US20230152493A1 - Transparent covering having anti-reflective coatings - Google Patents
Transparent covering having anti-reflective coatings Download PDFInfo
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- US20230152493A1 US20230152493A1 US18/156,278 US202318156278A US2023152493A1 US 20230152493 A1 US20230152493 A1 US 20230152493A1 US 202318156278 A US202318156278 A US 202318156278A US 2023152493 A1 US2023152493 A1 US 2023152493A1
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- reflective coating
- transparent covering
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- 239000006117 anti-reflective coating Substances 0.000 title claims abstract description 51
- 239000012790 adhesive layer Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 16
- 239000000758 substrate Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 11
- 238000000576 coating method Methods 0.000 claims description 84
- ORUIBWPALBXDOA-UHFFFAOYSA-L magnesium fluoride Chemical compound [F-].[F-].[Mg+2] ORUIBWPALBXDOA-UHFFFAOYSA-L 0.000 claims description 14
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 claims description 11
- 239000002356 single layer Substances 0.000 claims description 9
- 230000003667 anti-reflective effect Effects 0.000 description 76
- 239000011248 coating agent Substances 0.000 description 45
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 10
- 229920000139 polyethylene terephthalate Polymers 0.000 description 9
- 239000005020 polyethylene terephthalate Substances 0.000 description 9
- 239000000853 adhesive Substances 0.000 description 7
- 230000001070 adhesive effect Effects 0.000 description 7
- 239000010410 layer Substances 0.000 description 5
- 229910001635 magnesium fluoride Inorganic materials 0.000 description 5
- 230000001066 destructive effect Effects 0.000 description 4
- 239000010408 film Substances 0.000 description 3
- 230000014509 gene expression Effects 0.000 description 3
- 230000010363 phase shift Effects 0.000 description 3
- 230000001681 protective effect Effects 0.000 description 3
- 230000000630 rising effect Effects 0.000 description 3
- 239000010409 thin film Substances 0.000 description 3
- 229920002799 BoPET Polymers 0.000 description 2
- 239000005041 Mylar™ Substances 0.000 description 2
- 230000008901 benefit Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000005540 biological transmission Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000000903 blocking effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000005034 decoration Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000009413 insulation Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000002985 plastic film Substances 0.000 description 2
- 229920006255 plastic film Polymers 0.000 description 2
- -1 polyethylene terephthalate Polymers 0.000 description 2
- 230000005855 radiation Effects 0.000 description 2
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 239000004698 Polyethylene Substances 0.000 description 1
- NIXOWILDQLNWCW-UHFFFAOYSA-N acrylic acid group Chemical group C(C=C)(=O)O NIXOWILDQLNWCW-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 239000003086 colorant Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000003618 dip coating Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000011521 glass Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000003287 optical effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 229920000728 polyester Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 229920000573 polyethylene Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 229920000642 polymer Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 238000004528 spin coating Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000012780 transparent material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000001771 vacuum deposition Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000001429 visible spectrum Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000009736 wetting Methods 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B1/00—Optical elements characterised by the material of which they are made; Optical coatings for optical elements
- G02B1/10—Optical coatings produced by application to, or surface treatment of, optical elements
- G02B1/11—Anti-reflection coatings
- G02B1/113—Anti-reflection coatings using inorganic layer materials only
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B3/00—Simple or compound lenses
- G02B3/0006—Arrays
- G02B3/0037—Arrays characterized by the distribution or form of lenses
- G02B3/0062—Stacked lens arrays, i.e. refractive surfaces arranged in at least two planes, without structurally separate optical elements in-between
- G02B3/0068—Stacked lens arrays, i.e. refractive surfaces arranged in at least two planes, without structurally separate optical elements in-between arranged in a single integral body or plate, e.g. laminates or hybrid structures with other optical elements
Definitions
- the present disclosure relates generally to transparent coverings for windows, eyewear, or display screens and, more particularly, to transparent coverings having multiple lenses stacked one over the other and adhered together by adhesive.
- Windows of buildings or vehicles may be covered with transparent window films for tinting (e.g. for privacy), for thermal insulation, to block ultraviolet (UV) radiation, or for decoration.
