Patent ID: 9651725
Date: 2017-05-16
CPC Classifications: B42D,G02B,G02F,Y10T

Claim:
1. A multilayer optical film, comprising: a plurality of interior layers arranged to selectively reflect light by constructive or destructive interference to provide a first reflective characteristic, the layers extending from a first zone to a second zone of the film; wherein the plurality of interior layers comprises a first set of layers composed of a first material and a second set of layers composed of a second material different from the first material, at least one of the first and second sets of layers being birefringent; wherein the film has an absorption characteristic tailored to heat the interior layers, in response to the film being illuminated with a light beam in the second zone of the film, sufficiently to change a birefringence of at least some of the interior layers in the second zone while maintaining a structural integrity of the plurality of interior layers, such change in birefringence being sufficient to change the first reflective characteristic to a different second reflective characteristic in the second zone of the film; wherein the first reflective characteristic is substantially a polarizer characteristic and the second reflective characteristic is substantially a mirror characteristic, or the first reflective characteristic is substantially a mirror characteristic and the second reflective characteristic is substantially a polarizer characteristic, and wherein the plurality of interior layers has a first thickness in the first zone and a second thickness in the second zone, and the first thickness is substantially the same as the second thickness.