Abstract: Edge-emitting organic light emitting diode (OLED) devices having optical microstructures and methods for fabricating them. The edge-emitting OLEDs include a substrate, an organic electroluminescent layer overlaying the substrate surface, and optical microstructures functioning as turning optics and separated from the OLEDs. The turning optics reflect and redirect the light from the edge-emitting OLEDs away from the top of the substrate, or through and away from the bottom of the substrate.

Abstract: A film for a screen has a light transmitting substrate and a plurality of structures disposed on the substrate. An optical material at least partially fills cavities between the structures. A method of forming a film includes providing a light transmitting substrate having a plurality of structures disposed thereon and at least partially filling the cavities therebetween with an optical material.

Abstract: A microstructure to interact with electromagnetic waves by changing optical aspect in selected areas in response to an external signal, the microstructure comprising: a plurality of responsive elements, each responsive element capable of presenting at least two different optical aspects and changing between the optical aspects based on an applied external signal; a support substrate containing the responsive elements; and a plurality of assisting optical lenses each optically enlarging an image from the responsive elements associated with the assisting optical lens.

Abstract: A film for a screen has a light transmitting substrate and a plurality of structures disposed on the substrate. An optical material at least partially fills cavities between the structures. A method of forming a film includes providing a light transmitting substrate having a plurality of structures disposed thereon and at least partially filling the cavities therebetween with an optical material.

Abstract: The invention relates to articles comprising a sheeting having a microstructured surface that reflects light in a moiré-like pattern. The invention further relates to methods of making a master and replicas thereof including tooling that results in sheeting having such pattern. A preferred method comprises forming V-shaped grooves in a substrate (e.g. metal plate) wherein the intersections of three grooves form cube-corner elements. The cube-corner elements are formed in such a manner that adjacent parallel grooves have substantially the same groove spacing and groove depth throughout the array. The master as well as corresponding tooling and sheeting preferably have a groove spacing within the range of about 0.0005 inches (0.0127 mm) to about 0.007 inches (0.1778 mm) throughout the array and more preferably a groove spacing of less than about 0.004 inches (0.1016 mm).

Abstract: A support for adjusting the line of sight of a night vision monocular. The support has a shelf that is supported relative to a user's eyes and a flange that is coupled to the shelf and rotatable relative to the shelf. The support also has a shaft supporting the monocular. The shaft is coupled to the flange for tilting the monocular relative to the shelf concurrently with a rotation of the flange. The support also has a tilt control means coupled to the flange for applying an axial force to the flange to control the rotation of the flange and the tilting of the monocular.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods of making a master and replicas thereof including tooling and retroreflective sheeting. The invention further relates to the corresponding master, tooling and in particular retroreflective sheeting. The method comprises forming V-shaped grooves in a substrate (e.g. metal plate) wherein the intersections of three grooves form cube-corner elements. The cube-corner elements are substantially the same size throughout the array. The master as well as corresponding tooling and sheeting preferably have an average groove spacing within the range of about 0.0005 inches (0.0127 mm) to about 0.007 inches (0.1778 mm) throughout the array and more preferably an average groove spacing of less than about 0.004 inches (0.1016 mm).

Abstract: The present invention is a screen, such as is used in back-lit projection screens, having a Fresnel lens laminated to another layer for support. The screen includes a Fresnel lens having an output surface, and a dispersing screen supportingly attached on a first side to the output surface of the Fresnel lens.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods of making a master and replicas thereof including tooling and retroreflective sheeting. The invention further relates to the corresponding master, tooling and in particular retroreflective sheeting. The method comprises forming V-shaped grooves in a substrate (e.g. metal plate) wherein the intersections of three grooves form cube-corner elements. The cube-comer elements are substantially the same size throughout the array. The master as well as corresponding tooling and sheeting preferably have an average groove spacing within the range of about 0.0005 inches (0.0127 mm) to about 0.007 inches (0.1778 mm) throughout the array and more preferably an average groove spacing of less than about 0.004 inches (0.1016 mm).

Abstract: The invention relates to articles comprising a sheeting having a microstructured surface that reflects light in a moiré-like pattern. The invention further relates to methods of making a master and replicas thereof including tooling that results in sheeting having such pattern. A preferred method comprises forming V-shaped grooves in a substrate (e.g. metal plate) wherein the intersections of three grooves form cube-corner elements. The cube-corner elements are formed in such a manner that adjacent parallel grooves have substantially the same groove spacing and groove depth throughout the array. The master as well as corresponding tooling and sheeting preferably have a groove spacing within the range of about 0.0005 inches (0.0127 mm) to about 0.007 inches (0.1778 mm) throughout the array and more preferably a groove spacing of less than about 0.004 inches (0.1016 mm).

