Optical construction and display system incorporating same

Abstract

Optical constructions are disclosed. A disclosed optical construction includes a reflective polarizer layer, and an optical film that is disposed on the reflective polarizer layer. The optical film has an optical haze that is not less than about 50%. Substantial portions of each two neighboring major surfaces in the optical construction are in physical contact with each other. The optical construction has an axial luminance gain that is not less than about 1.2.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An optical construction comprising:
 an optical diffuser layer having an optical haze that is not less than about 30%;   an optical film disposed on the optical diffuser layer and having an index of refraction that is not greater than about 1.3 and an optical haze that is not greater than about 5%; and   a reflective polarizer layer disposed on the optical film, wherein substantial portions of each two neighboring major surfaces in the optical construction are in physical contact with each other.   
     
     
         2 . The optical construction of  claim 1 , wherein the optical diffuser layer has an optical haze that is not less than about 40%. 
     
     
         3 . The optical construction of  claim 1 , wherein the optical diffuser layer has an optical haze that is not less than about 50%. 
     
     
         4 . The optical construction of  claim 1 , wherein the optical diffuser comprises a plurality of particles dispersed in a binder. 
     
     
         5 . The optical construction of  claim 1 , wherein the optical film has an index of refraction that is not greater than about 1.25. 
     
     
         6 . The optical construction of  claim 1 , wherein the optical film has an index of refraction that is not greater than about 1.2. 
     
     
         7 . The optical construction of  claim 1 , wherein the optical film has an optical haze that is not greater than about 2%. 
     
     
         8 . The optical construction of  claim 1 , wherein the optical film has an optical haze that is not greater than about 1%. 
     
     
         9 . The optical construction of  claim 1 , wherein the optical film has a thickness that is not less than about 1 micron. 
     
     
         10 . The optical construction of  claim 1 , wherein the optical film has a thickness that is not less than about 2 microns. 
     
     
         11 . The optical construction of  claim 1 , wherein the optical film comprises:
 a binder;   a plurality of interconnected voids; and   a plurality of particles, wherein a weight ratio of the binder to the plurality of the particles is not less than about 1:2.   
     
     
         12 . The optical construction of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of the interconnected voids has an average void size that is not greater than about 1 micron. 
     
     
         13 . The optical construction of  claim 11 , wherein a volume fraction of the plurality of interconnected voids in the optical film is not less than about 20%. 
     
     
         14 . The optical construction of  claim 11 , wherein a volume fraction of the plurality of interconnected voids in the optical film is not less than about 40%. 
     
     
         15 . The optical construction of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of particles has an average size that is not greater than about 100 nm. 
     
     
         16 . The optical construction of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of particles has an average size that is not greater than about 50 nm. 
     
     
         17 . The optical construction of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of particles comprises elongated particles having an average aspect ratio that is not less than about 10. 
     
     
         18 . The optical construction of  claim 1 , wherein the reflective polarizer layer comprises a multilayer optical film comprising alternating layers, wherein at least one of the alternating layers comprises a birefringent material. 
     
     
         19 . The optical construction of  claim 1 , wherein the reflective polarizer layer comprises a wire grid reflective polarizer. 
     
     
         20 . The optical construction of  claim 1 , wherein the reflective polarizer layer comprises a cholesteric reflective polarizer. 
     
     
         21 . The optical construction of  claim 1 , wherein at least 50% of each two neighboring major surfaces in the optical construction are in physical contact with each other. 
     
     
         22 . The optical construction of  claim 1 , wherein at least 70% of each two neighboring major surfaces in the optical construction are in physical contact with each other. 
     
     
         23 . The optical construction of  claim 1 , wherein at least 90% of each two neighboring major surfaces in the optical construction are in physical contact with each other. 
     
     
         24 . The optical construction of  claim 1 , wherein the optical film is laminated to the reflective polarizer layer via an optical adhesive layer. 
     
     
         25 . The optical construction of  claim 1 , wherein the optical film is coated on the reflective polarizer layer. 
     
     
         26 . The optical construction of  claim 1  having an axial luminance gain of no less than about 1.2. 
     
     
         27 . The optical construction of  claim 1  having an axial luminance gain of no less than about 1.3. 
     
