LIGHT REDIRECTING SOLAR CONTROL FILM

A light redirecting solar control film includes a multilayer film that transmits visible light and reflects infrared light, and a light redirecting layer adjacent to the multilayer film forming a light redirecting solar control film. The light redirecting layer includes a major surface forming a plurality of prism structures.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to light redirecting solar control films and particularly to light redirecting solar control laminates and light redirecting solar control glazing units.

BACKGROUND

The need for energy efficient windows and glazing systems is known. The choice of a particular type of window depends of a number of factors including UV, visible and optical performance, aesthetics and climatic conditions. In cooling dominated climates, a glazing unit having low solar heat gain coefficient and low insulating properties may be adequate while in heating dominated climates a moderate solar heat gain along with high insulating properties are needed.

Low emissivity (Low-e) coatings reflect mid to far infrared energy and are used in insulated glazing units. Low-e windows are especially useful in heating dominated climates. Two types of Low-e coatings exist. Pyrolytic Low-e coatings, commonly referred to as “hard coats” are applied during the manufacture of glass while sputtered Low-e coatings are applied in a vacuum process, commonly referred to as “soft coats”, after the glass plate is manufactured. The hard Low-e coatings are more durable and may be stored indefinitely prior to window manufacture. The soft coats typically comprise silver or silver alloys and are easily attacked by the atmospheric elements such as moisture, salt and water. Furthermore, during the construction of the window, a practice known as “edge deletion” is performed to reduce the coating edge from such attacks.

Commonly known methods (absorbing films and/or window shades) for reducing solar heat gain and glare also reduce visible light transmission by as much as 80%. As a result, under overcast sky, artificial lighting must be used which results in increased energy usage.

BRIEF SUMMARY

The present disclosure relates to light redirecting solar control films and particularly to light redirecting solar control laminates and light redirecting solar control glazing units. The present disclosure is directed to a light redirecting layer disposed on a light visible light transmitting and infrared light reflecting multilayer film. The solar control films described herein provide improved illumination of a building interior while minimizing unwanted solar gain through the window.

In a first embodiment, a light redirecting solar control film includes a multilayer film that transmits visible light and reflects infrared light, and a light redirecting layer adjacent to the multilayer film forming a light redirecting solar control film. The light redirecting layer includes a major surface forming a plurality of prism structures.

In another embodiment, a light redirecting solar control glazing unit includes a first glazing substrate, and a light redirecting solar control film disposed on the first glazing substrate. The light redirecting solar control film includes a multilayer film that transmits visible light and reflects infrared light, and a light redirecting layer adjacent to the multilayer film forming a light redirecting solar control film. The light redirecting layer has a major surface forming a plurality of prism structures.

A light redirecting solar control system includes a glazing substrate, a light redirecting solar control film disposed on the glazing substrate, and a diffuser positioned to receive light transmitted by the light redirecting solar control film. The light redirecting solar control film includes a multilayer film that transmits visible light and reflects infrared light, and a light redirecting layer adjacent to the multilayer film forming a light redirecting solar control film. The light redirecting layer has a major surface forming a plurality of prism structures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The term “polymer” will be understood to include polymers, copolymers (e.g., polymers formed using two or more different monomers), oligomers and combinations thereof, as well as polymers, oligomers, or copolymers that can be formed in a miscible blend.

The term “adjacent” refers to the relative position of two elements that are close to each other and may or may not be in contact with each other or have one or more layers separating the two elements.

The present disclosure relates to light redirecting solar control films and particularly to light redirecting solar control laminates, light redirecting solar control glazing units and light redirecting solar control systems. The present disclosure is directed to a light redirecting layer disposed on a light visible light transmitting and infrared light reflecting multilayer film. The solar control films described herein provide improved illumination of a building interior while minimizing unwanted solar gain through the window. While the present invention is not so limited, an appreciation of various aspects of the invention will be gained through a discussion of the examples provided below.

FIG. 1is a schematic cross-sectional view of an illustrative solar control laminate10. The solar control laminate10includes a multilayer film20and a light redirecting layer30. In many embodiments, the multilayer film20and a light redirecting layer30are joined together with an adhesive layer40or adhesion promoting layer (e.g., corona treatment layer, or priming layer). In other embodiments, the light redirecting layer30is integrally formed with the multilayer film20, for example, via extrusion or embossing. In some embodiments, an infrared light absorbing layer50is disposed on the multilayer film20.

