Abstract: An optical imaging system is disclosed for selective thermal transfer of a material from a donor film to a substrate. The imaging system includes a light source assembly that is configured to emit a patterned light beam. The patterned light beam includes a plurality of discrete output light segments where the segments at most partially overlap. The imaging system further includes a light relay assembly that receives and projects the plurality of discrete output light segments onto a transfer plane so as to form a projected light segment by a substantial superposition of the plurality of discrete output light segments. When a donor film that includes a transferable material is placed proximate a substrate that lies in the transfer plane, the projected light segment is capable of inducing a transfer of the transferable material onto the substrate.

Abstract: An optical assembly including a light management component and a light delivery component is disclosed. The light management component and the light delivery component are attached together in a manner that defines voids between the light management component and the light delivery component.

Abstract: Methods of protecting internal components of an optical device are described by providing a hardcoat surface layer on an internal component of an optical device. Also described are certain internal components having hardcoat surface layers, as well as methods of assembling internal components of an optical device.

Abstract: An integrated optical assembly including a light management component with an entry surface and a light delivery component having an exit surface attached to the entry surface of the light management component is disclosed The light management component and the light delivery component are attached together in a manner that defines voids between the entry surface of the light management component and the exit surface of the light delivery component. The voids between the light management component and the light delivery component may provide an air interface over substantial portions of the entry surface of the light management component.

Abstract: Fluorocarbon- and urethane-(meth)acryl-containing additives and hardcoats. The hardcoats are particularly useful as a surface layer on an optical device.

Abstract: Fluorocarbon- and urethane-(meth)acryl-containing additives and hardcoats. The hardcoats are particularly useful as a surface layer on an optical device.

Abstract: An optical body includes a substrate and a cholesteric liquid crystal layer disposed on the substrate. The cholesteric liquid crystal layer has a non-uniform pitch along a thickness direction of the layer and comprises a crosslinked polymer material that substantially fixes the cholesteric liquid crystal layer. The crosslinking hinders diffusion of cholesteric liquid crystal material within the cholesteric liquid crystal layer. In other methods of making an optical body, a reservoir of chiral material is provided during the process over a first cholesteric liquid crystal layer to diffuse into the layer and provide a non-uniform pitch. Alternatively, two coating compositions can be disposed on a substrate where the material of the first coating composition is not substantially soluble in the second coating composition.

Abstract: The development of new compositions and new aromatic sulfur acrylate monomers results in improved hardcoat films, and improved optical films that contain the hard coat films. The films provide improved display systems when incorporated thereon. The combination of functionalized zirconia nanoparticles with multifunctional acrylate crosslinkers and high index of refraction aromatic sulfur acrylates, about 1.58 or greater, produces abrasion resistant hard coats that have relatively high refractive indices.

Abstract: The invention provides a cholesteric liquid crystal composition that includes at least one cholesteric liquid crystal precursor, and at least one non-liquid crystalline additive that is a non-liquid crystalline compound of formula I The invention also provides cholesteric liquid crystal films and optical bodies formed from cholesteric liquid crystal compositions of the invention. The invention further provides an optical display that includes a display medium, and a reflective polarizer including a cholesteric liquid crystal composition in accordance with the invention.

Abstract: An integrated optical assembly including a light management component with an entry surface and a light delivery component having an exit surface attached to the entry surface of the light management component is disclosed The light management component and the light delivery component are attached together in a manner that defines voids between the entry surface of the light management component and the exit surface of the light delivery component. The voids between the light management component and the light delivery component may provide an air interface over substantial portions of the entry surface of the light management component.

Abstract: A low fringing film coating includes a transparent polymeric layer having a surface, and a plurality of projections extending away from the surface. The projections have a mean height of 0.05 to 1 ?m and a mean distance between projections of 0.5 to 2 mm. The coating can be produced by coating a polymeric composition onto a substrate. The polymeric composition includes a polymeric material, a good solvent for the polymeric material and a poor solvent or the polymeric material. The solvents are at least partially evaporated to form a low fringing transparent polymeric layer.

