at least one optical film with an active area having a surface that is curved in two orthogonal directions, wherein:

the surface of the active area has a total curvature, C, greater than 0.1;

there is at least one point, p 0 , on the surface of the active area such that a surface normal direction at p 0 is parallel to a normal vector of a reference plane of the active area;

each point, p, on the surface of the active area has a linear polarization block axis orientation angle between a measured block axis tangent direction at p and a local reference tangent direction at p, the local reference tangent direction being coplanar with the normal vector of the reference plane and the measured block axis tangent direction at p 0 ; and

a difference between maximum and minimum linear polarization block axis orientation angles for all points, p, is less than 2ln(1+12/π)*C degrees.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein C is greater than 0.2.

3. The device of claim 1 , wherein C is greater than 0.3.

4. The device of claim 1 , wherein C is greater than 0.4.

5. The device of claim 1 , wherein C is greater than 0.5.

6. The device of claim 1 , wherein C is greater than 0.6.

7. A device, comprising:

at least one optical film with an active area having a surface that is curved in two orthogonal directions, wherein:

the surface of the active area has a total curvature, C, greater than 0.1;

there is at least one point, p 0 , on the surface of the active area such that a surface normal direction at p 0 is parallel to a normal vector of a reference plane of the active area;

each point, p, on the surface of the active area has a linear polarization pass axis orientation angle between a measured pass axis tangent direction at p and a local reference tangent direction at p, the local reference tangent direction being coplanar with the normal vector of the reference plane and the measured pass axis tangent direction at p 0 ; and

a difference between maximum and minimum linear polarization pass axis orientation angles for all points, p, is less than 12.2*C degrees.

8. The device of claim 7 , wherein C is greater than 0.2.

9. The device of claim 7 , wherein C is greater than 0.3.

10. The device of claim 7 , wherein C is greater than 0.4.

11. The device of claim 7 , wherein C is greater than 0.5.

12. The device of claim 7 , wherein C is greater than 0.6.

13. A device, comprising:

at least one optical film and having an active area that is curved in two orthogonal directions such that the active area has a total curvature, C, greater than 0.1, the active area having a minimum thickness, t min , a maximum thickness, t max , and an average thickness, t ave , wherein a variation in thickness, (t max −t min )/t ave of the optical film in the active area is less than ln[1+(12/π)C]/20.

14. The device of claim 13 , wherein C is greater than 0.2.

15. The device of claim 13 , wherein C is greater than 0.3.

16. The device of claim 13 , wherein C is greater than 0.4.

17. The device of claim 13 , wherein C is greater than 0.5.

18. The device of claim 13 , wherein C is greater than 0.6.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 18, 2020
From: JENNINGS, ROBERT M.; ETTER, JO A.; KENT, SUSAN L.; MCDOWELL, ERIN A.; WONG, TIMOTHY L.; YUN, ZHISHENG
To: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
Reel/Frame 052972/0322 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62632033 · Feb 19, 2018
Related Publication 20200379154A1 · Dec 3, 2020
Cited By (1)
US 12,276,821