Abstract: A substrate for use in a display panel includes a transparent substrate and a light blocking layer which includes two layers of different optical densities. A low optical density layer that is one of the two layers of different optical densities which has a lower optical density is interposed between a high optical density layer that is the other one of the two layers which has a higher optical density and the transparent substrate. The sum of the optical density of the low optical density layer and the optical density of the high optical density layer is not less than 3.0. According to the present invention, a substrate which includes a low-reflectance light blocking layer is provided, the substrate being suitably used as a color filter substrate of a display device which has a low reflection structure, such as a low reflection film.

Abstract: Multilayer optical films are disclosed that exhibit high reflectivity at normal incidence for all polarizations but preferentially transmit high angle rays in one or two orthogonal planes of incidence. Both symmetrical and asymmetrical constructions are disclosed. The films can be used in direct-lit backlights and in lighting systems other than direct-lit backlights, such as edge-lit backlights, and non-backlight lighting systems such as systems intended for general illumination without the need for any graphic component, such as luminaires and task lights.

Abstract: To provide an antireflection stack, whereby a reflected color is moderate, and a multicolorization is suppressed. The antireflection stack 1 comprises a substrate 2 and an antireflection layer 3 stacked on the substrate 2. The antireflection layer 3 has a four-layer structure and comprises, sequentially from the substrate side, a first layer 31, a second layer 32, a third layer 33 and a fourth layer 34. Further, the first layer 31 has a refractive index of from 1.6 to 1.9, the second layer 32 has a refractive index of from 2.2 to 2.5, the third layer 33 has a refractive index of from 2.0 to 2.3, the fourth layer 34 has a refractive index of from 1.2 to 1.5, and the refractive index of the second layer 32 is larger than that of the third layer 33.

Abstract: A method for producing an optical article includes laminating on a plastic substrate a first layer using a first composition, the first composition including two or more kinds of polyurethane resins each having a different average particle diameter, metal oxide particulates, and an organosilicon compound.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for providing white light color output from an electromechanical systems (EMS) device with reduced likelihood of stiction. In one aspect, interferometric modulators are configured to provide a white color output while having a non-zero modulator gap dimension. Such a feature can reduce problems associated with zero modulator gap dimensions such as stiction. Various methodologies can be used to yield such a non-zero modulator gap and a white color output. In some implementations, for example, an optical element that introduced wavelength dependent phase shift is used. In some implementations this wavelength dependent phase shifting optical element includes a stack of color filters, a hologram, a diffraction grating, or layers of material having specific thicknesses and wavelength dependent indices of refraction.

Abstract: A color filter includes a transparent substrate, a conductive layer, a color filtering layer, and a protection layer. The conductive layer is formed on the transparent substrate for sensing touch signals, and the periphery of the conductive layer is provided with peripheral electrodes. The color filtering layer is formed on the conductive layer and includes multiple red light filtering sections, multiple green light filtering sections, and multiple blue light filtering sections, and a pixel of a liquid crystal display device includes at least one red light filtering section, at least one green light filtering section and at least one blue light filtering section. The protection layer is formed on the color filtering layer.

Abstract: Antireflective films are described comprising a light transmissive substrate and a low refractive index layer disposed on the light transmissive substrate. The low refractive index layer comprises the reaction product of polymerizable resin composition comprising at least 20 wt-% fumed silica. In one embodiment, the polymerizable resin is ethylenically unsaturated. In a favored embodiment, the low refractive index layer increases in porosity from the light transmissive substrate interface to an opposing porous surface.

Abstract: An antireflection film is provided which includes stacking in order a transparent base material, a first layer, and a second layer whose refractive index is lower than the refractive index of the first layer. The first layer is formed by curing a coating film containing an ionizing radiation curing material, a quaternary ammonium salt material, and a leveling material.

