TW201241493A - Variable index light extraction layer and method of illuminating with same - Google Patents

Abstract

A variable index light extraction layer suitable for use in optical applications is described. The variable index light extraction layer has first and second regions with different refractive indices, the regions being disposed such that for light being transported at a supercritical angle in an adjacent layer, the extraction layer can selectively extract the light in a predetermined way based on the geometric arrangement of the first and second regions. Also described are optical films and devices including the variable index light extraction layer, methods of making the extraction layer and methods of illuminating using the extraction layer.

Description

201241493 VI. Description of the Invention: [Technical Field of the Invention] The present application generally relates to an optical film suitable for controlling light in a predetermined manner, wherein a specific application is an optical film used in combination with a light guide. The present application is related to the following U.S. Provisional Patent Application, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety in its entirety in its entirety in its entirety in the entire entire entire entire entire entire entire entire entire entire entire entire entire entire entire entire entire entire entire entire entire entire entire entire entire entire entire entire entire content /446, 740) and "Illumination Device and Method of Front-Lighting Reflective Scattering Element" (US Provisional Application No. 61/446, 712). [Prior Art] Lighting systems or devices (e.g., those used to illuminate objects or provide illumination in an electronic display system) utilize one or more optical layers to control the light emitted by one or more light sources. Generally, the optical layer needs to have a desired optical transmittance, optical intensity, optical clarity, or refractive index. In many applications, the optical layer includes a light guide that is used in combination with the air layer and the light extraction layer to emit light from the light source in the light guide. The inner layer is transported, and the air layer and the capture layer control the light by supporting total internal reflection (TIR) and extraction of light from the light guide. There is still a need in the industry for optical films that can be controlled and used in thin flexible systems as well as large systems. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present application is generally directed to a transparent polymer film suitable for use in optical applications, a method of making the same, and a method of using the same to illuminate an article. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a variable refractive index light extraction layer having properties such as refractive index, twist, light transmittance, sharpness, or combinations thereof, of the variable refractive index 162606.doc 201241493 Different areas. The disclosed variable index optical pickup layer can be incorporated into or used with various display devices and general illumination systems. In one aspect, the present application sets forth a variable index optical pickup layer having first and second regions, the first region comprising a nanovoided polymeric material and the second region comprising a nanovoided polymeric material and other materials, The first and first regions are arranged such that, for light transmitted at a supercritical angle in an adjacent layer, the variable index light extraction layer is selected in a predetermined manner based on geometric configurations of the first and second regions Sexually capture the light. The variable index light extraction layer can be used as a germanium performance optical layer having optical properties suitable for different applications. For example, the first region can have a clarity of less than about 5% and a clarity greater than about 9%, and/or the layer can have a light transmission greater than about 90%. For another example, the layer can have a twist of less than about 10% and a sharpness of greater than about 9%. The first and second regions may be continuous in a lateral plane of the layer, or they may be discontinuously configured in a pattern or randomly arranged. The variable index light extraction layer may be designed to exhibit relative to the first and second regions. The specific optical properties vary from area to area. For example, the second region may comprise from about 5% to about 60 Å/Å of the area of the lateral plane of the layer. In another aspect, the present application sets forth an optical film comprising the variable refractive index light extraction layer disposed on a transparent substrate. The transparent substrate can comprise a photoconductive optical film having a twist of less than about 1%, a clarity of greater than about 85%, and a light transmission of greater than about 90%. An optical film comprising a variable refractive index light absorbing layer disposed on a reflective scattering substrate 162606.doc 201241493 is also illustrated. In another example, the present application describes a method of preparing a variable refractive index light absorbing layer comprising: providing a nanovoided polymeric layer having a first refractive index and printing other materials on the nano-gap Polymerizing the layer so that the other material substantially penetrates into the nanovoided polymeric bed, thereby forming a portion comprising the first region (including a portion of the nanovoided polymeric layer) and the second region (including another portion of the nanovoided polymeric layer) And other materials) variable refractive index light extraction layer. The first and second regions are arranged such that for light transmitted at a supercritical angle in the adjacent layer, the variable index light extraction layer selectively captures the predetermined first and second regions based on the geometric configuration of the first and second regions Light. In other aspects, the present application sets forth an optical device comprising a combination of a light source and a light guide and a variable refractive index light absorbing layer. In another aspect, the present application sets forth a method of providing light, comprising: providing a light source, a light guide, and an optical film comprising a variable index light extraction layer of the technical solution, and optically combining the light source with the light guide and The light guide is optically coupled to the variable index light extraction layer such that light emitted by the light source is transmitted by total internal reflection within the light guide and selectively extracted from the light guide by the variable index light extraction layer. The above summary is not intended to describe each disclosed embodiment or each embodiment of the present disclosure. The following figures and detailed descriptions more specifically illustrate illustrative embodiments. [Embodiment] In the following description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of the present disclosure and various general and specific embodiments. It is to be understood that the scope of the invention is not limited by the scope of the invention. The following detailed description is not intended to be limiting. The figures are schematic and are not necessarily drawn to scale. In general, the variable index light scooping layer disclosed herein includes at least two distinct regions or regions in which light incident at any angle on the layer can be controlled in different ways. This is because the regions have different refractions. rate. The variable index light extraction layer can be used in various optical film constructions, assemblies, and devices, such as, for example, "Front-Lit Reflective Display Device and Method of Front-Lighting Reflective Display" (Attorney Code: 66858US002) and " Illumination Device and Method of Front-

The ReflectVariable Refractive Index 汲 〇 layer described in the Lighting Reflective Scattering Element j (Proxy No. 67313US002) (both of which are hereby incorporated by reference in the same PCT application) is used to draw through the adjacent layers at supercritical angles. The optical layer of light, while at the same time having less light scattering (or even no light scattering) for subcritical angle light incident on the capture layer. The variable refractive index light extraction layer extracts light from an adjacent layer, such as a transparent layer, and can deliver the extracted light into an object or component to illuminate the object or component. The variable refractive index light extraction layer does not have the characteristic of scattering light significantly or functionally. Thus, as viewed through the layer, as shown in Figure 8, the images and objects on opposite sides of the layer have less distortion. Ideally, the materials in the first and second regions have different refractive indices' and both have high transmission and very low temperature. The first 162606.doc 201241493 and the second region of the layer may be shaped and configured to have the variable refractive index light extraction layer physically attached to the lightguide, reflective scattering element, or reflective display for optical coupling A layer of high definition, low twist and high light transmittance. The variable index light extraction layer allows the light guide to be transparent to exhibit less twist (even without twist) and high definition in the presence and absence of illumination. This allows viewing of the image or viewing pattern on the reflective display, which does not significantly reduce resolution and contrast, and light scattered or diffracted by different regions does not produce visible optical artifacts. In conventional light guides, the capture layer has light scattering characteristics to direct light exiting within the light guide by the TIR of the light guide (at an angle equal to or greater than the critical angle) exiting the light guide. Such light scattering features typically include a pick-up point or structure that does not reflect printing, which is disposed on or etched into the surface of the light guide, which results in a significant reduction in viewing quality as viewed through the light guide. In addition to optical benefits, variable refractive index light extraction layers can be produced by relatively simple coating and printing techniques suitable for high speed, low cost manufacturing. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present disclosure relates to polymeric optical films or layers that exhibit regions of high refractive index-like optical properties and low refractive index-like optical properties or otherwise transmit and scatter with light. The region of the absorption, refraction, or reflection interaction β 1 ^ refractive index-like optical properties and low refractive index-like optical properties varies in the transverse plane of the optical layer, that is, the optical layer is a variable refractive index optical layer. Throughout this disclosure, the term "index" is generally used in place of the refractive index (丨 to 〇f Γ^Γ&^〇η or refractive index). The transverse plane of the variable index optical pickup layer disclosed herein can be illustrated as a plane parallel to at least __ major surfaces of the layer. Figure la shows a schematic cross-section of an example variable refractive index light-free layer _ 162606.doc 201241493 face. The capture layer includes first regions 140 & and 14 ribs, the regions including nanovoided polymeric materials. In some embodiments, the nanovoided polymeric material comprises a plurality of interconnected nanovoids, such as w〇2〇1〇/12〇422 A1 (Kolb et al.) and W0 2010/120468 A1 (Kolb et al). Said. The plurality of interconnected nanovoids are dispersed in a network of nanovoids in the binder, wherein at least some of the nanovoids are connected to each other via a hollow tunnel or a hollow tunnel-like passage. A nanovoided polymeric material comprising interconnected nanovoids has nanovoided voids or pores that extend to one or more surfaces of the material. The variable index light extraction layer includes a second region 130 disposed between the first region 14 & The second region includes nanovoided polymeric materials and other materials. In some embodiments, the other material occupies at least a portion of the void volume of the nanovoided polymeric material. Throughout the disclosure, the cross-sections and dashed lines in the plan view are used to indicate the general positions of the first and second regions, however, such dashed lines are not intended to illustrate any type of boundary between the regions. Figure lb shows a schematic cross section of an exemplary variable index optical pickup layer disposed on a transparent adjacent layer. The optical film 1〇5 includes a variable refractive index light extraction layer 1〇〇 disposed on an adjacent layer 12〇 (which is a transparent substrate). The variable index light scooping layer 100 includes first regions 14〇3 and 140b and a second region 130 disposed between the first regions. In general, a zone or zone is identified by a combination of the refractive indices of the materials and regions included. The first region comprises a nanovoided polymeric material and has a first refractive index. If substantially all regions include a nanovoided polymeric material and if the region has a refractive index within the soil 2 in a continuous transverse plane of the layer, 162606.doc 201241493 then the method of identifying the region as the _ rate Explained below. . Refraction in the transverse plane of the layer: Folding two = nano-voided polymeric material and other materials, and having a singularity. · The second refractive index of °3. The first and second regions 'polymeric materials are in the same material in the variable refractive index light absorbing layer and (iv) substantially incorporated in the 〇. 〇 3 (eg, .3 to:: the range of the refractive index changes of at least 3 to about 〇·5, about 〇.05 to about 0.5 or about 〇.〇5 to, shape 25), the material is considered as other materials. In some implementations, other materials are different from those used to form nanovoided polymeric materials. In some embodiments, the other materials are the same as those used to form the gap polymeric material. If (1) all regions include a nanovoided polymeric material, (ii) the region has a refractive index in the side G2 in a continuous transverse plane of the variable index optical capturing layer, and (4) the region has a refractive index with the first region A refractive index differing by at least about 〇〇3 identifies the region as a second region. In some embodiments, the variable index light extraction layer can be prepared by combining other materials with portions of the nanovoided polymeric material that have formed some desired shape (eg, a layer). The materials are combined to obtain a desired change in refractive index, and the change is at least about 〇〇3, such as from about 0.03 to about 0.5, from about 〇5 to about 55, or from about 〇5 to about 〇25. The variable index light extraction layer includes first and second regions that are disposed opposite one another such that the variable index light extraction layer is for light transmitted at a supercritical angle in an adjacent layer The light is selectively captured in a predetermined manner based on the geometric configuration of the first and second regions. As described herein, 162606.doc 201241493 uses a 'supercritical angle equal to or greater than a critical angle of a given interface formed by the first region of the variable refractive index light extraction layer and the B adjacent layer (by the first region and the thief neighbor) The angle at which the difference in refractive index between the layers is measured). The critical angle is the minimum angle of incidence at which light from one medium to another smaller refractive index medium can be totally reflected from the boundary between the two mediums. Referring to Figure lb (which is a simplified diagram of Figure la), the light represented by rays 15 〇 and 16 传输 is transmitted in the is adjacent layer 120 by TIR. In this embodiment, the refractive indices of the first regions 140a and 140b are much smaller than the refractive index of the adjacent layer defining the critical angle θ shown; the light passing through the supercritical angle represented by the ray 150 strikes the adjacent layer 120 and The interface between the first regions 140b, and the incident angle of the ray 150 is greater than 0. 'This causes substantially all of the light to be reflected at the interface. Also in this embodiment the refractive index of the second region 130 is approximately equal to Or greater than the refractive index of the adjacent layer 120. In this case, there is no critical angle at the interface and the light represented by the ray 160 passes through the interface between the adjacent layer 12 and the second region 130, thereby drawing from the adjacent layer to the first In the second region 130. Thus, for the embodiment shown in Figures 1 a and 1 b, the first and second regions are arranged opposite each other such that light transmitted at a supercritical angle in her adjacent layer can be made variable The refractive index light extraction layer is selectively captured in a predetermined manner based on the geometric configuration of the first and second regions. Figure lc shows a schematic cross section of the optical film 1〇5 of light striking the adjacent layer at a subcritical angle. Representative light The surface 170' of the adjacent layer 120 is struck at a subcritical angle and the light passes through the layers i2 and 100 substantially without deviation. The light represented by the light 190 passes through the first region 140b and is light-received by the light 180. Passing through the second region 130. Light passing through different regions of the variable index light extraction layer 162606.doc -10·201241493 100 has a smaller deviation from the main and offset. This produces an optical film (u J such as an exemplary optical film I 05) having low twist and high definition so as to have less distortion (or even no distortion) relative to the image when viewed through the optical film. The first and second regions of the variable index light wicking layer can have any geometric configuration to produce a desired undocked pattern. In general, the refractive index (iv) of the variable refractive index bonding layer can be varied in any manner as long as the desired optical properties of the layer are obtained. Figure 2 illustrates a variable refractive index light reticle having a refractive index that varies across the transverse plane of the layer. The refractive index profile shows a plot of the distance d of the layers in the plan view, the distance d corresponding to the distance in the transverse plane of the layer. Figure 2 shows that at some initial positions on the layer corresponding to do, the layer has a first index of refraction nl corresponding to the first region. Moving across the transverse plane of the layer, the first index of refraction nl is observed until the privacy is reached, wherein the refractive index of the layer abruptly increases to n2 corresponding to the second index of refraction of the second region. Continue to move across the horizontal plane of the layer. The second index of refraction n2 is observed until it reaches seven, and the refractive index of the middle layer of the basin suddenly drops to indicate the first region. The change in refractive index between the two _-- and second regions, respectively, having a low refractive index and a high refractive index may vary in a number of ways. For example, the change in refractive index between two adjacent regions can be sudden, as in a step function. For another example, the change in refractive index can be monotonic, with the refractive index continuously increasing or decreasing (observing changes as the end moves from the first region to the second region or from the second region to the first region, respectively). ). In some cases, the first and second indices of refraction adjacent the first and second regions vary with some combination of a step function and a monotonic function. 162606.doc -11 - 201241493 The refractive index of the first region of the variable light extraction layer is smaller than the refractive index of the second region. For example, the first index of refraction can be less than about 丨4, less than about 13 or less than about 1 _2. The first index of refraction can range from about 1 · 15 to about 45, from about 12 to about 1.42, from about 1.2 to about 1.40, or from about 1.2 to about 1.35. In general, the particular first and second indices of refraction and the particular difference between the two depend on the desired optical properties of the variable refractive index light extraction layer described below. The difference in refractive index between the first and second regions is greater than about 0.03. In some embodiments, the difference in refractive index between the first and second regions is greater than 0.05, greater than 0.1, greater than 0.2, or greater than 〇.25. Nano void polymeric materials typically comprise a plurality of interconnected nanovoids or a network of nanovoids dispersed in a binder. A plurality of nano-voids or networks: >, some nano-voids are connected to each other via a hollow or hollow-like path. The nanovoids are not necessarily free of all substances and/or particulates. By way of example, in some cases, the nanovoids may comprise one or more smaller fiber-like or wire-like objects comprising, for example, binders and/or nanoparticles. Some of the first regions disclosed include a plurality of interconnected nano-voids or a plurality of nano-voided networks, wherein each of the plurality of nano-voids or nano-voids in the network are interconnected. In some cases, in addition to a plurality of interconnected nanogaid voids, the disclosed first region may comprise a closed or unconnected nanovoid portion, which means that the nanovoids are not tunneled to other nanovoids. connection. The non-rice gap polymeric material is designed to support TIR by including a plurality of nanovoids. The light passing through the optically transparent (clarified and non-porous) adjacent layer is incident on the layer having a high porosity, and the reflectance of the light is much more fashionable at the oblique angle than the normal incidence. In the clear shape of the first ^ ^ ^ ^ Λί ΤΓ ι_ 奈 field of the nanovoid with a small twist (or even no twist), the inverse of the oblique angle above the critical angle 162606.doc •12· 201241493