- Protective eyewear e.g. goggles, glasses, and facemasks for off-road vehicle use, medical procedures, etc.
- Display screens of mobile phones, personal computers, ATMs and vending terminals, etc. may be covered with protective lenses to prevent damage to the underlying screen or block side viewing (e.g. for privacy and security in public places).
- anti-reflective coatings may be implemented in order to reduce unwanted reflections, which may be especially problematic in multi-layer coverings that provide multiple interfaces at which incident light may reflect.
- typical anti-reflective coatings may not adequately reduce reflections over the whole visible spectrum (about 390 to 700 nm). Depending on the design wavelength range of the anti-reflective coating, this could result in a noticeable blue reflection (around 450 nm) or red reflection (around 700 nm) when light is incident on the transparent covering.
- the present disclosure contemplates various systems, methods, and apparatuses, for overcoming the above drawbacks accompanying the related art.
- One aspect of the embodiments of the present disclosure is a transparent covering affixable to a substrate.
- the transparent covering includes a stack of two or more lenses, an adhesive layer interposed between each pair of adjacent lenses from among the two or more lenses, a first anti-reflective coating on a first outermost lens of the stack, and a second anti-reflective coating on a second outermost lens of the stack opposite the first outermost lens.
- the first anti-reflective coating has a first design wavelength range
- the second anti-reflective coating has a second design wavelength range that is different from the first design wavelength range.
- the first design wavelength range may be centered at around 550 nm and the second design wavelength range may be centered at around 450 nm.
- the first anti-reflective coating and the second anti-reflective coating may have different thicknesses.
- the first anti-reflective coating may comprise a film of magnesium fluoride (MgF 2 ) having a thickness of around 100 nm
- the second anti-reflective coating may comprise a film of magnesium fluoride (MgF 2 ) having a thickness of around 82 nm.
- the transparent covering may exhibit normal-incidence reflectance of under 10% for all wavelengths between 390 nm and 700 nm.
- FIG. 1 is schematic side view of a transparent covering according to an embodiment of the present disclosure
- FIG. 2 is a closeup view of the outermost surfaces of the transparent covering shown in FIG. 1 ;
- FIG. 3 is a graphical representation of normal-incidence reflectance as a function of wavelength for a transparent covering comprising a 200-gauge polyethylene terephthalate (PET) lens with an anti-reflective (AR) coating;
- PET polyethylene terephthalate
- AR anti-reflective
- FIG. 5 is a graphical representation of normal-incidence reflectance as a function of wavelength for the transparent covering of FIG. 4 in which a comparison is shown between using AR coatings having a design wavelength range centered at 550 nm and using AR coatings having a design wavelength range centered at 450 nm;
- FIG. 6 is a graphical representation of normal-incidence reflectance as a function of wavelength for a transparent covering comprising three layered 200-gauge PET lenses with AR coatings on the outermost lenses, the AR coatings having different design wavelength ranges.
- the present disclosure encompasses various embodiments of a transparent covering having anti-reflective (AR) coatings.
- AR anti-reflective
- the transparent covering 100 may be affixed to the substrate by adhesive, for example, in selective areas around the periphery of the transparent covering 100 as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,536,045, the entire contents of which is expressly incorporated herein by reference.
- the adhesive used to affix the transparent covering 100 to the substrate may be the same as or different from (e.g. stronger than) that of the adhesive layers 120 interposed between each pair of adjacent lenses 110 of the stack. A stronger adhesive may be used, for example, in a case where individual lenses 110 are to be torn off without removing the entire transparent covering 100 from the substrate.
- the transparent covering 100 may instead be affixed by other means, for example, using tension posts of a racing helmet as described in U.S. Pat. No. 8,693,102, the entire contents of which is expressly incorporated herein by reference.
- the lenses 110 may be a clear polyester and may be fabricated from sheets of plastic film sold under the registered trademark Mylar owned by the DuPont Company, such as a type of Mylar made from a clear polymer polyethylene terephalate, commonly referred to as PET.
