Optical components and optical systems

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2024288616-A1
Application number	US-202418657033-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 7, 2024
Priority date	Oct 9, 2017
Publication date	Aug 29, 2024
Grant date	—

Abstract

An optical component includes a first optical element having a curved first major surface; and an optical stack formed into a curved shape. The optical stack is bonded and conforms to the curved first major surface of the first optical element. The optical stack includes a reflective polarizer including a plurality of polymeric layers; and a non-adhesive flexible optical layer bonded to the reflective polarizer prior to forming the optical stack into the curved shape, such that the non-adhesive flexible optical layer bonded to the reflective polarizer improves a desired optical property of the reflective polarizer upon forming the optical stack into the curved shape relative to that of the reflective polarizer being formed into the curved shape without the non-adhesive flexible optical layer bonded to the reflective polarizer.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An optical component, comprising:
a first optical element comprising a curved first major surface; and an optical stack formed into a curved shape, the optical stack bonded and conforming to the curved first major surface of the first optical element, the optical stack comprising:
a reflective polarizer comprising a plurality of polymeric layers, the reflective polarizer substantially transmitting light having a first polarization state and substantially reflecting light having an orthogonal second polarization state; and
a non-adhesive flexible optical layer bonded to the reflective polarizer prior to forming the optical stack into the curved shape, such that the non-adhesive flexible optical layer bonded to the reflective polarizer improves a desired optical property of the reflective polarizer upon forming the optical stack into the curved shape relative to that of the reflective polarizer being formed into the curved shape without the non-adhesive flexible optical layer bonded to the reflective polarizer.

2 . The optical component of claim 1 , wherein the non-adhesive flexible optical layer comprises an absorbing polarizer.

3 . The optical component of claim 1 , wherein the non-adhesive flexible optical layer comprises a retarder.

4 . The optical component of claim 1 further comprising an adhesive layer disposed between and bonding together the reflective polarizer and the non-adhesive flexible optical layer.

5 . The optical component of claim 1 , wherein the reflective polarizer and the non-adhesive flexible optical layer are integrally formed with one another.

6 . The optical component of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of polymeric layers comprises a plurality of interference layers reflecting or transmitting light primarily by optical interference.

7 . The optical component of claim 6 , wherein for substantially normally incident light in a predetermined wavelength range, the plurality of interference layers has an average optical transmittance greater than 85% for the first polarization state and an average optical reflectance greater than about 80% for the second polarization state.

8 . The optical component of claim 6 , wherein the non-adhesive flexible optical layer is a noninterference layer integrally formed with the plurality of interference layers and not reflecting or transmitting light primarily by optical interference.

9 . The optical component of claim 1 , wherein the first optical element is formed directly on the optical stack such that the non-adhesive flexible optical layer is directly bonded to the curved first major surface of the first optical element.

Assignees

• 3M Innovative Properties Company

Inventors

• Ambur Gregg A
• Etter Jo A
• Haag Adam D
• Stover Carl A
• Nevitt Timothy J
• Yun Zhisheng
• Wong Timothy L

Classifications

• G02B27/283

  used for beam splitting or combining · CPC title

• G02B27/0172 Primary

  characterised by optical features · CPC title

• G02B1/14

  Protective coatings, e.g. hard coatings · CPC title

• G02B5/3083

  Birefringent or phase retarding elements (G02B5/3008, G02B5/3016 take precedence; systems for polarisation control G02B27/286; manufacturing phase modulating patterns by lithographic processes G03F7/001) · CPC title

• G02B5/305 Primary

  including organic materials, e.g. polymeric layers · CPC title