Optical constructions for display systems

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12094238-B2
Application number	US-202318195475-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 10, 2023
Priority date	May 16, 2022
Publication date	Sep 17, 2024
Grant date	Sep 17, 2024

Abstract

An integral optical construction includes a lens layer including a structured first major surface having a plurality of microlenses. An optically opaque mask layer is disposed on the lens layer and defines a plurality of openings. Each of the openings extends from a first major surface of the mask layer facing the lens layer to an opposite second major surface of the mask layer. The openings are in a one-to-one correspondence with the microlenses. Regions of the mask layer between the openings have an optical density of greater than about 2 for at least a first visible wavelength in a visible wavelength range. An optical adhesive layer is disposed on, and makes physical contact with, the second major surface of the mask layer. The optical adhesive layer defines a recess at each of the openings. The recess includes a closed bottom and an opposite open top open to the opening.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An integral optical construction comprising:
a lens layer comprising a structured first major surface comprising a plurality of microlenses arranged two-dimensionally across the lens layer;
an optically opaque mask layer disposed on the lens layer and defining a plurality of through physical first openings therein, each of the first openings extending from a first major surface of the mask layer facing the lens layer to an opposite second major surface of the mask layer, the first openings in a one-to-one correspondence with the microlenses, regions of the mask layer between the first openings having an optical density of greater than about 2 for at least a first visible wavelength in a visible wavelength range extending from about 420 nm to about 680 nm; and
a first optical adhesive layer disposed on, and making physical contact with, the second major surface of the mask layer, the first optical adhesive layer defining a recess therein at each of the first openings, each recess comprising a closed bottom and an opposite open top open to the first opening corresponding to the recess.

2. The integral optical construction of claim 1 , wherein at least 80% of a total volume of each of the recess and the first opening corresponding to the recess is filled with air.

3. The integral optical construction of claim 1 , wherein in a cross-section of the optical construction in a plane bisecting one of the first openings and the recess corresponding to the one of the first openings, the recess corresponding to the one of the first openings extends across at least 70% of the one of the first openings.

4. The integral optical construction of claim 1 further comprising an optical filter bonded to the mask layer by the first optical adhesive layer and comprising a plurality of polymeric layers numbering at least 10 in total, each of the polymeric layers having an average thickness of less than about 500 nm, such that for a substantially normally incident light, a first infrared wavelength range that is at least 50 nm wide and is within 680-1800 nm, and for each of first and second orthogonal polarization states, the optical filter has an average visible optical transmission of greater than about 40% in the visible wavelength, and an average first infrared optical transmission of less than about 30% in the first infrared wavelength range.

5. The integral optical construction of claim 4 , wherein for the substantially normally incident light, a second infrared wavelength range that is at least 50 wide and is within 680-1800 nm, and for each of the first and second polarization states, the optical filter has an average second infrared optical transmission of greater than about 40% in the second infrared wavelength range.

6. The integral optical construction of claim 5 , wherein a ratio of the average second infrared optical transmission to the average visible optical transmission is greater than about 0.8.

7. A display system for sensing a finger of a user applied to the display system, the display system comprising a display panel disposed on, and substantially coextensive in length and width, with the integral optical construction of claim 1 , the display panel configured to display an image for viewing by the user.

8. The display system of claim 7 further comprising:
a sensor for sensing the finger of the user, the optical sensor disposed on the integral optical construction opposite the display panel; and
an infrared light source configured to emit an infrared light toward the finger of the user, the sensor configured to receive at least a portion of the infrared light reflected by the finger.

9. The display system of claim 8 , wherein the sensor is bonded to the integral optical construction via an adhesive layer.

Assignees

• 3M Innovative Properties Company

Inventors

• Gillette Kristy A
• Yang Zhaohui
• Hao Encai
• Gray William J

Classifications

• G02B5/003

  Light absorbing elements · CPC title

• G02B5/208 Primary

  for use with infrared or ultraviolet radiation, e.g. for separating visible light from infrared and/or ultraviolet radiation · CPC title

• G02B3/0056

  arranged along two different directions in a plane, e.g. honeycomb arrangement of lenses (G02B3/0043 takes precedence; miniaturised objectives for electronic devices employing wafer level optics G02B13/0085) · CPC title

• G06V40/1324 Primary

  by using geometrical optics, e.g. using prisms (G06V40/1312 takes precedence) · CPC title