Device optical window camouflage

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11525949-B2
Application number	US-201616341709-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 20, 2016
Priority date	Oct 20, 2016
Publication date	Dec 13, 2022
Grant date	Dec 13, 2022

Abstract

An example article may include an optical filter and a multilayer stack adjacent the optical filter. The multilayer stack may include a plurality of layers. Each respective layer of the plurality layers may define a respective window edge of a plurality of window edges. The plurality of window edges may define an optical window configured to transmit light through the optical filter. At least a first respective window edge of the plurality of window edges may be stepped relative to at least a second respective window edge of the plurality of window edges.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An article comprising:
a near infrared transmissive visible scattering optical filter;
a multilayer stack adjacent the optical filter, wherein the multilayer stack comprises a plurality of layers, each respective layer of the plurality of layers defining a respective window edge of a plurality of window edges, wherein the plurality of window edges defines an optical window configured to transmit light through the optical filter, the optical filter extending across the optical window, wherein at least a first respective window edge of the plurality of window edges is stepped relative to at least a second respective window edge of the plurality of window edges; and
a texture layer, wherein the multilayer stack is disposed between the texture layer and the optical filter, wherein the texture layer extends across the optical window.

2. The article of claim 1 , wherein the second respective window edge of the plurality of window edges is stepped relative to at least a third respective window edge of the plurality of window edges.

3. The article of claim 1 , wherein the first respective window edge is stepped radially inward relative to the second respective window edge.

4. The article of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of window edges comprises a plurality of successively radially inward window edges.

5. The article of claim 4 , wherein the plurality of successively radially inward window edges comprises a radially outermost stepped window edge adjacent the optical filter and a radially innermost stepped window edge away from the optical filter.

6. The article of claim 4 , wherein each respective edge of the plurality of successively radially inward window edges respectively defines a circle, an ellipse, a polygon, or a predetermined curve.

7. The article of claim 4 , wherein each respective edge of the plurality of successively radially inward edges defines a respective curve substantially similar to a predetermined closed curve.

8. The article of claim 1 , wherein each respective window edge of the plurality of window edges defines a respective predetermined circle.

9. The article of claim 1 , further comprising a protective layer adjacent a major surface of the multilayer stack, wherein the major surface is away from the optical filter.

10. The article of claim 1 , wherein an optically clear adhesive extends between window edges of a layer of the multilayer stack.

11. The article of claim 10 , wherein the optically clear adhesive extends between window edges of at least two layers of the multilayer stack.

12. The article of claim 10 , wherein the optically clear adhesive extends between window edges of at least two layers of the multilayer stack, a distance between the window edges of a first of the two layers being different from a distance between the window edges of a second of the two layers.

13. The article of claim 1 , further comprising a light emitter or receiver, wherein the optical filter is disposed between at least one layer of the plurality of layers and the light emitter or receiver.

14. The article of claim 13 , wherein the optical filter is disposed between an uppermost layer of the plurality of layers and the light emitter or receiver.

15. The article of claim 1 , wherein at least one layer of the plurality of layers substantially scatters visible light, and wherein at least another layer of the plurality of layers substantially absorbs visible light.

16. The article of claim 1 , wherein the at least one layer comprises one or more of a white ink, pigment, or dye, and wherein the at least another layer comprises one or more of a black ink, pigment, or dye.

17. The article of claim 1 , further comprising a color layer, wherein the multilayer stack is disposed between the color layer and the optical filter, wherein the color layer extends across the optical window.

18. The article of claim 1 , wherein the near infrared transmissive visible scattering optical filter includes at least one white layer.

19. The article of claim 1 , wherein the near infrared transmissive visible scattering optical filter includes a plurality of white layers.

20. The article of claim 1 , wherein the near infrared transmissive visible scattering optical filter includes a black layer.

21. The article of claim 1 , wherein the near infrared transmissive visible scattering optical filter includes a black layer and at least one white layer.

22. An article comprising:
a near infrared transmissive visible scattering optical filter; and
a multilayer stack comprising a plurality of layers arranged from a lowermost layer to an uppermost layer, wherein each respective upper layer in the multilayer stack defines a respective upper window edge that extends radially inward from a respective lower window edge defined by a respective lower layer of the plurality of layers;
wherein the plurality of layers comprises a color layer defining at least one window edge, and wherein portions of the color layer on opposite sides of the at least one window edge defined by the color layer are discontinuous from one another;
wherein at least the uppermost layer of the plurality of layers substantially scatters visible light, and wherein at least the lowermost layer of the plurality of layers substantially absorbs visible light, wherein an optically clear adhesive extends between window edges of a layer of the multilayer stack, and wherein the optical filter extends across an optical window defined by the window edges of the multilayer stack.

23. The article of claim 22 , wherein at least the uppermost layer comprises one or more of a white ink, pigment, or dye, and wherein at least the lowermost layer comprises one or more of a black ink, pigment, or dye.

24. An article comprising:
a near infrared transmissive visible scattering optical filter;
a multilayer stack adjacent the optical filter, wherein the multilayer stack comprises a plurality of layers, each respective layer of the plurality of layers defining a respective window edge of a plurality of window edges, wherein the plurality of window edges defines an optical window configured to transmit light through the optical filter, the optical filter extending across the optical window;
a protective layer; and
a color layer, wherein the multilayer stack is disposed between the color layer and the optical filter, wherein the color layer extends across the optical window.

Assignees

• 3M Innovative Properties Company

Inventors

• Du Guanglei
• Wheatley John A
• Lv Yihang
• Xu Zhiyong
• Chen Jingfei

Classifications

• G01N21/17

  Systems in which incident light is modified in accordance with the properties of the material investigated (where the material investigated is optically excited causing a change in wavelength of the incident light G01N21/63) · CPC title

• G02B5/223 Primary

  containing organic substances, e.g. dyes, inks or pigments · CPC title

• G01N21/15

  Preventing contamination of the components of the optical system or obstruction of the light path · CPC title

• G02B5/22 Primary

  Absorbing filters {(G02B5/201 - G02B5/208 take precedence)} · CPC title

• G02B5/005

  Diaphragms (for cameras G03B9/02) · CPC title