Abstract: Pre-aligned optical layers are stacked and arranged such that an adhesive layer, which is stacked onto the optical layers, contacts at least the uppermost layer and lowermost layer. The resulting subassemblies can be assembled into an optical display without individual handling of the layers, which reduces installation time and manufacturing costs.

Abstract: A spiral wound fiber that includes birefringent interfaces is useful in different optical devices. One type of wound fiber includes at least first and second material layers. At least one of the layers is polymeric and at least one of the layers is birefringent. The spiral wound fiber may be used alone, or in an optical device. Such an optical device can include the fiber embedded within a matrix or attached to a substrate. The spiral wound fiber can be made by rolling a stack of at least two layers, by coextruding the two layers or by coating a rotating form.

Abstract: A head-up display system for a vehicle includes a projector and a combiner in which a multilayer film is provided to reflect a display from the projector to the driver, the display being superimposed on the image of the vehicle surroundings that the driver receives through the vehicle windscreen. The display comprises light within a single restricted frequency band, or a plurality of spaced restricted frequency bands only. The frequency bands are selected to ensure that essential visual information which would normally be conveyed to the driver through the windscreen is not blocked by the multilayer film.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to backlighting systems, which include first and second lightguides, at least one light source optically connected to an edge of the first lightguide and at least one light source optically connected to an edge of the second lightguide for supplying light into their respective interiors. In the appropriate exemplary embodiments, the backlighting systems of the present disclosure include an extractor disposed at a surface of the second lightguide for diffuse extraction of light from the interior of the second lightguide. In such exemplary embodiments, at least a portion of the light supplied into the interior of the second lightguide and then diffusely extracted therefrom enters the interior of the first lightguide through a substantially optically clear surface. In some exemplary embodiments, the backlighting systems of the present disclosure include recycling enhancement structures, which may be attached to the first lightguide.

Abstract: An assembly that includes a first reflective polarizer substantially reflecting light having a first polarization state and substantially transmitting light having a second polarization state, a polarization rotating layer or depolarizing layer (or both) positioned to receive light passing through the first reflective polarizer, and a second reflective polarizer positioned to receive light passing through the polarization rotating layer or depolarizing layer, the second reflective polarizer substantially reflecting light having a third polarization state back through the polarization rotating layer or depolarizing and substantially transmitting light having a fourth polarization state. Articles containing the assembly can be formed.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a new packaging method in which several optical films are bundled together before insertion into the display frame. This bundling makes handling of the films easier, reduces the number of steps required for assembly of the display device, reduces the chance of damaging the films and increases yields. At least two of the films in the stack are bonded together using a zero-gap bond. The zero-gap bond lies outside the viewing area of the film.

Abstract: Backlighting systems are disclosed, which include a lightguide with at least one light source optically connected to an edge of the lightguide for supplying light into its interior and a reflective cavity with at least one light source optically connected to the reflective cavity for supplying light into its interior. The reflective cavity may include a first reflector and a second reflector and at least one source may be disposed at an edge of the reflective cavity. Alternatively, the reflective cavity may include a back reflector portion and light sources may be disposed at the back reflector portion.

Abstract: Color transmissive displays have historically used only backlight for forming the color image, and have not used ambient light. Usually, such a display is not used in bright sunlight, since the color image becomes washed out. Transflective color displays form an image by reflecting ambient light or by transmitting backlight, and can be used in bright sunlight. The transflector in such displays reflects the ambient light while also transmitting the backlight. The requirements on the transflector, however, are different from those used in monochromatic displays. According to the invention, a color transflective display device uses comprises a transmissive display unit having a viewing side and a back side and defining picture elements. A structured transflector is disposed to the back side of the color display unit. The structured transflector includes a structured surface and a layered dielectric reflector disposed over the structured surface.

Abstract: A film that includes a first reflective polarizer substantially reflecting light having a first polarization state and substantially transmitting light having a second polarization state, a polarization rotating layer or depolarizing layer (or both) positioned to receive light passing through the first reflective polarizer, and a second reflective polarizer positioned to receive light passing through the polarization rotating layer or depolarizing layer, the second reflective polarizer substantially reflecting light having a third polarization state back through the polarization rotating layer or depolarizing and substantially transmitting light having a fourth polarization state. Articles containing the film can be formed.

Abstract: A film that includes a first reflective polarizer substantially reflecting light having a first polarization state and substantially transmitting light having a second polarization state, a polarization rotating layer or depolarizing layer (or both) positioned to receive light passing through the first reflective polarizer, and a second reflective polarizer positioned to receive light passing through the polarization rotating layer or depolarizing layer, the second reflective polarizer substantially reflecting light having a third polarization state back through the polarization rotating layer or depolarizing and substantially transmitting light having a fourth polarization state. Articles containing the film can be formed.

Abstract: A transflective assembly includes an absorbing polarizer and a first reflective polarizer disposed to reflect at least a portion of light transmitted through the absorbing polarizer. A second reflective polarizer is disposed between the absorbing polarizer and the first reflective polarizer. The second reflective polarizer reflects light transmitted through the first reflective polarizer having a polarization absorbable in the absorbing polarizer, and transmits light transmitted through the absorbing polarizer towards the first reflective polarizer.

Abstract: Display apparatuses are shown capable of displaying information in a reflective mode using only ambient light and in a transmissive mode using a light source. In one embodiment, the display apparatus includes a reflecting polarizer disposed between a light modulating layer and an isotropic light cavity. The light cavity reflects incident light with a first degree of depolarization. The reflecting polarizer reflects light with a second degree of depolarization for at least one polarization that is greater than the first degree of depolarization. In another embodiment of the display apparatus, a microstructured film is included above a light cavity and below a light modulating system where the microstructured film includes sawtooth formations having at least a tilted surface.

Abstract: A polarizer construction is disclosed that includes a reflective polarizer disposed on a first side of the construction to transmit light having one polarization and reflect light having an orthogonal polarization, and one or more colored dichroic polarizers disposed on a second side of the construction. The one or more colored dichroic polarizers are arranged so that when the construction is illuminated from the first side, an observer viewing the construction from the second side will observe a first spectral distribution of visible light, and when the construction is illuminated from the second side, an observer viewing the construction from the second side will observe a second spectral distribution of visible light different from the first spectral distribution. Various display constructions using colored polarizers to achieve color changing and image reversal effects are also disclosed.

Abstract: Color transmissive displays have historically used only backlight for forming the color image, and have not used ambient light. Usually, such a display is not used in bright sunlight, since the color image becomes washed out. Transflective color displays form an image by reflecting ambient light or by transmitting backlight, and can be used in bright sunlight. The transflector in such displays reflects the ambient light while also transmitting the backlight. The requirements on the transflector, however, are different from those used in monochromatic displays. According to the invention, a color transflective display device uses comprises a transmissive display unit having a viewing side and a back side and defining picture elements. A structured transflector is disposed to the back side of the color display unit. The structured transflector includes a structured surface and a layered dielectric reflector disposed over the structured surface.

Abstract: Color transmissive displays have historically used only backlight for forming the color image, and have not used ambient light. Usually, such a display is not used in bright sunlight, since the color image becomes washed out. Transflective color displays form an image by reflecting ambient light or by transmitting backlight, and can be used in bright sunlight. The transflector in such displays reflects the ambient light while also transmitting the backlight. The requirements on the transflector, however, are different from those used in monochromatic displays. According to the invention, a color transflective display device uses comprises a transmissive display unit having a viewing side and a back side and defining picture elements. A structured transflector is disposed to the back side of the color display unit. The structured transflector includes a structured surface and a layered dielectric reflector disposed over the structured surface.

Abstract: A polarizer construction is disclosed that includes a reflective polarizer disposed on a first side of the construction to transmit light having one polarization and reflect light having an orthogonal polarization, and one or more colored dichroic polarizers disposed on a second side of the construction. The one or more colored dichroic polarizers are arranged so that when the construction is illuminated from the first side, an observer viewing the construction from the second side will observe a first spectral distribution of visible light, and when the construction is illuminated from the second side, an observer viewing the construction from the second side will observe a second spectral distribution of visible light different from the first spectral distribution. Various display constructions using colored polarizers to achieve color changing and image reversal effects are also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a new packaging method in which several optical films are bundled together before insertion into the display frame. This bundling makes handling of the films easier, reduces the number of steps required for assembly of the display device, reduces the chance of damaging the films and increases yields. At least two of the films in the stack are bonded together using a zero-gap bond. The zero-gap bond lies outside the viewing area of the film.

Abstract: The present invention includes electronic devices having liquid crystal display modules and repositionable front polarizers. A viewer views the display module through a front polarizer, which can be repositioned to change the display appearance, enhance the display contrast, invert the image, increase ambient light exposure, provide privacy, or the like. Repositionable front polarizers can be tiltably and/or rotatably mounted in front of the display module, or can be remotely located, for example on a pair of polarizing eye glasses. The present invention also includes reflective liquid crystal displays that have internal front light guides disposed between a liquid crystal cell and a front polarizer. As such, the light from the front light guide can illuminate the liquid crystal cell without being attenuated by the front polarizer, resulting in a brighter front lit display.

Abstract: A polarizer construction is disclosed that includes a reflective polarizer disposed on a first side of the construction to transmit light having one polarization and reflect light having an orthogonal polarization, and one or more colored dichroic polarizers disposed on a second side of the construction. The one or more colored dichroic polarizers are arranged so that when the construction is illuminated from the first side, an observer viewing the construction from the second side will observe a first spectral distribution of visible light, and when the construction is illuminated from the second side, an observer viewing the construction from the second side will observe a second spectral distribution of visible light different from the first spectral distribution. Various display constructions using colored polarizers to achieve color changing and image reversal effects are also disclosed.

Abstract: A polarizer has low color shift and is particularly well suited to use in an LCD display. The polarizer has a double pass color shift of |&Dgr;x|≦0.005 and |&Dgr;y|≦0.005 for illumination by a C-illuminant, and a double pass contrast modulation of at least 90%. The display includes two or more layers stacked together, at least one of the layers being an absorbing polarizer having a double pass color shift of |&Dgr;x|≦0.005 and |&Dgr;y|≦0.005 for illumination by a C-illuminant. A polarizer with a selected color shift is also used with a rear projection screen having a dispersing layer stacked together with first absorbing polarizer. The polarizer has a single pass color shift with at least one of &Dgr;x and &Dgr;y being negative under illumination by a C-illuminant, and a polarization co-efficiency greater than 90%.