Rate, shape and size of pores, refractive index of pores, refraction of nanovoids or pores, spatial distribution of pores, and wavelength of light. In some cases, the light that is incident on the nanovoided polymeric material layer or propagated within the nanovoided polymeric material layer "experiences or experiences" the effective dielectric constant Seff and the effective refractive index neff, the center of which can be based on the nanometer The void refractive index 〜, the binder refractive index nb, and the porosity or volume fraction "f" of the nanovoids are expressed. In such cases, the layer is sufficiently thick and the nanovoids are sufficiently small that light cannot resolve the shape and characteristics of the single or separate nanovoids. In such cases, the size of at least a majority of the nanovoids (eg, at least 6〇% or 7〇% or 8〇% or 90〇/〇 of the nanovoids) is no greater than about λ/5 or no greater than about λ/ 6 or no greater than about λ/8 or no greater than about λ/10 or no greater than about nine /2 〇, wherein the wavelength of the lanthanide light. In some embodiments, the light-based visible light incident into the disclosed first region of the variable light extraction layer can range from about 380 nm to about 750 nm or from about 400 nm to about 700 nm or about 420 nm to About 680 nm. In such cases 'if at least a majority of the nanovoids (eg, at least 60% or 70% or 80% or 90% of the nanovoids) have a size no greater than about 70 nm or no greater than about 60 nm or no greater than about 5 0 nm or no more than about 40 nm or no more than about 30 nm or no more than about 20 nm or no more than about 10 nm, then the first region of the variable light extraction layer • 13· 162606.doc 5 201241493 domain has an effective refractive index And comprising a plurality of nanovoids β. In some cases, the first region of the variable index light-extracting layer is sufficiently thick so that the region suitably has a refractive index and a nanometer according to the nanovoid and the binder. The void fraction or the volume fraction of the pores or the porosity indicates the effective refractive index 4. In the case where the first region has a thickness of not less than about 100 rnn or not less than about 200 nm or not less than about 5 〇〇 nm or not less than about 700 nm or not less than about 1, 〇〇〇nm. When the nanopore gap in the disclosed first region 4 is sufficiently small and the region is sufficiently thick, the effective dielectric constant of the first region can be expressed as follows: eeff = f εν + (1-f) 6b (1)

In these cases, the effective refractive index neff of the first 卩 + + 士 ^ A £ 可 can be expressed as follows: I nv V w) nb- ^ eff ) In some cases, for example, refraction of pores and binders The difference between the rates is small enough. The effective refractive index of the first region can be approximated as follows: neff = f nv + (1 - f) nb (3) In these cases, the effective refractive index of the first region The volume weighting of the refractive index of the nano-voids and the mixture is ^5〇0/ „ JJk . Mean. For example, the void volume sheep is about 50/. and the adhesion rate of the adhesive is (10). (4) The leather is about the first - The area is effective. Figure 3 is a variable refractive index pupil diagram, the schematic cross-section of the first-region of the first-region a-layer, the domain-packet-nano-void network or a plurality of and a plurality of substantially Tick several interconnects "empty ^

