Advanced Optical Films for Mobile Electronics and Displays
Advanced optical films provide a number of screen enhancements in today's mobile electronics and display systems. Inclusive of directional light-control films, anti-glare films, device-protective films and brightness-enhancement films, these materials are converted to form a custom product that extends screen life, increases its efficiency and enhances its optical properties.
Brightness-Enhancement Films (BEFs)
BEFs serve a targeted application. Manufacturers integrate the films into a display backlight architecture to increase brightness, decrease weight, mitigate heat and extend battery life. BEFs with a structured surface to recycle and collimate light, increase the viewing angle of the display and improve backlight efficiency.
BEF is a family of optical films with precision micro replicated prisms that refract and collimate light toward the viewer. These films are available with a variety of prism angles and with various haze and matte finishes. A single BEF or two BEFs crossed at 90° collimate light and increase on-axis brightness of liquid crystal displays (LCDs). The films also increase backlight uniformity and hide defects.
Dual Brightness Enhancement Film (DBEF)
DBEF is a family of reflective polarizers. These multi-layered optical films recycle non-polarized light that would otherwise be absorbed by the rear polarizer. They increase backlight efficiency by 30% to 40%, while distributing polarized light over a wide viewing angle. They are also available with an optically clear adhesive.
Enhanced Specular Reflector Films (ESR)
ESR is a family of non-metallic color-neutral reflectors that reflect 98% of all wavelengths across the visible spectrum. These films improve the recycling efficiency of LCD backlights and are paired with 3M DBEF reflective polarizers to maximize backlight efficiency. ESR film thickness ranges from 65 to 82 microns, and halogen-free versions are also available.
Directional Light Control Films
Directional light control films are a group of films that address data privacy needs, field of view requirements and interference concerns of consumer electronics, autonomous vehicles, commercial kiosks and medical displays. These films are integrated into a display to provide a narrow field-of-view, eliminate reflections and glare or provide precise positioning of automotive heads-up display systems. Directional light control films is inclusive of gold privacy filters, high-clarity products, touchscreen products and other directional light control films.
Protective Films
Protective films provide an optically transparent barrier. They improve a display's scratch resistance, impact resistance, UV resistance and water resistance, while maintaining optical transmittance. These products may also provide additional functionality, including anti-glare treatments, contrast enhancements and an organic encapsulation or barrier.
Flexible Transparent Barrier Film
Is a barrier film that is lighter, more flexible and more impact resistant than glass. The optically clear film consists of a multilayer polymer-oxide coating on a heat-stable, optical-grade polyester (PET) base. The non-conductive, protective film provides an oxygen and water vapor barrier for sensitive electronics, display systems or even solar cells. They also feature:
- 88% transmittance (>85%)
- Thickness of 52 µm
- Low haze; less than 2,5%
- High clarity; greater than 95%
Barrier Protective Sheeting
An anti-glare, UV-blocking barrier film that is only 55 microns thick, which is approximately one-fifth the thickness of traditional anti-glare films. This new protective film complements next-generation consumer electronics, wearable devices, medical monitors and flexible electronics. It transmits less than 3% of all UV light, is thin, flexible and scratch resistant, with a pencil hardness greater than 3H.
Boyd — A Preferred Converter of Optical Films
To achieve desired characteristics and maintain a competitive price point, vendors require a supplier with a host of display film solutions that can be converted precisely and efficiently. Boyd is uniquely positioned to address display film requirements of mobile electronics and display systems.
Boyd is able to leverage their fully integrated, in-house, precision converting capabilities to produce optical films that are optimized for unique automated assembly systems. Core competencies include producing die-cut components with zero gap tolerances, in cleanroom manufacturing environments, with advanced, segmented-frame manufacturing technology. With decades of experience, a strategic partnership with an advanced materials manufacturer and production facilities and design centers across the globe, Boyd is a pioneer in integrated sealing, thermal management and protection solutions that meet or exceed design criteria for virtually any display system, while delivering a low total cost of ownership.
Ultra-Tight Tolerances
Advanced OLED and LED display technologies require deliverables that maintain ultra-tight tolerances. Multi-layered optical films for these advanced display systems are produced by converting a stack of high-tack materials. However, to maintain product orientation and achieve required dimensional accuracies throughout the conversion process, precise registration and web control are paramount. Boyd maintains registration control by incorporating multi-station, servo-driven rotary presses with a proprietary MR-Module and programmable logic controllers. They model and produce multi-layered optical film assemblies and achieve zero-gap tolerances, which provides their customers with the following benefits:
- Increased functionality and life expectancy of electronic display modules.
- Enhanced degree of protection against ingress and moisture.
- Ability to address challenges when handling and die-cutting optically clear adhesive (OCA).
- Inclusion of multi-station, servo driven rotary presses and proprietary technologies to maintain registration control and support ultra-tight tolerances.
Cleanroom Capabilities
High-quality LED displays, OLED screens, touchscreens and other high-performance electronic components exhibit increased sensitivity to debris, particulates, and contamination. Boyd's regional manufacturing locations are inclusive of FDA registered class 100 to class 100.000 cleanroom facilities, as defined by the United States federal standard concerning classification of cleanrooms, U.S. FED STD 209E. Boyd's high precision converting and advanced rotary die-cutting technologies are housed in a cleanroom environment that provides high yield rates and low reject rates in volume production, and maintains integrity of OCAs and protective, light-control or brightness properties.
Segmented-Frame Manufacturing Technology
Opposed to traditional full window-frame designs, Boyd's segmented-frame manufacturing technology allows them to eliminate material waste and drive down converted bill of material (BOM) costs. The yield-optimized technology allows them to convert multiple rolls of specialized high-performance films and produce a single, cohesive deliverable in a format optimized for assembly. They are able to incorporate sealing, thermal and protection solutions, while increasing material utilization and achieving zero-gap tolerances at the lowest possible total cost of ownership.
Global Manufacturing
High-quality LED displays, OLED screens, touchscreens and other high-performance electronic components exhibit increased sensitivity to debris, particulates, and contamination. Boyd's regional manufacturing locations are inclusive of FDA registered class 100 to class 100.000 cleanroom facilities, as defined by the United States federal standard concerning classification of cleanrooms, U.S. FED STD 209E. Boyd's high precision converting and advanced rotary die-cutting technologies are housed in a cleanroom environment that provides high yield rates and low reject rates in volume production, and maintains integrity of OCAs and protective, light-control or brightness properties.
Conclusion
A backlight only transmits 8% of generated light through a display. With a demand for large, high-resolution displays and the need to meet Energy Star 8 regulations, manufacturers must rely on advanced optical film solutions to innovate electronics displays. Boyd provides high-quality, high-performance optical film solutions at the lowest total cost of ownership. Their fully integrated, in-house, precision converting capabilities and multiple facilities provide competitive solutions for complex manufacturing and assembly requirements globally.
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