     
         28 . The optical construction of  claim 1  having an axial luminance gain of no less than about 1.4. 
     
     
         29 . The optical construction of  claim 1  further comprising an optical adhesive layer disposed on the reflective polarizer layer. 
     
     
         30 . The optical construction of  claim 1  further comprising a liquid crystal panel disposed on the reflective polarizer layer. 
     
     
         31 . A direct-lit display system comprising:
 the optical construction of  claim 1 ; and   at least one lamp facing the optical construction.   
     
     
         32 . The direct-lit display system of  claim 31 , wherein the at least one lamp is at least partially within a reflective optical cavity. 
     
     
         33 . An edge-lit display system comprising:
 a lightguide;   a lamp disposed along an edge of the lightguide; and   the optical construction of  claim 1  disposed on the lightguide.   
     
     
         34 . An optical construction comprising:
 a reflective polarizer layer; and   an optical film disposed on the reflective polarizer layer and having an optical haze that is not less than about 50%, wherein substantial portions of each two neighboring major surfaces in the optical construction are in physical contact with each other, and wherein the optical construction has an axial luminance gain that is not less than about 1.2.   
     
     
         35 . The optical construction of  claim 34 , wherein the reflective polarizer layer comprises a multilayer optical film comprising alternating layers, wherein at least one of the alternating layers comprises a birefringent material. 
     
     
         36 . The optical construction of  claim 34 , wherein the reflective polarizer layer comprises a wire grid reflective polarizer. 
     
     
         37 . The optical construction of  claim 34 , wherein the reflective polarizer layer comprises a cholesteric reflective polarizer. 
     
     
         38 . The optical construction of  claim 34 , wherein the optical film has an optical haze that is not less than about 60%. 
     
     
         39 . The optical construction of  claim 34 , wherein the optical film has an optical haze that is not less than about 70%. 
     
     
         40 . The optical construction of  claim 34 , wherein the optical film has an optical haze that is not less than about 80%. 
     
     
         41 . The optical construction of  claim 34 , wherein the optical film has an optical haze that is not less than about 90%. 
     
     
         42 . The optical construction of  claim 34 , wherein the optical film has a thickness that is not less than about 1 micron. 
     
     
         43 . The optical construction of  claim 34 , wherein the optical film has a thickness that is not less than about 2 microns. 
     
     
         44 . The optical construction of  claim 34 , wherein the optical film comprises a plurality of voids. 
     
     
         45 . The optical construction of  claim 43 , wherein the plurality of voids comprises a plurality of interconnected voids. 
     
     
         46 . The optical construction of  claim 34 , wherein the optical film comprises:
 a binder;   a plurality of interconnected voids; and   a plurality of particles, wherein a weight ratio of the binder to the plurality of the particles is not less than about 1:2.   
     
     
         47 . The optical construction of  claim 46 , wherein the plurality of interconnected voids has an average void size that is not greater than about 2 microns. 
     
     
         48 . The optical construction of  claim 46 , wherein the plurality of interconnected voids has an average void size that is not greater than about 1 micron. 
     
     
         49 . The optical construction of  claim 46 , wherein a volume fraction of the plurality of the interconnected voids in the optical film is not less than about 20%. 
     
     
         50 . The optical construction of  claim 46 , wherein a volume fraction of the plurality of the interconnected voids in the optical film is not less than about 40%. 
     
     
         51 . The optical construction of  claim 46 , wherein the plurality of particles has an average size that is not greater than about 100 nm. 
     
     
         52 . The optical construction of  claim 46 , wherein the plurality of particles has an average size that is not greater than about 50 nm. 
     
     
         53 . The optical construction of  claim 46 , wherein the plurality of particles comprises elongated particles. 
     
     
         54 . The optical construction of  claim 34 , wherein at least 50% of each two neighboring major surfaces of the optical construction are in physical contact with each other. 
     
     
         55 . The optical construction of  claim 34 , wherein at least 70% of each two neighboring major surfaces of the optical construction are in physical contact with each other. 
     
     
         56 . The optical construction of  claim 34 , wherein at least 90% of each two neighboring major surfaces of the optical construction are in physical contact with each other. 
     
     
         57 . The optical construction of  claim 34 , wherein the optical film is laminated to the reflective polarizer layer via an optical adhesive layer. 
     
