Abstract: Portable projection screen assemblies include: (a) a roller housing holding a roller with a flexible projection screen; (b) at least one substantially laterally extending screen support arm attached to the roller housing, the at least one screen support arm being configured to hold an outer edge portion of the flexible projection screen when the projection screen is in a laterally extended configuration; and (c) an outer housing case having an interior cavity sized and configured to hold the roller housing therein in a storage configuration. The roller housing is hingeably or releasably attached to the housing case and resides substantially vertically above the outer case in an operative position, whereby the outer housing case defines a support base adapted to reside on a support surface.

Abstract: A pulsed laser beam is used to create apertures in a layer on a back side of a substrate that includes a microlens array on a front side thereof. The pulsed laser beam is focused in a vacuum spatial filter. A profile of the pulsed laser beam that emerges from the vacuum spatial filter is converted to a top hat profile. The laser beam having the top hat profile is diffused. Finally, the pulsed laser beam having the top half profile that has been diffused is impinged through the microlens array on the front side of the substrate and onto the layer on the back side of the substrate. Related apparatus for creating the apertures and microlens array products are also described.

Abstract: Methods for creating apertures in a layer on a back side of a substrate that includes a microlens array on a front side thereof include curving the substrate into a cylindrical surface segment that defines an axis, so that the microlens array on the front side of the substrate faces the axis. A pulsed laser beam is scanned from the axis circumferentially along the cylindrical surface segment, to pass through the microlens array on the front side of the substrate and into the layer on the back side of the substrate to create the apertures, while simultaneously translating the substrate and/or the scanned pulsed laser beam axially relative to one another. Related apparatus and microlens array products are also disclosed.

Abstract: Microlens sheets include a first array of anamorphic micolenses on a face of a substrate. The microlenses in the first array are defined by a first parametric model along a direction of the first array. A second array of anamorphic micolenses is also provided on the face of the substrate, and interspersed with the first array. The microlenses in the second array are defined by a second parametric model that is different from the first parametric model, along the direction of the first array.

Abstract: Portable front projection screens include: (a) a first panel having opposing primary outer and inner surfaces, the first panel having at least first and second portions that are foldable relative to each other so as to be oriented at an angle relative to each other in an open configuration and closed to a coplanar flat configuration; and (b) a second panel foldably attached to the first panel and having opposing outer and inner primary surfaces. The second panel inner surface comprises a high gain, high Ambient Rejection Ratio projection screen that extends over a major portion of the inner surface. In a closed configuration, the first and second panels reside adjacent and substantially parallel to each other.

Abstract: Contrast enhancement films for a direct-view display include a substrate having first and second opposing sides, an array of optical microstructures on the first side, and an optically blocking film including an array of apertures on the second side. The contrast enhancement film is configured to mount between a direct-view display panel and an outer panel of the direct-view display.

Abstract: Portable projection screen assemblies include a case comprising a flexible projector screen held on a roller, the screen has a high ARR and a high-gain and can be adapted for use in uncontrolled indoor ambient lighting conditions. The case is configured with releasably matable first and second housing members and a slidably collapsible frame that slides open in a side-to-side orientation and unrolls the projector screen to at least one predetermined viewing configuration and closes together to encase the screen and frame therein. The projector screens may be particularly suitable for use with low-lumen projectors.

Abstract: Projection screens include a substrate, a reflective layer on the substrate and a refractive layer on the substrate. The refractive layer includes an array of anamorphic microlenses.

Abstract: Microstructures are fabricated by imaging a microstructure master blank that includes a radiation sensitive layer sandwiched between a pair of outer layers, on an imaging platform, to define the microstructures in the radiation sensitive layer. At least one of the outer layers is then removed. The microstructures that were defined in the radiation sensitive layer are developed. The radiation sensitive layer sandwiched between the pair of outer layers may be fabricated as webs, to provide microstructure master blanks.

Abstract: Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) shields for a direct-view display having a direct-view display panel and an outer panel that provides an outer surface for the direct-view display. These EMI shields include a conductive mesh having an array of gaps therein. The conductive mesh is configured to shield at least some of the EMI that is emitted by the direct-view display panel. An optical redirecting structure is also included, that is configured to redirect at least some optical radiation that is emitted from the direct-view display panel that would strike the conductive mesh, through the gaps in the conductive mesh. The EMI shield is configured to mount between the direct-view display panel and the outer panel such that the optical redirecting structure is adjacent the direct-view display panel and the conductive mesh is remote from the direct-view display panel.

Abstract: A pulsed laser beam is used to create apertures in a layer on a back side of a substrate that includes a microlens array on a front side thereof. The pulsed laser beam is focused in a vacuum spatial filter. A profile of the pulsed laser beam that emerges from the vacuum spatial filter is converted to a top hat profile. The laser beam having the top hat profile is diffused. Finally, the pulsed laser beam having the top half profile that has been diffused is impinged through the microlens array on the front side of the substrate and onto the layer on the back side of the substrate. Related apparatus for creating the apertures and microlens array products are also described.

Abstract: Projection screens include a substrate, a reflective layer on the substrate and a refractive layer on the substrate. The reflective layer includes reflective microstructures of about 5 ?m to about 500 ?m in size, and arranged in a first pattern to reflect light at a first spatial frequency. The refractive layer includes refractive microstructures of about 5 ?m to about 500 ?m in size, and arranged in a second pattern that is different from the first pattern, to refract light at a second spatial frequency that is different than the first spatial frequency. Related fabrication methods also are described.

Abstract: A pulsed laser beam is used to create apertures in a layer on a back side of a substrate that includes a microlens array on a front side thereof. The pulsed laser beam is focused in a vacuum spatial filter. A profile of the pulsed laser beam that emerges from the vacuum spatial filter is converted to a top hat profile. The laser beam having the top hat profile is diffused. Finally, the pulsed laser beam having the top half profile that has been diffused is impinged through the microlens array on the front side of the substrate and onto the layer on the back side of the substrate. Related apparatus for creating the apertures and microlens array products are also described.

Abstract: Contrast enhancement films for a direct-view display include a substrate having first and second opposing sides, an array of optical microstructures on the first side, and an optically blocking film including an array of apertures on the second side. The contrast enhancement film is configured to mount between a direct-view display panel and an outer panel of the direct-view display.