Abstract: A data storage assembly is presented. The data storage assembly includes a bi-layered antireflective coating. An inner layer of the antireflective coating includes diamond like carbon. An outer layer is disposed over the inner layer.

Abstract: Provided are multi-component films useful as optical display filters. The optical display filters include a multi-layer stack that contains at least one organic layer. The filters have high visible light transmittance, low visible light reflection, and provide electromagnetic interference shielding.

Abstract: One or more coated layers having a variation in index of refraction can provide improvements in antireflection property. For example, different sol gel formulations can be employed in a multiple coating step approach to achieve a desired gradation of index of refraction using individual or combinations of particles containing sol formulations. Different organic porosity forming agents, surfactants and binders can be used to provide further control in forming the gradual index of refraction. In addition, different heat and chemical treatment conditions could also provide control over the gradation of index of refraction.

Abstract: An anti-reflection coat includes an intermediate layer and a low refractive index layer sequentially stacked on a substrate, and preventing the reflection of incident light by optical interference effect, wherein the low refractive index layer is a film formed on the surface of the intermediate layer by a wet film formation method using a coating liquid including layer-constituting raw materials which includes hollow silica particles adhering each other with a binder, and the intermediate layer is a layer mainly composed of an organometallic compound which adheres well to the binder and having wettability to the coating liquid; and provides an optical device including the anti-reflection coat.

Abstract: An antireflective film is provided and includes: a transparent substrate; at least one conductive layer formed from a composition including at least one transparent conductive polymeric material and a compound forming a cross-liking site, the compound having a plurality of cross-linking reactive groups, at least one of which cross-links with the transparent conductive polymeric material; and at least one low refractive index layer.

Abstract: Multilayer anti-reflective coatings having four or more layers are disclosed. In one aspect, the multilayer anti-reflective coating comprises a first layer having a refractive index n1, where n1<1.4, and an optical thickness of (0.25±5%) ?o nm; a second layer adjacent to the first layer, the second layer having a refractive index n2, where n2?1.8, and an optical thickness of (0.5±5%) ?o nm; a third layer adjacent to the second layer, the third layer having a refractive index n3, where 1.4?n3<1.6, and an optical thickness of (0.1±5%) ?o nm; and a fourth layer adjacent to the third layer, the fourth layer having a refractive index n4, where n4?1.8, and an optical thickness of (0.05±10%) ?o nm; where ?o is a wavelength in the visible light range.

Abstract: A method of reducing optical fringing of a coated substrate is described. The method comprises providing a (e.g. light transmissive) substrate; providing a primer having an unmatched refractive index, and applying the primer to the substrate forming a primer layer having an optically significant thickness. The primer layer in combination with the substrate has a percent reflectance at a maximum at a wavelength of interest. Also described are articles comprising a substrate, a primer having an unmatched refractive index, a high refractive index layer, and optional low refractive index layer such as an antireflective film article.

Abstract: An antireflection coating film formed on an optical base member includes: a first layer having a refractive index of N1 and a film thickness of D1; a second layer having a refractive index of N2 and a film thickness of D2; and a third layer formed of a fine concavo-convex structure, having a refractive index changing from N3 to 1.0, and a film thickness of D3, wherein the first, second, and third layer are formed in order from the optical base member side having a refractive index of Nsub, and wherein when the refractive indexes Nsub, N1, N2, and N3 are those taken when a wavelength is 550 nm, conditions for Nsub, N1, D1, N2, D2, N3 and D3 are satisfied.

Abstract: Optical filters, optical sensor arrays and methods for assembling the same and systems incorporating the same are disclosed. An optical filter may include a first stack, a second stack and a spacer layer. The first stack may include alternating layers of a first material having a first refractive index and a second material having a second refractive index that differs from the first refractive index. The second stack may include alternating layers of the first material and the second material. The spacer layer may be positioned between the first stack and the second stack to form a stacked assembly. The spacer layer may include a patterned layer including the first material and the second material. At least a portion of the patterned layer may include a pattern composed of the first material.