3〇〇 includes a plurality of interconnected nano-voids 320 scattered in the first WW 1ϋ « 162606.doc •14* 201241493 Nano-voids 320 contain interconnected nano-voids 32〇A 32〇 (^ first and second The major surfaces 330 and 332 are respectively porous, as shown by the surface voids (10), the surface apertures 320D-G may or may not provide a tunnel extending from one surface to the other or through the thickness of the region. (e.g., nanovoids 320B and 320C) are located inside the first region and may or may not be open to the surface. The size d of the void 320 can generally be controlled by selecting a suitable composition and manufacturing process, such as coating, drying. And curing conditions. In general, 1 can be any desired value in any desired range of values. For example, in some cases, at least a majority of the nanovoids (eg, at least 6% or 7% or 80% or The size of 90% or 95% of the nanovoids is within the desired range. For example, in some cases, at least a majority of the nanovoids (eg, at least 6% or 70% or 80% or 90% or 95%) The size of the nanometer void) is not more than about 5 〇〇 nm and not more than 4 00 nm, no more than about 3 〇〇 nm, no more than about 2 〇〇 nm, no more than about 1 〇〇 nm, no more than about 7 〇 nm, or no more than about 5 〇 nm. In some cases, some nano-voids It may be small enough to change the refractive index of the region with little or no light scattering. Adhesive 3 10 may comprise any material, such as a polymer. The binder may be a polymer formed from a polymerizable composition comprising a monomer. Wherein the single systems are cured using actinic radiation, such as visible light, ultraviolet radiation, electron beam radiation, heat, and combinations thereof; or various conventional anions, cations, free radicals that can be chemically or thermally induced Or any of the other polymerization techniques. The polymerization can be carried out using solvent polymerization, emulsion polymerization, suspension polymerization, bulk polymerization, and the like. Useful monomers include 162606.doc 15 201241493 Sub-mass less than about 500 g/mole Small molecule, oligomer having a molecular weight greater than 5 〇〇g/mole to about 10,000 g/mol and a polymer having a molecular weight greater than 1 Torr to about 100,000 g/mole. Representative examples of curable groups disclosed include epoxy groups, ethylenically unsaturated groups, olefin carbon-carbon double bonds, allyloxy groups, (mercapto) acrylate groups, (mercapto) propylene groups. Amidoxime group, a cyano ester group, a vinyl group, a combination of such groups, and the like. The monomer may be monofunctional or multifunctional and capable of forming a crosslinked network upon polymerization. As used herein '(Methyl) acrylate refers to acrylate and methyl acrylate, and (mercapto) propylene amide refers to acrylamide and methacrylamide. The useful monomer contains styrene, _-methyl styrene, substituted styrene, vinyl ester, ethylene sulfonate, fluorene-vinyl-2-β hexazone, (mercapto) acrylamide, hydrazine-substituted (fluorenyl) Acrylamide, octyl (meth) acrylate, isooctyl (meth) acrylate, (meth) acrylate (meth) acrylate, isodecyl (meth) acrylate, Diethylene glycol (mercapto) acrylate, isodecyl (meth) acrylate, 2-(2-ethoxyethoxy) ethyl vinegar (meth) acrylate , (mercapto) 2-ethylhexyl acrylate, lauryl methacrylate, butanediol mono (meth) acrylate, p-carboxyethyl acrylate (meth) acrylate, (meth) acrylate Isobutyl ester, alicyclic epoxide, α_epoxide, 2-hydroxyethyl (meth)acrylate, (meth)acrylonitrile, maleic anhydride, itaconic acid, (meth)acrylic acid Isodecyl ester, (decyl) propionate lauryl ester, (mercapto) n-butyl acrylate, methyl (meth) acrylate, (meth) hexyl acrylate, (A) Acrylic acid, hydrazine-vinyl caprolactam, (meth)acrylic acid stearyl group, trans-functional function, hexamethylene glycol 162606.doc •16- 201241493 vinegar, Hydroxyethyl ketone (meth) acrylate, hydroxymethyl ketone (meth) acrylate, hydroxypropyl (meth) acrylate, hydroxyisopropyl (meth) acrylate, (meth) propylene hydroxy hydroxybutyl Ester, hydroxyisobutyl (meth)acrylate, tetrahydrofurfuryl (meth)acrylate, combinations of these, and the like. Functional oligomers and polymers may also be referred to herein collectively as "higher molecular weight components or materials." Suitable higher molecular weight ingredients can be included in the compositions of the present disclosure. These higher molecular weight components can provide benefits including: viscosity control, reduced shrinkage upon curing, durability, flexibility, porous and non-porous substrate adhesion, outdoor weatherability, and/or the like. The amount of oligomers and/or polymers incorporated into the fluid compositions of the present disclosure may vary over a wide range depending on, for example, the intended use of the resulting composition, the nature of the reactive diluent, oligomerization. Properties and/or polymer properties and weight average molecular weight and the like. The oligomers and/or polymers themselves may be linear, branched and/or cyclic. The viscosity of the branched oligomers and/or polymers is below the direct bond equivalent of the same molecular weight. Exemplary polymerizable oligomers or polymers comprising aliphatic polyamino phthalates, acrylics, polyesters, polyimines, polyamines, epoxy polymers, polystyrene (including copolymerization of styrene) And substituted styrene containing polyoxyl polymers, fluorinated polymers, combinations of such materials, and the like. For some applications, polyamino phthalic acid vinegar and acetoacetate oligomers and/or polymers may have improved durability and weatherability characteristics. These materials are also often readily soluble in reactive diluents formed from self-radiating curable (meth) acrylate functional monomers. The aromatic component of the oligomer and/or polymer generally tends to have poor resistance to 162606.doc. ι7 201241493 and/or poor solar resistance. The aromatic component may be limited to less than 5% by weight, preferably less than 1. % by weight, and may not be substantially included in the oligomers and/or polymers and reactive diluents of the present disclosure. Thus, direct bonds, fulcrums and/or lysate-like aliphatic and/or heterocyclic components are preferred for forming oligomers and/or polymers for use in outdoor applications. Suitable radiation curable oligomers and/or polymers for use in the present disclosure include, but are not limited to, (meth)acrylated amino phthalates (ie, urethane (meth) acrylates) Acid ester), (meth)acrylated epoxy resin (ie, 'epoxy (meth)acrylic acid S), (meth)acrylic acidified polyacetate (ie, polyester (曱) (Acrylate), (fluorenyl) acrylated (fluorenyl) acrylic, (meth)acrylated polyoxyl, (fluorenyl) acrylated polyether (ie, 'polyether (methyl) ) acrylate), vinyl (meth) acrylate and (meth) acrylate vinegar. The material for toughening the nanovoided layer 300 comprises a resin having high tensile strength and high elongation, for example, CN9893, CN902, CN9001, CN961 and CN964 from Sartomer; and EBECRYL 4833 from Cytec and Eb8804. Suitable toughening materials also include combinations of "hard" oligoacrylates and "soft" oligoacrylates. Examples of "hard" acrylates include polyamino phthalate acrylates (such as EBECRYL 4866), polyester acrylates (such as EBECRYL 838), and epoxy acrylates (such as EBECRYL 600, EBECRYL 3200, and EBECRYL 1608). From Cytec); and CN2920, CN2261 and CN9013 (purchased from Sartomer)). Examples of "soft" acrylates include EBECRYL 8411 from Cytec; and CN959, CN9782 162606.doc • 18· 201241493 and CN973 from Sartomer Corporation. The (iv) material may be effective to form a nanovoided structured layer when the solvent is added to the coating formulation in the range of 5-25% by weight of the (iv) solid. The nanovoided polymeric material may or may not contain particles. The size d2 of the crucible may be the desired value in any-expected value range. For example, in some cases, at least a majority of the particles (eg, at least 6% or 7% or 8% or 90% or 95% of the particles) The size is within the desired range. For example, in some cases, at least a majority of the particles (eg, at least 6% or 7% or 8% or 90% or 95% of the particles) are no larger than about 5 (10) Or no more than about 3 (10) or no more than about 2 um or no more than about i um or no more than about 7 〇〇 or no more than about 500 nm or no more than about 200 nm or no more than about 1 〇〇 nm * no more than about 50 In some cases, the average particle size of the particles 340 is no greater than about 5 um, no greater than about 3 um, no greater than about 2 um, no greater than about 丄 um, no greater than about 700 nm ' no greater than about 500 nm, no. More than about 2 〇〇 nm, no more than about 100 nm, or no more than about 50 nm. In some cases, some particles may be sufficient Small to change the refractive index of the region with little or no light scattering. In some cases, the mountains and/or 1 are small enough to change the refractive index of the region with little or no light scattering. In such cases For example, 'φ and ' or I are not greater than about λ/5, not greater than about λ/6 'not greater than about λ/8, not greater than about λ/10, and not greater than about λ/20 'where λ is light Wavelength. According to another example 'in this case, d! and d2 are no greater than about 70 nm, no greater than about 60 nm, no greater than about 50 nm, no greater than about 40 nm, no greater than about 30 nm, no greater than about 20 nm or not more than about 1 〇 nm. 162606.doc •19- 201241493 Other properties of the particles used in the non-gap polymeric layer include shapes. The particles may have a regular shape (eg spherical shape) or an irregular shape. It is an elongate particle and has an average aspect ratio of not less than about 15, no less than about 2, not less than 'spoon 3 not less than about 4 or not less than about 5. In some cases, the granules may be in the form of a string of pearls (for example, available from Nissan Chemical). SNOWTEX-PS particles) or aggregated chains of spherical or amorphous particles (eg fumes) The form or shape of the cerium oxide) The nanoparticle may be an inorganic or organic particle or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, the 'nano particle may be a porous particle, a hollow particle, a solid particle, or a combination thereof. Suitable inorganic nanoparticle Examples include cerium oxide and metal oxides such as cerium oxide, titanium oxide, cerium oxide, aluminum oxide iron oxide, vanadium oxide, cerium oxide, tin oxide, aluminum oxide/cerium dioxide, cerium oxide/zirconia, and the like. A combination thereof. The nanoparticle can be surface modified such that it is chemically and/or physically bonded to the binder. In the former case, the surface-modified nanoparticle has a chemical color reaction with a binder. In general, surface modifications are well known and can be practiced using conventional materials and techniques as described in the references cited above. Depending on the desired properties of the nanovoided polymeric layer, the weight ratio of binder to nanoparticle can range from about 30:70, 40:60, 50:50, 55.45, 60·40, 70:30, 80:20. Or 90:10 or more. A preferred range of wt% of the nanoparticles is between about 10 weights. /. It is between about 60% by weight and may depend on the density and size of the nanoparticles used. In the case where the main optical effects of the gap network 320 and the particles 340 affect the effective refractive index and minimize the scattered light, the optical density of the optical layer 300 generated by the void 320 and the particles 340 is not 162606.doc • 20· 201241493 More than about 5% or no more than about 4% or no more than about 3 · 5% or no more than about 4% or no more than about 3% or no more than about 2.5% or no more than about 2% or no more than about 1.5% or not More than about 1%. In such cases, the effective medium of the optical layer has an effective refractive index of no greater than about 14 Å or no greater than about 1.3 5 or no greater than about 1.3 or no greater than about 1.25 or no greater than about 1.2 or no greater than about 1.15. The first region 300 may have other materials in addition to the binder 310 and the particles 340. For example, the first region 3 can comprise one or more additives (e.g., coupling agents) to aid in wetting the surface of the substrate on which the nanovoided polymeric material is formed (not explicitly shown in Figure 3). Other exemplary materials in the first zone 3 include an initiator (e.g., one or more photoinitiators), an antistatic agent, a UV absorber, and a release agent. No, the rice two-gap polymeric material is usually formed into a layer. A method for exhibiting a voided polymeric material layer is set forth in the reference to K〇lb et al., cited above. In the method, f is prepared by first preparing a solution comprising a plurality of particles (e.g., nai particles) and a soluble polymerizable material, and the polymerizable material may comprise, for example, - or a plurality of types of monomers. Next, the polymerizable sigma material is polymerized by, for example, applying ... or light to form a soluble polymer matrix present in the solvent. In some cases, after the polymerization step, the solvent may still contain some polymerizable materials' but at a lower concentration. Next, the agent is removed by drying or evaporating the solution to obtain a void-containing network or a plurality of void-like first regions dispersed in the polymer binder 3. The first zone is further ::3 plural particles 34 dispersed in the polymer. Particles and binders ... wherein the combination can be a physical bond or a chemical bond. 162606.doc -21 - 1 1201241493 In general, the resulting nanovoided polymeric layer can have a desired porosity or void volume. This can depend on the desired properties of the first region of the variable index light extraction layer. For example, the first region can have a void volume of from about 20% to about 70%, from about 30% to about 70%, or from about 40% to about 70%. In some cases, the void volume is not less than about 20%, not less than about 30%, not less than about 40%, not less than about 50%, not less than about 60%, not less than about 70 Å/〇, not less than about 80%. Or not less than about 90%. In some embodiments the 'first region 3' has a low optical mobility. In such cases, the optical layer has an optical mobility of no greater than about 10% or no greater than about 7% or no greater than about 5 degrees. Or no greater than about 4% or no greater than about 3.5% or no greater than about 40/〇 or no greater than about 3% or no greater than about 2.5% or no greater than about 2% or no greater than about 1.5% or no greater than about 1%. The degree of change in the first region can range from about 1-5%, from about 1-3%, from about 1-2%, or less than 1%. In such cases, the optical film may have a smaller effective refractive index of no greater than about 1.40 or no greater than about 1.35 or no greater than about 1.3 or no greater than about 1.2 or no greater than about 1.15 or no greater than about 1.1 or no greater than about 1.05». For light incident perpendicularly to the optical layer 300, the optical mobility as used herein is defined as the ratio of transmitted light to total transmitted light that is more than 4 degrees from the vertical. The values disclosed in this paper are based on Haze-

The Gard Plus oximeter (BYK_Gardiner, supver SpringS, Md.) was measured according to the procedure described in ASTM D1003. In some embodiments, the first region 300 has high optical clarity. For light incident perpendicularly to the first region 300, the optical clarity used herein refers to the ratio (TVTd/d+h), where 1^ is transmitted from the vertical direction of 1.6 to 2 degrees, and the D2 is Transmitted light from zero degrees in the vertical direction to 1627 degrees 162606.doc •22· 201241493. The sharpness values disclosed herein were measured using a Haze-Gard Plus oximeter from BYK-Gardiner. In the case where the first region 300 has high optical clarity, the sharpness is not less than about 80% or not less than about 85% or not less than about 90% or not less than about 95%. The nanovoided polymeric material of the first region 300 can be fabricated by applying the above solution containing the solvent to the substrate. In many cases, the substrate can be formed from any of the polymeric materials used in the roll-to-roll process. In some embodiments, the substrate layer is transparent and has a small twist (even without twist) and high definition, and is composed of, for example, polyethylene terephthalate (pET), polycarbonate, acrylic. A polymer such as a cycloolefin polymer is formed. The substrate may also include a transparent substrate such as glass and other transparent inorganic materials. The substrate may also include a reflective scattering substrate or material, such as a diffuse white polymeric substrate, a semi-mirror substrate, a polymeric substrate, such as a multilayer optical film (e.g., ESR available from 3M), a metal half mirror reflector (e.g., a wire). In some cases, the substrate may include a release liner such that the nanovoided polymeric layer can be transferred to another substrate (e.g., an adhesive layer). For embodiments where the first region comprises a nanovoided polymeric material, it defines a second region. Other materials reside in the nanovoided polymeric material nanovoids and have a refractive index that is sufficiently high that the refractive index of the second region is large =: the refractive index of the two domains. Other useful materials include inclusions that can be included in the inner: two variable refractive index light extraction layer. ~μ—, 162606.doc -23· 201241493 0.25. In general, other materials may have a refractive index range of about 1.40 to 2.1. The exact refractive index range of other materials will depend on the refractive index of the nanovoided polymeric material and the refractive index of the adjacent layer from which the extracted layer draws light. For purposes of the present invention, the variable refractive index acquisition layer is designed to take light from the adjacent transparent layer waves. To perform this function, the refractive index of the first region of the variable refractive index light absorbing layer must be smaller than the adjacent transparent layer, and the variable refractive index light: the refractive index of the second region of the layer is approximately equal to or greater than the adjacent of the extracted light. In general, other materials are incorporated into the nanovoided polymeric material with little or no other materials on Table 3 of the nanovoided polymeric material. In the example, the other materials are completely filled with interconnected nanovoids. ^ No void volume (less than 5% void volume) remains within the second zone. In other embodiments, the 'other materials partially fill the interconnected nanoparticle to retain some void volume. The expectation between the two domains and the second region; ΓΓ and the first void volume, in terms of: the region: the region includes a region of a certain amount having less than about 20%, a small price of about (10), less than about 5%, or Less than about 1% void volume. Any of the above materials of the exemplary other materials comprising small molecules, oligomers, and polymeric nanoparticle void polymerizations (IV) = product to two gaps = equal T method to deposit other materials into the gap of the main residual material towel. In - Department of Secretary /. A solid polymerizable material, and its other materials are infiltrated into the nano- xiao conditions to accommodate the yang and poly. The second zone is thus formed in the material 162606.doc •24· 201241493 domain. The particular choice of other materials may depend on the method of incorporating them into the nanovoided polymeric layer. Various methods are described below. For example, in some embodiments, a variable index optical pickup layer is fabricated by depositing other materials on selected regions or regions of the surface of the layer comprising the nanovoided polymeric material. Other materials then penetrate into the nanovoided polymeric material so that little or no other material remains on the surface of the layer. This embodiment may require that other materials have sufficiently low viscosity and that the molecular composition should be sufficiently small to penetrate into and through the nanovoids of the nanovoided polymeric material. In some embodiments, the variable refractive index light and the layer are produced by depositing the polymerizable composition on selected regions or regions of the surface comprising the layer of nanovoided polymeric material. The polymerizable composition has penetrated into the nanovoided material to? Little or no polymerizable composition remains on the surface of the layer. The polymerizable composition can then be polymerized by % to form other materials, thereby forming a second region having other materials of the first material. In some cases, other materials are fully permeable through the thickness of the nanovoided polymeric material layer. The H-th regions may be arranged opposite each other in a lateral plane of the variable-refractive-index light-extracting layer to control the light in a desired manner. For example, t, the second region may include a plurality of patterns arranged in a predetermined pattern on a lateral plane of the layer; For the other layer, the second region can be included in the second region. The first or second region may be a continuous region on the lateral plane of the layer. For discontinuous (i.e., 俜 个 个 ) ) 你 你 你 你 你 你 你 你 你 你 你 你 你 你 密度 密度 密度 密度 密度 密度 密度 密度 密度 密度 密度 密度 密度 密度 密度 密度 密度 密度 密度 密度 密度 密度 密度 密度 密度For example, the density of the second zone may vary from 162606.doc •25· 201241493. A number of such embodiments in one or two dimensions in the transverse plane of the layer are illustrated in Figures 4a-4d, 5a and 讣. The optimum thickness of the layer is determined by the function of the variable fold (four) light immersion layer design. The layer thickness depends on the nature of the nanovoided polymeric material. The variable index light extraction layer should be sufficiently thick that the first region provides optical isolation of the underlying transparent substrate (where supercritical light propagates) and another layer disposed on the opposite side of the variable index light extraction layer. The thickness of the nanovoided polymeric layer should be sufficiently thin that other materials can be deposited on the layer and penetrate into the layer 'and in some cases through the thickness of the layer, thereby creating a second region In the case of a dangerous shape, the variable refractive index light extraction layer has a thickness greater than about 5 〇〇 nm, or a thickness ranging from about 5 〇〇 nm to about ι 〇〇 about 5 〇〇 nm to about 8 um, about m metre to about 5 (10) or about i (10) to about 3 (10). The variable index light extraction layer supports or promotes TIR, and thus the layer is thick enough that the evanescent tail of the light that undergoes TIR on the surface of the variable index light extraction layer is not optically coupled in the thickness of the layer, or optical Very little coupling. In these cases, the thickness of the variable refractive index light extraction layer is not less than about 5 um, not less than about! Um, not less than about i.i um, not less than about 1.2 um, not less than about 1.3 um, not less than about 1.4 um, not less than about 15 um, not less than about 1 · 7 um or not less than about 2 um. A sufficiently thick variable index light wicking layer prevents or reduces undesirable optical coupling of the evanescent tail of the optical mode in the layer thickness. In some cases, the variable index light extraction layer has a low optical intensity (measured in the form of the overall properties of the layer in which the optical refractive index of the variable index light extraction layer is no greater than about 10[deg.] No more than about 7%, 162606.doc -26· 201241493 no more than about 5%, no more than about 4%, no more than about 35%, no more than about 4%, no more than about 3%, no more than about 2.5%, no more than about 2%, no more than about 1.5% or no more than about 1%. In such cases, the effective refractive index of the variable refractive index light-removed layer may be no more than about 1.4 〇, no more than About 1.35, no more than about 1.3, no more than about 1.2, no more than about 115, no more than about 1.1, or no more than about 1.05. For light incident perpendicularly to a given broad surface, the optical mobility used herein It is defined as the ratio of transmitted light to total transmitted light that is more than 4 degrees from the vertical. The temperature values disclosed in this paper are based on the Haze-Gard Plus 霾度计 (BYK_Gardiner, sUver

