Abstract: The present invention provides a composite light guide plate having a thickness of more than about 1 mm, for use in LCD backlights or in general illumination devices. In the fabrication method of the present invention the extrusion roll molding process is combined with coating and lamination steps to enable a cost effective roll-to-roll or roll-to-sheet manufacture of the thick composite light guide plate wherein one or both principal surfaces of the light guide plate contain a pattern to enable extraction and redirection of light by the light guide plate from a light source or multiple light sources placed at one or multiple edges of the light guide plate. The composite light guide plate comprises a patterned film and a pre-cut sheet joined together by an adhesive layer.

Abstract: The present invention provides a composite light guide plate having a thickness of more than about 1 mm, for use in LCD backlights or in general illumination devices. In the fabrication method of the present invention the extrusion roll molding process is combined with coating and lamination steps to enable a cost effective roll-to-roll or roll-to-sheet manufacture of the thick composite light guide plate wherein one or both principal surfaces of the light guide plate contain a pattern to enable extraction and redirection of light by the light guide plate from a light source or multiple light sources placed at one or multiple edges of the light guide plate. The composite light guide plate comprises a patterned film and a pre-cut sheet joined together by an adhesive layer.

Abstract: The present invention provides an extrusion casting method for making composite light guide plates with a thickness of more than about 1 mm, for use in LCD backlights or in general illumination devices. In the fabrication method of the present invention the extrusion roll molding process is combined with coating and lamination steps to enable a cost effective roll-to-roll or roll-to-sheet manufacture of thick composite light guide plates wherein one or both principal surfaces of the light guide plate contain a pattern to enable extraction and redirection of light by the light guide plate from a light source or multiple light sources placed at one or multiple edges of the light guide plate. The composite light guide plate comprises a patterned film and a pre-cut sheet joined together by an adhesive layer.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of manufacturing a nano-layered light guide plate comprising, forming by a coextrusion method a multi-layered molten sheet comprising a plurality of two or more different alternating material layers and casting the coextruded sheet into a nip between a pressure roller and a pattern roller to form a nano-layered sheet having a discrete micro-pattern on at least one principal surface thereof. In addition, the invention further provides cutting and finishing the extruded micro-patterned sheet to form the nano-layered light guide plate, comprising a plurality of two or more different alternating material layers, with each layer having a thickness of less than a quarter wavelength of visible light.

Abstract: The present invention provides a nano-layered light guide plate comprising a light input surface for receiving light from at least one light source, a bottom surface comprising a plurality of discrete surface features for extracting the received light and a light output surface for emitting the extracted light, the light guide plate further comprising a plurality of two or more different alternating layers wherein the layers have a thickness less than a quarter wavelength of visible light.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for manufacturing a diffusely reflecting polarizer, comprising the steps of: coextruding first and second polymers through a chaotic mixer and a sheeting die to produce a cast sheet with a desired blend morphology and stretching said cast sheet to produce a composite film containing a first polymer having a birefringence of less than 0.02, with said first polymer being an amorphous material and a continuous phase, and a second polymer which forms a dispersed phase, and having an index of refraction that differs from said continuous phase by greater than about 0.05 along a first axis and by less than about 0.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for manufacturing a diffusely reflecting polarizer, comprising the steps of: coextruding first and second polymers through a chaotic mixer and a sheeting die to produce a cast sheet with a desired blend morphology and stretching said cast sheet to produce a composite film containing a first polymer having a birefringence of less than 0.

Abstract: The present invention provides an optical sheet having a plurality of light guide plates patterns, each light guide plate pattern having a micro-patterned output surface for emitting light, and a micro-patterned bottom surface opposing to the output surface. The optical sheet is made in steps comprising: extruding a resin into the nip between a first patterned roller and a second patterned roller at a first patterned roller surface temperature T1, a second patterned roller temperature T2, and a nip pressure P1, to form the optical sheet, the optical sheet having a first patterned surface and a second patterned surface, the first patterned surface having a micro-pattern transferred from the first patterned roller and the second patterned surface having a micro-pattern transferred from the second patterned roller.

Abstract: The present invention provides an optical sheet having a plurality of light guide plate patterns, each light guide plate pattern having a micro-patterned output surface for emitting light, and a micro-patterned bottom surface opposing to the output surface, made in steps comprising: extruding a first resin into the nip between a first pressure roller and a first patterned roller to form a first layer at a first patterned roller surface temperature T1 and a first nip pressure P1, the first layer having an unpatterned surface and a patterned surface, the patterned surface having a micro-pattern transferred from the first patterned roller, and conveying the first layer into a nip between a second patterned roller and a second pressure roller in a second extrusion station; and extruding a second resin into the nip between the second pressure roller and the second patterned roller and onto the unpatterned surface of the first layer to form a second layer at a second patterned roller surface temperature T2 and a se

Abstract: The present invention provides an optical sheet having a plurality of light guide plate patterns, each light guide plate pattern having a micro-patterned output surface for emitting light, and a micro-patterned bottom surface opposing to the output surface. The optical sheet is made in steps comprising: extruding a resin into the nip between a patterned roller and a patterned carrier film at a patterned roller temperature T1 and a nip pressure P1, to form the optical sheet, the optical sheet having a first patterned surface and a second patterned surface, the first patterned surface having a micro-pattern transferred from the patterned roller and the second patterned surface having a micro-pattern transferred from the patterned carrier film; and peeling off the patterned carrier film from the optical sheet.

