Visual Angle Control Film With Microstructure and Reflective Absorption

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing visual angle control films suffer from low light transmittance, poor visual angle controllability, and high manufacturing costs, with previous solutions either compromising light utilization, visual effects, or being difficult to produce.

Innovation Solution

A visual angle control film design comprising a transparent structure layer with a light-emitting plane and light-entering micro-structure surface, filled with an absorption material and coated with a reflection layer, where the refractive indices of the materials are carefully selected to enhance light utilization and control, combined with a protective and optical coating to optimize transmittance and angle control.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If an absorption layer is used to control visual angle, then visual angle controllability is improved, but light transmittance decreases and screen brightness is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevisual angle controllabilityVSAvoidscreen brightness
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The film is divided into multiple functional layers: transparent structure layer, light control coating, absorption material, and reflection layer. Each layer performs a specific function - the transparent structure and light control coating manage light direction through refraction and total reflection, while the absorption material selectively absorbs stray light. This segmentation allows the system to control visual angle without significantly reducing overall light transmittance and screen brightness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The absorption material is strategically positioned in specific regions where stray light needs to be controlled, rather than uniformly across the entire film. The light control coating is applied selectively on the light-entering micro-structure surface. This localized application ensures that light absorption and angle control occur only where necessary, preserving overall light transmittance and screen brightness in areas where control is not needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Loss of energy

If total reflection is used to increase light utilization, then light utilization rate is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight utilization rateVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The transparent structure layer with its light-entering micro-structure surface automatically guides light through total reflection at the interfaces between layers with different refractive indices. The structure itself creates the total reflection effect without requiring additional complex optical components or precise alignment mechanisms, simplifying manufacturing while maintaining high light utilization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The film combines multiple materials with different refractive indices (transparent structure material, light control coating material, absorption material, reflection layer) to create total reflection at their interfaces. This composite structure achieves high light utilization through material properties rather than complex geometric designs, reducing manufacturing complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

3Illumination intensity

If high refractive index coating is used to control light angle, then transmittance is improved, but material cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovetransmittanceVSAvoidmaterial cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The light control function is divided between the transparent structure layer, light control coating, and reflection layer, each contributing to overall transmittance through different mechanisms. This segmentation allows the use of more cost-effective materials in each layer rather than requiring expensive high refractive index materials throughout the entire film structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The light control coating with specific refractive index properties is applied only on the light-entering micro-structure surface where it is most needed for controlling light entry angles. This localized application reduces the quantity of expensive optical materials required compared to coating the entire film surface, lowering material costs while maintaining transmittance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

4Illumination intensity

If absorption material efficiency is reduced to increase transmittance, then optical transmittance is improved, but visual angle controllability is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoptical transmittanceVSAvoidvisual angle controllability
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The film is segmented into transparent structure layer, light control coating, absorption material, and reflection layer, each performing distinct functions. The transparent structure and light control coating handle the majority of light transmission through refraction and total reflection, while the absorption material focuses on controlling stray light and defining the visual angle. This functional segmentation allows high optical transmittance while maintaining visual angle controllability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The absorption material is positioned locally in regions where stray light control is needed, rather than being uniformly distributed. This localized placement allows the absorption material to maintain its light-absorbing efficiency for angle control while minimizing its impact on overall optical transmittance, as most light passes through the transparent structure and light control coating layers.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The film achieves high full-spectrum visible light transmittance, good visual angle controllability, and increased light utilization, while being cost-effective to produce with high production efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

a recess of the light-entering micro-structure surface is filled with an absorption material

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight absorption: Absorption (EM radiation)

Implementation Method 2

an optical refractive index of the transparent structure layer is nH, an optical refractive index of the light control coating is nL, and the optical refractive index nH of the transparent structure layer and the optical refractive index nL of the light control coating satisfies: nH-nL>0.05

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRefraction: Refraction

Implementation Method 3

the light angle is controlled by total reflection formed on a surface of a medium

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTotal internal reflection: Total Internal Reflection

Implementation Method 4

a reflection layer is arranged on an outer surface of the absorption material

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight reflection: Reflection

Data Source

PatentEP4703776A1Visual angle control film and preparation method therefor
Publication Date: 2026.03.04 SUZHOU CRYSTALENT PHOTONICS CO LTD
  • EP4703776A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4703776A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4703776A1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

A visual angle control film includes a transparent structure layer (200), wherein the transparent structure layer (200) includes a light-emitting plane and a light-entering micro-structure surface, a light control coating (300) is arranged on a surface of the light-entering micro-structure surface, a recess of the light-entering micro-structure surface is filled with an absorption material (400), a reflection layer (500) is arranged on an outer surface of the absorption material (400), an optical refractive index nH of the transparent structure layer (200) and an optical refractive index nL of the light control coating (300) satisfies: nH-nL>0.05.