- the lenses 110 and adhesive layers 120 may have an index of refraction between 1.40 and 1.52.
- the thickness of each lens 110 may be between 0.5 mil and 7 mil (1 mil is 0.001′′), for example, 2 mil. Even after the adhesive material of the adhesive layers 120 is applied to a 2 mil thickness lens 110 , the thickness of the 2 mil thickness lens 110 may still be 2 mil due to the adhesive layer 120 having only a nominal thickness.
- the term “wetting” can be used to describe the relationship between the laminated lenses 110 . When viewing through the laminated lenses 110 , it may appear to be one single piece of plastic film.
- the adhesive layers 120 used to laminate the lenses 110 together may be made of a clear optical low tack material and may comprise a water-based acrylic optically clear adhesive or an oil-based clear adhesive. After the lenses 110 are laminated or otherwise bonded together with the interposed adhesive layers 120 , the thickness of each adhesive layer 120 may be negligible even though the adhesive layers 120 are illustrated as distinct layers in FIG. 1 .
- the AR coating 130 a may be a single thin film of magnesium fluoride (MgF 2 ), which is a common material used in single-layer interference AR coatings due to its relatively low index of refraction (n D ⁇ 1.37, where n D refers to the index of refraction at the Fraunhofer “D” line) suitable for use on many transparent materials.
- MgF 2 magnesium fluoride
- n D refers to the index of refraction at the Fraunhofer “D” line
- the thickness of the first AR coating 130 a may be selected to optimize the reduction in reflection for a desired design wavelength range.
- the additional path length 2 d 1 traveled by the light through the first AR coating 130 a causes the reflection ray r 1 to be advanced by half a period (i.e. 180° out of phase) relative to the reflection ray r 2 for the design wavelength ⁇ 1 .
- the effect may be less significant for off-normal incidence due to the angled path traveled by the light within the first AR coating 130 a.
- a second outermost lens 110 b is shown coated with the second AR coating 130 b .
- the second AR coating 130 b may similarly be a thin film AR coating that operates on the principle of destructive interference.
- the light i reaches the second AR coating 130 b , it first crosses a third interface 134 b between the second outermost lens 110 b and the second AR coating 130 b and thereafter crosses a fourth interface 132 b between the second AR coating 130 b and the external environment (e.g. air).
- the external environment e.g. air
- the reflection ray r 4 produced at the interface 132 b may be 180° out of phase with the reflection ray r 3 produced at the interface 134 b for a given design wavelength range.
- the resulting reflection rays r 3 , r 4 may thus destructively interfere with each other, such that the transparent covering 100 exhibits reduced reflection of light for wavelengths falling within the design wavelength range.
- the second AR coating 130 b may have a structure and function equivalent to that of the first AR coating 130 a but with a different design wavelength range (e.g. a design wavelength range centered at a different design wavelength ⁇ 2 ⁇ 1 ), as will be described in more detail below.
- n coating being the index of refraction of the second AR coating 130 b , e.g. 1.37 for MgF 2 .
- the design wavelength range of the second AR coating 130 b may be adjusted (relative to that of the first AR coating 130 a ) by changing the thickness of the second AR coating 130 b , without needing to use a different AR coating material or structural configuration.
- respective design wavelength ranges centered at 550 nm and 450 nm may be achieved using respective thicknesses d 1 and d 2 of around 100 nm and around 82 nm as shown below:
- the reflection rays r 1 and r 2 may experience an additional 180° phase shift that is not experienced by the reflection rays r 3 and r 4 , due to the interfaces 132 a and 134 a being interfaces going from low to high index of refraction relative to the incoming light i.
- the additional phase shift does not affect the destructive interference between the reflection rays r 1 and r 2 .
- FIG. 3 is a graphical representation of normal-incidence reflectance as a function of wavelength for a transparent covering comprising a 200-gauge PET lens with an AR coating. Normal-incidence transmission as a function of wavelength is also shown.
- the AR coating has a design wavelength range centered at around 550 nm (i.e. green light).
