Abstract: A birefringent polyester film includes naphthalate units, ethylene units, a titanate compound, a planar branching unit, and 1 to 80 ppm metal content. The birefringent polyester film has an out-of-plane birefringence of at least 0.1 at 633 nm.

Abstract: A multilayer optical film including a stack of microlayers arranged into optical repeat units. At a design angle of incidence, such as normal incidence, the stack provides a 1st order reflection band, a 2nd order reflection band, and optionally a 3rd order reflection band. The 2nd order reflection band substantially overlaps the 1st and/or 3rd order reflection bands to form a single wide reflection band. The wide reflection band may cover at least a portion of visible and infrared wavelengths. The multilayer optical film may include an additional optical layer which maybe be an anti-glare layer and/or may be an absorbing layer. The multilayer optical film is suitable for use as a window film.

Abstract: A birefringent polyester film includes naphthalate units, ethylene units, a titanate compound, a planar branching unit, and 1 to 80 ppm metal content. The birefringent polyester film has an out-of-plane birefringence of at least 0.1 at 633 nm.

Abstract: A broadband mirror, polarizer, or other reflector includes at least one stack of microlayers. Microlayers in the stack are arranged into optical repeat units. At a design angle of incidence such as normal incidence, the stack provides a 1st order reflection band, a 2nd order reflection band, and optionally a 3rd order reflection band. The 2nd order reflection band overlaps, or substantially overlaps, the 1st and/or 3rd order reflection bands to form a single wide reflection band. The wide reflection band may include the 2nd and 1st but not a 3rd order reflection band, or the 2nd and 3rd but not the 1st order reflection band, or it may include the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd order reflection bands, as well as still higher order reflection bands. The wide reflection band may cover at least a portion of visible and infrared wavelengths.

Abstract: A broadband mirror, polarizer, or other reflector includes separate stacks of microlayers. Microlayers in each stack are arranged into optical repeat units, and the stacks are arranged in series. At a design angle of incidence such as normal incidence, the second stack provides a second 1st order reflection band and a distinct second 2nd order reflection band with a second spectral pass band therebetween. The first stack provides a first 1st order reflection band that fills the second spectral pass band such that a single wide reflection band is formed that includes the first 1st order reflection band, the second 1st order reflection band, and the second 2nd order reflection band. In some cases, the single wide reflection band can include a first 2nd order reflection band of the first stack. In some cases, the first and second stacks may have apodized portions which monotonically deviate from respective baseline portions.

Abstract: A broadband mirror, polarizer, or other reflector includes at least one stack of microlayers. Microlayers in the stack are arranged into optical repeat units. At a design angle of incidence such as normal incidence, the stack provides a 1st order reflection band, a 2nd order reflection band, and optionally a 3rd order reflection hand. The 2nd order reflection band overlaps, or substantially overlaps, the 1st and/or 3rd order reflection bands to form a single wide reflection band. The wide reflection band may include the 2nd and 1st but not a 3rd order reflection band, or the 2nd and 3rd but not the 1st order reflection band, or it may include the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd order reflection bands, as well as still higher order reflection bands. The wide reflection band may cover at least a portion of visible and infrared wavelengths.

Abstract: A multilayer optical film including a stack of microlayers arranged into optical repeat units. At a design angle of incidence, such as normal incidence, the stack provides a 1st order reflection band, a 2nd order reflection band, and optionally a 3rd order reflection band. The 2nd order reflection band substantially overlaps the 1st and/or 3rd order reflection bands to form a single wide reflection band. The wide reflection band may cover at least a portion of visible and infrared wavelengths. The multilayer optical film may include an additional optical layer which maybe be an anti-glare layer and/or may be an absorbing layer. The multilayer optical film is suitable for use as a window film.

Abstract: A broadband mirror, polarizer, or other reflector includes at least one stack of microlayers. Microlayers in the stack are arranged into optical repeat units. At a design angle of incidence such as normal incidence, the stack provides a 1st order reflection band, a 2nd order reflection band, and optionally a 3rd order reflection band. The 2nd order reflection band overlaps, or substantially overlaps, the 1st and/or 3rd order reflection bands to form a single wide reflection band. The wide reflection band may include the 2nd and 1st but not a 3rd order reflection band, or the 2nd and 3rd but not the 1st order reflection band, or it may include the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd order reflection bands, as well as still higher order reflection bands. The wide reflection band may cover at least a portion of visible and infrared wavelengths.