The multilayer film20transmits visible light and reflects infrared light. In many embodiments, the multilayer film20transmits at least 50% of all visible light wavelengths and reflects at least 50% of infrared light from 850 nm to 1100 nm or at least 50% of all wavelengths of infrared light. In other embodiments, the multilayer film20transmits at least 60% of all visible light wavelengths and reflects at least 60% of infrared light from 850 nm to 1100 nm or at least 60% of all wavelengths of infrared light. In some embodiments, the multilayer film20transmits at least 75% of all visible light wavelengths and reflects at least 75% of infrared light from 850 nm to 1100 nm. In some embodiments, the multilayer film20transmits at least 90% of all visible light wavelengths and reflects at least 90% of infrared light from 850 nm to 1100 nm. The multilayer film20can be formed of any useful materials.

In some embodiments, the multilayer film20is a multilayer Fabry-Perot interference filter including a plurality of metal layers. These layers can include any useful metal or metallic material such as, for example, gold, silver, copper and oxides and/or alloys thereof. These multilayer metallic films have multiple thin metal layers that cooperate to reflect near infrared and infrared light, while allowing the transmission of visible light. Examples of these useful multilayer Fabry-Perot interference filter films are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,799,745 and 6,007,901, which are incorporated by reference to the extent they do not conflict with the present disclosure.

In some embodiments, the multilayer film20is a multilayer polymeric film that includes a plurality of alternating polymeric layers of a first polymer material and a second polymer material and at least one of the alternating layers is birefringent and orientated and the alternating polymeric layers cooperate to reflect infrared light and visible light is transmitted through the multilayer polymeric infrared light reflecting film. The layers have different refractive index characteristics so that some infrared light is reflected at interfaces between adjacent layers. The layers are sufficiently thin so that light reflected at a plurality of the interfaces undergoes constructive or destructive interference in order to give the film the desired reflective and transmissive properties. For optical films designed to reflect light at near-infrared or infrared wavelengths, each layer generally has an optical thickness (i.e., a physical thickness multiplied by refractive index) of less than about 1 micrometer. Thicker layers can, however, also be included, such as skin layers at the outer surfaces of the film, or protective boundary layers disposed within the film that separate packets of layers.

The reflective and transmissive properties of the multilayer polymeric infrared light reflecting film are a function of the refractive indices of the respective layers (i.e., microlayers). Each layer can be characterized at least in localized positions in the film by in-plane refractive indices nx, ny, and a refractive index nzassociated with a thickness axis of the film. These indices represent the refractive index of the subject material for light polarized along mutually orthogonal x-, y-, and z-axes, respectively. In practice, the refractive indices are controlled by judicious materials selection and processing conditions. The multilayer polymeric infrared light reflecting film can be made by co-extrusion of typically tens or hundreds of layers of two alternating polymers A, B, followed by optionally passing the multilayer extrudate through one or more multiplication dies, and then stretching or otherwise orienting the extrudate to form a final film. The resulting film is composed of typically tens or hundreds of individual layers whose thicknesses and refractive indices are tailored to provide one or more reflection bands in desired region(s) of the spectrum, such as in the visible, near infrared, and/or infrared. In order to achieve high reflectivities with a reasonable number of layers, adjacent layers preferably exhibit a difference in refractive index for light polarized along the x-axis of at least 0.05. In some embodiments, if the high reflectivity is desired for two orthogonal polarizations, then the adjacent layers also exhibit a difference in refractive index for light polarized along the y-axis of at least 0.05. In other embodiments, the refractive index difference can be less than 0.05 or 0 to produce a multilayer stack that reflects normally incident light of one polarization state and transmits normally incident light of an orthogonal polarization state.

If desired, the refractive index difference between adjacent layers for light polarized along the z-axis can also be tailored to achieve desirable reflectivity properties for the p-polarization component of obliquely incident light. For ease of explanation, at any point of interest on a multilayer optical film the x-axis will be considered to be oriented within the plane of the film such that the magnitude of Δnxis a maximum. Hence, the magnitude of Δnycan be equal to or less than (but not greater than) the magnitude of Any. Furthermore, the selection of which material layer to begin with in calculating the differences Δny, Δny, Δnzis dictated by requiring that Δnxbe non-negative. In other words, the refractive index differences between two layers forming an interface are Δnj=n1j−n2j, where j=x, y, or z and where the layer designations1,2are chosen so that n1x≧n2x., i.e., Δnx≧0.