- the transparent covering of FIG. 3 exhibits normal-incidence reflectance of under 10% for all wavelengths between 500 nm and 700 nm. Because the reflectance is higher for wavelengths shorter than 500 nm, rising to over 20% while still within the range of human vision (which extends down to around 390 nm), the transparent covering of FIG. 3 produces a perceivable blue or violet reflection.
- FIG. 4 is a graphical representation of normal-incidence reflectance as a function of wavelength for a transparent covering comprising a stack of three layered 200-gauge PET lenses with AR coatings on the outermost lenses. Normal-incidence transmission as a function of wavelength is also shown.
- the transparent covering of FIG. 4 may have the structure of the transparent covering 100 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 with a third layer 110 between the layers 110 a , 110 b , except that, in the example of FIG. 4 , the AR coatings have the same design wavelength range as each other (unlike the AR coatings 130 a , 130 b of FIG. 1 ).
- the transparent covering 100 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 makes use of two different AR coatings 130 a , 130 b having different design wavelength ranges.
- the two AR coatings compared in FIG. 5 may be combined in a single transparent covering 100 , with one AR coating on a first outermost lens 110 a of the stack (e.g. the top lens 110 a in FIGS. 1 and 2 ) and the other AR coating on a second outermost lens 110 b of the stack (e.g. the bottom lens 110 b in FIGS. 1 and 2 ).
- the transparent covering 100 may thus have a first AR coating 130 a with a first design wavelength range centered at around 550 nm and a second AR coating 130 b with a second design wavelength range centered at around 450 nm. In this way, reflections can be prevented both for low wavelengths below 500 nm and for high wavelengths above 600 nm.
- FIG. 6 illustrates the resulting reflectance as a function of wavelength.
- the same transparent covering comprising three layered 200-gauge PET lenses with AR coatings on the outermost lenses is used, but with the AR coatings having design wavelength ranges centered at around 550 nm and 450 nm, respectively.
- the transparent covering of FIG. 6 exhibits normal-incidence reflectance of under 10% for all wavelengths between 390 nm and 700 nm.
- the external environment of the transparent covering 100 is assumed to be air having an index of refraction of around 1.00. However, it is also contemplated that the external environment may not be air.
- the external environment may be water having a higher index of refraction. In some instances, the external environment may even be vacuum having a lower index of refraction than air.
- the above selection of AR coatings 130 a , 130 b can be made accordingly, with n air referring generally to the index of refraction of the external medium.
- the transparent covering 100 is described as being affixed to some substrate. However, it is also contemplated that the transparent covering 100 itself may be used without an underlying substrate, for example, affixed at its periphery to a surrounding wall or garment, such as is described in relation to FIG. 6 C of U.S. Patent Application Pub. No. 2018/0029337, the entire contents of which is expressly incorporated herein by reference.
- transparent is used broadly to encompass any materials that can be seen through.
- transparent is not intended to exclude translucent, hazy, frosted, colored, or tinted materials.
- the AR coatings 130 a , 130 b described throughout this disclosure may be applied according to known methods such as spin coating, dip coating, or vacuum deposition.
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- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Optics & Photonics (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Inorganic Chemistry (AREA)
- Laminated Bodies (AREA)
- Surface Treatment Of Optical Elements (AREA)
- Eyeglasses (AREA)
Abstract
Description
- This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 16/584,648, filed Sep. 26, 2019, which relates to and claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/748,154, filed Oct. 19, 2018 and entitled “TRANSPARENT COVERING HAVING ANTI-REFLECTIVE COATINGS,” the entire disclosure of which is expressly incorporated herein by reference.
- Not Applicable
- The present disclosure relates generally to transparent coverings for windows, eyewear, or display screens and, more particularly, to transparent coverings having multiple lenses stacked one over the other and adhered together by adhesive.
