Optical film, light-emitting module and motor vehicle

Abstract

The present application provides an optical film (100). The optical film comprises: a base layer (10); and a microstructure layer (20) disposed on the base layer, wherein microstructures are distributed on the microstructure layer, and the microstructures located on the same side of the optical film are configured to deflect and diffuse light.

Description

OPTICAL FILM, LIGHT-EMITTING MODULE AND MOTOR VEHICLE

[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of lighting, and more specifically to an optical film, a light-emitting module and a motor vehicle.

[0002] In the technical field of lighting, various lighting or signalling devices are known for providing light for lighting or signalling. For example, vehicle lamps are used in motor vehicles to provide lighting or signal indication functions, so as to ensure safe travel or provide an ornamental function. Vehicle lamps can also be used to achieve human-computer interaction functions.

[0003] An optical film is an optical element that is often used in a headlight of a motor vehicle to diffuse light from a light source. At present, optical films with only a diffusion function can no longer meet the use requirements, especially in some application scenarios where it is desirable for optical films to have not only a diffusion function but also a deflection function.

[0004] Therefore, there is currently an urgent need to provide an optical film that has both diffusion and deflection functions.Summary of the Invention

[0005] An objective of the present application is to overcome at least one of the problems and shortcomings in the prior art.

[0006] A first aspect of the present application provides an optical film, comprising:

[0007] a base layer; and

[0008] a microstructure layer disposed on the base layer, wherein microstructures are distributed on the microstructure layer, and the microstructures located on the same side of the optical film are configured to deflect and diffuse light.

[0009] In some embodiments, the base layer comprises polycarbonate, polyethylene terephthalate or polymethyl methacrylate;

[0010] the microstructure layer comprises an optical adhesive.

[0011] In some embodiments, the base layer comprises a first surface and a second surface disposed opposite to each other, the second surface is disposed between the first surface and the microstructure layer, and the first surface is a smooth surface.

[0012] In some embodiments, the microstructure layer serves as a light incident surface of the optical film for receiving light, and the first surface serves as a light emission surface of the optical film for emitting light.

[0013] In some embodiments, a plurality of microstructures are provided, the microstructures are completely random structures, and the microstructures do not have an exactly identical size, shape, or orientation.

[0014] In some embodiments, the microstructures comprise a quasi-circular first structure and a strip-like second structure.

[0015] In some embodiments, the microstructures have a size between 1 and 50 um;

[0016] the microstructures have a size between 5 and 20 um.

[0017] In some embodiments, the microstructures are configured to deflect the light by 10° to 45°;

[0018] the microstructures are configured to uniformly amplify a light shape of the light.

[0019] A second aspect of the present application provides a light-emitting module, comprising the optical film as provided in the first aspect and the above embodiments.

[0020] In some embodiments, the light-emitting module further comprises a light source, wherein the light source is used to emit light, and the optical film receives the light through the microstructure layer and emits the received light from the base layer.

[0021] A third aspect of the present application provides a motor vehicle, comprising the optical film as provided in the first aspect and the above embodiments, or the light-emitting module as provided in the second aspect.Brief Description of the Drawings

[0022] shows a schematic side view of the structure of an optical film provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0023] is a partially enlarged schematic view of a microstructure layer of the optical film shown in.Detailed Description of Embodiments

[0024] Embodiments of the present application will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. It should be understood that the embodiments of the present application are mainly possible implementations intended to describe the technical solutions of the present application, and should not be construed as limiting the technical solutions of the present application. In the description, identical or similar components are indicated by identical or similar reference numerals.

[0025] shows a schematic side view of the structure of an optical film 100 provided in an embodiment of the present application;is a partially enlarged schematic view of a microstructure layer 20 of the optical film 100 shown in. As shown in Figs. 1-2, the embodiment of the present application provides an optical film 100. The optical film 100 may form a light-emitting module together with a light source 200, and the light-emitting module may be used as a vehicle lamp of a motor vehicle. The optical film 100 comprises a base layer 10 and a microstructure layer 20, and the microstructure layer 20 is disposed on the base layer 10. Microstructures are distributed on the microstructure layer 20, and preferably the microstructures are distributed throughout the microstructure layer 20. The microstructures located on the same side of the optical film 100 are configured to deflect and diffuse light L1.

