Fwd: 3M OneFilm™ Technology Combines Optical Functionality....

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From: 3M News <news@savvypublicrelations.net>
Date: Tue, Jun 5, 2012 at 5:01 AM
Subject: 3M OneFilm™ Technology Combines Optical Functionality....
To: john.sokol@gmail.com

3M OneFilm™ Technology Combines Optical Functionality of Three Light Management Films into a Single Film

 

Innovative Film Can Help  Reduce Costs, Simplify the Supply Chain

 

St. Paul, Minn.—June 5 [Booth #151], 2012— 3M Optical Systems Division today unveiled its proprietary OneFilm optical film technology, which incorporates the functionality of three individual light management films into a single enhancement film for LCD backlights. As a result, display devices with LED backlights, such as notebook computers, LCD TVs, and digital signage are even thinner and with significantly reduced materials and associated costs.

 

Conventional LED LCD backlights require three to four separate films above the light guide. (These can include diffuser, prism, microlens, and reflective polarizer films.) Whereas, 3M's OneFilm technology consists of a single film -- all other films above the light guide are eliminated. OneFilm significantly reduces the number of components, as well as simplifies assembly and inspection process times—all while streamlining the supply chain—ultimately optimizing throughput and reducing inventory. It can also be used with direct-lit type backlights. OneFilm is compatible with existing manufacturing facilities and processes, and is simply placed in the backlight during assembly, just as current optical films are. 

 

"OneFilm marks a significant technical advance for the display supply chain, furthering 3M's ongoing quest to deliver the most efficient, cost effective backlight solutions for LCDs," noted Jim Bauman, vice president and general manager, 3M Optical Systems Division. "It is now possible to make LCD backlights using only one free-floating film."

 

Bauman added, "As a result of 3M's cutting-edge technology, LCD manufacturers can benefit from the reduction of materials and costs, as well as design simplification, inspection and assembly processes to enable even thinner, light-weight displays."

 

From a performance standpoint, OneFilm is comparable to conventional LCD film stacks (as measured by Nits/Watts) and exceeds conventional systems in wide-angle luminance, which is critical for notebooks, LCD TVs, and LCD digital signage, and devices where shared viewing is key.

 

OneFilm is based on 3M's Collimating Multilayer Optical Film (CMOF) technology, which collimates light without refractive structures (no prisms). As a result, for the first time, LCDs with highly integrated optics are possible with a single free-floating film.

 

Rather than refracting, OneFilm collimates light by reflecting higher angle light back to the recycling cavity, while providing higher transmission for light closer to normal incidence. Wide angle luminance can be significantly higher than incumbent stacks which use refractive structures. OneFilm provides a smooth, monotonic change of luminance with angle, which enables superior viewing. 

 

OneFilm is currently in development and being evaluated for TVs, Digital Signage and Notebooks.  "Emerging sustainability trends will drive demand for solutions like OneFilm, and 3M is committed to assisting its global customers in achieving their sustainability goals," Bauman concluded.

 

3M will debut its OneFilm Solution during SID Display Week 2012, taking place June 5-7 at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center. In addition, 3M representatives will present an invited paper in the technical symposium.

 

Media interested in seeing 3M's OneFilm demonstration during DisplayWeek should contact Stacey Harmon at stacey@savvypublicrelations.net or call 925-336-9592.

Note to Editors: Photo and Figure Available Upon Request.

 

About 3M

3M captures the spark of new ideas and transforms them into thousands of ingenious products. Our culture of creative collaboration inspires a never-ending stream of powerful technologies that make life better. 3M is the innovation company that never stops inventing. With $30 billion in sales, 3M employs 84,000 people worldwide and has operations in more than 65 countries. For more information, visit www.3M.com or follow @3MNews on Twitter.

 

Media Contact:                                                                                                                                 

Agency:

Stacey Voorhees-Harmon

SAVVY Public Relations

Phone: 925-336-9592

E-mail: stacey@savvypublicrelations.net

 

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