- In various contexts, it is advantageous to affix transparent coverings to some substrate. Windows of buildings or vehicles may be covered with transparent window films for tinting (e.g. for privacy), for thermal insulation, to block ultraviolet (UV) radiation, or for decoration. Protective eyewear (e.g. goggles, glasses, and facemasks for off-road vehicle use, medical procedures, etc.) may be covered with a stack of transparent lenses for easy tear-away as the eyewear becomes dirty and obstructs the wearer's vision. Display screens of mobile phones, personal computers, ATMs and vending terminals, etc. may be covered with protective lenses to prevent damage to the underlying screen or block side viewing (e.g. for privacy and security in public places). When using such coverings, anti-reflective coatings may be implemented in order to reduce unwanted reflections, which may be especially problematic in multi-layer coverings that provide multiple interfaces at which incident light may reflect. However, typical anti-reflective coatings may not adequately reduce reflections over the whole visible spectrum (about 390 to 700 nm). Depending on the design wavelength range of the anti-reflective coating, this could result in a noticeable blue reflection (around 450 nm) or red reflection (around 700 nm) when light is incident on the transparent covering.
- The present disclosure contemplates various systems, methods, and apparatuses, for overcoming the above drawbacks accompanying the related art. One aspect of the embodiments of the present disclosure is a transparent covering affixable to a substrate. The transparent covering includes a stack of two or more lenses, an adhesive layer interposed between each pair of adjacent lenses from among the two or more lenses, a first anti-reflective coating on a first outermost lens of the stack, and a second anti-reflective coating on a second outermost lens of the stack opposite the first outermost lens. The first anti-reflective coating has a first design wavelength range, and the second anti-reflective coating has a second design wavelength range that is different from the first design wavelength range.
- The first design wavelength range may be centered at around 550 nm and the second design wavelength range may be centered at around 450 nm.
- The first anti-reflective coating and the second anti-reflective coating may have different thicknesses. The first anti-reflective coating may comprise a film of magnesium fluoride (MgF2) having a thickness of around 100 nm, and the second anti-reflective coating may comprise a film of magnesium fluoride (MgF2) having a thickness of around 82 nm.
- The transparent covering may exhibit normal-incidence reflectance of under 10% for all wavelengths between 390 nm and 700 nm.
- These and other features and advantages of the various embodiments disclosed herein will be better understood with respect to the following description and drawings, in which like numbers refer to like parts throughout, and in which:
-
FIG. 1 is schematic side view of a transparent covering according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; -
FIG. 2 is a closeup view of the outermost surfaces of the transparent covering shown inFIG. 1 ; -
FIG. 3 is a graphical representation of normal-incidence reflectance as a function of wavelength for a transparent covering comprising a 200-gauge polyethylene terephthalate (PET) lens with an anti-reflective (AR) coating; -
FIG. 4 is a graphical representation of normal-incidence reflectance as a function of wavelength for a transparent covering comprising a stack of three layered 200-gauge PET lenses with AR coatings on the outermost lenses, the AR coatings having the same design wavelength range; -
FIG. 5 is a graphical representation of normal-incidence reflectance as a function of wavelength for the transparent covering ofFIG. 4 in which a comparison is shown between using AR coatings having a design wavelength range centered at 550 nm and using AR coatings having a design wavelength range centered at 450 nm; and -
FIG. 6 is a graphical representation of normal-incidence reflectance as a function of wavelength for a transparent covering comprising three layered 200-gauge PET lenses with AR coatings on the outermost lenses, the AR coatings having different design wavelength ranges. - The present disclosure encompasses various embodiments of a transparent covering having anti-reflective (AR) coatings. The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of several currently contemplated embodiments and is not intended to represent the only form in which the disclosed invention may be developed or utilized. The description sets forth the functions and features in connection with the illustrated embodiments. It is to be understood, however, that the same or equivalent functions may be accomplished by different embodiments that are also intended to be encompassed within the scope of the present disclosure. It is further understood that relational terms such as first and second and the like are used solely to distinguish one from another entity without necessarily requiring or implying any actual such relationship in order between such entities.
