COATED MICROSTRUCTURED FILMS, METHODS OF MAKING SAME, AND METHODS OF MAKING LIGHT CONTROL FILMS

• Main Authors: PRIOLO, Morgan A, SCHMIDT, Daniel J, NELSON, Caleb T, GOTRIK, Kevin W
• Format: Patent
• Language: English; French; German
• Published: 31.07.2024
• Subjects: DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS, THE OPTICAL OPERATION OF WHICH ISMODIFIED BY CHANGING THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIUM OF THEDEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF THE INTENSITY,COLOUR, PHASE, POLARISATION OR DIRECTION OF LIGHT, e.g.SWITCHING, GATING, MODULATING OR DEMODULATING; FREQUENCY-CHANGING; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS; OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS, OR APPARATUS; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICS; PHYSICS; TECHNIQUES OR PROCEDURES FOR THE OPERATION THEREOF

The present disclosure provides a coated microstructured film (100a-e). The coated film includes microstructures (110) extending across a first surface of the microstructured film (100a-e) and a coating (130) on a first portion of at least some of the microstructures (110). The coating (130) includes one or more polyelectrolytes and has an average thickness T. A second portion of the coated microstructures either lacks the coating or has the coating with an average thickness of no more than 50% of T. The coating (130) is essentially free of any light absorptive material. A method of making the coated microstructured film (100a-e) is also provided. The method includes obtaining a microstructured film (100a), applying a coating (130) containing one or more polyelectrolytes to at least some of the microstructures (110), and removing at least some of the coating (130) from a second portion of the coated microstructures. Additionally, the present disclosure provides a method of making a light control film (110d,100e). The method includes the above method as well as either infusing a light absorptive material into the coating of the coated microstructured film (100b-d) or applying a layer of a pigment on the coating. Such a light control film exhibits a transmission of visible light of 75% or greater at a viewing angle of 0 degrees.