Abstract: A direct-lit backlight includes a diffuse reflector disposed in front of a light source. The diffuse reflector has a continuous phase material and a disperse phase material, at least one of which is birefringent, and the disperse phase material is formed into particles having a transverse dimension less than 1 micrometer for efficient visible light scattering. The continuous and disperse phases have refractive indices tailored so the diffuse reflector transmits light from the light source substantially more strongly for obliquely incident light than for normally incident light to provide bulb-hiding characteristics.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
August 22, 2007
Date of Patent:
August 30, 2011
Assignee:
3M Innovative Properties Company
Inventors:
Mark B. O'Neill, Carl A. Stover, Michael F. Weber
Abstract: A microresonator sensor apparatus has a microcavity resonator that defines equatorial whispering gallery modes (EWGMs), whose frequencies are separated by the free spectral range (FSR). The EWGMs lie in a plane perpendicular to a microcavity resonator axis. A light source is optically coupled to inject light into the microcavity resonator. The light source produces output light having an output spectrum whose bandwidth is approximately equal to or broader than the FSR of the EGWMs. One or more fluorescent materials are excited using the excitation light coupled into the microcavity resonator. A fluorescent signal arising from fluorescence of the one or more fluorescent materials is then detected.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
August 23, 2007
Date of Patent:
November 24, 2009
Assignee:
3M Innovative Properties Company
Inventors:
Xudong Fan, Robert W. Wilson, Chunmei Guo
Abstract: An optical microresonator device is described including an optical waveguide and an optical microresonator positioned so as to optically couple to the waveguide. The waveguide includes a core and a metal cladding layer on at least part of one boundary of the core.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 29, 2006
Date of Patent:
June 17, 2008
Assignee:
3M Innovative Properties Company
Inventors:
Terry L. Smith, Barry J. Koch, Michael A. Haase, Jun-Ying Zhang, Robert W. Wilson, Xudong Fan
Abstract: A wiring harness and a touch sensor incorporating same are disclosed. The touch sensor includes a sensing electrode disposed in a touch sensitive area. The touch sensor further includes a plurality of auxiliary electrodes disposed on a self-supporting dielectric substrate in a border area. The auxiliary electrodes transmit a touch signal to electronics configured to use the touch signal to determine the touch location.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 15, 2003
Date of Patent:
March 4, 2008
Assignee:
3M Innovative Properties Company
Inventors:
Paul J. Richter, Darran R. Cairns, Frank J. Bottari