Abstract: An optical image shutter is disclosed. The optical image shutter includes an optical filter having a fixed refractive index and an optical filter having a variable refractive index. The optical filter having a fixed refractive index may include two layers having different refractive indexes and stacked alternately at least once. Alternatively, the optical filter having a variable refractive index may include at least one refractive index variable layer, and two layers having different refractive indexes and stacked alternately at least once. The optical image shutter may further include a transparent electrode for applying an electric field to the at least one refractive index variable layer.

Abstract: A composition includes a substrate (a) including a surface and (b) a multi-layer coating of nanowires positioned on at least a portion of the surface. The coating includes three or more laminar layers of nanowires and a bottom layer of nanowires affixed to the surface and a top-most layer of nanowires. A nanowire within a laminar layer is oriented substantially parallel to another nanowire within the same laminar layer. Nanowires within adjacent laminar layers are not substantially parallel to one another. The top-most layer of nanowires has a refractive index of about 5% to about 70% of the refractive index of the bottom layer of nanowires, and the refractive index of the three or more laminar layers of nanowires is decreases by about 10% or more per laminar layer from the bottom layer of nanowires to the top-most layer of nanowires.

Abstract: An optical element includes a substrate and a film on the substrate. The substrate made of sapphire. The film is configured for increasing transmission of ultraviolet lights. The film is stacked by a plurality of high refractive index layers and a plurality of low refractive index layers alternately stacked on the substrate.

Abstract: Provided is an article having a low reflection film which has a low reflectance over a wide wavelength range, has a relatively low reflectance with light having a large incident angle and has good weather resistance and durability. An article having a low reflection film 14 on a transparent substrate 12, wherein the low reflection film 14 comprises two layers which are a lower layer 16 on the transparent substrate 12 side and an upper layer 18 formed on the lower layer 16, and wherein the lower layer 16 has a refractive index of from 1.3 to 1.44, and the upper layer 18 has a refractive index of from 1.10 to 1.29.

Abstract: Provided is a transfer film wherein: a low-refractive-index film having a refractive index (Nx) and a high-refractive-index film having a refractive index (Ny) are laminated in this order on one surface of a peeling film; the refractive indices satisfy Nx<Ny; and the high-refractive-index film contains an aminosilane. Also provided is a laminate wherein: a high-refractive-index film and a low-refractive-index film are laminated in this order on the surface of a substrate; and the high-refractive-index film contains an aminosilane. The transfer film is obtained by successively laminating and curing a composition for the low-refractive-index film and a composition for the high-refractive-index film on the peeling film. The laminate is produced by bonding the surface of the high-refractive-index film of the transfer film to the substrate, and then peeling away the peeling film.

Abstract: A lens module includes a lens barrel, at least one lens, and a filter element. The lens barrel includes an object-side end and an image-side end opposite to the object-side end. The at least one lens is received in the lens barrel. The filter element is received in the lens barrel, and includes a transparent substrate, an anti-reflection film, and an infrared filtering film. The transparent substrate includes an object-side surface facing the object-side end and an image-side surface facing the image-side end. The anti-reflection film is coated on the object-side surface, and the infrared filtering film is coated on the image-side surface.

Abstract: Certain examples relate to a method of making an antireflective (AR) coating supported by a glass substrate. The anti-reflection coating may include porous metal oxide(s) and/or silica, and may be produced using a sol-gel process. The pores may be formed and/or tuned in each layer respectively in such a manner that the coating ultimately may comprise a porous matrix, graded with respect to porosity. The gradient in porosity may be achieved by forming first and second layers using one or more of (a) nanoparticles of different shapes and/or sizes, (b) porous nanoparticles having varying pore sizes, and/or (c) compounds/materials of various types, sizes, and shapes that may ultimately be removed from the coating post-deposition (e.g., carbon structures, micelles, etc., removed through combustion, calcination, ozonolysis, solvent-extraction, etc.), leaving spaces where the removed materials were previously located.