Abstract: Methods of making an optical body are disclosed. A method includes the steps of coating a mixture including a first cholesteric liquid crystal polymer, a second cholesteric liquid crystal monomer, a second cholesteric liquid crystal polymer formed from a portion of the second cholesteric liquid crystal monomer, and a solvent on a substrate. The first cholesteric liquid crystal polymer is different than the second cholesteric liquid crystal polymer. Then, forming from the mixture an optical body including a first layer, a second layer, and a third layer disposed between the first and second layer. The first layer includes a majority of the first cholesteric liquid crystal polymer. The second layer includes a majority of a second cholesteric liquid crystal monomer. The third layer includes the second cholesteric liquid crystal polymer.

Abstract: An optical body includes an optical element, an alignment layer disposed on the optical element, and a liquid crystal layer disposed on the alignment layer. The liquid crystal layer has a retardation (R) at all wavelengths (?) from 400 nm to 700 nm equal to a formula R=?/4±20 nm. The liquid crystal layer can include from 85 to 99 phr of an achiral liquid crystal material, from 1 to 15 phr of a chiral nematic liquid crystal material, and a surfactant.

Abstract: A hard coating composition for use as a stain repellent single layer on an optical display. The coating composition adds a monomer of a mono or multi(methyl)acrylate bearing at least one monovalent hexafluoropolypropylene oxide derivative and a free radically reactive compatibilizer consisting of either a fluoroalkyl-group containing acrylate compatibilizer or a fluoroalkylene-group containing acrylate compatibilizer to a conventional hydrocarbon-based hard coat formulation. The resultant coating is substantially smooth and forms a durable surface layer that has low surface energy that is stain and ink repellent.

Abstract: A hard coating composition for use as a stain repellent single layer on an optical display. The coating composition adds a monomer of a mono or multi(methyl)acrylate bearing at least one monovalent hexafluoropolypropylene oxide derivative and a free radically reactive compatibilizer consisting of either a fluoroalkyl-group containing acrylate compatibilizer or a fluoroalkylene-group containing acrylate compatibilizer to a conventional hydrocarbon-based hard coat formulation. The resultant coating is substantially smooth and forms a durable surface layer that has low surface energy that is stain and ink repellent.

Abstract: An optical body includes a) first particles comprising a first cholesteric liquid crystal material and b) a second cholesteric liquid crystal material. The first particles and the second cholesteric liquid crystal material form a structure where the first cholesteric liquid crystal material has a pitch that is different than the second cholesteric liquid crystal material. In one example, the second cholesteric liquid crystal material is in the form of second particles. In another example, the first particles are dispersed in a matrix of the second cholesteric liquid crystal material. In other examples, the optical body has more than one layer. In addition, one or more additional cholesteric liquid crystal materials can be used in the optical body. These optical bodies can be used as a reflective polarizer and can be used in a display.

Abstract: Polymerizable compositions particularly useful for brightness enhancing films.

Abstract: A cholesteric liquid crystal composition includes a) a cholesteric liquid crystal compound or a cholesteric liquid crystal precursor; and b) a compound of formula (I), formula (II) or formula (III): R—R1—R2?R3R4?nR5—R6??(I) R—R7—R2?R3R4?nR5—R8??(II) R9??R4R3?mR2—R10—R)2??(III) where, n is 1, 2, 3, or 4; m is 1, 2, or 3; R is an acrylate, methacrylate, acrylamide, isocyanate, epoxy, or silane; R1 is a (C3-C8) alkylene, (C3-C8) alkenylene, or (C3-C8) alkylyne; R2 is a bond, —O—, —C(O)O—, —O(O)C—, —OC(O)O—, —C(O)N—, —CH?N—, —N?CH—, or —NC(O)—; R3 is a cycloalkylene, cycloalkenylene, heterocyclylene, arylene, or hetroarylene; R4 is a bond, (C1-C8) alkylene, (C2-C8) alkenylene, (C2-C8) alkylyne, carbonyl, —O—, —C(O)O—, —O(O)C—, —OC(O)O—, —C(O)N—, —CH?N—, —N?CH—, or —NC(O)—; R5 is a bond, cycloalkylene, cycloalkenylene, hetrocyclylene, arylene, or hetroarylene; R6 is hydrogen, cyano, halo, (C1-C8) alkoxy, (C1-C8) alkyl, nitro, amino, carboxy, mercapto, (C1-C4)thioalkyl, COCH3, CF3, OCF3, or SCF3; R7 is a (C1