-
FIG. 1 is schematic side view of a transparent covering 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Depending on its particular purpose, thetransparent covering 100 may be affixed to a substrate such as a window (for tinting, thermal insulation, blocking ultraviolet (UV) radiation, decoration, etc.) protective eyewear (e.g. for easy tear-away), or a display screen (e.g. for scratch protection, side view blocking, etc.). Thetransparent covering 100 may include a stack of two ormore lenses adhesive layer 120 interposed between each pair ofadjacent lenses 110 of the stack, andAR coatings outermost lenses 110 of the stack. In the example ofFIG. 1 , twolenses 110 are shown. However, a stack of three ormore lenses 110 is also contemplated, with the number oflenses 110 depending on the particular application. Thetransparent covering 100 may be affixed to the substrate by adhesive, for example, in selective areas around the periphery of the transparent covering 100 as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,536,045, the entire contents of which is expressly incorporated herein by reference. The adhesive used to affix the transparent covering 100 to the substrate may be the same as or different from (e.g. stronger than) that of theadhesive layers 120 interposed between each pair ofadjacent lenses 110 of the stack. A stronger adhesive may be used, for example, in a case whereindividual lenses 110 are to be torn off without removing the entire transparent covering 100 from the substrate. Thetransparent covering 100 may instead be affixed by other means, for example, using tension posts of a racing helmet as described in U.S. Pat. No. 8,693,102, the entire contents of which is expressly incorporated herein by reference. - The
lenses 110 may be a clear polyester and may be fabricated from sheets of plastic film sold under the registered trademark Mylar owned by the DuPont Company, such as a type of Mylar made from a clear polymer polyethylene terephalate, commonly referred to as PET. Thelenses 110 andadhesive layers 120 may have an index of refraction between 1.40 and 1.52. The thickness of eachlens 110 may be between 0.5 mil and 7 mil (1 mil is 0.001″), for example, 2 mil. Even after the adhesive material of theadhesive layers 120 is applied to a 2mil thickness lens 110, the thickness of the 2mil thickness lens 110 may still be 2 mil due to theadhesive layer 120 having only a nominal thickness. The term “wetting” can be used to describe the relationship between the laminatedlenses 110. When viewing through the laminatedlenses 110, it may appear to be one single piece of plastic film. - The
adhesive layers 120 used to laminate thelenses 110 together may be made of a clear optical low tack material and may comprise a water-based acrylic optically clear adhesive or an oil-based clear adhesive. After thelenses 110 are laminated or otherwise bonded together with the interposedadhesive layers 120, the thickness of eachadhesive layer 120 may be negligible even though theadhesive layers 120 are illustrated as distinct layers inFIG. 1 . -
FIG. 2 is a closeup view of the outermost surfaces of the transparent covering 100 shown inFIG. 1 . In the upper portion ofFIG. 2 , a firstoutermost lens 110 a is shown coated with thefirst AR coating 130 a. In the example ofFIG. 2 , thefirst AR coating 130 a is a thin film AR coating that operates on the principle of destructive interference. A ray of light i (e.g. sunlight) incident on the transparent covering 100 first crosses afirst interface 132 a between the external environment (e.g. air) and thefirst AR coating 130 a and thereafter crosses asecond interface 134 a between thefirst AR coating 130 a and the firstoutermost lens 110 a. At eachinterface first AR coating 130 a, the reflection ray r2 produced at theinterface 134 a may be 180° out of phase with the reflection ray r1 produced at theinterface 132 a for a given range of wavelengths referred to as the design wavelength range (which may be centered at a given wavelength referred to as the design wavelength). The resulting reflection rays r1, r2 may thus destructively interfere with each other (i.e. peaks canceling troughs), such that thetransparent covering 100 exhibits reduced reflection of light for wavelengths falling within the design wavelength range. - The AR coating 130 a may be a single thin film of magnesium fluoride (MgF2), which is a common material used in single-layer interference AR coatings due to its relatively low index of refraction (nD≈1.37, where nD refers to the index of refraction at the Fraunhofer “D” line) suitable for use on many transparent materials. However, any known AR coating materials and structures may be used, including multi-layer interference structures. The thickness of the first AR coating 130 a may be selected to optimize the reduction in reflection for a desired design wavelength range. For example, in a case where the first AR coating 130 a is a single-layer interference AR coating, the thickness of the first AR coating 130 a may be a so-called quarter-wavelength thickness, for example, thickness d1=((nair/ncoating)λ1)/4, where the design wavelength range is centered at with nair being the index of refraction of the external medium, e.g. 1.00 for air, and ncoating being the index of refraction of the first AR coating 130 a, e.g. 1.37 for MgF2. When the light i is incident at 90° to the
