Abstract: Example light management films including a plurality of tapered protrusions are described. In some examples, the disclosure relates to a film comprising a reflective polarizer layer and a plurality of tapered protrusions disposed on and tapering away from the reflective polarizer layer, where the tapered protrusions include at least one of a plurality of substantially conical shaped protrusions or a plurality of pyramidal shaped protrusions including at least four side faces. The plurality of tapered protrusions may be configured to reduce the divergence of incident light and redirect a majority of incident light propagating along a first direction to a second direction different from the first direction.

Abstract: A directly illuminated display unit includes a display panel and one or more light sources disposed behind the display panel. The light sources are capable of producing illumination light. A diffusive light diverting layer is disposed between the one or more light sources and the display panel. The light diverting layer comprises first light diverting elements disposed on one of a first side of the light diverting layer facing display panel and second light diverting elements disposed on a second side of the light diverting layer facing away from the display panel. The diffusive light diverting layer further comprises diffusing particles disposed within a polymeric matrix.

Abstract: A light redirecting film (100) includes a first major surface (110) that includes first microstructures (150) that extend along a first direction and a second major surface (120), which may form part of a matte layer, the second major surface being opposite to the first major surface and including second microstructures (160). The second major surface has an optical haze that is not greater than about 3% and an optical clarity that is not greater than about 85%. The light redirecting film has an average effective transmission that is not less than about 1.75. The light redirecting film (100) may comprise particles. The second microstructures may have a slope distribution.

Abstract: A system for projecting content at an angle to a rear projection screen. The system includes a projector configured for projecting changeable electronic content and a rear projection screen for receiving the projected content at an angle and displaying the projected content. The rear projection screen includes a turning film having prisms facing toward or away from the projector. For prisms facing toward the projector, a protective film covers the turning film. When the projected content is displayed on the rear projection screen, the content has a substantially uniform appearance.

Abstract: A system for projecting content at an angle to a rear projection screen. The system includes a projector configured for projecting changeable electronic content and a rear projection screen for receiving the projected content at an angle and displaying the projected content. The rear projection screen includes a turning film having prisms facing toward or away from the projector. For prisms facing toward the projector, a protective film covers the turning film. When the projected content is displayed on the rear projection screen, the content has a substantially uniform appearance.

Abstract: Optical films for redirecting light are described, and optical systems, such as display systems, incorporating such optical films are described.

Abstract: Optical stack is disclosed. The optical stack includes a light redirecting film that includes a first structured major surface that includes a plurality of unitary discrete structures. The optical stack also includes an optical adhesive layer that is disposed on the light directing film. At least portions of at least some unitary discrete structures in the plurality of unitary discrete structures penetrate into the optical adhesive layer. At least portions of at least some unitary discrete structures in the plurality of unitary discrete structures do not penetrate into the optical adhesive layer. The peel strength of the light redirecting film and the optical adhesive layer is greater than about 30 grams/inch. The average effective transmission of the optical stack is not less or is less than by no more than about 10% as compared to an optical stack that has the same construction except that no unitary discrete structure penetrates into the optical adhesive layer.

Abstract: Lightguides are disclosed. More particularly, lightguides that include a lightguiding layer and a light extracting layer having a structured surface are disclosed. The light guiding layer is optically coupled to a first set of structures of the structured surface at given locations, and is not optically coupled to a second set of structures at given locations, thereby producing total internal reflection at the second locations. The selective optical coupling may be achieved by a number of different contemplated means as discussed herein. The lightguides allow for distribution of light along with redirection towards an image viewer without a number of commonly required optical elements in backlights.

Abstract: Light redirecting film is disclosed. The light redirecting film includes a first major surface that includes a plurality of first microstructures that extend along a first direction. The light redirecting film also includes a second major surface that is opposite to the first major surface and includes a plurality of second microstructures. The second major surface has an optical haze that is in a range from about 4% to about 20% and an optical clarity that is in a range from about 20% to about 60%. The light redirecting film has an average effective transmission that is not less than about 1.55.

Abstract: Flexible unitary lightguide and a method of making the same are disclosed. The lightguide includes a structured input side that includes a first pattern having smaller features superimposed on a second pattern having larger features. The lightguide further includes a structured top surface that includes a first region and a different second region. The first region includes a plurality of discrete light extractors for extracting light that propagates within the flexible unitary lightguide by total internal reflection. The second region includes a taper portion for directing light from the structured input side to the first region. The light extractors form a periodic array that has a first period along the length of the flexible unitary lightguide. The first period is such that substantially no visible moir fringes occur when the flexible unitary lightguide is used as a backlight in a pixelated display.

