A multilayer optical film has a packet of microlayers that selectively reflect light by constructive or destructive interference to provide a first reflective characteristic. At least some of the microlayers are birefringent. A stabilizing layer attaches to and covers the microlayer packet proximate an outer exposed surface of the film. Heating element(s) can physically contact the film to deliver heat to the packet through the stabilizing layer by thermal conduction, at altered region(s) of the film, such that the first reflective characteristic changes to an altered reflective characteristic in the altered region(s) to pattern the film. The stabilizing layer provides sufficient heat conduction to allow heat from the heating elements to change (e.g. reduce) the birefringence of the birefringent microlayers disposed near the outer exposed surface in the altered region(s), while providing sufficient mechanical support to avoid substantial layer distortion of the microlayers near the outer exposed surface in the altered region(s).

A method of fabricating a thin film structure includes printing, using an electrohydrodynamic jet (e-jet) printing apparatus, a first layer comprising a first liquid ink, such that the first layer is supported by a substrate, curing the first layer; printing, using the e-jet printing apparatus, a second layer comprising a second liquid ink, such that the second layer is supported by the first layer, and curing the second layer.

A metasurface includes a plurality of Bragg mirrors, each having a defect cavity therein, arrayed in a grid. A heat source is provided for each of the plurality of Bragg mirrors. Each heat source is positioned to selectively modulate heat applied to its respective Bragg mirror and to impart a different phase shift via the applied heat from the heat source.

Provided are a method for producing a reflective layer having excellent diffuse reflectivity and a reflective layer having excellent diffuse reflectivity. The method for producing a reflective layer of the present invention includes Step 1 of applying a composition containing a liquid crystal compound and a chiral agent onto a substrate and heating the applied composition to align the liquid crystal compound into a cholesteric liquid crystalline phase state, and Step 2 of forming a reflective layer by cooling or heating the composition so that the helical twisting power of the chiral agent contained in the composition in the cholesteric liquid crystalline phase state increases by 5% or more.

A light reflection film including: a visible light reflection unit includes at least one visible light reflection layer having a reflection band in which a visible light average reflectance is higher than 25% and equal to or lower than 55% in part or all of a visible light range equal to or longer than 400 nm and shorter than 700 nm; and a light reflection layer PRL-1 having a central reflected wavelength of 700 nm to 950 nm inclusive and having a reflectance higher than 25% and equal to or lower than 55% to ordinary light at the central reflected wavelength. The visible light reflection layer and the light reflection layer PRL-1 both reflect polarized light in an identical direction.

An optical lens set includes: a first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth lens element, said first lens element has negative refractive power, said second lens element has negative refractive power, said fourth lens element has an object-side surface with a convex portion in a vicinity of the optical axis, and said fifth lens element has an image-side surface with a concave portion in a vicinity of the optical axis, in addition, at least one lens element of the six lens elements disposed adjacent to an aperture stop has positive refractive power and made by glass material, except for the lens elements with glass material, other lens elements with refractive powers are plastic lens elements, the Abbe numbers of the second and the third lens element are 2 and 3 respectively, and the optical imaging lens satisfies: |23|15.000.

Reflective stacks including heat spreading layers (320) are described. In particular, reflective stacks including polymeric multilayer reflectors (330). Heat spreading layers (320) may include natural or synthetic graphite or copper.

Broadband visible reflectors are disclosed. In particular, broadband visible reflectors with reduced on-axis blue reflectivity are described. Broadband visible reflectors that appear yellow in reflection are described. Such broadband visible reflectors may be used in backlights and displays.

An illumination system includes a surface configured to have an imaging target placed thereon, a light source, a beam splitter and at least a first mirror. The beam splitter is configured to split the beam of light from the light source and the first mirror is configured to reflect a first beam from the beam splitter onto the surface with the imaging target. An imaging system includes an imaging surface configured to have an imaging target placed thereon, a mirror, and a capturing device. The capturing device is configured to capture an image of the imaging target through a path of emitted light that extends from the imaging target, reflects off the mirror, and to the capturing device. The mirror, the capturing device, or both are configured to move in a diagonal direction with respect to the imaging surface to reduce a length of the path of emitted light. Systems and methods to calibrate an imaging system to remove or reduce non-uniformities within images of samples due to imaging system properties. Illumination modules and systems for more uniform illumination of samples placed on sample screens or illumination surfaces comprising frosted half-cylindrical rods and methods of use thereof.

A multilayer partial mirror includes a plurality of alternating first a second polymeric layers numbering at least 50 in total, disposed between, and integrally formed with, opposing first and second polymeric skin layers. For a visible wavelength range extending from about 420 nm to about 680 nm and an incident light propagating in an incident plane that includes a x-direction, and for an s-polarized incident light, the multilayer partial mirror has an average reflectance Rs1 for a first incident angle of less than about 10 degrees, and an average reflectance Rs2 for a second incident angle of greater than about 45 degrees, and for a p-polarized incident light, the multilayer partial mirror has an average reflectance Rp1 for the first incident angle, and an average reflectance Rp2 for the second incident angle. Each of Rs2/Rs1 and Rp2/Rp1 is greater than about 1.15.