Patents by Inventor Brian A. Kinder

Brian A. Kinder has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11726238
    Abstract: Reflective stacks including heat spreading layers are described. In particular, reflective stacks including polymeric multilayer reflectors. Heat spreading layers may include natural or synthetic graphite or copper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Clinton L. Jones, Jeremy O. Swanson, Brian A. Kinder, Sara Jouzdani
  • Publication number: 20220128748
    Abstract: Reflective stacks including heat spreading layers are described. In particular, reflective stacks including polymeric multilayer reflectors. Heat spreading layers may include natural or synthetic graphite or copper.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2021
    Publication date: April 28, 2022
    Inventors: Clinton L. Jones, Jeremy O. Swanson, Brian A. Kinder, Sara Jouzdani
  • Patent number: 11125921
    Abstract: 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Clinton L. Jones, Jeremy O. Swanson, Brian A. Kinder, Sara Jouzdani
  • Publication number: 20180372931
    Abstract: 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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2016
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Inventors: Clinton L. Jones, Jeremy O. Swanson, Brian A. Kinder, Sara Jouzdani
  • Publication number: 20170363904
    Abstract: A reflector laminate comprises a reflector having a first major surface and a second major surface opposite the first major surface, and a visible light non-transmissive adhesive tape having a major adhesive surface and a second major surface. The adhesive surface is in contact with the first major surface of the reflector and at least a portion of the adhesive tape extends beyond the edge of the reflector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2015
    Publication date: December 21, 2017
    Inventors: Brian A. KINDER, Michael L. RUEGSEGGER
  • Patent number: 9684119
    Abstract: Flexible unitary lightguide and a method of making the same are disclosed. The lightguide includes a structured input side that includes a first pattern having smaller features superimposed on a second pattern having larger features. The lightguide further includes a structured top surface that includes a first region and a different second region. The first region includes a plurality of discrete light extractors for extracting light that propagates within the flexible unitary lightguide by total internal reflection. The second region includes a taper portion for directing light from the structured input side to the first region. The light extractors form a periodic array that has a first period along the length of the flexible unitary lightguide. The first period is such that substantially no visible moire fringes occur when the flexible unitary lightguide is used as a backlight in a pixelated display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Jeffrey L. Solomon, Brian A. Kinder, Gary T. Boyd
  • Publication number: 20160124139
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to reflective trays (101) comprising a polymeric dielectric multilayer reflector material, backlight modules incorporating said reflective trays, articles using said backlight modules, and methods of making said reflective trays useful for backlight modules. In particular, the backlight modules have a reduced tendency to leak light into unwanted areas, and also form a compact unit having a narrow bezel, that at least partially surrounds the components of the backlight and/or the display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2014
    Publication date: May 5, 2016
    Applicant: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Jiro Hattori, Mio Kugue, Yuji Saito, Brian A. Kinder, Gary T. Boyd, James W. Laumer
  • Publication number: 20150061167
    Abstract: Flexible unitary lightguide and a method of making the same are disclosed. The lightguide includes a structured input side that includes a first pattern having smaller features superimposed on a second pattern having larger features. The lightguide further includes a structured top surface that includes a first region and a different second region. The first region includes a plurality of discrete light extractors for extracting light that propagates within the flexible unitary lightguide by total internal reflection. The second region includes a taper portion for directing light from the structured input side to the first region. The light extractors form a periodic array that has a first period along the length of the flexible unitary lightguide. The first period is such that substantially no visible moire fringes occur when the flexible unitary lightguide is used as a backlight in a pixelated display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventors: Jeffrey L. Solomon, Brian A. Kinder, Gary T. Boyd
  • Patent number: 8882323
    Abstract: Flexible unitary lightguide and a method of making the same are disclosed. The lightguide includes a structured input side that includes a first pattern having smaller features superimposed on a second pattern having larger features. The lightguide further includes a structured top surface that includes a first region and a different second region. The first region includes a plurality of discrete light extractors for extracting light that propagates within the flexible unitary lightguide by total internal reflection. The second region includes a taper portion for directing light from the structured input side to the first region. The light extractors form a periodic array that has a first period along the length of the flexible unitary lightguide. The first period is such that substantially no visible moir fringes occur when the flexible unitary lightguide is used as a backlight in a pixelated display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Jeffrey L. Solomon, Brian A. Kinder, Gary T. Boyd
