Geometric optics analysis on light transmission and reflection characteristics of metallic prism sheets

Light transmission and reflection characteristics of metallic prism sheets are investigated based on a geometric optics approach. An analytic method is presented for finding the radiant intensity profiles of light transmitted through and reflected by a single metallic prism sheet for an incident light with arbitrary radiant intensity profile. With a simple interaction model between adjacent prism sheets, the analysis method for a single prism sheet is generalized for analyzing prism sheet layers composed of several prism sheets. Light transmission and reflection characteristics of a single prism sheet and prism sheet layers are compared. It is seen that the metallic prism sheet can be appropriately applicable to transflective devices or brightness enhancement film for liquid crystal displays. (c) 2006 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers.