Abstract: An optical system for displaying first and second images to a viewer is provided. A reflective polarizer is disposed between the second display and the viewer and is oriented obliquely relative to the first display. An optical stack including a partial reflector and a retarder layer is disposed between the reflective polarizer and the second display. The reflective polarizer reflects at least 70% of the incident light having a first polarization state and transmits at least 60% of the incident light having an orthogonal second polarization state. The partial reflector reflects at least 70% of the incident light for each of the polarization states. For each of the first and second polarization states and for each of a blue-green wavelength and a green-red wavelength the reflective polarizer transmits at east 70% of the incident light and the partial reflector transmits at least 60% of the incident light.

Abstract: An optical system (200) includes an emissive display (220) and a reflective polarizer (100) disposed on the display (220). The display (220) includes a blue pixel (222b) emitting light having a peak at a wavelength ?b. For substantially normally incident light: for the wavelength ?b, the reflective polarizer (100) reflects at least 30% of the incident light having a first polarization state (b) and transmits at least 75% of the incident light having an orthogonal second polarization state(a); and for at least one wavelength ?1 greater than ?b, ?1-?b?50 nm, the reflective polarizer (100) transmits at least 75% of the incident light for each of the first and second polarization states. For the wavelength ?b, the reflective polarizer (100) has a maximum optical transmittance Tmax for light incident at a first incident angle, and an optical transmittance Tmax/2 for light incident at a second incident angle greater than the first incident angle by less than about 50 degrees.

Abstract: Infrared reflectors are described. In particular, infrared reflectors with reduced off-axis color are described. Such infrared reflectors may be useful in laminated glass constructions, particularly for applications where the glass may be exposed to water.

Abstract: Multilayer optical film reflective polarizers previously considered to have excessive off-axis color can provide adequate performance in an LC display without any high haze light diffusing layer or air gap between the reflective polarizer and the back absorbing polarizer of the display. The reflective polarizer has only one packet of microlayers, and is oriented using a standard tenter such that birefringent microlayers in the film are biaxially birefringent. The microlayers in the packet have a layer thickness profile suitably tailored to avoid excessive perceived color at normal and oblique angles. A laminate made by combining this type of reflective polarizer with an absorbing polarizer, without an air gap or any high haze light diffusing layer or structure between the polarizers, can be used and incorporated into a liquid crystal display or the like with adequate color performance both at normal incidence and oblique incidence up to a polar angle of 60 degrees.

Abstract: Infrared reflectors are described. In particular, infrared reflectors with reduced off-axis color are described. Such infrared reflectors may be useful in laminated glass constructions, particularly for applications where the glass may be exposed to water.

Abstract: Multilayer infrared (IR) reflecting films are provided. An optical repeating unit of the film include a plurality of optical polymeric layers arranged to reflect light by constructive and destructive interference. Optical layer A is a high refractive index polymeric layer, and optical layer B is a low refractive index isotropic polymeric layer containing fluoropolymers. The film has an average reflectance of about 50% to about 100% in a near infrared wavelength range of about 850 nm to about 1850 nm, and an average transmission of about 70% to about 90% in a visible light range.

Abstract: A technique of determining the presence of a species in a sample may include passing light through an optical filter. In an example, the optical filter may include a spatially variant microreplicated layer optically coupled to a wavelength selective filter. The wavelength selective filter may have a light incidence angle-dependent optical band. The spatially variant microreplicated layer may be configured to transmit light to a first optical region of the wavelength selective filter at a first predetermined incidence angle and to a second optical region of the wavelength selective filter at a second predetermined incidence angle.

Abstract: A display (1000) including a display panel (130) and a polarizer (110) disposed to receive a light (150) output of the display panel (130) is described. The polarizer (150) may be a reflective polarizer (110) or a circular polarizer (100) incorporating a reflective polarizer (110). The display panel (130) includes a plurality of pixels and each pixel includes a plurality of subpixels. The reflective polarizer (110) has a first reflection band, wherein at normal incidence, the first reflection band has a long wavelength band edge wavelength between peak emission wavelengths of two subpixels in the plurality of subpixels. The reflective polarizer (110) may be disposed between an absorbing polarizer (106) and a retarder (108) in a circular polarizer (100). The reflective polarizer (110) may have substantially non-overlapping first, second, and third reflection bands.

Abstract: Infrared reflectors are described. In particular, infrared reflectors with reduced off-axis color are described. Such infrared reflectors may be useful in laminated glass constructions, particularly for applications where the glass may be exposed to water.

Abstract: A hybrid polarizer includes an absorbing element having a first major surface and a second major surface. The hybrid polarizer also includes a first birefringent reflective polarizer disposed on the first major surface of the absorbing element, the first birefringent reflective polarizer having a first pass axis and a first block axis. The hybrid polarizer further includes a second birefringent reflective polarizer disposed on the second major surface of the absorbing element, the second reflective polarizer having a second pass axis and a second block axis.

Abstract: An optical film and a polarizing beam splitter (PBS) including the optical film is described. The optical film includes a first optical stack disposed on, and spaced apart by one or more spacer layers from, a second optical stack. When the optical film is disposed between, and adhered to, hypotenuses of first and second prisms to form a PBS and a cone of light is incident on the PBS making an incident angle of about 40 to 50 degrees with the optical film, the PBS has: an average optical reflectance Rs greater than about 95% for a first polarization state; an average optical transmittance Ts less than about 0.012% for the first polarization state; an average optical transmittance Tp less than about 98.5% for a second polarization state; and an average optical reflectance Rp less than about 0.25% for the second polarization state.

Abstract: Optical films are disclosed that include a plurality of interference layers. Each interference layer reflects or transmits light primarily by optical interference. The total number of the interference layers is less than about 1000. For a substantially normally incident light in a predetermined wavelength range, the plurality of interference layers has an average optical transmittance greater than about 85% for a first polarization state, an average optical reflectance greater than about 80% for an orthogonal second polarization state, and an average optical transmittance less than about 0.2% for the second polarization state.

Abstract: In an example, an example article may include a spatially variant microreplicated layer optically coupled to a wavelength selective filter. The wavelength selective filter may have a light incidence angle-dependent optical band. The spatially variant microreplicated layer may be configured to transmit light to a first optical region of the wavelength selective filter at a first predetermined incidence angle and to a second optical region of the wavelength selective filter at a second predetermined incidence angle.

Abstract: Multilayer optical film reflective polarizers previously considered to have excessive off-axis color can provide adequate performance in an LC display in an “on-glass” configuration, laminated to a back absorbing polarizer of the display, without any light diffusing layer or air gap in such laminate. The reflective polarizer is a tentered-one-packet (TOP) multilayer film, having only one packet of microlayers, and oriented using a standard tenter such that birefringent microlayers in the film are biaxially birefringent. The thickness profile of optical repeat units (ORUs) in the microlayer packet is tailored to avoid excessive perceived color at normal and oblique angles. Color at high oblique angles in the white state of the display is reduced by positioning thicker ORUs closer to the absorbing polarizer, and by ensuring that, with regard to a boxcar average of the ORU thickness profile, the average slope from an ORU(600) to an ORU(645) does not exceed 1.

Abstract: Optical films are disclosed that include a plurality of interference layers. Each interference layer reflects or transmits light primarily by optical interference. The total number of the interference layers is less than about 1000. For a substantially normally incident light in a predetermined wavelength range, the plurality of interference layers has an average optical transmittance greater than about 85% for a first polarization state, an average optical reflectance greater than about 80% for an orthogonal second polarization state, and an average optical transmittance less than about 0.2% for the second polarization state.

Abstract: Multilayer reflective polarizers are described. In particular, multilayer reflective polarizers that include both crystalline high index layers and low index layers are disclosed. These reflective polarizers may be particularly suitable for automotive, architectural, and industrial applications.

Abstract: Optical films are described. In particular, optical films including a reflective polarizer portion and an infrared portion, with no adhesive between these two portions, are described. These optical films may be particularly suitable for combiner applications, including automotive heads up display applications with demanding ambient environments.

Abstract: An optical system for displaying an image to a viewer includes a pixelated display including a plurality of pixels emitting unpolarized image light; a partial reflector having an average optical reflectance of at least 30% in a predetermined wavelength range; a first retarder layer disposed between the pixelated display and the partial reflector; a second retarder layer disposed between the first retarder layer and the partial reflector; and a reflective polarizer disposed between the first and second retarder layers. The reflective polarizer is adapted to increase a brightness of a pixelated image emitted by the pixelated display and displayed to the viewer by recycling at least a portion of unpolarized image light emitted by the pixels; and receive an image ray reflected by the partial reflector and reflect the received image ray toward the viewer.

Abstract: Multilayer optical film reflective polarizers previously considered to have excessive off-axis color can provide adequate performance in an LC display in an “on-glass” configuration, laminated to a back absorbing polarizer of the display, without any light diffusing layer or air gap in such laminate. The reflective polarizer is a tentered-one-packet (TOP) multilayer film, having only one packet of microlayers, and oriented using a standard tenter such that birefringent microlayers in the film are biaxially birefringent. The thickness profile of optical repeat units (ORUs) in the microlayer packet is tailored to avoid excessive perceived color at normal and oblique angles. Color at high oblique angles in the white state of the display is reduced by positioning thicker ORUs closer to the absorbing polarizer, and by ensuring that, with regard to a boxcar average of the ORU thickness profile, the average slope from an ORU(600) to an ORU(645) does not exceed 1.

Abstract: Broadband visible reflectors are disclosed. In particular, broadband visible reflectors with reduced on-axis blue reflectivity are described. Broadband visible reflectors that appear yellow in reflection are described. Such broadband visible reflectors may be used in backlights and displays.