Coatable Linear & Circular Polarizers for Flexible Displays, Mixed Reality Components and MicroLED Applications

Light Polymers’ Advanced Lyotropic Liquid Crystal Technology represents a significant leap forward from traditional polarization techniques and processes developed in the 1940s,  addressing several key limitations and paving the way for next-generation displays and mixed reality components. Here’s how your technology stands out:

Thickness: Traditional PVA-based polarizers are typically thick (>30 µm), which can limit their application in modern displays and mixed reality components. In contrast, Light Polymers’ Direct-Coatable Polarizer chemistry allows for much thinner coatings (<1.0 µm), providing greater flexibility and compatibility with advanced display technologies.

Durability: The proprietary water-based chemistry of Light Polymers’ polarizer enhances durability, ensuring that the polarizer can withstand rigorous use, including folding requirements of up to 300,000 folds. This durability is essential for meeting the demanding performance standards of next-generation displays and mixed reality components.

Coatability: Unlike traditional polarizers, which are difficult to pattern and cannot be coated on curved surfaces, Light Polymers’ technology offers superior coatability. It can easily be patterned and has the potential to be coated on both flat and curved surfaces, expanding its versatility and enabling innovative design possibilities.

Cost-effectiveness: By eliminating the need for costly films and simplifying the manufacturing process, Light Polymers’ Direct-Coatable Polarizer chemistry offers a cost-effective solution for display and mixed reality component manufacturers. This affordability makes it more accessible and attractive for widespread adoption in the industry.

Overall, Light Polymers’ innovative approach to polarizer technology addresses critical challenges faced by traditional PVA-based polarizers, making it well-suited for the next generation of displays and mixed reality components.

Direct coating is the idea where a coatable polarizer is coated directly onto the OLED glass substrate, rear side of the display coverplate (UTG) or directly onto the curved surface of a mixed reality optical component.

Efficiency: Direct coating and patterning reduce the number of manufacturing steps required, leading to increased efficiency and reduced production time. This not only lowers manufacturing costs but also enhances overall productivity.

Versatility: The ability to coat on curved surfaces expands the range of applications for our technology. Whether it’s conformal coatings on complex-shaped electronic devices or functional coatings on curved substrates in automotive our technology offers versatility that traditional methods may struggle to achieve.

Cost-Effectiveness: By eliminating non-value-added layers and steps in the manufacturing process, your technology helps customers save on material costs and reduces waste. This cost-effectiveness is particularly appealing in industries where margins are tight, such as consumer electronics or automotive manufacturing.

Innovation: Light Polymers’ approach opens up possibilities for innovative product designs and functionalities. Whether it’s developing new types of displays, improving the performance of optical devices, or creating advanced coatings with unique properties, your technology provides a platform for continuous innovation.

Today’s circular polarizers are made of two films: a standard linear polarizer and a “1⁄4 wave plate” compensation film with reverse dispersion of retardation properties. Light Polymers’ patented films are more durable during fold tests due to proprietary water-based chemistry and the elimination of fragile plastic substrates. Polarizers developed by Light Polymers also eliminate costly extra film components while simplifying the overall manufacturing process. Transparent, high refractive index polarizer materials enable next-generation display technologies with higher light efficiency at a lower cost. Other applications for this technology include flexible and foldable displays, curved LCD, and privacy displays.

Circular Polarizer is an optical film or coatings to cancel the reflected light so the user can see the image. The technical development objectives of Light Polymers’ Polarizer is to have the thinnest total stack by integrating the cover film, retardant film, polarizer film and adhesive for an all-in-one film solution.

• average reflectivity (400 nm – 700 nm) is less than 5%
• direct coat thickness < 4 µm
• color tunability
• black off-state
• formulation tunable to OLED color
• passes 200,000 folding-unfolding test