Abstract: Retroreflective elements and articles that include such elements. The retroreflective elements (100) include a solid spherical core (110) having an outer surface. A first complete concentric optical interference layer (112) overlays the outer surface of the core providing a first interface between the core and the first optical interference layer, and a second complete concentric optical interference layer (122) overlays the first optical interference layer to provide a second interface between the first optical interference layer and the second optical interference layer. In some embodiments, a third complete concentric optical interference layer overlays the second optical interference layer to provide a third interface between the second optical interference layer and the third optical interference layer.

Abstract: A multi-layered optical film formed on a plastic substrate, which has high resistance against lights in the ultraviolet region including blue lasers in a high ambient temperature is disclosed. Each layer of the multi-layered optical film is made of an oxide or an oxynitride, layers adjacent to each other are made of materials having different refractive indexes, oxidation-reduction potential of elements constituting oxides or oxynitrides is ?0.9 volts or less, thickness of a first layer adjacent to the substrate is 10 nanometers or more, an absolute value of a difference in refractive index between a material of the substrate and a material of the first layer is 0.2 or less, an absolute value of a difference in refractive index between two kinds of materials of layers adjacent to each other is 0.45 or less and total thickness of the multi-layered optical film is 3000 nanometers or less.

Abstract: Antireflective films are described having a surface layer comprising a the reaction product of a polymerizable low refractive index composition comprising at least one free-radically polymerizable fluoropolymer and surface modified inorganic nanoparticles. A high refractive index layer is coupled to the low refractive index layer. In one embodiment, the high refractive index layer comprises surface modified inorganic nanoparticles dispersed in a crosslinked organic material. The antireflective film is preferably durable, exhibiting a haze of less than 1.0% after 25 wipes with steel wool using a 3.2 cm mandrel and a mass of 1000 grams.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an image taking optical system including at least one lens provided on an optical path; a first infrared-ray absorption filter made from a resin material with a film shape and provided on the optical path; a multi-layer film provided with an infrared-ray absorption function and provided on the optical path; and a second infrared-ray absorption filter made from a resin material with a film shape and provided on the optical path, wherein the first infrared-ray absorption filter, the multi-layer film and the second infrared-ray absorption filter are provided at locations arranged along the optical path in a direction from a photographing-object side to an image side, and the multi-layer film has a spectroscopic-characteristic adjustment function and a light reflection characteristic.

Abstract: An anti-reflection film which has not only sufficient anti-reflection properties and antistatic properties but also excellent optical properties is provided. The anti-reflection film includes an antistatic hard coat layer and a low refractive index layer on a transparent substrate, the antistatic hard coat layer containing conductive particles and a binder matrix, the antistatic hard coat layer including a mixed layer in which the transparent substrate component and the binder matrix blend together with a gradient and a localized layer, the mixed layer being optically indistinguishable and the localized layer being optically distinguishable, and the localized layer having an optical thickness of 50-400 nm.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a non-quarter wave multilayer structure having a plurality of alternating low index of refraction material stacks and high index of refraction material stacks. The plurality of alternating stacks can reflect electromagnetic radiation in the ultraviolet region and a narrow band of electromagnetic radiation in the visible region. The non-quarter wave multilayer structure, i.e. nLdL?nHdH??0/4, can be expressed as [A 0.5 qH pL(qH pL)N 0.5 qH G], where q and p are multipliers to the quarter-wave thicknesses of high and low refractive index material, respectively, H is the quarter-wave thickness of the high refracting index material; L is the quarter-wave thickness of the low refracting index material; N represents the total number of layers between bounding half layers of high index of refraction material (0.5 qH); G represents a substrate and A represents air.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a multi-layer fluoropolymeric film that is useful as a light capture front sheet in solar modules, and more broadly as an antireflection layer. The present invention further discloses a glass shaped article having a multi-layer fluoropolymeric film disposed upon the surface thereof. The shaped article is useful in applications where it is desirable to reduce reflection of incident light.

