IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,550,183
Granted Patent B2
US 11,550,183 · App. 17/264,512 · Granted Jan 10, 2023

High transmission light control film

Inventors: Daniel J. Schmidt (Woodbury, MN); Kevin W. Gotrik (Hudson, WI); Nicholas A. Johnson (Burnsville, MN); Raymond J. Kenney (Woodbury, MN); Caleb T. Nelson (Woodbury, MN); Kenneth A. Epstein (St. Paul, MN)
Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
G02F1/133524G02B5/003G02B5/305G02B2207/123
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 11,550,183
App. No.
17/264,512
Granted
Jan 10, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

A light control film comprises a light input surface and a light output surface opposite the light input surface; alternating transmissive regions and absorptive regions disposed between the light input surface and the light output surface, wherein the absorptive regions comprise a core having a first concentration, C 1 , of a light absorbing material sandwiched between cladding layers having a second concentration, C 2 , of the light absorbing material, wherein C 2 <C 1 , and wherein the cores have an aspect ratio of at least 20.

Claims (25)

1. A light control film comprising:

a light input surface and a light output surface opposite the light input surface;

alternating transmissive regions and absorptive regions disposed between the light input surface and the light output surface, wherein the absorptive regions comprise a core having a first concentration, C 1 , of a light absorbing material sandwiched between cladding layers having a second concentration, C 2 , of the light absorbing material, wherein C 2 <C 1 , and wherein the cores have an aspect ratio of at least 20, wherein the cores comprise 30 wt. % to 100 wt. % of light absorbing material and the cladding layers comprise 0.5 wt. % to 50 wt. % of light absorbing material.

2. The light control film of claim 1 wherein the light absorbing material comprises light absorbing particles.

3. The light control film of claim 1 wherein the light absorbing material comprises organic light absorbing material.

4. The light control film of claim 1 wherein the light absorbing material comprises carbon black particles.

5. The light control film of claim 1 wherein the light absorbing material comprises light absorbing particles having a median particle size less than about 500 nanometers.

6. The light control film of claim 1 wherein the cores comprise 75 wt. % to 90 wt. % of light absorbing material.

7. The light control film of claim 1 wherein the cladding layers comprise 25 wt. % to 45 wt. % of light absorbing material.

8. The light control film of claim 1 wherein the cladding layers comprise light absorbing particles, non-light absorbing diluent and an organic polymeric material.

9. The light control film of claim 8 wherein the non-light absorbing diluent comprises silica particles.

10. The light control film of claim 1 wherein the transmissive regions have a wall angle less than 5 degrees.

11. The light control film of claim 1 wherein the transmissive regions and absorptive regions have a height ranging from 40 microns to 400 microns.

12. The light control film of claim 1 wherein the cores have an average width no greater than 5 microns.

13. The light control film of claim 1 wherein the cladding layers have an average width no greater than 1 micron.

14. The light control film of claim 13 wherein the cladding layers have an average width of 100 nm to 500 nm.

15. The light control film of claim 1 wherein the absorptive regions have an aspect ratio of at least 50.

16. The light control film of claim 1 wherein the transmissive regions have an aspect ratio of at least 2.

17. The light control film of claim 1 wherein absorptive regions have an average pitch of 10 microns to 400 microns.

18. The light control film of claim 1 wherein the light control film has a relative transmission at a viewing angle of 0 degrees of at least 75%.

19. The light control film of claim 1 wherein the light control film has an average relative transmission at viewing angles of 35 degrees to 80 degrees no more than 5%.

20. The light control film of claim 1 wherein the cladding layers are conformal coatings on the cores.

21. The light control film of claim 1 further comprising second cladding layers disposed on the cladding layers.

22. The light control film of claim 1 wherein the cores have an aspect ratio of at least 30.

23. The light control film of claim 1 wherein the absorptive regions comprise polyelectrolytes.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 29, 2021
From: SCHMIDT, DANIEL J.; GOTRIK, KEVIN W.; JOHNSON, NICHOLAS A.; KENNEY, RAYMOND J.; NELSON, CALEB T.; EPSTEIN, KENNETH A.
To: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
Reel/Frame 055078/0912 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62713462 · Aug 1, 2018
Related Publication 20210333624A1 · Oct 28, 2021
Cited By (1)
US 12,276,788