Multilayer optical films having side-by-side polarizer/polarizer zones

摘要

A reflective film includes interior layers that selectively reflect light by constructive or destructive interference, the layers extending from a first to a second zone of the film. In the first zone the layers provide a first reflective polarizer characteristic, and in a second zone the layers provide a substantially different reflective polarizer characteristic. The second zone is characterized by at least some of the layers having a reduced birefringence relative to their birefringence in the first zone. In some cases the first reflective polarizer characteristic may have a pass axis that is substantially orthogonal to that of the second reflective polarizer characteristic. The film may have substantially the same thickness in the first and second zones, or a substantially reduced thickness in the second zone relative to the first zone.

主权项

1. An optical film comprising:
a combination of substantially orthogonally oriented reflective polarizers that are both formed from a same plurality of layers, the plurality of layers arranged to selectively reflect light by constructive or destructive interference, wherein the plurality of layers comprises a first set of layers that are birefringent in one or more first zones of the optical film corresponding to a first reflective polarizer, and the first set of layers has a reduced or eliminated birefringence in one or more second zones of the optical film relative to its birefringence in the one or more first zones, the first and second zones being adjacent with each and the plurality of layers extending from the first zones to the second zones, the one or more second zones of the optical film corresponding to a second reflective polarizer that is substantially orthogonally oriented relative to the first reflective polarizer, wherein the reduced or eliminated birefringence of the first set of layers in the second zones relative to the first zones causes the second reflective polarizer to be substantially orthogonally oriented relative to the first reflective polarizer, and wherein the plurality of layers has substantially the same thickness in the one or more first zones and the one or more second zones.