  • Patent number: 8882328
    Abstract: A light guide includes a substrate having opposing first and second major surfaces and an input edge coupler disposed along an edge of the substrate. The ratio of a light guide input edge thickness to a light guide thickness is greater than 2:1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: Brian A. Kinder
  • Patent number: 8721153
    Abstract: A back reflector for a lightguide in a turning film backlight includes a prism film layer in direct contact with a reflective layer. The lightguide includes a light guiding region having a refractive index that is substantially spatially uniform. The reflective layer may be specular or diffuse and may include a multilayer polymeric film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Brian A. Kinder, Gary T. Boyd, Stephen K. Eckhardt, Chun-Yi Ting, Han-Lin Tung, Linda M. Rivard, Tao Liu
  • Publication number: 20120140518
    Abstract: Flexible unitary lightguide and a method of making the same are disclosed. The lightguide includes a structured input side that includes a first pattern having smaller features superimposed on a second pattern having larger features. The lightguide further includes a structured top surface that includes a first region and a different second region. The first region includes a plurality of discrete light extractors for extracting light that propagates within the flexible unitary lightguide by total internal reflection. The second region includes a taper portion for directing light from the structured input side to the first region. The light extractors form a periodic array that has a first period along the length of the flexible unitary lightguide. The first period is such that substantially no visible moir fringes occur when the flexible unitary lightguide is used as a backlight in a pixelated display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2010
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Inventors: Jeffrey L. Solomon, Brian A. Kinder, Gary T. Boyd
  • Publication number: 20110228559
    Abstract: A light guide includes a substrate having opposing first and second major surfaces and an input edge coupler disposed along an edge of the substrate. The ratio of a light guide input edge thickness to a light guide thickness is greater than 2:1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2009
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Inventor: Brian A. Kinder
  • Publication number: 20110222311
    Abstract: A method of forming a light guide, web structures and light guide structures are described herein. The method includes cutting a web to provide film pieces, where a first major surface of each film piece is capable of emitting light when light is injected into the film piece from a first cut edge of the film piece. The step of cutting produces structures on the first edge of the film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2009
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Inventor: Brian A. Kinder
  • Publication number: 20110032727
    Abstract: A back reflector for a lightguide in a turning film backlight includes a prism film layer in direct contact with a reflective layer. The lightguide includes a light guiding region having a refractive index that is substantially spatially uniform. The reflective layer may be specular or diffuse and may include a multilayer polymeric film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2008
    Publication date: February 10, 2011
    Inventors: Brian A. Kinder, Gary T. Boyd, Stephen K. Eckhardt, Chun-Yi Ting, Han-Lin Tung, Linda M. Rivard, Tao Liu
  • Publication number: 20110001901
    Abstract: A backlight subsystem includes first and second lightguides separated by an interfacial layer. The first lightguide has an output surface oriented toward an associated first illumination field, a back surface, and at least one light input edge. The second lightguide has output surface oriented toward an associated second illumination field, a back surface, and at least one light input edge. An interfacial layer is arranged between the back surfaces of the first lightguide and the second lightguide. The interfacial layer is substantially optically non-absorbing and may be predominately optically transmissive or predominately optically reflective.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2008
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Inventors: Jeffrey L. Solomon, Gary T. Boyd, James W. Laumer, Brian A. Kinder, L. Peter Erickson
  • Publication number: 20080232135
    Abstract: A light guide includes an extractor layer and a substrate layer. Each layer has a first major surface and a second major surface. The second major surface of the extractor layer is in contact with the first major surface of the substrate layer, and the first major surface of the extractor layer has a plurality of discrete light extractors capable of extracting light propagating in the light guide such that light is extracted in a predetermined pattern over the first major surface of the extractor layer. In some embodiments, at least one of the extractor layer or substrate layer is flexible.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2007
    Publication date: September 25, 2008
    Inventors: Brian A. Kinder, Gary T. Boyd, Dale L. Ehnes, L. Peter Erickson, Charles D. Hoyle, Erik E. Jostes, James W. Laumer, Jeffrey L. Solomon