Abstract: Various embodiments include an interferometric modulator device configured to provide improved saturation. In some embodiments, saturation is improved by optically matching the impedance of two materials with different refractive indices using a multilayer having a refractive index gradient. In various embodiments, the thickness one or more of the layers in the multilayer are selected to provide increased saturation. Accordingly, in various embodiments the multilayer having a refractive index gradient helps to narrow the resonance of a pixel such that the band of wavelengths that are reflected from the pixel is smaller. In turn, a device including a combination of red, green and blue pixels may expand the spectrum of colors that are reflected by the device in operation. Additionally, there may be better contrast between whites and blacks, as darker blacks with less hue are produced.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an article containing a base material and a low-reflection film formed on a surface of the base material, in which the low-reflection film contains a first layer, a second layer and a third layer in this order from the base material side, and the first layer, the second layer and the third layer have refractive indexes n1, n2 and n3, respectively, which meet the relationship of n1>n3>n2.

Abstract: In order to produce stress-reduced reflective optical elements (1) for an operating wave length in the soft X-ray and extreme ultraviolet wavelength range, in particular for use in EUV lithography, it is proposed to apply, between substrate (2) and a multilayer system (4) optimized for high reflectivity at the operating wavelength, a stress-reducing multilayer system (6) with the aid of particle-forming particles having an energy of 40 eV or more, preferably 90 eV or more. Resulting reflective optical elements are distinguished by low surface roughness, a low number of periods in the stress-reducing multilayer system and also high values of the stress-reducing multilayer system.

Abstract: A light extraction film laminated to a glass substrate for organic light emitting diode (OLED) devices. The light extraction film includes a flexible substantially transparent film, a low index nanostructured layer applied to the film, and a high index planarizing backfill layer applied over the nanostructured layer. A glass substrate is laminated to the flexible substantially transparent film on a side opposite the nanostructured layer and including an ultra-low index region between the film and the glass substrate. The ultra-low index region is used to reduce optical losses occurring with the glass substrate.

Abstract: An optical element including an anti-reflective coating is provided. The optical element includes a silicon substrate and a reflective layer disposed onto a first portion of the surface of the silicon substrate. An anti-reflective layer is disposed onto a second portion of the surface of the silicon substrate such that destructive interference at the anti-reflective layer substantially reduces any reflection of radiation incident on the anti-reflective layer.

Abstract: A multilayer optical film includes alternating layers of first and second optical layers; the first optical layer comprising a first polyester, wherein the first polyester comprises first dicarboxylate monomers and first diol monomers, and from about 0.25 to less than 10 mol % of the first dicarboxylate monomers have pendant ionic groups; the second optical layer comprising a second polyester; and wherein the first and second optical layers have refractive indices along at least one axis that differ by at least 0.04. The multilayer optical film may be a polarizer film, a reflective polarizer film, a diffuse blend reflective polarizer film, a diffuser film, a brightness enhancing film, a turning film, a mirror film, or a combination thereof. The multilayer optical film may also be a transaction card such as a financial transaction card, an identification card, a key card, or a ticket card. A method of making the multilayer film is also disclosed.

Abstract: A substrate for an optical film stack is disclosed herein. A method of preparing a substrate for an optical film stack includes placing a polymer base material in a vacuum chamber, the polymer base material having a glass transition temperature (Tg) that is lower than a deposition temperature of an optical film layer to be deposited on the substrate to form the optical film stack. The method further includes depositing a capping layer on the polymer base material, the depositing taking place at a temperature that is less than or equal to 10% above the Tg of the polymer base material.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a progressive-refractivity antireflection layer and a method for fabricating the same to eliminate light reflection occurring in an interface. The present invention is characterized in being fabricated via depositing a first material and a second material, and having a refractivity (neff) gradually varying with a thickness thereof and ranging between a refractivity (n1) of the first material and a refractivity (n2) of the second material. No matter at what thickness the refractivity (neff) of the antireflection layer is measured, the refractivity (neff) meets an effective medium theory expressed by an equation: neff={n12f+n22(1?f)}1/2, wherein f is a filling ratio of the first material of the antireflection layer.