transparent covering 100, the additional path length 2 d 1 traveled by the light through the first AR coating 130 a, from theinterface 132 a to theinterface 132 b and back again, causes the reflection ray r1 to be advanced by half a period (i.e. 180° out of phase) relative to the reflection ray r2 for the design wavelength λ1. This results in destructive interference between r1 and r2, causing reduced reflectance for the design wavelength λ1. The effect may be less significant for off-normal incidence due to the angled path traveled by the light within the first AR coating 130 a. - In the lower portion of
FIG. 2 , a secondoutermost lens 110 b is shown coated with the second AR coating 130 b. The second AR coating 130 b may similarly be a thin film AR coating that operates on the principle of destructive interference. When the light i reaches the second AR coating 130 b, it first crosses athird interface 134 b between the secondoutermost lens 110 b and the second AR coating 130 b and thereafter crosses afourth interface 132 b between the second AR coating 130 b and the external environment (e.g. air). At eachinterface interface 132 b may be 180° out of phase with the reflection ray r3 produced at theinterface 134 b for a given design wavelength range. The resulting reflection rays r3, r4 may thus destructively interfere with each other, such that thetransparent covering 100 exhibits reduced reflection of light for wavelengths falling within the design wavelength range. - The second AR coating 130 b may have a structure and function equivalent to that of the first AR coating 130 a but with a different design wavelength range (e.g. a design wavelength range centered at a different design wavelength λ2≠λ1), as will be described in more detail below. For example, the second AR coating 130 b may similarly be a single-layer interference AR coating whose thickness may be a so-called quarter-wavelength thickness, for example, thickness d2=((nair/ncoating)λ2)/4, where the design wavelength range is centered at λ2, with nair being the index of refraction of the external medium, e.g. 1.00 for air, and ncoating being the index of refraction of the second AR coating 130 b, e.g. 1.37 for MgF2. In this way, the design wavelength range of the second AR coating 130 b may be adjusted (relative to that of the first AR coating 130 a) by changing the thickness of the second AR coating 130 b, without needing to use a different AR coating material or structural configuration. For example, in a case where the
AR coatings -
- In the above examples represented by
Expressions 1 and 2, the twoAR coatings second AR coatings second AR coatings - It should be noted that the above description is somewhat simplified for ease of explanation. For example, the reflection rays r1 and r2 may experience an additional 180° phase shift that is not experienced by the reflection rays r3 and r4, due to the
interfaces -
FIG. 3 is a graphical representation of normal-incidence reflectance as a function of wavelength for a transparent covering comprising a 200-gauge PET lens with an AR coating. Normal-incidence transmission as a function of wavelength is also shown. In the example ofFIG. 3 , the AR coating has a design wavelength range centered at around 550 nm (i.e. green light). The transparent covering ofFIG. 3 exhibits normal-incidence reflectance of under 10% for all wavelengths between 500 nm and 700 nm. Because the reflectance is higher for wavelengths shorter than 500 nm, rising to over 20% while still within the range of human vision (which extends down to around 390 nm), the transparent covering ofFIG. 3 produces a perceivable blue or violet reflection. -
FIG. 4 is a graphical representation of normal-incidence reflectance as a function of wavelength for a transparent covering comprising a stack of three layered 200-gauge PET lenses with AR coatings on the outermost lenses. Normal-incidence transmission as a function of wavelength is also shown. The transparent covering ofFIG. 4 may have the structure of thetransparent covering 100 shown inFIGS. 1 and 2 with athird layer 110 between thelayers FIG. 4 , the AR coatings have the same design wavelength range as each other (unlike theAR coatings FIG. 1 ). As in the example ofFIG. 3 , the design wavelength range of the AR coatings ofFIG. 4 is centered at around 550 nm (i.e. green light). In this case, however, due to internal reflections between the three PET lenses, the reflectance is somewhat worse in the low wavelength end, rising to over 30% while still within the range of human vision (which extends down to around 390 nm). Significant blue or violet reflections may be observed despite the use of two AR coatings. -