Springs, Md.) was measured according to the procedure described in ASTM D1003. In some cases, the variable index light extraction layer has high optical clarity. The optical clarity used herein is defined for the light incident perpendicular to the layer and refers to the ratio (TVD/d+T2), where Tl is transmitted from the vertical direction i 6 degrees to 2 degrees, and the η is located at a distance from the vertical. Transmitted light from zero to 〇7 degrees. The sharpness values disclosed herein were measured using a Haze-Gard Plus oximeter from Βγκ_Gardiner. In the case where the variable refractive index light extraction layer has high optical clarity, the definition is not less than about 80%, not less than about 85%, not less than about 9〇%, or not less than about 95〇/^ variable refractive index light. The capture layer can include first and second regions disposed opposite each other in a desired geometric configuration on a lateral plane of the layer such that the layer provides desired optical performance characteristics. The figure hooks show a plan view of a variable index optical pickup layer of an exemplary geometric configuration of the first and second regions. The variable index light extraction layer 400 includes a first region 41〇 (continuous in the layer, as seen in the plan view of the layer) and a second region 420 (which is represented by a dotted line 162606.doc - 27· 201241493 Rectangular closed discrete area). As noted above, the dashed lines used throughout the disclosure indicate the general positions of the first and second regions, however, the dashed lines are not intended to describe any-class boundaries between regions. As described herein, the second region is formed by depositing other materials on the nanovoided polymeric material (usually by some printing means) such that penetration, wicking, etc. of other materials in the nanovoided polymeric material depends on The chemical properties of the materials used to form the material region and properties such as viscosity, wettability, temperature, and the like. The shape of the second region 420 is a rectangle or strip having substantially the same length and width that extends over the width of the layer 400 and is arranged at an increasing frequency from left to right. The refractive index of the second region 42 is at least about 〇.〇3. Figure 4b shows a refractive index profile of the variable index light extraction layer, wherein the X-axis marks a bit 1 below the layer length at some substantially single location % as shown in Figure 。. The refractive index profile shows a change in the refractive index of the layer, which includes a pattern between the first and second refractive indices of 〜 and 〜, respectively. Figures 毵 and 牝 show the characteristic curves of the selected optical properties of % transmittance and % clarity, respectively, and for both properties, there is substantially little or no change below the length of the layer. Figure 5a shows a plan view of another variable index light extraction layer showing an exemplary geometric configuration of the first and second regions. The variable index light-missing lake includes a first-region 51G (continuous in the layer, as seen in the plan view of the layer) and a second region 52G (which is closed by a circle enclosed by a virtual series) region). The pattern also shows that the density of the second region 52〇 can vary in dimension. 162606.doc • 28- 201241493 Figure 5b shows another variable refractive index light absorbing layer t plan view showing an exemplary geometric configuration of the first and second regions. The variable index light extraction layer 530 includes a first region 54〇 (continuously in the layer, as seen in the plan view of the layer) and a: region 55G (which is shaped by a dashed line (here) In the case of a heart-shaped) closed discrete area). The pattern shows that the geometric configuration of the high refractive index region does not have to be varied in a gradient, but it can also be patterned to provide a stepwise image capture of the supercritical light from the adjacent transparent layer. The geometric configuration of the first and second regions of the variable light extraction layer is designed to capture supercritical light propagating in an adjacent transparent layer and deliver the light to a variable refraction in a predetermined pattern (eg, substantially uniform illumination) The rate light is captured in another layer on the opposite side of the layer. The variable index light extraction layer can be disposed on the substrate. The substrate may comprise a support for the manufacture of a layer as described in PCT Application No. US 2011/021053 (Wolk et al.). In some embodiments, the optical film comprises a variable index light extraction layer disposed on a transparent substrate. As used herein, "transparent" means substantially optically clear and substantially low in twist and free of scattering. An exemplary transparent substrate has the desired optical properties in view of the desired properties of the optical film. The transparent substrate may comprise a polymeric substrate such as polyester, poly(meth) acrylate, polycarbonate, and the like. In some embodiments, the transparent substrate comprises a light guide as described below. In some embodiments, the transparent substrate has a degree of twist and provides some light scattering so that light can be scattered in the forward direction toward the reflective scattering element layer 650. 6 shows a schematic diagram of an exemplary illumination device 600 (including a variable refractive index light absorbing layer) in combination with a reflective scattering element illuminated by the device. 161606.doc 29·201241493 Ming device 600 includes adjacent variable The light guide 610 of the light extraction layer 630 is disposed. The light guide is optically coupled to the top surface 625 of the variable index light extraction layer 630 (indicated by the dashed line between the two surfaces). Reflective scattering element 650 (shown in layer form for simplicity) is adjacent to opposing surface 635 of the variable index light extraction layer. The reflective scattering element is optically coupled to the bottom surface of the variable index light extraction layer 635 (indicated by the dashed line between the two surfaces). Light source 601 is optically compliant with light guide 610 so that light emitted by the light source can enter the light guide. In some embodiments, there is no air gap between the bottom surface 615 of the light guide 610 and the top surface 625 of the variable index light extraction layer 630, and the bottom surface 635 of the variable index light extraction layer 63 0 is reflected and scattered. There is no air gap between the elements 650' to cause optical coupling. In some embodiments, the refractive index of the light guide 610 is between the refractive indices of the first and second regions of the variable refractive index light absorbing layer. According to this embodiment, a method of providing light includes: providing a light source, a light guide, and an optical film including a variable index light extraction layer; and optically coupling the light source to the light guide and optically coupling the light guide to the variable index light extraction layer, Thereby the light emitted by the light source is transmitted by total internal reflection within the light guide and selectively extracted from the light guide by the variable index light extraction layer. In some embodiments, the variable light extraction layer 630 can be disposed directly on the surface 645 of the reflective scattering element 650. The light guide 610 can be attached directly to the surface 625 of the variable light and layer by a number of methods. As described below, the light guide may comprise a thermoplastic resin material (eg, an acrylic), and in such cases, the light guide may be formed by casting a molten resin onto the surface 625 of the variable index draw layer, or it may Attached to the 162606.doc • 30· 201241493 variable refractive index capture layer by an insert injection molding process. In some cases the light guide 610 comprises an elastomeric material such that it can be thermally laminated to the surface 625 of the variable index draw layer. In some cases, light guide 610 includes a pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA) such that it can be laminated directly onto surface 625 of the variable index draw layer. In the case where the light guide 61 is not an adhesive, the surface 625 of the variable index light extraction layer can be adhered to the surface 615 of the light guide using an optically clear adhesive. Optical clearing adhesives are set forth below. The light guide 610 may comprise any one, and the light guide may comprise glass, acrylate (including polymethyl methacrylate), polycarbonate, polystyrene, styrene methacrylate copolymer and # compound, cycloolefin polymerization. (eg available from ζέον Chemicals LP, L〇uisville, KY and ZE〇N〇R), fluoropolymers, polyesters (including polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polynaphthalene) Ethylene dicarboxylate (PEN) and copolymers containing PET or PEN or both, polyurethanes, epoxy resins, polyglycols (including polyethylene, polypropylene, polynorbornene are Wang Tongli Polyorganic hydrocarbons in the form of stereoisomers, atactics and syndiotactic stereoisomers and polystyrene produced by metallocene polymerization). In some cases, the lead may be an elastomeric material, such as an elastomeric polyamine (IV) material and a polyoxo-based polymer j mouthpiece (including but not limited to polydialkyloxane, polyoxyl Polyurea and polyfluorene polydecylamine). In some embodiments, the light guide or the like is a viscoelastic leader' as described in WO 2010/005655 A2 (Sherman et al.). — .^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ 舨 and g, the viscoelastic light guide comprises one or more viscoelastic materials, 守堂 μ « ^ λ*κ ^ . The elastic material exhibits a spring 14 and a sticky I1 when it is deformed. The elastic properties of the material are 162606.doc, 31 . 201241493 enough to return to its original shape. The measure of material elasticity is called the tension set value which varies with the elongation remaining after the material is stretched and subsequently restored (de-stretched) under the same conditions as it is stretched. If the tension setting of the material is 〇% ', it returns to its original length after relaxation, and if the tension is set to 100%, the length of the material after relaxation is twice its original length. The tension setpoint can be measured using A S T M D 4 i 2 . The tensile setting of the viscoelastic material may be greater than about, greater than about 5% or greater than about 5% to about 70%, from about 5% to about 7%, from about 3% to about 7. 〇% or about 10% to about 60%. The viscous materials belonging to Newtonian liquid have the viscosity characteristics of Newton's law, and Newton's law states that the stress increases linearly with the shear gradient. The liquid does not return to its shape when the gradient is removed. The viscous properties of a useful viscoelastic material include the fluidity of the material at a reasonable temperature so that the material does not decompose. The viscoelastic lightguide can have properties that promote sufficient contact or wetting of at least a portion (e.g., optical article) of the material designed to extract light from the lightguide such that the viscoelastic lightguide is optically coupled to the optical article. The self-adhesive elastic light guide can then be used to extract light. Viscoelastic light guides are generally soft, flexible and flexible. Thus, the viscoelastic lightguide can have an elastic modulus (or storage modulus G) in order to obtain sufficient contact and have a viscous modulus (or loss of modulus G") so that the layer does not undesirably flow, and has The damping coefficient of the relative damping of the layer (G"/G,, tan D). The useful viscoelastic material may have a storage modulus G of less than about 300,000 Pa, (at 10 rad/sec and about (9) ^Measured to a temperature of about 22 C. Dynamic mechanical analysis can be used to measure the viscoelastic properties of materials according to, for example, ASTM D4, 65, 162606.doc -32 - 201241493 D4440 and D5 279. In some embodiments The viscoelastic light guide comprises a PSA layer as described in the Dalquist criterion line (eg, Handbook of Pressure Sensitive Adhesive Technology, Second Edition, edited by D.. Satas, Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York, 1989). The viscoelastic lightguide can have a specific peel force or a peel force that exhibits at least a specific range. For example, a viscoelastic light guide of 90. The peel force can be from about 50 g/in to about 3000 g/in, about 300 gAn to about 3000 g/in or from about 500 g/in to about 3000 gAn. The peel force can be measured using a peel tester from imASS. In some embodiments the 'viscoelastic lightguide comprises an optically clear light guide that is in at least a portion of the visible light spectrum ( From about 80% to about 1%, from about 90% to about 1%, from about 95% to about 1%, or from about 98% to about 1%, from about 400 nm to about 700 nm) High light transmittance. In some embodiments, the viscoelastic lightguide has a twist value of less than about 5%, less than about 3%, or less than about 1%. In some embodiments, the viscosity of the viscoelastic lightguide is about 〇· From 1% to less than about 5%, from about 0.01% to less than about 3%, or from about 0.01% to less than about. The transmission mobility value can be determined using a twistometer according to AStm D1 〇〇 3. In some embodiments, viscous The elastic light guide comprises an optically clear light guide having a high light transmittance and a low twist value. The high light transmittance may be from about 90% to about 1 至少 in at least a portion of the visible light spectrum (about 4 〇〇 nm to about 700 nm). %, about 950/. to about 1% or about 99% to about 1%, and the twist value may be from about 1〇/〇 to less than about 5%, from about 0.01% to less than about 3%. Or about Ο.ΟΡ To less than about 162606.doc • 33- 201241493 1%. Viscoelastic lightguide it may also have a light transmittance of about 50% to about 100% of the. The viscoelastic lightguide can have a refractive index ranging from about 13 to about 26, 14 to about 7, or about i$ to about 1.7. The particular refractive index or range of refractive indices selected for the viscoelastic lightguide can depend on the overall design of the illumination device and the particular application in which the device can be used. The viscoelastic photoconductive material can include nanoparticles that modify the refractive index of the viscoelastic photoconductive material or affect the mechanical properties of the viscoelastic photoconductive material. Suitable nanoparticles are sized such that the particles produce the desired effect and do not introduce significant amounts of scattering into the photoconductive material. A viscoelastic lightguide typically comprises at least one polymer. The viscoelastic lightguide can comprise at least one PSA. PSA can be used to adhere adhesives together and exhibit properties such as: (1) strong and long-lasting viscosity, (2) adhesion by finger pressure, (3) sufficient ability to be fixed to the adhesive, and (4) ) has sufficient bonding strength to be cleanly removed from the adhesive. Materials suitable for use as pressure sensitive adhesives have been found to be designed and formulated to exhibit the desired viscoelastic properties of the polymer which achieves the desired balance of tack, peel adhesion and shear retention. Getting the right balance of properties is not a simple process. A quantitative description of PSA can be found in the reference to DaMquist cited above. Useful PSA is described in detail in the references cited above by Sherman et al. Useful PSAs comprise a poly(meth)acrylate PS A derived from a monomer A comprising at least one monoethylenically unsaturated alkyl (meth) acrylate monomer, wherein the homopolymer of the monomer has Tg of not more than about 〇〇c; and monomer B, which includes at least one monoethylenically unsaturated radical, may be a total of 162606.doc • 34· 201241493 poly-enhanced monomer, wherein the homopolymer of the monomer has a high Tg In monomer A (for example, at least about 10 ° C). As used herein, (meth)acrylic refers to acrylic and methacrylic materials and the like (e.g., (mercapto) acrylic acid vinegar). In some embodiments, the viscoelastic lightguide comprises a natural rubber based PS A and a synthetic rubber based PSA, a thermoplastic elastomer 'tackifying thermoplastic epoxy derivative, a polycarbamic acid self-derived derivative, a polyurethane acetoacetate A vinegar derivative, a polyoxyn PSA (for example, a polydiorganosiloxane, a polydiorganotoxime polyoxazamide, and a polyoxymethylene urea block copolymer). In some embodiments, the 'viscoelastic lightguides include clarified acrylic PSAs, such as 'these can be obtained in the form of transfer tapes, such as VHBTM acrylic tape 4910F or 49 18 and 3MTM optically clear lamination adhesives from 3M Company ( 8140 and 8 180 series). In some embodiments, the viscoelastic lightguide comprises a block copolymer dispersed in an adhesive matrix to form a Lewis acid-base pair. In some embodiments, a viscoelastic lightguide comprises a stretchable release PSA that is removable from the substrate when stretched at or near zero degrees. In some embodiments, the light guide 610 can include other coatings or a top film having a coating on the outer surface 605. Additional coatings or films can be designed to impart any desired properties to the surface of the light guide. Examples of the coating include, for example, a hard coat layer, an anti-reflective coating, an antifouling coating, a matt coating, an anti-fog coating, a scratch resistant coating, a privacy coating, or a combination thereof. Durable coatings (such as hardcoats, anti-fog coatings, and scratch-resistant coatings) are suitable for applications such as touch screen sensors, display screens, graphics applications, and the like, 162606.doc -35· 201241493 . Examples of masking coatings include, for example, a blushing or turbid coating that obscures the viewing or a louver film that limits the viewing angle. In some cases, if a coating in the form of a film is provided, it is desirable to adhere the film to the surface 605 of the light guide 610 using an adhesive having a refractive index less than that of the light guide. Alternatively, a nanovoided layer can be disposed between the top surface 605 of the light guide 61〇 and the bottom of the other top film. The light guide 610 can be adhered to the variable index light extraction layer 630 using an optical clearing adhesive (OCA) as described above. In some embodiments, 〇CA includes a PSA having from about 80% to about 100%, from about 90% to about 1%, in at least a portion of the visible spectrum (about 4 〇〇 nm to about 7 〇〇 nm) A high light transmittance of from about 95% to about 100% or from about 98% to about 100% and/or from about 0.01% to less than about 5 Å. , about 〇. 〇 1% to less than about 3% or from about % % 1% to less than about 1% of the frost value. In some embodiments the 'useful PSA contains ones that are equal to those described in the DalqUist criteria range (eg Handbook of Pressure Sensitive Adhesive).