To maintain high reflectivity of p-polarized light at oblique angles of incidence, the z-index mismatch Δnzbetween layers can be controlled to be substantially less than the maximum in-plane refractive index difference Δnx, such that Δnz≦0.5*Δnx. More preferably, Δnz≧0.25*Δnx. A zero or near zero magnitude z-index mismatch yields interfaces between layers whose reflectivity for p-polarized light is constant or near constant as a function of incidence angle. Furthermore, the z-index mismatch Δnzcan be controlled to have the opposite polarity compared to the in-plane index difference Δnx, i.e. Δnz<0. This condition yields interfaces whose reflectivity for p-polarized light increases with increasing angles of incidence, as is the case for s-polarized light.

The multilayer polymeric infrared light reflecting film can be formed by any useful combination of alternating polymer type layers. In many embodiments, at least one of the alternating polymer layers is birefringent and oriented. In some embodiments, one of the alternating polymer layers is birefringent and orientated and the other alternating polymer layer is isotropic. In one embodiment, the multilayer optical film is formed by alternating layers of a first polymer type including polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or copolymer of polyethylene terephthalate (coPET) and a second polymer type including poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) or a copolymer of poly(methyl methacrylate) (coPMMA). In another embodiment, the multilayer polymeric infrared light reflecting film is formed by alternating layers of a first polymer type including polyethylene terephthalate and a second polymer type including a copolymer of poly(methyl methacrylate and ethyl acrylate). In another embodiment, the multilayer polymeric infrared light reflecting film is formed by alternating layers of a first polymer type including a glycolated polyethylene terephthalate (PETG—a copolymer ethylene terephthalate and a second glycol moiety such as, for example, cyclohexanedimethanol) or a copolymer of a glycolated polyethylene terephthalate (coPETG) and second polymer type including polyethylene naphthalate (PEN) or a copolymer of polyethylene naphthalate (coPEN). In another embodiment, the multilayer polymeric infrared light reflecting film is formed by alternating layers of a first polymer type including polyethylene naphthalate or a copolymer of polyethylene naphthalate and a second polymer type including poly(methyl methacrylate) or a copolymer of poly(methyl methacrylate). Useful combination of alternating polymer type layers are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,352,761, which is incorporated by reference herein.

The light redirecting layer30includes a major surface31forming a plurality of prism structures32. In some embodiments, a filling layer35is disposed within cavities formed between adjacent prism structures32. In these embodiments, the filling layer35has a refractive index value that is different than a refractive index value of the prism structures32. This difference can be a value of 0.05 or greater or 0.1 or greater. The filling layer35can be formed of any useful visible light transmitting material such as, for example, a polymer material.

In some embodiments, the filling layer35is capable of being cleanly removed from the plurality of prism structures32. For example, the solar control film10including the filling layer35can be applied onto a glazing substrate and then the filling layer35can be removed to expose the prism structures32. Thus, the filling layer35protects the prism structures32until the solar control film10is applied and then can be removed, if desired. The term “cleanly” removed refers to leaving substantially no filling layer35residue on the prism structures32and also leaving substantially no prism structure32residue on the filling layer35. In some embodiments, the filling layer35is used as a structure template to aid in forming the prism structures32.

The prism structures32and/or filling layer35can be formed of any useful polymerizable composition. In many embodiments, the prism structures32and/or filling layer35are formed from different polymerizable compositions. In some embodiments, the polymerizable composition is formed of monomers including mono-, di-, or higher functional monomers, and/or oligomers, and in some embodiments, those having a high index of refraction, for example, greater than about1.4or greater than about 1.5. The monomers and/or oligomers may be polymerizable using UV radiation. Suitable materials include (meth)acrylates, halogenated derivatives, telechelic derivatives, and the like, for example, those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,568,445; 4,721,377; 4,812,032; 5,424,339; and 6,355,754; all incorporated herein by reference. In some embodiments, the polymerizable compositions include polyesters such as polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene naphthalate, copolyesters or polyester blends based on naphthalene dicarboxylic acids; polycarbonates; polystyrenes; styrene-acrylonitriles; cellulose acetates; polyether sulfones; poly(methyl)acrylates such as polymethylmethacrylate; polyurethanes; polyvinyl chloride; polycyclo-olefins; polyimides; glass; or combinations or blends thereof. The polymerizable compositions may also include a naphthalate-containing multilayered optical film as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,111,696, which is incorporated herein by reference.