Abstract: An organic EL element includes a substrate and a light refractive layer, a first transparent electrode layer, an insulation layer, a hole transport layer, and a photosensitive resin layer stacked above the substrate. A luminous function layer is above the hole transport layer in a recess defined by the photosensitive resin layer. A second transparent electrode layer is above the luminous function layer. The light reflective layer, the first transparent electrode layer, the insulation layer, and the hole transport layer are formed above the substrate in a region isolated by the photosensitive resin layer. The photosensitive resin layer comprises a material that absorbs incident light of a predetermined wavelength. The first transparent electrode layer, the insulation layer, the hole transport layer, and the photosensitive resin layer each have a reflectance value that is between a local minimum value and a neighborhood value of the local minimum value.

Abstract: The optical element includes a base member, and a first layer which is formed on the base member and whose refractive index for a central use wavelength ? changes in a thickness direction of the first layer by 0.05 or more. The first layer has an anti-reflection function and satisfies nt=ni+0.1(ns?ni), 0.5?[n{t(nt)/2}?nt]/[ns?n{t(nt)/2}]?0.8, ?/4?t(nt)?2? and 1.0?ni?1.1. ni represents a refractive index of a most light entrance side part of the first layer for the central use wavelength, ns represents a refractive index of a most base member side part of the first layer for the central use wavelength, t(nt) represents an optical film thickness of the first layer at which the refractive index thereof for the central use wavelength is nt, and n{t(nt)/2} represents a refractive index of the first layer for the central use wavelength at a position where the optical film thickness ism t(nt)/2.

Abstract: A very low energy-absorption coating and related methods for use with high power CO2 lasers includes at least a thin layer of ThF4 (16) used as a water/moisture barrier, in combination with BaF2 (14), for various optical elements. When used in connection with a ZnSe substrate (12) or any other suitable material (such as for a focusing lens), the coating (10) extends the useful life by helping prevent moisture adsorption that otherwise may occur within 2-3 days of contact with air. The coating (10) may comprise (1) a BaF2 layer (14) of approximately optical quarter wave thickness, (2) a thin 200-300 Angstrom layer of ThF4 (16) used as a water barrier (3) a thin 1000-2000 Angstrom layer of ZnSe (18), and (4) an optional ZnSe layer (20) of optical half wave thickness. Among other applications, the coating (10) provides very low energy absorption for a 10.6 um CO2 laser at a value<0.15%, and provides longer lifetimes as compared to conventional coated lenses without the combination of BaF2 (14) and ThF4 (16).

Abstract: The optical element of the present invention has an anti-reflection film formed on a substrate. Here, the anti-reflection film comprises a first layer formed on the substrate; a second layer formed on the first layer and consisting of a material different from that of the first layer; and a third layer formed on the second layer and consisting of a concave-convex structure. Also, the third layer has three regions of which a refractive index for each thickness changes at a constant rate by continuously changing the space filling factor of the concave-convex structure.

Abstract: A micro identification system supports facile optical assemblies and components. A segment of optical fiber can comprise an identifier formed via actinic radiation. The identifier can generate a laser interference pattern that can be read through a cylindrical surface of the optical fiber to determine a code. Modified optical fibers are those fibers that have been shaped or coated to an extent beyond the demands of normal communications optical fibers. In one example, modified fibers are no longer than about two feet in length. For another example, the modified fibers can have either a non-cylindrical end face, a non flat end face, an end face the plane of which is not perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the waveguide, an end face coated with high density filter, or an identifier on or near an end face.