Technology, Second Edition, edited by D. Satas, as explained in Van N〇strand Reinhold, New York, 1989). The PSA can have a specific peel force or at least exhibit a peel force within a particular range. For example, the 90 peel force of psA can range from about 1 〇g/in to about 3 〇〇〇g/in, about 3 〇〇 "η to about 3000 g/in or about 500 g/in to about 3 〇. 〇〇g/in. Peeling force can be measured using a peel tester from imass. 0CA can have a refractive index in the range of from about 13 to about 26, from h4 to about 17 or from about 15 to about 17. The particular refractive index or range of refractive indices selected for 〇CA may depend on the total design of the optical film comprising the lightguide and the variable index light extraction layer. In general, the refractive index of the OCA should be Approximately equal to or greater than the refractive index of the light guide and between the refractive indices of the first region and the second region of the variable index light extraction layer 630. The PSA used as the OCA may include the above for the viscoelastic lightguide Any of the materials. Another exemplary OCA as PSA comprises a tackified thermoplastic epoxy resin (as described in US 7,005,394 (Ylitalo et al)), a polyurethane (such as in US 3,718,712 (Tushaus)). Said), polyurethane acrylate (as described in US 2006/0216523 (Shusuke). In some embodiments, sticky The coatings include clarified acrylic PSAs, for example, those that can be obtained in the form of transfer tapes, such as the 3MTM optical clear laminating adhesives described in VHBTM Acrylic Tapes 4910F and 4918 from 3M Company, WO 2004/0202879 (8) 140 and 8180 series) and 3MTM optical clear laminating adhesives (8171 CL and 8172 CL). Useful OCA is also described in US 201 1/0039099 (Sherman et al.). In some embodiments, OCA may include microstructures. The surface of the adhesive is allowed to allow PSA to be air purged after application to the surface of the light guide as described, for example, in US 2007/0212535 (Sherman et al.). The adhesive may comprise a stretch release PSA. The stretch release PSA is stretched at or near zero angle, which is the PSA that can be removed from the substrate. In some embodiments, the adhesive or stretch release PSA used in the optical tape is pulled at 1 The shear storage modulus at de/sec and -17t is less than about 10 MPa, or about 〇3 MPa to about 10 MPa when measured at 1 rad/sec and -17 °C. Stretch release is expected if disassembly, rework or recycling is desired PSA. 162606.doc • 37· 201241493 In some embodiments, the stretch release PSA may comprise a polyoxyl-based PSA, such as US 6,569,521 Bl (Sheridan et al.) or US Provisional Application No. 61/020423 (63934 US002, Sherman et al.) and 61/036501 (64151 US002, Determan et al.). The polyoxyl-based PSA comprises a combination of an MQ tackifying resin and a polyoxyalkylene polymer. For example, the stretch release PSA may comprise an MQ tackifying resin and an elastomeric polyoxyloxy polymer selected from the group consisting of urea-based polyoxyalkylene copolymers, grassy amine-based polyoxyloxy copolymers. , a guanamine-based polyoxyloxy copolymer, a urethane-based polyoxyloxy copolymer, and mixtures thereof. In some embodiments, the stretch release PSA may comprise an acrylate based PSA as described in WO 2010/078346 (Yamanaka et al.) and WO 2010/077541 (Tran et al.). The acrylate-based PSAs comprise a combination of acrylates, inorganic particles, and crosslinkers. The PSAs can be single or multiple layers. In some embodiments, the adhesive layer can comprise a cured reaction product of a multifunctional ethylenically unsaturated siloxane polymer with one or more vinyl monomers, such as US 7,862,898 (Sherman et al.) and US 7,892,649 (Sherman et al. Said). In some embodiments, a self-wetting adhesive may be beneficially used when placing the illumination device 600 on a reflective scattering element, as in WO 2010/132176 (Sherman et al.) and WO 2009/085662 (Sherman et al). Said. Exemplary PSAs include polymers derived from oligomers and/or monomers comprising polyether segments, wherein from 35 to 85% by weight of the polymer comprises segments. 162606.doc •38· 201241493 These adhesives are described in us 2007/0082969 A1 (Malik et al.). Further exemplary PSAs include reaction products of free-radically polymerizable ureido-based or urea-based oligomers with free-radically polymerizable oxyalkylene-based segmented copolymers; Case 61/410510 (Tapio et al.). The PSA may optionally contain one or more additives such as nanoparticles, plasticizers, chain transfer agents, initiators, antioxidants, stabilizers, viscosity modifiers, and antistatic agents. In some embodiments, a sealing layer is disposed on the variable index light extraction layer to minimize contaminant penetration in the variable index light extraction layer. For example, a sealing layer can be disposed on the variable index light extraction layer so as to be positioned between the variable index light extraction layer and the adhesive layer. For another example, the sealing layer can be disposed on the variable index light extraction layer such that it is between the variable index light extraction layer and the light guide, and the refractive index of the sealing layer is approximately equal to or greater than the refractive index of the light guide. . Suitable sealing layers comprise acrylic or acrylate based pressure sensitive adhesive polymers and copolymers, styrene butadiene or styrene isoprene copolymer thermoplastic resins and similar polymers, as long as they do not contain significant points The rate can penetrate into the low molecular weight species in the first region of the nanovoid void. Other polymer sealing layers may be heat activated adhesive polymers (including acrylics, acrylics - vinyl acetate, copolymers, block copolymers, EVA copolymers, polyamines, polyesters, polyethylenes). And copolymers, polyisobutylene, polypropylene polymers and copolymers, polyamine phthalate polymers and copolymers) and other polymers (including Surlyn plastics, vinyl acetate and polydifluoroethylene 162606.doc - 39· 201241493 Ether polymer, alloys, copolymers and derivatives thereof with acid salt groups) β These materials can be laminated by direct film lamination, applied by melt coating or by any suitable coating The coating process is applied from an aqueous or solvent based emulsion or dispersion of the polymer. Two suitable polymerization dispersions for use as a sealing layer

Examples are NEOCRYL Α-614 and NEOPAC R-9699 (available from DSM 6401 JH Heerlen, The Netherlands). Figure 7 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of an exemplary optical film comprising a variable index light extraction layer. Optical film 700 includes a variable index light extraction layer 730 disposed on a transparent substrate 74A. The first optically clear adhesive layer 77 is disposed on the variable index light extraction layer 730 and opposite the transparent substrate, and the first release liner 775 is disposed on the layer 770 and opposite the layer 730. The second optical clarifying adhesive layer 760 is disposed on the transparent substrate 740 opposite to the variable index light absorbing layer 730, and the second release liner 765 is disposed on the layer 76 且 opposite to the transparent substrate 740. Release liners typically have a low adhesion surface for contact with the adhesive layer. The first and/or first release liner may comprise paper (eg, kraft paper) or a polymeric film (eg, poly(ethylene), polyester, polyolefin), cellulose acetate, ethylene vinyl acetate, polyurethane And so on. The release liner can be coated with a layer of a release agent such as a material containing polyoxymethylene or a material containing fluorocarbon. The release liner can comprise a paper or polymeric film coated with polyethylene (coated with a material containing polyoxymethylene). Exemplary release liners include liners available from CP Films under the trademarks "% 3" and "Τ-10" having a polyoxynized release coating on a polyethylene terephthalate film. An exemplary release liner comprises a structured release liner. Exemplary release liners comprise any of these referred to as microstructures 162606.doc • 40-201241493 release liners for imparting surface microstructure to the adhesive layer. The microstructured surface can facilitate air drainage between the adhesive layer and the surface to which the adhesive layer is applied. The light source is optically coupled to the light guide such that at least some of the light from the light source can enter the light guide. For example, the light source can be optically coupled to the light guide such that greater than 1%, greater than 10%, greater than 20%, greater than 3〇%, greater than 40〇/〇, greater than 5〇〇/0, greater than the light emitted by the light source. 9〇〇/0 or approximately i 00〇/〇 enters the light guide. For another example, the light source can be optically coupled to the light guide such that from about 1% to about 10%, from about 1% to about 2%, from about to about 30%, from about 1% to about 40, of the light emitted by the light source. . /❶, about 1% to about 50%, about 1% to about 1%, and about 100°/. About 50% to about 1% or about p/D to about 1% of the light enters the light guide. The light source can emit light having a random or specific angular distribution. The light source can include any suitable light source. Exemplary light sources include linear light sources, such as cold cathode fluorescent lamps and point sources (eg, light emitting diodes). Example light sources also include organic light emitting devices (OLEDs), incandescent light bulbs, fluorescent light bulbs, halogen lamps, UVs. Light bulb, infrared source, near infrared source, laser or chemical source. In general, light emitted by a light source can be visible or invisible. At least one light source can be used. For example, i to about 10,000 light sources can be used. The light source can include a column of LEDs located near the edge of the light guide or near the edge of the light guide. The light source can include a led disposed in the circuit to illuminate a desired area of the light guide continuously or uniformly from the light emitted by the LED. The light source can include LEDs that emit light of different colors so that various colors can be mixed within the light guide. 0 "LED" refers to the second pole of the emitted light (whether visible, ultraviolet or infrared) 162606.doc •41 - 201241493. It includes non-coherent sealed or encapsulated semiconductor devices sold as "LEDs", whether of conventional or super-radiative variations. If the LED emits non-visible light (eg, ultraviolet light), and in some cases, if it emits visible light, it is packaged to contain a phosphor (or it can illuminate a remotely disposed phosphor) to convert short-wavelength light into Long-wavelength visible light, in some cases, a device that emits white light. "LED die" is the LED in its most basic form (i.e., in the form of individual components or wafers made by semiconductor processing procedures). The component or wafer may contain electrical contacts suitable for power applications to energize the device. Individual layers and other functional components of the component or wafer are typically formed at the wafer level, and the finished wafer can then be diced into individual parts to obtain a large number of LED dies. Multi-color sources (whether or not used to produce white light) can take many forms in the light assembly, with different effects on the color and brightness uniformity of the light guide wheel or surface. In one approach, a plurality of LED dies (eg, dies that emit red, green, and blue light) are all mounted in close proximity to one another on a leadframe or other substrate, and then encapsulated together in a single encapsulant material. To form a single package, it can also include a single lens assembly. This source can be controlled to emit any of the individual colors or to simultaneously emit all of the colors. In another approach, for a given recirculating cavity, individually packaged LEDs (where each package has only one LED die and one emission color) can be clustered together, the cluster containing different colors of emission A combination of packaged LEDs (eg blue/yellow, red/green/blue, red/green/blue/white or red/green/blue/cyan/yellow). Amber LEDs are also available. In still another mode, the individually packaged multi-color LEDs can be positioned in one or more lines, arrays, or other patterns. The right need can be used in place of or in addition to other visible light emitters (e.g., linear cold cathode fluorescent lamps (CCFLs) or hot cathode fluorescent lamps (HCFLs)) as the illumination source for the disclosed backlights. Further, for example, a hybrid system can be used, for example, (CCFL/LED), which includes cool white light and warm white light; CCFL/HCFL, such as those that emit different spectra. The combination of light emitters can vary widely and includes LEDs and CCFLs and a plurality of light emitters' such as multiple CCFLs, multiple different color CCFLs, and LEDs and CCFLs. The light source may also include a laser, a laser diode, a plasma source, or an organic light emitting diode (alone or in combination with other types of light sources (eg, LEDs).] For example, in some applications, it may be desirable to use A different source of light (eg, a long cylindrical CCFL) or a linear surface emitting lightguide that emits light along its length and coupled to a remote active component (eg, an LED die or a lenticular bulb) replaces the discrete source column and takes a similar approach to other column sources the way. Examples of such linear surface emitting light guides are disclosed in U.S. Patent Nos. 5,845,038 (Lundin et al.) and 6,367,941 (Lea et al.). Fiber-coupled laser diodes and other semiconductor emitters are also known, and in these cases, the output end of the fiber waveguide can be considered a light source for placement in the disclosed recirculation cavity or otherwise Located behind the output area of the backlight. Other passive optical components with small emitters (such as lenses, deflectors, narrow light guides, and the like that are emitted from active components (such as light bulbs or LED dies)) are also the same. An example of such a passive component is a lens of a molded encapsulant or a side emissive package LED. Any suitable side-emitting LED can be used for one or more light sources, for example, Luxe〇nTM LED (available from Lumileds, San 162606.doc -43- 201241493

Jose, CA) or LEDs as described, for example, in US 7,525,126 (Leatherdale et al.) and US 2007/025 7270 (Lu et al.). Light entering the light guide may be collimated such that it is incident on the interface between the light guide and the other medium at an angle of less than 50 degrees, less than 40 degrees, less than 30 degrees, less than 20 degrees, or less than 10 degrees, wherein the angle of incidence is The vertical surface of the light guide injection interface is measured. There are many ways to generate collimated light, including but not limited to: 1. providing an LED source or source with a highly collimating lens; 2. providing an LED source or source disposed inside the reflective wedge, wherein the wedge has less than 20 degrees, An internal angle of less than 15 degrees or less than 10 degrees; 3. providing an LED source or source in which the LED sources are disposed near a focus of a compound parabolic receiver designed to align the light to a desired angle of implantation; 4. Providing an LED source or source wherein the emission is perpendicular to the plane of the light guide and is incident on a semi-parabolic mirror that is designed to collimate light implanted into the light guide; and 5. is arranged to emit light on the surface of the light guide An LED light source or source, wherein the light guide has a surface relief structure to allow only light at a supercritical angle to enter the light guide. In general, reflective scattering element 650 can comprise a variety of materials, assemblies, and/or devices. Exemplary reflective scattering elements are described in "Illumination Device and Method of Front-Lighting Reflective Scattering Element" and "Front-Lit Reflective Display Device and Method of Front-Lighting Reflective Display" (agent file) No.: 6685 8US002) (Apply in the same period as this article). A method of preparing a variable refractive index light extraction layer includes: providing a nanovoided polymeric layer having a first refractive index; and printing other materials on the nanovoid poly 162606.doc • 44-201241493 layer so that other materials are substantially Permeating into the nanovoided polymeric layer, thereby forming variable refractive index light comprising a first region (including a portion of the nanovoided polymeric layer) and a second region (including another portion of the nanovoided polymeric layer and other materials) a layer; wherein the first and second regions are arranged such that, for light transmitted at a supercritical angle in an adjacent layer, the variable index light extraction layer is selectively selected in a predetermined manner based on geometric configurations of the first and second regions Draw the light. Printing can include non-impact printing or impact printing as well as digital or analog printing. For example, other materials (also known as other materials or another material) can be printed on the nanovoided polymeric layer using flexographic printing, in which a gravure roll having pits filled with other materials transfers the material to possession It is desirable to have a shape-configured stamp on the flexographic roll. Passing the nanovoided polymeric material layer through the stamp and in contact with the stamp 'This stamp effectively embosses or prints the web with other materials' thereby transferring other materials from the pattern of the flexographic roll to the surface of the nanovoided layer The other material then penetrates into the nanovoided layer, which in some cases penetrates the entire thickness of the nanovoided layer. In most cases, the material is hardened by curing (e.g., curing using uv radiation). The process can be in a batch printing process or a continuous peer-to-roll process (where a continuous web comprising a nanovoided polymeric layer is passed through a flexographic roll, which results in a repeating or continuous pattern of other materials printed on the nanovoided layer) Implemented in the middle. Printing may also include other processes 'including but not limited to rotary gravure printing, screen printing, inkjet printing (available using aqueous, solvent or solid based inks), letterpress, lithographic, thermal transfer using a heat sensitive substrate 162606 .doc -45· 201241493 Method, thermal dye transfer and dye sublimation printing, dot matrix printing and printing using daisy wheel. Example Use the following materials as received. Component % solids (g) A-174 cerium oxide, Nalco 2327, Ondeo Nalco Chemical Company 43.40 482.84 Aliphatic urethane acrylate, available from Sartomer Corporation as CN 9893 100.00 42.67 Isopentyl alcohol tripropyl Dilute acid S, available from Sartomer as SR 444 in the form of 100.00 167.69 isopropanol, available from Sartomer in the form of IPA 250.03 ethyl acetate, available from Sigma-Aldrich... 250.03 Photoinitiator available from BASF 100.00 5.84 photoinitiator was obtained as IRGACURE 184 as available from BASF Corporation in the form of IRGACURE 819. 100.00 1.12 Example 1 Preparation of Coating Formulations The following materials were added to 1 liter wide mouth amber according to the amounts shown in the above table. In the color bottle: 5.70 g CN 9893, 22.40 g SR 444, 5.84 g IRGACURE 184 and 1.12 g IRGACURE 819. The bottle was capped and shaken for 2 hours to dissolve CN9893 (batch clarified). This solution is called a resin premix. The following materials were added to a 2000 mL poly bottle: 482.84 g A-174 treated NALC0 2327 and resin premix. The two components were mixed by transferring the batch back and forth between the two bottles. The batch was eventually left in a 2000 mL bottle. IRGACURE 184 and IRGACURE 819 were added to a 2000 mL vial and the solution was shaken for 30 minutes to dissolve the photoinitiator. 162606.doc -46- 201241493 The batch is a translucent low viscosity dispersion. The above batch was diluted by $, about 17.7% by weight solids using a 50/5 blend of ethyl acetate and propylene glycol decyl ether (available from D〇 Chemical as DOWANOL PM). Preparation of nanovoided polymeric layer The above coating formulation was applied to a 50 um PET film (MELINEX 617, available from 〇111 > 01^) using a slot die at a line speed of 3.1 m/min. The wet coating thickness is approximately 14 um. In the inert chamber (<50 ppm 〇2), use UV radiation at the same line speed at 395 nm and 850 mJ/cm2 (with UV radiation available from Cree to provide UV radiation) Paint