In some embodiments, the prism structures32polymerizable composition is described in U.S. Patent Publication No. 2005/0147838, and which is incorporated herein by reference. This polymerizable composition includes a first monomer comprising a major portion of 2-propenoic acid, (1-methylethylidene)bis9(2,6-dibromo-4,1-phenylene)oxy(2-hydroxy-3,1-prop- anediyl)) ester; pentaerythritol tri(meth)acrylate; and phenoxyethyl (meth)acrylate.

In many embodiments, the prism structures32are linear prism structures, or pyramidal prism structures. In some embodiments, the prism structures32are linear prism structures are non-linear or broken linear prism structures32. The prism structures32redirect at least a portion of the visible light transmitted through the multilayer film20. In many embodiments, at least 50% of visible light transmitted through the multilayer film20is redirected by the light redirecting layer30. In many embodiments, the plurality of prism structures32cooperates to direct at least a portion of incident light in substantially the same direction or directions. This light redirecting effect is due to refraction at the prism surface interface.

The illustrated prism structures32are regular sharp tip prism structures32, however it is understood that the prism structures32can have any useful configuration such as, for example, shape tip, rounded tip, and/or truncated tip, as desired. The prism structures32can have a varying height, spatially varying pitch, or spatially varying facet angle, as desired. In some embodiments, the prism structures32have a pitch and height in a range from 50 to 2000 micrometers, or from 50 to 1000 micrometers.

In some embodiments, an infrared light absorbing layer50is disposed on the multilayer film20. In these embodiments, the infrared light absorbing layer50includes a metal oxide dispersed within a cured polymeric binder. In some embodiments, this infrared light absorbing layer50has a thickness in a range from 1 to 20 micrometers, or from 1 to 10 micrometers, or from 1 to 5 micrometers. This infrared light absorbing layer50can include a plurality of metal oxide nanoparticles. A partial listing of metal oxide nanoparticles includes tin, antimony, indium and zinc oxides and doped oxides. In some embodiments, the metal oxide nanoparticles include, tin oxide, antimony oxide, indium oxide, indium doped tin oxide, antimony doped indium tin oxide, antinomy tin oxide, antimony doped tin oxide or mixtures thereof. In some embodiments, the metal oxide nanoparticles include tin oxide or doped tin oxide and optionally further includes antimony oxide and/or indium oxide. The polymeric binder layer includes infrared radiation absorbing nanoparticles dispersed through the polymeric binder layer. The infrared radiation absorbing nanoparticles may include any material that preferentially absorbs infrared radiation. Examples of suitable materials include metal oxides such as tin, antimony, indium and zinc oxides and doped oxides. In some instances, the metal oxide nanoparticles include, tin oxide, antimony oxide, indium oxide, indium doped tin oxide, antimony doped indium tin oxide, antinomy tin oxide, antimony doped tin oxide or mixtures thereof. In some embodiments, the metal oxide nanoparticles include antimony oxide (ATO) and/or indium tin oxide (ITO). In some cases, the infrared radiation absorbing nanoparticles may include or be made of lanthanum hexaboride, or LaB6.

Lanthanum hexaboride is an effective near IR (NIR) absorber, with an absorption band centered on 900 nm. The infrared radiation absorbing nanoparticles can be sized such that they do not materially impact the visible light transmission of the polymeric binder layer. In some instances, the infrared radiation absorbing nanoparticles may have any useful size such as, for example, 1 to 100, or 30 to 100, or 30 to 75 nanometers.

The nanoparticles can have any useful size such as, for example, 1 to 100, or 30 to 100, or 30 to 75 nanometers. In some embodiments, the metal oxide nanoparticles include antimony tin oxide or doped antimony tin oxide dispersed in a polymeric material. The polymeric material can be any useful binder material such as, for example, polyolefin, polyacrylate, polyester, polycarbonate, fluoropolymer, and the like.