[0026] The optical film 100 has both deflection and diffusion functions. The deflection function means that the microstructures can deflect the light L1 emitted by the light source 200 by a certain angle a. For example, the light L1 emitted by the light source 200 propagates along a thickness direction H, and the deflected outgoing light L2 is emitted along a direction having an included angle a with the thickness direction H so that the light is deflected to a target angle. The deflection angle a may be between 10°and 45°, but the deflection angle a may also be other values as needed. It is worth noting that the thickness direction H, a length direction X and a width direction Y are orthogonal to each other, and the optical film 100 is generally a sheet-like structure with a length and a width much greater than a thickness. A specific deflection direction of the light may be along the length direction X, the width direction Y or other directions, and corresponding microstructures may be designed as required to achieve a target deflection angle and deflection direction. The diffusion function means that the microstructures can uniformly amplify the light shape formed by the light L1 emitted by the light source 200, thereby improving the uniformity of output light. For example, the light shape formed by the light L1 emitted by the light source 200 is usually small, but after being diffused by the microstructures, the light shape of the light L1 is uniformly amplified, so that the light shape formed by outgoing light L2 is like a pattern P.

[0027] In this embodiment, the microstructures with dual functions of "deflection and diffusion" are formed on the same side of the optical film 100. This not only expands the function of the optical film 100, making it have both deflection and diffusion functions; but also allows the other side of the optical film 100 opposite to the microstructure layer to be free of any optical microstructure, so that it is convenient for the other side of the optical film 100 to face outwards to facilitate connection or cooperation with other components, or the other side can be exposed to the environment while the microstructure layer 20 faces inwards. All of these can avoid damage to the optical microstructures by the external environment.

[0028] In some embodiments, the base layer 10 and the microstructure layer 20 may be made of different materials, respectively. For example, the base layer 10 comprises polycarbonate (PC), polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA). The microstructure layer 20 comprises an optical adhesive. The optical adhesive may be a UV adhesive. The UV adhesive can be quickly cured under ultraviolet light, which is convenient for accelerating production. In actual production, the base layer 10 may first be formed. Thereafter, the optical adhesive may be disposed on the base layer 10, and then the optical adhesive may be hot-pressed by a mould to form microstructures. Finally, the optical adhesive may be cured to form a microstructure layer 20 with the microstructures. At this time, the microstructure layer 20 may be firmly bonded to the base layer 10.

[0029] In this embodiment, the base layer 10 comprises a first surface 11 and a second surface 12 which are disposed opposite to each other, and the second surface 12 is disposed between the first surface 11 and the microstructure layer 20. That is, the second surface 12 faces the microstructure layer, the first surface 11 faces away from the microstructure layer 20, and the first surface 11 is farther away from the microstructure layer 20 than the second surface 12. Moreover, the first surface 11 may be set as a smooth surface, that is, there is no microstructure thereon. The first surface 11 looks like a mirror surface, and the microstructure layer 20 with the microstructures looks like a matte surface. By disposing the microstructures only on the microstructure layer 20, without the microstructures on the base layer 10, the optical film 100 may be injection-moulded with other plastic members through the base layer 10, that is, the first surface 11 of the base layer 10 is bonded and connected to other plastic members, and the microstructure layer 20 is far away from the injection-moulded bonding surface (i.e., the first surface 11). Therefore, the injection moulding process will not damage any microstructure, nor will it affect the optical function of the optical film 100. For example, the optical film 100 and a lens may be injection-moulded into one piece, the first surface 11 of the base layer 10 is bonded and connected to the inner surface of the lens, and the microstructure layer 20 is farther away from the lens than the base layer 10, so as to avoid the injection moulding process from damaging the microstructures. The inner surface of the lens generally faces the inside of the vehicle body, while the outer surface of the lens faces the outside of the vehicle body. By disposing the microstructure layer 20 inside the vehicle body, external contamination can be further reduced.