The layer is partially cured in-line. The partially cured coating sample was then dried in a 9 meter oven at 70° CT 2 and finally 234 watt/cm Fusion Η bulb (available from Fusion UV Systems) in a nitrogen purge atmosphere. Cured. The resulting nanovoided polymeric layer has a thickness of about 2.5 um. The light transmittance was 94.8%, the twist was 0.66%, and the sharpness was 99.9%' as measured using BYK Gardner Haze Gard Plus (Columbia, MD). The refractive index of the nanovoided layer was between 1.20 and 1.22 as measured using a Metricon prism coupler (Metricon, Pennington, NJ). Formation of Variable Index Light Draw Layer The nanovoided polymeric layer was printed using an UV curable clarified ink (UV OP1005 GP Varnish, from Nazdar, Shawnee, KS) using an indirect gravure process. A flexographic tool with a gradient pattern of 200 um wide lines based on a pdf image defining a gradient line pattern (as determined by optical modeling and ray tracing) (Southern Graphics Systems, Brooklyn 162606.doc 47· 201241493

Park, MN). The rate of the gravure roll (taper and 9 um3/um2) was determined to give a wet coating of about 9.65 um. Printing was carried out at 1 nm/min, and high-strength gum curing was carried out using a 236 Watt/cm2 Fusion Η bulb (available from FUSlon UV Systems) under nitrogen purge atmosphere after printing. The resulting printed layer comprises an optical film having a first index having a first index of refraction and comprising a nanovoided polymeric material; and a second region wherein the nanovoid is filled or partially filled with a cured clear ink, the second The region has a second index of refraction that is greater than the first region. A variable refractive index light extraction layer having first and second regions was disposed on a DuPont 617 PET substrate. Measuring the optical properties of the variable index optical pickup layer on ΡΕτ on both sides (the second high refractive index region with a low density on one side and the high refractive index region on the other side) using Βγκ Gardner Haze Gard Plus nature. For the low density side, the light transmittance was 94.9%, the twist was 2.88%, and the sharpness was 99.2 °/. . For the still density side, the light transmittance was 94.4%, the twist was 5.09%, and the sharpness was 97.6 °/. (Note: The light transmittance is not corrected for Fresnei refiecti〇n). The cured ink was measured to have a refractive index of about 525, as measured on a flat cured sample using a Metricon prism coupler (the wavelength of the light used to measure the refractive index was 589 nm). Front light-reflecting display device A light guide comprising a PSA layer (VHB acrylic tape 4918 from 3M Company) having an area of 90 mm X 120 mm and a thickness of 2 mm was obtained. A transparent protective layer of 50 um PET film was placed on one of the major surfaces of the light guide. The PET substrate on which the variable index light extraction layer is disposed is directly adhered to the opposite major surfaces of the light guide. The exposed surface of the variable light extraction layer was combined with pressure sensitivity (SOKEN 2147, available from s〇ken Chemical and Engineering Co., Ltd., Japan) for use as a sealing layer. Use a self-wetting adhesive to attach the assembly (protection side up) to the electrophoresis e-book (Kindle,

On the observation panel of Amazon) (see pCT US2010/031689 and WO 2009/085662). The light engine assembly was obtained and consisted of 2 edge-emitting white LEDs (NSSW230T from Nichia) mounted in a bezel. Two reflectors comprising a multilayer polymeric mirror (VikiiitiTM ESR from 3M Company) are also included in the aperture to form an optical wedge to collimate the light emitted from the LED. Establish approximately 10 in the spot. A slight angle to provide optical alignment. Light from the LED engine is designed to be emitted into the air gap region to inject light along the left side of the vertical axis of the display into the edge of the light guide at a supercritical angle. This produces a front light-reflecting display device in which the headlight assembly does not adversely affect the image on the display (ie, has less image distortion, when viewed through a light guide assembly having variable refractive index light and layering) Even without distortion) β turns on the LEDs of the illumination device, resulting in uniform illumination of the reflective display device (i.e., the 'reflective display panel, as seen in Figure 9a). Comparative Example 1 Light-reflecting display device without variable refractive index light-harvesting layer The front light-reflecting display device was assembled as described above for the example, except that the variable-refractive-index light-harvesting layer on the PET support was not included. The PSA light guide is adhered to the viewing panel of the e-book using a self-wetting adhesive. A self-wetting adhesive is used to facilitate reprocessing of the assembly when the light guide is removed from the e-book thereafter. Figure 9b shows the image of the front lighter and is immediately apparent, showing a poor brightness uniformity on the I62606.doc • 49- 201241493. Example 2 Preparation of Coating Formulations The following materials were added to a 1 liter wide-mouth amber bottle according to the amounts shown in the above table: 5.70 g CN 9893, 22.40 g SR 444, 5.84 g IRGACURE 184 and 1.12 g IRGACURE 819 . The bottle was capped and shaken for 2 hours to dissolve CN9893 (batch is clarified p This solution is called resin premix. The following materials were added to 2000 mL poly bottles: 482.84 g A-174 treated NALCO 2327 and resin pre- Mixture. Mix the two components by transferring the batch back and forth between the two bottles. Finally, the batch is in a 2000 mL bottle. Add IRGACURE 184 and IRGACURE 819 to the 2000 mL bottle. Shake the solution for 30 minutes. The photoinitiator was dissolved. The resulting batch was a translucent, low viscosity dispersion. The above batch was diluted using a 50/50 blend of ethyl acetate and propylene glycol methyl ether (available from Dow Chemical as DOWANOL PM). To about 17.7 wt/〇 solid. Preparation of nanovoided polymeric layer The above coating formulation was applied to a 50 um PET film using a slot die at a line speed of 3.1 m/min (MELINEX 617, available from DuPont) The wet coating thickness is approximately 8.1 um. In the inert chamber (<50 ppm 02), UV radiation is used at the same line speed at 395 nm and 850 mJ/cm2 (by UV available from Cree) -LED to provide UV radiation) down the wet coating section Solidified on-line. The partially cured coating sample was then dried in a 9-meter oven at 162606.doc •50· 201241493 70°C, and the 236 W/cm2 Fusion Η bulb was finally used in a nitrogen purge atmosphere. (Available from Fusion UV Systems) Curing. The resulting nanovoided polymeric layer has a thickness of 1,3 um. The light transmittance is 96.4 ° /, the twist is 1.33% and the sharpness is 99.7%, such as using BYK Measured by the Gardner Haze Gard Plus (Columbia, MD). The refractive index of the nanovoided layer is between 1.20 and 1.22, as measured at 589 nm using a Metricon(R) coupler (Metricon, Pennington, NJ). The formation of a variable refractive index light extraction layer is performed using an indirect gravure printing process using a UV curable clarified ink (uv OP1005 GP Varnish 'from Nazdar, Shawnee, KS) to print a nanovoided polymeric layer based on definition by optical ray tracing. The pdf scene of the embossed dot pattern {like' is manufactured with a random 丨〇〇um gradient dot pattern (at the left edge of the pattern 'in the X direction (from left to right) having a density gradient of the second region and In the y direction Different densities, shown in the figures) of the flexographic tool (Southern Graphics Systems). The rate of the gravure roll (taper and 9 um Vum2) was determined to give a wet coating of about 9.65 um. Printing was carried out at 1 nm/min, and high-intensity UV curing was carried out using a 236 Watt/cm2 Fusion Η bulb (available from Fusi〇n uv 3) after printing in a nitrogen purge atmosphere. The resulting printed layer comprises the following optical film: a first region having a first refractive index and comprising a nanovoided polymeric material; and a first region 'in the middle of the nanoparticle void filled or partially filled with a cured clear ink' The two regions have a second index of refraction that is greater than the first region. The variable index optical pickup layer having the first and second regions is disposed on a Dup〇nt 162606.doc 201241493 617 PET substrate and is shown in FIG. Using Βγκ Gardner to find Gard Plus on the two sides (one side of the low-density second high-refractive-index area and one side of the high-refractive-index area) is measured on the pET. Optical properties. For the low density side, the light transmittance was 96.6%, the twist was 3.56%, and the sharpness was 95.6%. For the high density side, the 5' transmittance is 95.8°/. The twist is 6.82% and the sharpness is 89.9% (note that the light transmittance is not corrected for the Philippine buried ear reflection). The cured ink was measured to have a refractive index of about 1.525 as measured on a flat cured sample using a Metricon prism coupler (the wavelength of the light used to measure the refractive index was 589 nm). Front light-reflecting display device A light guide comprising a PSA layer (VHB acrylic tape 4918 from 3M Company) having an area of 90 mm x 20 mm and a thickness of 2 mm was obtained. A transparent protective layer of 50 um PET film is disposed on one major surface of the light guide, and the PET substrate on which the variable index light extraction layer is disposed is directly adhered to the opposite major surfaces of the light guide. The exposed face of the variable light extraction layer was combined with a pressure sensitive adhesive (SOKEN 2147' available from Soken Chemical and Engineering Co., Ltd. Japan) to serve as a sealing layer. Use a self-wetting adhesive to attach this assembly (protection layer up) to the electrophoresis e-book (Kindle,

On the viewing panel of Amazon; see WO 2010/132176 (Sherman et al.) and WO 2009/085662 (Sherman et al.). The light engine assembly was fabricated and consisted of three edge-emitting white LEDs (NSSW230T from Nichia) mounted in a bezel. Two reflectors including a multilayer polymeric mirror (VikuitiTM ESR from 3M) are also included in the bezel to form an optical wedge to collimate the light emitted from the LED. Establish approximately 1 inch in the spotlight. I62606.doc • 52- 201241493 is a small angle to provide optical alignment. Light from the LED engine is designed to be launched into the air gap region to inject light along the horizontal top edge of the display into the edge of the light guide at a supercritical angle. This produces a front light-reflecting display device in which the headlight assembly does not adversely affect the image on the display when viewed under the headlights through the light guide assembly having the variable index light extraction layer (ie, having a comparison) Less image distortion, even no distortion), as seen in Figure 11a. The LEDs of the illumination device are turned on to produce uniform illumination of the reflective display device (i.e., the reflective display panel, as seen in Figure 11b). Luminance uniformity was measured on a lighting fixture using a Prometric camera (available from Radiant imaging, Redm〇nd, WA). Figure 12a shows a plot of the image and axial brightness of the front lighting device as a function of position. The display uniformity is greater than 75 〇 / 〇, as measured using the formula ((max _min) / maxxi〇〇o / 〇). Comparative Example 2 The light-reflecting display device was assembled before the variable refractive index light-free layer was assembled as described above for Example 2 except that the variable refractive index light-collecting layer on the PET support was not included. . The PSA light guide is adhered to the viewing panel of the e-book using a self-wetting adhesive. (Using a self-wetting adhesive to facilitate reprocessing of the assembly when the light guide is removed from the e-book thereafter). Luminance uniformity was measured on a lighting fixture using a Prometric camera (available from Radiant Imaging, Redmond, WA). Figure 12b shows the image of the front lighting device and the axial degree of change with position. Immediately, the display is less uniform. The brightness uniformity is less than 5%, as measured by the formula ((max - min) / max x 100 〇 / 〇). 162606.doc -53- 201241493 Example 3 Preparation of Coating Formulations The following materials were added to a 1 liter wide-mouth amber bottle according to the amounts shown in the above table: 5.70 g CN 9893, 22.40 g SR 444, 5.84 g IRGACURE 184 and 1.12 g IRGACURE 819. The bottle was capped and shaken for 2 hours to dissolve CN9893 (batch clarified). This solution is called a resin premix. The following materials were added to a 2000 mL poly bottle: 482.84 g A-174 treated NALCO 2327 and resin premix. The two components were mixed by transferring the batch between the two bottles. The batch is finally stored in a 2000 mL bottle. Add IRGACURE 184 and IRGACURE 819 to the 2000 mL bottle. The solution was shaken for 30 minutes to dissolve the photoinitiator. The resulting batch was a translucent, low viscosity dispersion. The above batch was diluted to about 17.7 wt% solids using a 50/50 blend of ethyl acetate and propylene glycol decyl ether (available from Dow Chemical as DOWANOL PM). Preparation of nanovoided polymeric layer The above coating formulation was applied to a 50 um PET film (MELINEX 617, available from DuPont) using a slot die at a line speed of 3.1 m/min. The wet coating thickness is approximately 14 um. In an inert chamber (<50 ppm 〇2), UV radiation is used at the same line speed at 395 nm and 850 mJ/cm2 (with UV radiation available from Cree to provide UV radiation). The coating partially cures in-line. The partially cured coating sample was then dried in a 9 m oven at 70 ° C and finally used in a nitrogen purge atmosphere at 236 W/cm 2 162606.doc -54 - 201241493