In some embodiments, the infrared light absorbing layer50binder is a cured polymeric material that can function as a hardcoat. Suitable polymeric binders to form the infrared light absorbing nanoparticle layer include the thermal and/or U.V.-polymerized (i.e., cured) products of acrylate and/or methacrylate monomers. A suitable cured binder is the thermal and/or U.V.-polymerized product of a brominated, alkyl-substituted phenyl acrylate or methacrylate (e.g., 4,6-dibromo-2-sec-butyl phenyl acrylate), a methyl styrene monomer, a brominated epoxy diacrylate, 2-phenoxyethyl acrylate, and a hexa-functional aromatic urethane acrylate oligomer, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,355,754, incorporated herein by reference. While most types of energy polymerizable telechelic monomers and oligomers are useful for forming these polymeric binders, acrylates are preferred because of their high reactivity. The curable binder composition should be of flowable viscosity that is low enough that air bubbles do not become entrapped in the composition. Reactive diluents can be mono- or di-functional monomers such as, for example, SR-339, SR-256, SR-379, SR-395, SR-440, SR-506, CD-611, SR-212, SR-230, SR-238, and SR-247 available from Sartomer Co., Exton, Pa. Typical useful oligomers and oligomeric blends include CN-120, CN-104, CN-115, CN-116, CN-117, CN-118, CN-119, CN-970A60, CN-972, CN-973A80, CN-975 available from Sartomer Co., Exton, Pa. and Ebecryl 1608, 3200, 3201, 3302, 3605, 3700, 3701, 608, RDX-51027, 220, 9220, 4827, 4849, 6602, 6700-20T available from Surface Specialties, Smyrna, Ga. Additionally, a multi-functional crosslinker can assist in providing a durable, high crosslink density composite matrix. Examples of multi-functional monomers include SR-295, SR-444, SR-351, SR-399, SR-355, and SR-368 available from Sartomer Co., Exton, Pa. and PETA-K, PETIA and TMPTA-N available from Surface Specialties, Smyrna, Ga. Multi-functional monomers can be used as crosslinking agents to increase the glass transition temperature of the binder polymer that results from the polymerizing of the polymerizable composition.

The infrared light absorbing layer50binder can form a hard resin or hardcoat. The term “hard resin” or “hardcoat” means that the resulting cured polymer exhibits an elongation at break of less than 50 or 40 or 30 or 20 or 10 or 5 percent when evaluated according to the ASTM D-882-91 procedure. In some embodiments, the hard resin polymer can exhibit a tensile modulus of greater than 100 kpsi (6.89.times.10.sup.8 pascals) when evaluated according to the ASTM D-882-91 procedure. In some embodiments, the hard resin polymer can exhibit a haze value of less than 10% or less than 5% when tested in a Taber abrader according to ASTM D 1044-99 under a load of 500 g and 50 cycles (haze can be measured with Haze-Gard Plus, BYK-Gardner, Md., haze meter.

In some infrared light absorbing layer50embodiments, the metal oxide nanoparticles include indium tin oxide or doped indium tin oxide dispersed in a polymeric material. The nanoparticle layer can have any useful thickness such as, for example, from 1 to 10 or 2 to 8 micrometers. The nanoparticle layer can include nanoparticles at any useful loading or wt % such as, for example, 30 to 90 wt %, 40 to 80 wt %, or 50 to 80 wt %. In many embodiments, the nanoparticle layer is nonconducting. Nanoparticle compositions are commercially available from, for example, Advanced Nano Products Co., LTD., South Korea, under the tradenames TRB-PASTE.™. SM6080(B), SH7080, SL6060. In another embodiment, the metal oxide nanoparticles include zinc oxide and/or aluminum oxide, such oxides are available from GfE Metalle and Materialien GmbH, Germany.

The solar control film10can include an adhesive layer such as, for example, a pressure sensitive adhesive layer (with an optional release liner), on either exposed surface of the solar control film. The pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA) layer110(FIG. 2) can any type of adhesive that enables the solar control multilayer film to be affixed to a glazing substrate such as glass. In order to attach the solar control film to the glass, one surface of the solar control film is coated with the pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) and a release sheet is removed from the PSA before application of the film to the glass.

Ultra-violet absorption additives can be incorporated into the PSA. The UV absorber may include a benzotriazole, benzatriazine, benizophenone, or a combination thereof; or it may, be any of those described in U.S. 2004/0241469 A1; U.S. 2004/10242735 A1; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,613,819 B2; all incorporated herein by reference to the extent they do not conflict with the present disclosure. Some examples include CGL 139, CGL 777, and Tinuvin™ 327, 460, 479, 480, 777, 900, and 928; all from Ciba Specialty Chemicals.