FIG. 5 is the same asFIG. 4 except thatFIG. 5 further depicts an additional curve shown as a dashed line. The dashed line represents normal-incidence reflectance as a function of wavelength for the same transparent covering, but with AR coatings having a design wavelength range centered at 450 nm used in place of the AR coatings having a design wavelength range centered at 550 nm. As can be seen, by using AR coatings having a design wavelength centered at 450 nm, the entire reflectance curve may be shifted to the left, thus improving the reflectance for low wavelengths. As shown, reflectance is under 10% all the way down to around 390 nm before rising for lower wavelengths outside the range of human vision. While this may greatly reduce or eliminate the perceivable blue or violet reflection, it comes at the expense of increasing reflectance at higher wavelengths (e.g. reflectance over 15% at around 700 nm), thus introducing a red reflection that was not perceivable using the AR coatings ofFIG. 4 . The choice between AR coatings centered at around 550 nm and AR coatings centered at around 450 nm thus represents a tradeoff between unwanted reflections of different colors. - In order to avoid the above tradeoff and eliminate reflections over a broader range of wavelengths, the
transparent covering 100 shown inFIGS. 1 and 2 makes use of twodifferent AR coatings FIG. 5 may be combined in a singletransparent covering 100, with one AR coating on a firstoutermost lens 110 a of the stack (e.g. thetop lens 110 a inFIGS. 1 and 2 ) and the other AR coating on a secondoutermost lens 110 b of the stack (e.g. thebottom lens 110 b inFIGS. 1 and 2 ). Thetransparent covering 100 may thus have a first AR coating 130 a with a first design wavelength range centered at around 550 nm and a second AR coating 130 b with a second design wavelength range centered at around 450 nm. In this way, reflections can be prevented both for low wavelengths below 500 nm and for high wavelengths above 600 nm. -
FIG. 6 illustrates the resulting reflectance as a function of wavelength. The same transparent covering comprising three layered 200-gauge PET lenses with AR coatings on the outermost lenses is used, but with the AR coatings having design wavelength ranges centered at around 550 nm and 450 nm, respectively. As can be seen, the transparent covering ofFIG. 6 exhibits normal-incidence reflectance of under 10% for all wavelengths between 390 nm and 700 nm. - The design wavelength ranges of the
AR coatings AR coatings - In the above examples, the external environment of the
transparent covering 100 is assumed to be air having an index of refraction of around 1.00. However, it is also contemplated that the external environment may not be air. For example, in the case of atransparent covering 100 for a window of an underwater building or vehicle, the external environment may be water having a higher index of refraction. In some instances, the external environment may even be vacuum having a lower index of refraction than air. The above selection ofAR coatings - In the above examples, the
transparent covering 100 is described as being affixed to some substrate. However, it is also contemplated that thetransparent covering 100 itself may be used without an underlying substrate, for example, affixed at its periphery to a surrounding wall or garment, such as is described in relation toFIG. 6C of U.S. Patent Application Pub. No. 2018/0029337, the entire contents of which is expressly incorporated herein by reference. - Throughout this disclosure, the word “transparent” is used broadly to encompass any materials that can be seen through. The word “transparent” is not intended to exclude translucent, hazy, frosted, colored, or tinted materials.
- The
AR coatings - The above description is given by way of example, and not limitation. Given the above disclosure, one skilled in the art could devise variations that are within the scope and spirit of the invention disclosed herein. Further, the various features of the embodiments disclosed herein can be used alone, or in varying combinations with each other and are not intended to be limited to the specific combination described herein. Thus, the scope of the claims is not to be limited by the illustrated embodiments.
Claims (20)
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US18/156,278 US20230152493A1 (en) | 2018-10-19 | 2023-01-18 | Transparent covering having anti-reflective coatings |
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US18/156,278 US20230152493A1 (en) | 2018-10-19 | 2023-01-18 | Transparent covering having anti-reflective coatings |
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