[0030] In some embodiments, the microstructure layer 20 may be used as a light incident surface of the optical film 100 for receiving the light L1, and the first surface 11 may be used as a light emission surface of the optical film 100 for emitting the light L2. When the microstructure layer 20 is used as the incident surface, the reflection ratio of the light L1 is very low. Therefore, this can significantly improve the light efficiency and facilitate the realization of larger diffusion angles. Due to the high light efficiency, even if the diffusion angle is large, more light energy can be allocated to each angle, which can meet a target light intensity. Of course, in some other embodiments, it is also possible that the microstructure layer 20 is used as a light emission surface of the optical film 100 for emitting light, and the first surface 11 is used as a light incident surface of the optical film 100 for receiving light. However, compared with the former, since the first surface 11 is a smooth surface, similar to a mirror surface, it will reflect part of the light back, resulting in reduced light efficiency. Therefore, it can be applied to some scenarios with low light efficiency requirements.

[0031] A specific configuration of the microstructures will be described in detail below. In some embodiments, there are generally a large number of microstructures, and the size of the microstructures may be between 1 and 50 um, and preferably between 5 and 20 um. The microstructures are completely random structures, that is, each microstructure does not have an exactly identical size, shape or orientation, and there is no periodic repeating structure. As shown in, the microstructures comprise a quasi-circular first structure 21 and a strip-like second structure 22. These microstructures are not exactly identical to each other, nor are they disposed according to any rules. They are completely random structures.

[0032] The embodiments of the present application further provide a light-emitting module. The light-emitting module may be used as a vehicle lamp of a motor vehicle. The light-emitting module comprises an optical film 100 described according to any of the above embodiments. In addition to the optical film 100, the light-emitting module may further comprise a light source 200. The light source 200 is used to emit light L1, and the light L1 is incident on the microstructure layer 20 of the optical film 100 as incident light. The optical film 100 receives the light L1 through the microstructure layer 20, and emits the received light from the base layer 10 as outgoing light L2.

[0033] The embodiments of the present application further provide a motor vehicle, which comprises the optical film 100 described according to any one of the above embodiments, or the light-emitting module described according to any one of the above embodiments.

[0034] Although the present application has been described with reference to the drawings, the embodiments disclosed in the drawings are intended to provide an exemplary description of preferred implementations of the present application, and must not be construed as limiting the present application. The dimensional proportions in the drawings are merely schematic, and must not be construed as limiting the present application.

[0035] Although some embodiments of the general concept of the present application have been presented and described, those skilled in the art will understand that the present application may also comprise other equivalent embodiments without departing from the general inventive concept of the present application. The scope of protection of the present application shall be defined by the claims.

Claims

Optical film (100), characterized in that the optical film comprises:a base layer (10); anda microstructure layer (20) disposed on the base layer, wherein microstructures are distributed on the microstructure layer, and the microstructures located on the same side of the optical film are configured to deflect and diffuse light.Optical film according to Claim 1, wherein the base layer comprises polycarbonate (PC), polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA);the microstructure layer comprises an optical adhesive.Optical film according to Claim 1, wherein the base layer (10) comprises a first surface (11) and a second surface (12) disposed opposite to each other, the second surface is disposed between the first surface and the microstructure layer, and the first surface is a smooth surface.Optical film according to Claim 3, wherein the microstructure layer (20) serves as a light incident surface of the optical film for receiving light, and the first surface serves as a light emission surface of the optical film for emitting light.Optical film according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, wherein a plurality of microstructures are provided, the microstructures are completely random structures, and the microstructures do not have an exactly identical size, shape, or orientation.Optical film according to Claim 5, wherein the microstructures comprise a quasi-circular first structure (21) and a strip-like second structure (22).Optical film according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, wherein the microstructures have a size between 1 and 50 um;the microstructures have a size between 5 and 20 um.Optical film according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, wherein the microstructures are configured to deflect the light by 10°to 45°;the microstructures are configured to uniformly amplify a light shape of the light.Light-emitting module, characterized in that the light-emitting module comprises the optical film according to any one of Claims 1 to 8 and a light source (200), wherein the light source is used to emit light, and the optical film receives the light through the microstructure layer (20) and emits the received light from the base layer (10).Motor vehicle, characterized in that the motor vehicle comprises the optical film according to any one of Claims 1 to 8, or the light-emitting module according to Claim 9.

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