In many embodiments, the PSA is an optically clear PSA film such as a polyacrylate pressure sensitive adhesive. The Pressure-Sensitive Tape Council has defined pressure sensitive adhesives as material with the following properties: (1) aggressive and permanent tack, (2) adherence with no more than finger pressure, (3) sufficient ability to hold onto an adherand, (4) sufficient cohesive strength, and (5) requires no activation by an energy source. PSAs are normally tacky at assembly temperatures, which is typically room temperature or greater. Materials that have been found to function well as PSAs are polymers designed and formulated to exhibit the requisite viscoelastic properties resulting in a desired balance of tack, peel adhesion, and shear holding power at the assembly temperature. The most commonly used polymers for preparing PSAs are natural rubber-, synthetic rubber- (e.g., styrene/butadiene copolymers (SBR) and styrene/isoprene/styrene (SIS) block copolymers), silicone elastomer-, poly alpha-olefin-, and various (meth) acrylate- (e.g., acrylate and methacrylate) based polymers. Of these, (meth)acrylate-based polymer PSAs have evolved as a preferred class of PSA for the present invention due to their optical clarity, permanence of properties over time (aging stability), and versatility of adhesion levels, to name just a few of their benefits.

The release liner described above can be formed of any useful material such as, for example, polymers or paper and may include a release coat. Suitable materials for use in release coats include, but are not limited to, fluoropolymers, acrylics and silicones designed to facilitate the release of the release liner from the adhesive.

The solar control film10can include one or more additional functional layers. Additional layers can include, for example, a polarizer layer to reduce glare or a diffusion layer to scatter light.

FIG. 2is a schematic cross-sectional view of an illustrative solar control glazing unit100. The illustrated glazing unit100includes a first glazing substrate120and a second glazing substrate130, however it is contemplated that a single glazing substrate may be utilized. The first glazing substrate120includes an inner surface121and an outer surface122. The second glazing substrate130includes an inner surface131and an outer surface132. The solar control film10, described above, is fixed to the first glazing substrate120inner surface121via an adhesive layer110, as described above. The illustrated solar control glazing unit100is an insulated glazing unit where the solar control10is fixed between the glass substrates120,130and the glass substrates120,130form a sealed volume of gas140between the glass substrates120,130.

In one embodiment, the glazing substrate120,130is disposed between the multilayer film20and a light redirecting layer30, forming the solar control laminate. The multilayer film20and a light redirecting layer30can be adhered to the glazing substrate120,130via any adhesive or adhesion promoting layer described above.

In many embodiments, the solar control film10is disposed on only a portion of the glazing unit. For example, solar control film10is disposed on only a portion of the surface area of the glass substrate. In some embodiments, the solar control film10is disposed on less than 75% of the surface area of the glass substrate, or less than 50% of the surface area of the glass substrate.

The first glazing substrate120and the second glazing substrate130may be formed of any suitable glazing material. In some instances, the glazing substrates may be selected from a material that possesses desirable optical properties at particular wavelengths including visible light. In some cases, the glazing substrates may be selected from materials that transmit substantial amounts of light within the visible spectrum. In some instances, the first glazing substrate and/or the second glazing substrate may each be selected from materials such as glass, quartz, sapphire, and the like. In particular instances, the first glazing substrate and the second glazing substrate are both glass.

FIG. 3is a schematic diagram of an interior space210with an illustrative light redirecting system200. The system200includes a glass substrate120, a light redirecting solar control film10disposed on the glass substrate120, and a diffuser220positioned to receive light transmitted by the light redirecting solar control film10. The glass substrate120can be a component of an insulated glazing unit100, as described above. The interior space210can include an exterior wall214and a ceiling212. The insulated glazing unit100is illustrated disposed within the exterior wall and the diffuser220is disposed on the ceiling. Thus, the illustrated system200has the glass substrate120(and light redirecting solar control film10) and the diffuser220substantially positioned orthogonally to each other.

Incident solar light250strikes the light redirecting solar control film10and reflects a substantial portion of infrared light shown as light ray251. Visible light transmitted through the light redirecting solar control film10is redirected by the light redirecting layer into the interior space210at an angle from the direction of the incident solar light250. A portion of this redirected light252is incident on the diffuser220and the diffuser220reflects this redirected light252in many directions254. Thus, this system redirects visible light into an interior space210without providing the infrared light (e.g., heat) into the interior space210.

Thus, embodiments of the LIGHT REDIRECTING SOLAR CONTROL FILM are disclosed. One skilled in the art will appreciate that embodiments other than those disclosed are envisioned. The disclosed embodiments are presented for purposes of illustration and not limitation, and the present invention is limited only by the claims that follow.