Abstract: Multilayer polymeric films and other optical bodies are provided which is useful in making colored mirrors and polarizers. The films are characterized by a change in color as a function of viewing angle.

Abstract: A head-up display includes a projection system and a window having a target area where a reflective polarizer is positioned to reflect light from the projection system to a viewing area. Light from the projection system is p-polarized and strikes exposed window surface(s) at an acute angle to reduce or eliminate multiple or “ghost” images. The acute angle is closely matched to a Brewster angle of the exposed window surface(s). The reflective polarizer includes a multilayer stack with refractive indices of individual layers chosen to reflect p-polarized light substantially more than s-polarized light over a wide angular range that includes the acute angle. The reflective polarizer also can reflect infrared light to reduce cabin heating from solar radiation.

Abstract: A multilayer optical polarizing film has optical layers whose refractive indices substantially match along orthogonal in-plane x- and y-axes, and that mismatch along a z-axis by at least 0.1 and in some cases by at least 0.15. The film has substantially no reflection bands at normal incidence, and for obliquely incident light has at least one reflection band, for p-polarized light only, that monotonically increases and that shifts to shorter wavelengths as the incidence angle increases.

Abstract: A detector system, filter therefor, and method of making same is disclosed. The filter includes an interference element having a reflection band disposed primarily in the near infrared, and having a high transmission over most of the visible region. The filter also includes an absorptive element that absorbs light non-uniformly over the visible region. The filter when combined with a semiconductor photodiode or other suitable detector yields a detector system whose spectral responsivity closely matches the visual response of the human eye.

Abstract: Birefringent optical films have a Brewster angle (the angle at which reflectance of p-polarized light goes to zero) which is very large or is nonexistent. This allows for the construction of multilayer mirrors and polarizers whose reflectivity for p-polarized light decreases slowly with angle of incidence, are independent of angle of incidence, or increase with angle of incidence away from the normal. As a result, multilayer films having high reflectivity (for both planes of polarization for any incident direction in the case of mirrors, and for the selected direction in the case of polarizers) over a wide bandwidth, can be achieved.

Abstract: A detector system, filter therefor, and method of making same is disclosed. The filter includes an interference element having a reflection band disposed primarily in the near infrared, and having a high transmission over most of the visible region. The filter also includes an absorptive element that absorbs light non-uniformly over the visible region. The filter when combined with a semiconductor photodiode or other suitable detector yields a detector system whose spectral responsivity closely matches the visual response of the human eye.

Abstract: A multilayer interference reflecting film has individual optical layers arranged to form optical repeat units throughout the film. Each of a plurality of optical repeat units has six individual layers, at least three of which have different refractive indices at a design wavelength ?0. Individual layers having nominally the same refractive index and physical thickness, arbitrarily labeled “A”, “B”, “C”, and “D”, are arranged in a six-layer optical repeat unit in a cyclic permutation of CACDBD, where the A and B layers are each thicker than the C and D layers. The thicknesses and refractive indices of the individual layers can be selected to suppress the second, third, and fourth order reflections, while reflecting light at the design wavelength.

Abstract: Polymeric multilayer optical films, and laminate bodies that include such films, are cut or subdivided into one or more discrete pieces by removably applying a first and second liner to opposed major surfaces of the multilayer optical film. Laser radiation is then directed at the multilayer optical film through the first liner in such a way as to produce cut lines that define a plurality of pieces of the first liner and of the multilayer optical film. Thereafter, the plurality of pieces of the first liner are removed from the plurality of pieces of the multilayer optical film while the pieces of multilayer optical film are supported by the second liner. Application of the first liner to the multilayer optical film can be accomplished with electrostatics.

Abstract: A head-up display includes a projection system and a window having a target area where a reflective polarizer is positioned to reflect light from the projection system to a viewing area. Light from the projection system is p-polarized and strikes exposed window surface(s) at an acute angle to reduce or eliminate multiple or “ghost” images. The acute angle is closely matched to a Brewster angle of the exposed window surface(s). The reflective polarizer includes a multilayer stack with refractive indices of individual layers chosen to reflect p-polarized light substantially more than s-polarized light over a wide angular range that includes the acute angle. The reflective polarizer also can reflect infrared light to reduce cabin heating from solar radiation.

Abstract: A film includes a multilayer stack composed of unit cells having alternating optical layers of first and second diverse polymers A,B. The unit cells can consist essentially of two (AB), four (2A1B2C1B), or six layers (7A1B1A7B1A1B). The layers form an effective optical packet disposed between non-optical layers, the beginning and ending optical layers of which are selected to control an optical figure of merit such as spectral noise in the visible region. The arrangement of layers beginning at one end of the effective optical packet defines a specific cyclic permutation of the unit cell layer order, which provides a better figure of merit than an effective optical packet of similar design but having a different cyclic permutation.

Abstract: Articles, including free-standing films, comprising a base comprising a polymer layer having a major surface; and an anti-reflective stack optically coupled to the base that reduces the reflectivity of the base at over a first wavelength range of interest. The anti-reflective stack comprises alternating layers of (i) high index polymer; and (ii) low index polymer. Methods of making such articles are also provided.

Abstract: Optical devices according to the present invention include a multilayer optical film in which at least one of the layers comprises an oriented birefringent polymer. The multilayer optical film exhibits low absorptivity and can reflect light approaching at shallow angles as well as normal to the film.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are provided for the manufacture of coextruded polymeric multilayer optical films. The multilayer optical films have an ordered arrangement of layers of two or more materials having particular layer thicknesses and a prescribed layer thickness gradient throughout the multilayer optical stack. The methods and apparatuses described allow improved control over individual layer thicknesses, layer thickness gradients, indices of refraction, interlayer adhesion, and surface characteristics of the optical films. The methods and apparatuses described are useful for making interference polarizers, mirrors, and colored films that are optically effective over diverse portions of the ultraviolet, visible, and infrared spectra.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are provided for the manufacture of coextruded polymeric multilayer optical films. The multilayer optical films have an ordered arrangement of layers of two or more materials having particular layer thicknesses and a prescribed layer thickness gradient throughout the multilayer optical stack. The methods and apparatuses described allow improved control over individual layer thicknesses, layer thickness gradients, indices of refraction, interlayer adhesion, and surface characteristics of the optical films. The methods and apparatuses described are useful for making interference polarizers, mirrors, and colored films that are optically effective over diverse portions of the ultraviolet, visible, and infrared spectra.