Abstract: A broadband mirror, polarizer, or other reflector includes at least one stack of microlayers. Microlayers in the stack are arranged into optical repeat units. At a design angle of incidence such as normal incidence, the stack provides a 1st order reflection band, a 2nd order reflection band, and optionally a 3rd order reflection band. The 2nd order reflection band overlaps, or substantially overlaps, the 1st and/or 3rd order reflection bands to form a single wide reflection band. The wide reflection band may include the 2nd and 1st but not a 3rd order reflection band, or the 2nd and 3rd but not the 1st order reflection band, or it may include the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd order reflection bands, as well as still higher order reflection bands. The wide reflection band may cover at least a portion of visible and infrared wavelengths.

Abstract: A backlight that includes a front reflector and a back reflector that form a hollow light recycling cavity including an output surface is disclosed. The backlight further includes one or more light sources disposed to emit light into the light recycling cavity. The front reflector includes an on-axis average reflectivity of at least 90% for visible light polarized in a first plane, and an on-axis average reflectivity of at least 25% but less than 90% for visible light polarized in a second plane perpendicular to the first plane.

Abstract: A backlight that includes a front reflector and a back reflector that form a hollow light recycling cavity including an output surface is disclosed. The backlight further includes one or more light sources disposed to emit light into the light recycling cavity. The front reflector includes an on-axis average reflectivity of at least 90% for visible light polarized in a first plane, and an on-axis average reflectivity of at least 25% but less than 90% for visible light polarized in a second plane perpendicular to the first plane.

Abstract: A broadband mirror, polarizer, or other reflector includes separate stacks of microlayers. Microlayers in each stack are arranged into optical repeat units, and the stacks are arranged in series. At a design angle of incidence such as normal incidence, the second stack provides a second 1st order reflection band and a distinct second 2nd order reflection band with a second spectral pass band therebetween. The first stack provides a first 1st order reflection band that fills the second spectral pass band such that a single wide reflection band is formed that includes the first 1st order reflection band, the second 1st order reflection band, and the second 2nd order reflection band. In some cases, the single wide reflection band can include a first 2nd order reflection band of the first stack. In some cases, the first and second stacks may have apodized portions which monotonically deviate from respective baseline portions.

Abstract: A backlight that includes a front reflector and a back reflector that form a hollow light recycling cavity including an output surface is disclosed. The backlight further includes one or more light sources disposed to emit light into the light recycling cavity. The front reflector includes an on-axis average reflectivity of at least 90% for visible light polarized in a first plane, and an on-axis average reflectivity of at least 25% but less than 90% for visible light polarized in a second plane perpendicular to the first plane.

Abstract: Presently described are multilayer optical films comprising an optical stack comprising at least one first birefringent optical layer; at least one (e.g. isotropic) second optical layer having a birefringence of less than 0.04 at 633 nm, and optionally at least one skin layer. The second layer, skin layer, or a combination thereof comprises a blend of at least one methyl methacrylate polymer and at least one styrene-acrylonitrile polymer.

Abstract: A transparent solar control film may have a single or multiple layer core that includes at least one layer of an orientated thermoplastic polymer material. Infrared radiation absorbing nanoparticles that preferentially absorb at least about 100 times more infrared radiation than visible radiation may be dispersed within the at least one layer of an oriented thermoplastic polymer layer. The transparent solar control film may have a haze value of less than about 5 percent.

Abstract: Presently described are multilayer optical films comprising an optical stack comprising at least one first birefringent optical layer; at least one (e.g. isotropic) second optical layer having a birefringence of less than 0.04 at 633 nm, and optionally at least one skin layer. The second layer, skin layer, or a combination thereof comprises a blend of at least one methyl methacrylate polymer and at least one styrene-acrylonitrile polymer.

Abstract: A backlight that includes a front reflector and a back reflector that form a hollow light recycling cavity including an output surface is disclosed. The backlight further includes one or more light sources disposed to emit light into the light recycling cavity. The front reflector includes an on-axis average reflectivity of at least 90% for visible light polarized in a first plane, and an on-axis average reflectivity of at least 25% but less than 90% for visible light polarized in a second plane perpendicular to the first plane.

Abstract: An article that is suitable for use as a solar concentrating mirror for enhancing the use of solar collection devices, such as solar cells. The article includes a multilayer optical film and a compliant UV protective layer. The article addresses degradation issues in solar concentration devices, provides specific bandwidths of electromagnetic energy to the solar cell while eliminating or reducing undesirable bandwidths of electromagnetic energy that may degrade or adversely affect the solar cell, and renders a compliant sheet of material that may be readily formed into a multitude of shapes or constructions for end use applications.

Abstract: A transparent solar control film may have a single or multiple layer core that includes at least one layer of an orientated thermoplastic polymer material. Infrared radiation absorbing nanoparticles that preferentially absorb at least about 100 times more infrared radiation than visible radiation may be dispersed within the at least one layer of an oriented thermoplastic polymer layer. The transparent solar control film may have a haze value of less than about 5 percent.