Abstract: A light redirecting film (100) includes a first major surface (110) that includes first microstructures (150) that extend along a first direction and a second major surface (120), which may form part of a matte layer, the second major surface being opposite to the first major surface and including second microstructures (160). The second major surface has an optical haze that is not greater than about 3% and an optical clarity that is not greater than about 85%. The light redirecting film has an average effective transmission that is not less than about 1.75. The light redirecting film (100) may comprise particles. The second microstructures may have a slope distribution.

Abstract: The present invention concerns antiglare films having a microstructured surface.

Abstract: In one aspect, the invention provides a light control film having an indicium visible at a range of viewing angles. The light control film comprises a light input surface and a light output surface opposite the light input surface. The control film further comprises alternating transmissive and absorptive regions disposed between the light input surface and the light output surface. Each absorptive region has a height and a length, wherein the heights of the absorptive regions corresponding to the indicium are different that the heights of the absorptive regions that surround the absorptive regions corresponding to indicium.

Abstract: A backlight system includes an extended area light guide (120) and crossed first (128) and second (130) prismatic recycling films. The light guide provides a first light distribution that has a maximum luminance at a first polar angle, e.g., from 70 to 90 degrees, relative to the optical axis (116) of the system. The recycling films provide a second light distribution. No diffuser film is provided between the light guide and the recycling film disposed nearest the light guide. Instead, light is specularly transmitted from the output surface (120a) of the light guide to the input surface (128a) of the recycling film nearest the light guide. The recycling films comprise prisms having refractive indices tailored to provide the second light distribution with a maximum luminance at a polar angle of 10 degrees or less. The prisms preferably have a refractive index from 1.63 to 1.76. Related methods and articles are also disclosed.

Abstract: A backlight includes a light source and one or more light recycling films. The light source generates light that exits the light source with an angular exit distribution. The light recycling films are oriented in relation to the light source so that the prism peaks of the recycling films are oriented away from the light source. The recycling films have a range of optimal incident angles that allow light to pass through the recycling films without recycling. The components of the light source, the characteristics of the recycling films, or both, are configured to control the overlap between the exit distribution of the light source and the optimal incident angle range of the recycling films.

Abstract: A back reflector for a lightguide in a turning film backlight includes a prism film layer in direct contact with a reflective layer. The lightguide includes a light guiding region having a refractive index that is substantially spatially uniform. The reflective layer may be specular or diffuse and may include a multilayer polymeric film.

Abstract: A backlight subsystem includes first and second lightguides separated by an interfacial layer. The first lightguide has an output surface oriented toward an associated first illumination field, a back surface, and at least one light input edge. The second lightguide has output surface oriented toward an associated second illumination field, a back surface, and at least one light input edge. An interfacial layer is arranged between the back surfaces of the first lightguide and the second lightguide. The interfacial layer is substantially optically non-absorbing and may be predominately optically transmissive or predominately optically reflective.

Abstract: A directly illuminated display unit includes a display panel and one or more light sources disposed behind the display panel. The light sources are capable of producing illumination light. A diffusive light diverting layer is disposed between the one or more light sources and the display panel. The light diverting layer comprises first light diverting elements disposed on one of a first side of the light diverting layer facing display panel and second light diverting elements disposed on a second side of the light diverting layer facing away from the display panel. The diffusive light diverting layer further comprises diffusing particles disposed within a polymeric matrix.

Abstract: In one aspect, the invention provides a light control film having an indicium visible at a range of viewing angles. The light control film comprises a light input surface and a light output surface opposite the light input surface. The control film further comprises alternating transmissive and absorptive regions disposed between the light input surface and the light output surface. Each absorptive region has a height and a length, wherein the heights of the absorptive regions corresponding to the indicium are different that the heights of the absorptive regions that surround the absorptive regions corresponding to indicium.

Abstract: Methods for fabricating an optical film characterizable by a relationship between gain and thickness to prism pitch ratio (S/p) that varies cyclically are described. The thickness and the prism pitch of the optical film are selected based on the relationship between gain and S/p ratio, to obtain a desired gain. The optical film is formed having the S/p ratio that provides the desired gain.