     
         58 . The optical construction of  claim 34 , wherein the optical film is coated on the reflective polarizer layer. 
     
     
         59 . The optical construction of  claim 34  having an axial luminance gain of no less than about 1.2. 
     
     
         60 . The optical construction of  claim 34  having an axial luminance gain of no less than about 1.3. 
     
     
         61 . The optical construction of  claim 34  having an axial luminance gain of no less than about 1.4. 
     
     
         62 . The optical construction of  claim 34  further comprising an optical adhesive layer disposed on the reflective polarizer layer. 
     
     
         63 . The optical construction of  claim 34  further comprising a liquid crystal panel disposed on the reflective polarizer layer. 
     
     
         64 . The optical construction of  claim 34 , wherein the optical film has an optical clarity that is not greater than about 10%. 
     
     
         65 . The optical construction of  claim 34 , wherein the optical film has an optical clarity that is not greater than about 7%. 
     
     
         66 . The optical construction of  claim 34 , wherein the optical film has an optical clarity that is not less than about 50%. 
     
     
         67 . The optical construction of  claim 34 , wherein the optical film has an optical clarity that is not less than about 70%. 
     
     
         68 . The optical construction of  claim 34 , wherein the optical film has an optical clarity that is not less than about 80%. 
     
     
         69 . The optical construction of  claim 34 , wherein the optical film has an optical clarity that is not less than about 90%. 
     
     
         70 . A direct-lit display system comprising:
 the optical construction of  claim 34 ; and   at least one lamp facing the optical construction.   
     
     
         71 . The direct-lit display system of  claim 70 , wherein the at least one lamp is at least partially within a reflective optical cavity. 
     
     
         72 . An edge-lit display system comprising:
 a lightguide;   a lamp disposed along an edge of the lightguide; and   the optical construction of  claim 34  disposed on the lightguide.   
     
     
         73 . An optical construction comprising:
 a reflective polarizer layer; and   an optical film disposed on the reflective polarizer layer and having a plurality of voids and an optical haze that is not less than about 50%, wherein substantial portions of each two neighboring major surfaces in the optical construction are in physical contact with each other.   
     
     
         74 . The optical construction of  claim 73 , wherein the optical film has an optical haze that is not less than about 60%. 
     
     
         75 . The optical construction of  claim 73 , wherein the optical film has an optical haze that is not less than about 70%. 
     
     
         76 . The optical construction of  claim 73 , wherein the optical film has an optical haze that is not less than about 80%. 
     
     
         77 . The optical construction of  claim 73  having an axial luminance gain of no less than about 1.2. 
     
     
         78 . The optical construction of  claim 73  having an axial luminance gain of no less than about 1.3. 
     
     
         79 . An optical stack comprising:
 an absorbing polarizer layer;   an optical film comprising a plurality of voids; and   a reflective polarizer layer, wherein substantial portions of each two neighboring major surfaces in the optical stack are in physical contact with each other.   
     
     
         80 . The optical stack of  claim 79 , wherein the optical film is disposed between the absorbing polarizer layer and the reflective polarizer layer. 
     
     
         81 . The optical stack of  claim 79 , wherein the optical film has an optical haze that is not less than about 50%. 
     
     
         82 . The optical stack of  claim 79 , wherein the optical film has an optical haze that is not greater than about 10%. 
     
     
         83 . The optical stack of  claim 82  further comprising an optical diffuser layer having an optical haze that is not less than about 50%. 
     
     
         84 . The optical stack of  claim 79 , wherein the reflective polarizer layer is disposed between the absorbing polarizer layer and the optical film. 
     
     
         85 . The optical stack of  claim 84  wherein the optical film has an optical haze that is not less than about 50%. 
     
     
         86 . The optical stack of  claim 84  wherein the optical film has an optical haze that is not greater than about 10%. 
     
     
         87 . The optical stack of  claim 86  further comprising an optical diffuser layer having an optical haze that is not less than about 50%. 
     
     
         88 . The optical stack of  claim 79 , wherein a pass-axis of the absorbing polarizer and a pass-axis of the reflective polarizer layer are in a same direction. 
     
     
         89 . A display system comprising the optical stack of  claim 79  disposed on a lightguide.