Abstract: An article comprising a substrate and an anti-reflection coating, and methods for depositing the coating, are disclosed. The coating comprises (a) a first coating layer having a high refractive index deposited on the substrate; (b) an epoxide-silica coating layer deposited onto the high refractive index coating layer, comprising an inorganic silica component and an organic organo-silicate component, and (c) a silica coating layer consisting essentially of silica, deposited directly onto the epoxide-silica coating layer. The anti-reflection coating optionally comprises a stack of coating layers, between the first high refractive index coating layer and the epoxide-silica coating layer, having alternating a low refractive index and a high refractive index. Individual coating layer compositions, refractive indexes, and thicknesses are carefully controlled such that reflectance is minimized through destructive interference in the visible light wavelength range of 400 to 700 nm.

Abstract: Antireflective films are described having a surface layer comprising a the reaction product of a polymerizable low refractive index composition comprising at least one free-radically polymerizable fluoropolymer and surface modified inorganic nanoparticles. A high refractive index layer is coupled to the low refractive index layer. In one embodiment, the high refractive index layer comprises surface modified inorganic nanoparticles dispersed in a crosslinked organic material. The antireflective film is preferably durable, exhibiting a haze of less than 1.0% after 25 wipes with steel wool using a 3.2 cm mandrel and a mass of 1000 grams.

Abstract: The infrared reflective layered product can reflect infrared radiation with certain wavelengths to prevent heat accumulation while exhibiting excellent heat resistance. The product includes a base layer (B), a layer (A) layered on one side of the layer (B), and a layer (C) layered on the other side of the layer (B). Layer (A) is a colored resin layer which has an absorptance of a light with a wavelength of 800-1400 nm of not more than 10%. Layer (B) is a thermoplastic resin layer which shows a dimensional change (s) satisfying 1%?s??1% when left at 150° C. for 30 min. Layer C is a colored resin layer having a reflectance of a light with a wavelength of 400-1400 nm of not less than 50%. The product may also include a water vapor barrier layer (D).

Abstract: An optical element is provided capable of reducing reflectance at whole bands of visible light. The optical element is characterized in that one of a plurality of concave sections or a plurality of convex sections are arranged on a surface at intervals smaller than a wavelength of visible light, and other not-being-arranged of the plurality of concave sections or the plurality of convex sections are each formed in each of the one arranged of the plurality of concave sections or the plurality of convex sections. A ratio of a lateral cross-sectional area of the optical element itself in a transverse plane taken along a horizontal surface may continuously increase from an upper surface toward a lower surface of the optical element according to a depth between the upper surface and the lower surface.

Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for selectively allowing light to pass through a substantially transparent substrate or blocking the light, at least to some degree. Some embodiments provide a plurality of reflective vanes that can be positioned in at least two positions. According to some such implementations, when the vanes are in an open position, incident light is allowed to pass through the window. The light may reflect from two or more vanes before passing through the window. When a sufficient voltage is applied between vane electrodes and other electrodes, the vanes are pulled down, reflecting back at least some of the incident light. The voltage may be controlled according to detected temperature, ambient light intensity, etc.

Abstract: A phase difference element capable of reducing reflection of incident light and a manufacturing method for the phase difference element are disclosed. The phase difference element includes a transparent substrate 11, an interface anti-reflection film group 12 and an obliquely vapor deposited film 13. The interface anti-reflection film group is composed by one or more of alternately high and low refractive index films, with the film thicknesses of the respectively films being equal to or less than the wavelength of light in use. The obliquely vapor deposited film is formed by a plurality of layers of a dielectric material. These layers are alternately obliquely vapor deposited from two directions differing by 180° from each other. The refractive index of the interface anti-reflection film group 12 is higher than the refractive index of the transparent substrate 11 and lesser than that of the obliquely vapor deposited film 13 (FIG. 1).