Abstract: Disclosed is a rear projection screen that includes a plurality of tapered waveguides and a light absorbing layer disposed over the tops of the waveguides, but that does not completely fill the spaces between the waveguides, thereby forming an interstitial low index region under the light absorbing layer and between the waveguides. The low index interstitial region can include air or a material that has a lower index of refraction than the waveguide material. This rear projection screen construction can give rise to increased efficiency and higher contrast, as well as allow for more design freedom in constructing screens that have desired characteristics such as viewing angle, viewing asymmetry, and the like. Also disclosed are methods for making the described microstructured rear projection screen.

Abstract: Rear projection screens use lenticular lens films as light dispersing components. A single lenticular lens film includes lenticular lenses having different focal powers, or includes lenticular lenses formed in two dimensional patterns. The lenticular lens films improve the brightness uniformity over the entire screen as viewed by a viewer who is located at a specific position. The specific position is typically selected to be the most probable location of the viewer for the particular application.

Abstract: A microstructure to interact with electromagnetic waves by changing optical aspect in selected areas in response to an external signal, the microstructure comprising: a plurality of responsive elements, each responsive element capable of presenting at least two different optical aspects and changing between the optical aspects based on an applied external signal; and a support substrate containing the responsive elements, wherein at least a part of the support substrate defines an optical structure containing a plurality of assisting optical elements each optically enlarging an image from the responsive elements associated with the assisting optical element.

Abstract: The present invention is a screen, such as is used in back-lit projection screens, having a Fresnel lens laminated to another layer for support. The screen includes a Fresnel lens having an output surface, and a dispersing screen supportingly attached on a first side to the output surface of the Fresnel lens.

Abstract: A microstructure to interact with electromagnetic waves by changing optical aspect in selected areas in response to an external signal, the microstructure comprising: a plurality of responsive elements, each responsive element capable of presenting at least two different optical aspects and changing between the optical aspects based on an applied external signal; and a support substrate containing the responsive elements, wherein at least a part of the support substrate defines an optical structure containing a plurality of assisting optical elements each optically enlarging an image from the responsive elements associated with the assisting optical element.

Abstract: A microstructure to interact with electromagnetic waves by changing optical aspect in selected areas in response to an external signal, the microstructure comprising: a plurality of responsive elements, each responsive element capable of presenting at least two different optical aspects and changing between the optical aspects based on an applied external signal; a support substrate containing the responsive elements; and a plurality of assisting optical lenses each optically enlarging an image from the responsive elements associated with the assisting optical lens.

Abstract: An optically dispersing film for a rear projection system includes reflecting surfaces disposed so as to reflect light passing therethrough into at least one dispersion plane. The reflecting surfaces are formed by structures, of a first refractive index, disposed within a layer of material having a second refractive index. The structures have light absorbing bases at the viewing side of the film. In some embodiments, the reflecting surfaces are disposed at one or more angles so as to reflect light into a number of different directions. In other embodiments, the layer of material having the second refractive index includes diffusing particles that diffuse the light. The film permits the asymmetric dispersion of image light in a rear projection system, so that the light may be selectively directed towards the viewer.

Abstract: Disclosed is a rear projection screen that includes a plurality of tapered waveguides and a light absorbing layer disposed over the tops of the waveguides, but that does not completely fill the spaces between the waveguides, thereby forming an interstitial low index region under the light absorbing layer and between the waveguides. The low index interstitial region can include air or a material that has a lower index of refraction than the waveguide material. This rear projection screen construction can give rise to increased efficiency and higher contrast, as well as allow for more design freedom in constructing screens that have desired characteristics such as viewing angle, viewing asymmetry, and the like. Also disclosed are methods for making the described microstructured rear projection screen.

Abstract: The present invention is a screen, such as is used in back-lit projection screens, having a Fresnel lens laminated to another layer for support. The screen includes a Fresnel lens having an output surface, and a dispersing screen supportingly attached on a first side to the output surface of the Fresnel lens.

Abstract: Rear projection screens include a film layer having a plurality of lenses for diverging light horizontally and vertically. The horizontal viewing angle created by the lenses may be different from the vertical viewing angle. The light may be directed by the lenses in a particular direction, so that the direction of the maximum intensity light does not lie parallel to an axis normal to the screen surface. The lens film may be combined with an isotropic light disperser, such as a bulk diffuser.