The Fusion H bulb (available from Fusion UV Systems) is cured. The resulting nanovoided polymeric layer had a thickness of 2.3 um. The light transmittance was 95.8%, the twist was 2.49%, and the sharpness was 99.9%, as measured using BYK gardner Haze Gard Plus (Columbia, MD). The refractive index of the nanovoided layer is between 1.20 and 1.22, as measured at 589 nm using a Metricon(R) coupler (Metricon, Pennington, NJ). Formation of variable refractive index light extraction layer

Using an indirect gravure process using UV curable clarified ink (UV OP1005 GP Varnish 'from Nazdar, Shawnee, KS) to print a nanovoided polymeric layer based on a pdf image defining a dot pattern measured by optical ray tracing modeling' A Southern Edition Systems tool with a random 1 〇〇um gradient dot pattern was fabricated. The rate of the gravure (cone and 9 um / um) was called to obtain a wet coating of about 9.65 um. Printing was carried out at 1 nm/min, and after the printing, a 236 Watt/cm2 Fusion Η bulb (available from Fusi () n uv 8 _ company) was used under a nitrogen purge atmosphere to perform a still UV curing. The resulting printed layer comprises the following optical film: a first region having a first index of refraction and comprising a nanovoid: a polymeric material; and a first region, wherein the nanovoid void is filled or partially filled with a solidified clarified ink, The second region has a second index of refraction that is greater than the first region. A variable refractive index light absorbing layer having the first and first regions is disposed on the 〇up〇nt ET substrate. Using BYK Gardner Haze Gard pius to measure the light of the variable refractive index light-collecting layer on PET on both sides (the second high-refractive-index region with a low density and the high-density region of high density on one side) .doc -55· 201241493 The nature of the study. For the low density side, the light transmittance was 96 2 . /❶, the width is 5_64°/. The resolution is 97.5%. For the high density side, the light transmittance is 95.8%, the twist is 9.18%, and the sharpness is 94.4°/. (Note: The transmittance is not corrected for Fresnel reflection). The cured ink was measured to have a refractive index of approximately 1.525 as measured on a flat cured specimen using a Metricon(R) coupler (wavelength for measuring refractive index is 589 nm) » Example 4 Using Examples 1-3 Each optical film (variable refractive index light extraction layer on pet) assembles two different optical objects for the purpose of evaluating optical properties. Optical properties of a variable index optical pickup layer having a sealing layer: A first optical article is formed by laminating a sealing layer on the exposed surface (the side opposite the PET substrate) of the variable index light extraction layer. The sealing layer is a pressure sensitive adhesive (Soken 2147, available from Soken Chemical and Engineering Co., Ltd., 曰本). A 50 micron PET film was laminated on the opposite side of the Soken PSA sealing layer. For each optical article using the variable index light extraction layer from Examples 1-3, BYK Gardner Haze Gard Plus was used on both sides of the variable index light extraction layer (one side was the second highest in low density) The refractive index region and the high-density high-refractive-index region on one side are measured to measure light transmittance, twist, and sharpness. The measurement results are shown in Tables 1 and 2, respectively. 162606.doc -56- 201241493 Table ι. Optical Properties of Zones with High Density of Second Zone Example Light Transmittance % Twist (%) Sharpness %%, 1 1-D Line y-Gradient 91.0 1.84 98.1 2 2-D point x, y gradient 92.0 3.35 92.1 3 2-D point y·gradient 91.9 6.96 95.7 Table 2. Optical properties of the region of the second region with low density Example pattern transmittance % ( (%) Clear Degree (%) 1 1-D line y-gradient 91.0 1.99 99.2 2 2-D point x, y gradient 92.3 1.87 95.6 3 2-D point y-gradient 91.7 4.38 98.2 Light guide assembly with variable index light extraction layer Optical Properties: A second optical article is formed by laminating a viscoelastic lightguide onto an exposed surface of the variable index light extraction layer (the side opposite the PET substrate). A pressure-sensitive adhesive (psa) having a viscoelastic light guide thickness of 2 mm (VHB acrylic tape 4918' from 3M Company) was provided with a transparent protective layer of 50 um PET film on the opposite main surface of the light guide. For each optical article using the variable refractive index light absorbing layer from Examples 1-3, BYK Gardner Haze Gard Plus is used on both sides of the variable index light extraction layer (one side is low density second) The high refractive index region and the high refractive index region on the side of the high refractive index are measured to measure light transmittance, twist and sharpness. The measurement results are shown in Tables 3 and 4, respectively. Table 5 shows reference measurements for a pet film (DuPont 617) in an optical construction and a PSA light guide with PET laminated to both surfaces. I62606.doc -57- 201241493 Table 3. Optical properties of the region of the second region with high density Example pattern transmittance % ( (%) Sharpness (ΟΑΛ 1 1_D line y-gradient 90.3 1.91 --- four 98.5 2 2-D point x, y gradient 91.0 3.76 91.6 3 2-D point y·gradient 90.6 6.80 ------ 95.8 Table 4. Optical properties of the region of the second region with low density Example pattern transmittance % Resolution (%) (%\ 1 1-D line y-gradient 90.3 1.61 99.0 2 2-D point x, y gradient 90.3 2.37 96.8 3 2-D point y-gradient 90.1 4.16 98.2 Table 5. Reference measurement : Example pattern transmittance % 霾 (%) Resolution (%) Reference 1 PET film 92.8 0.67 100 Reference 2 PSA light guide with PET film on both sides 90.9 0.59 — 99.4 All references and publications cited herein The entire content of the disclosure is expressly incorporated by reference to the extent of the present disclosure, unless it is to the extent of the present disclosure. Use a variety of alternatives and/or equivalent implementations in place of the specifics shown and described The present invention is not intended to be limited to the scope of the present disclosure. The present application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the specific embodiments discussed herein. Accordingly, the disclosure is intended to make the disclosure only 162606.doc-58-201241493 And equivalents thereof are defined. [Simplified Schematic] Figure la shows a schematic cross section of an exemplary variable index optical pickup layer. Figure lb-lc shows an exemplary variable refractive index disposed on a transparent adjacent layer. A schematic cross section of the light extraction layer. Figure 2 illustrates a variable refractive index light reticle layer having a refractive index that varies across the transverse plane of the layer. Figure 3 is a first region of the variable index light extraction layer. Figure 4a is a plan view showing a variable refractive index light extraction layer of an exemplary geometric configuration of the first and second regions. Figure 4b is a view showing the variable refractive index light extraction layer shown in Figure 4a. The refractive index characteristic curve. Figures 4c and 4d respectively show the characteristic optical transmittance % and % clarity of the variable optical pickup layer shown in Figure 4a. Figures 5a and 5b show variable refractive index light. Draw the level of the layer The figure shows an exemplary geometric configuration of the first and second regions.Figure 6 shows a schematic diagram of an exemplary illumination device comprising a variable index light extraction layer in combination with a light source and a reflective scattering element. A schematic cross-sectional view of an exemplary optical film that does not include a variable index light extraction layer is shown. Figure 8 shows a roll of an optical film comprising a variable index light extraction layer disposed on a transparent substrate. Figure 9a shows a reflective display with a headlight and without a variable index indexing layer 162606.doc • 59· 201241493. Figure 9b shows a reflective display device having a headlight and including a variable index light extraction layer. Figure 10 shows a random 1 um gradient dot pattern for a flexographic tool. Figure 11a shows a reflective display device having a headlight and having a variable index light extraction layer. Figure lib shows a reflective display device having a headlight and having a variable index light extraction layer. Figure 12a shows a Prometric image of a reflective display device illuminated by a headlight and having a variable index light extraction layer and an axial brightness curve that varies with position. Figure 12b shows the Prometric image of the reflective display device illuminated by the headlights without the variable index light extraction layer and the axial brightness curve as a function of position. [Main component symbol description] 100 Variable refractive index light extraction layer 105 Optical film 120 Adjacent layer Π0 Second region 140a First region 140b First region 150 Light 16 〇 Light! 7 〇 Surface 162606.doc • 60- 201241493 180 Light 190 Light 300 First Area 310 Adhesive 320 Nano Space 320A Interconnect Nano Space 320B Interconnect Nano Space 320C Interconnect Nano Space 320D Surface Pore 320E Surface Pore 320F Surface Pore 320G Surface Pore 330 First Main Surface 332 Two major surfaces 340 particles 400 variable index light extraction layer 410 first region 420 second region 500 variable refractive index light extraction layer 510 first region 520 second region 530 variable refractive index light extraction layer 540 first region 550 Second area 162606.doc -61 - 201241493 600 Illumination device 601 Light source 605 Outer surface 610 Light guide 615 Bottom surface 625 Top surface 630 Variable index light extraction layer 635 Opposite surface 645 Surface 650 Reflective scattering element layer 700 Optical film 730 Variable Refractive index light extraction layer 740 transparent substrate 760 second optical clear adhesive layer 765 Two release liner 770 first optical clear adhesive layer 775 first release liner 162606.doc -62-

Claims (1)

201241493 VII. Patent Application Range: 1. A variable refractive index light extraction layer having first and second regions, the first region comprising a nanovoided polymeric material, the second region comprising a nanovoided polymeric material and In other materials, the first and second regions are arranged such that, for light transmitted at a supercritical angle in an adjacent layer, the variable index light extraction layer is based on geometric configurations of the first and second regions The predetermined mode selects j: and takes the light. 2. The variable index optical pickup layer of claim ,, wherein the first region has a first index of refraction, the second region has a second index of refraction, and a difference between the first and second indices of refraction is about 〇〇3 to about 〇5. 3. The variable index optical pickup layer of claim 1 wherein the nanovoided polymeric material comprises interconnected nanovoids. 4. The variable index optical pickup layer of claim 1 wherein the first region has a first index of refraction of less than about 1.4. 5. The variable index optical pickup layer of claim 1 wherein the first region has a void volume of from about 20% to about 60%. 6. The variable index optical pickup layer of claim 1 wherein the first region has a twist of less than about 5% and a sharpness greater than about 90%. 7. The variable index optical pickup layer of claim 1 wherein the second region has a void volume of less than about 20%. 8. The variable index optical pickup layer of claim 1 wherein the layer has a light transmission greater than about 90%. 9_ The variable index optical pickup layer of claim 1, wherein the layer has a twist of less than about 10% and a sharpness of greater than about 90%. 162606.doc 201241493 201241493 ίο. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 17. In the variable refractive index of claim 1, the sheep first draws a layer, wherein the second region comprises a plurality of transverse planes in the layer The second area of the pattern is arranged on the tenth side of Huaimen. The variable refractive index of claim 1 妨 + + # 包括 包括 包括 包括 包括 包括 包括 包括 包括 包括 包括 包括 包括 包括 包括 包括 包括 包括 包括 包括 包括 包括 包括 包括 包括 包括 包括 包括 包括 包括 包括 包括 包括 包括 包括 包括 包括 包括 包括 包括 包括 包括 包括The variable refractive index light extraction layer of claim 1 wherein the second region comprises a plurality of first regions and wherein the second regions comprise from about 5% to about 60 Å of the area of the lateral plane of the layer /〇. A variable refractive index light extraction layer, such as the ones, wherein the first and second regions transmit light of different wavelengths. An optical film comprising a variable index optical pickup layer as claimed on a transparent substrate. The optical film of claim 14, wherein the transparent substrate comprises a light guide. The optical film of item 14, wherein the film has a temperature of less than about 丨〇% and greater than about 85°. Sharpness and light transmittance greater than about 9%. A method of preparing a variable refractive index light extraction layer, comprising: providing a nanovoided polymeric layer having a first refractive index; and printing other materials on the nanovoided polymeric layer such that the other material substantially infiltrates into the nanosphere a moire polymeric layer, thereby forming a variable index optical extraction layer comprising a first region comprising a portion of the nanovoided polymeric layer and another portion comprising the nanovoided polymeric layer and a second region of the other material Where the first and second regions are arranged such that for light transmitted at a supercritical angle in an adjacent layer, the variable index light extraction layer base I62606.doc 201241493 is in the first and second regions The geometric configuration selectively captures the light in a predetermined manner. 18. 19. 20. An optical device comprising the combination of an optical film and a light source as claimed in claim 1 0, a method of providing light, comprising: providing a light source 'light guide and including variable index light extraction as claimed in claim 1 An optical film of the layer; and optically coupling the light source to the light guide and optically coupling the light guide to the variable index light extraction layer such that light emitted by the light source is transmitted through the total internal reflection in the S-light guide The variable refractive index light is not taken from the photoconductive selectivity; An optical film comprising a variable index light extraction layer of claim 1 disposed on a reflective scattering substrate. 162606.doc