Abstract: The present invention provides an optical sheet having a plurality of light guide plate patterns, each light guide plate pattern having a micro-patterned output surface for emitting light, and a micro-patterned bottom surface opposing to the output surface. The optical sheet is made in steps comprising extruding a first resin into the nip between a pressure roller and a patterned roller to form an extruded layer at a patterned roller surface temperature T1 and a nip pressure P1, the layer having an unpatterned surface and a patterned surface, the patterned surface having a pattern transferred from the patterned roller; and printing a discrete pattern on the unpatterned surface of the extruded layer to form the optical sheet comprising the plurality of light guide plate patterns.

Abstract: The present invention provides an optical sheet having a plurality of light guide plate patterns, each light guide plate pattern having a micro-patterned output surface for emitting light, and a micro-patterned bottom surface opposing to the output surface.

Abstract: The present invention provides a light guide plate having an input surface for receiving light from a light source, a micro-patterned output surface for emitting light, and a micro-patterned bottom surface opposing to the output surface. The invention provides extruding a resin into the nip between a first patterned roller and a second patterned roller at a first patterned roller surface temperature T1, a second patterned roller temperature T2, and a nip pressure P1, to form an optical sheet, the optical sheet having a first patterned surface and a second patterned surface, the first patterned surface having a pattern transferred from the first patterned roller and the second patterned surface having a pattern transferred from the second patterned roller, and cutting and finishing the said optical sheet into a plurality of double-sided light guide plates having the specified length and width dimensions.

Abstract: The present invention provides a light guide plate having an input surface for receiving light from a light source, a micro-patterned output surface for emitting light, and a micro-patterned bottom surface opposing to the output surface, made in steps comprising: extruding a resin into the nip between a patterned roller and a patterned carrier film at a nip pressure P1, to form an optical sheet, the optical sheet having a first patterned surface and a second patterned surface, the first patterned surface having a micro-pattern transferred from the patterned roller and the second patterned surface having a micro-pattern transferred from the patterned carrier film, peeling off the patterned carrier film from the optical sheet; and cutting and finishing the said optical sheet into a plurality of double-sided light guide plates having the specified length and width dimensions.

Abstract: The present invention provides a light guide plate having an input surface for receiving light from a light source, a micro-patterned output surface for emitting light, and a micro-patterned bottom surface opposing to the output surface, made in steps comprising: extruding a first resin into the nip between a first pressure roller and a first patterned roller to form a first layer. Extruding a second resin into the nip between a second pressure roller and a second patterned roller and onto the unpatterned surface of the first layer to form a second layer. The second layer having a pattern transferred from the second patterned roller; the combined first and second layers form an optical sheet comprising a plurality of light guide plate patterns and cutting and finishing the optical sheet into a plurality of double-sided light guide plates having the specified length and width dimensions.

Abstract: The present invention provides a light guide plate having an input surface for receiving light from a light source, a micro-patterned output surface for emitting light, and a micro-patterned bottom surface opposing to the output surface, made in steps comprising: extruding a resin into the nip between a pressure roller and a patterned roller to form a layer at a patterned roller surface temperature T1 and a nip pressure P1, the layer having an un-patterned surface and a patterned surface, the patterned surface having a pattern transferred from the patterned roller. Printing a discrete pattern on the un-patterned surface of the layer to form an optical sheet comprising a plurality of light guide plate patterns, and cutting and finishing the said optical sheet into a plurality of double-sided light guide plates having the specified length and width dimensions.

Abstract: The present invention provides a light guide plate having an input surface for receiving light from a light source, a micro-patterned output surface for emitting light, and a micro-patterned bottom surface opposing to the output surface, made in steps comprising: extruding a first resin into the nip between a first pressure roller and a first patterned roller to form a first layer. Extruding a second resin into the nip between a second pressure roller and a second patterned roller to form a second layer. Laminating the first layer and the second layer at their unpatterned surfaces to form an optical sheet comprising a plurality of light guide plate patterns, and cutting and finishing the optical sheet into a plurality of double-sided light guide plates having the specified length and width dimensions.

Abstract: The present invention provides a diffusely reflecting polarizer comprising a layer containing: a first polymer being a substantially amorphous nano-composite material and being a major phase having a birefringence of less than about 0.02, and a second polymer being a dispersed minor phase within the first polymer major phase, the major and minor phases differing in index of refraction by more than about 0.05 along a first axis and by less than about 0.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for manufacturing a diffusely reflecting polarizer, comprising: extruding and stretching a film containing a first polymer having a birefringence of less than 0.

Abstract: The present invention provides a composite light guiding plate comprising a light guiding layer comprising an incident face for receiving light from at least one light source, a light guiding output surface that is also generally orthogonal to the incident face, a featured surface, opposite the light-guiding output surface and generally orthogonal to the input face for redirecting light through the light guiding output surface. Further, the featured surface comprises a plurality of rows of linear prismatic structures extended in a length direction that is substantially perpendicular to the incident face and having height and width dimensions of 10 to 200 microns and wherein the length-to-width aspect ratio of the linear prismatic structures is greater than 100:1 the thickness of the light guiding layer is less than 1 mm.