Patents by Inventor James W. Laumer

James W. Laumer 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).

  • Publication number: 20160341854
    Abstract: A method of making a reflective tray that is useful in backlight modules for electronic devices comprises (a) providing a reflective tray template comprising a polymeric dielectric multilayer reflector on a compliant pad, the reflective tray template having a first major surface, an opposing major surface, and a reflective tray bottom area having corners; and (b) pressing a blade into the first major surface of the polymeric dielectric multilayer reflector along the perimeter of at least one side of the reflective tray bottom area to form a reflective tray side extending perpendicular to the reflective tray bottom area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2014
    Publication date: November 24, 2016
    Inventors: Samuel KIDANE, James W. LAUMER, Karl K. STENSVAD
  • 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
  • Patent number: 8576357
    Abstract: In a liquid crystal display (LCD), for example an LCD monitor or an LCD-TV, a number of light management films, including a diffuser layer, lie between the light source and the LCD panel to provide bright, uniform illumination. In some embodiments, the diffuser layer is attached to the lower side of the LCD panel. Some, or all, of the light management layers may be attached together as a laminated stack of films. In some embodiments, the diffuser layer is formed with a recessed region on one side and another optical film positioned within the recessed region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Mark D. Gehlsen, Linda M. Rivard, Ryan T. Fabick, James W. Laumer, Kenneth A. Epstein, Byung-soo Ko, Ji-Hyung Kim, Sang-Dae Kim, Ji-Hwa Lee
  • Patent number: 8125589
    Abstract: In a directly-illuminated liquid crystal display (LCD), for example an LCD monitor or an LCD-TV, a number of light management films, including a diffuser layer, lie between the light source and the LCD panel to provide bright, uniform illumination. The diffuser layer is attached to a substrate which is separate from the light source and the LCD panel, or may be attached to either the LCD panel or, when using a two dimensional light source, to the light source. The other light management layers may also be attached to the separate substrate or to the LCD panel or two-dimensional light source. High levels of illumination uniformity at the LCD may be achieved with a uniform (non-patterned) diffuser, even with relatively low levels of diffusion, when the diffuser is used with a brightness enhancing layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Byungsoo Ko, Mark D. Gehlsen, Chingwen Chen, Robert M. Emmons, James W. Laumer, Ji-Hyung Kim, Ji-Hwa Lee, Kang-il Seo, Ryan T. Fabick, Linda M. Rivard, Kenneth A. Epstein, Chideuk Kim, Youngsoo Park
  • 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: 20100188754
    Abstract: In a liquid crystal display (LCD), for example an LCD monitor or an LCD-TV, a number of light management films, including a diffuser layer, lie between the light source and the LCD panel to provide bright, uniform illumination. In some embodiments, the diffuser layer is attached to the lower side of the LCD panel. Some, or all, of the light management layers may be attached together as a laminated stack of films. In some embodiments, the diffuser layer is formed with a recessed region on one side and another optical film positioned within the recessed region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2010
    Publication date: July 29, 2010
    Inventors: Mark D. Gehlsen, Linda M. Rivard, Ryan T. Fabick, James W. Laumer, Kenneth A. Epstein, Byung-soo Ko, Ji-Hyung Kim, Sang-Dae Kim, Ji-Hwa Lee
  • Patent number: 7710511
    Abstract: In a liquid crystal display (LCD), for example an LCD monitor or an LCD-TV, a number of light management films, including a diffuser layer, lie between the light source and the LCD panel to provide bright, uniform illumination. In some embodiments, the diffuser layer is attached to the lower side of the LCD panel. Some, or all, of the light management layers may be attached together as a laminated stack of films. In some embodiments, the diffuser layer is formed with a recessed region on one side and another optical film positioned within the recessed region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Mark D. Gehlsen, Linda M. Rivard, Ryan T. Fabick, James W. Laumer, Kenneth A. Epstein, Byung-soo Ko, Ji-Hyung Kim, Sang-Dae Kim, Ji-Hwa Lee
  • Publication number: 20090122228
    Abstract: In a directly-illuminated liquid crystal display (LCD), for example an LCD monitor or an LCD-TV, a number of light management films, including a diffuser layer, lie between the light source and the LCD panel to provide bright, uniform illumination. The diffuser layer is attached to a substrate which is separate from the light source and the LCD panel, or may be attached to either the LCD panel or, when using a two dimensional light source, to the light source. The other light management layers may also be attached to the separate substrate or to the LCD panel or two-dimensional light source. High levels of illumination uniformity at the LCD may be achieved with a uniform (non-patterned) diffuser, even with relatively low levels of diffusion, when the diffuser is used with a brightness enhancing layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2008
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Inventors: Byungsoo Ko, Mark D. Gehlsen, Chingwen Chen, Robert M. Emmons, James W. Laumer, Ji-Hyung Kim, Ji-Hwa Lee, Kang-il Seo, Ryan T. Fabick, Linda M. Rivard, Kenneth A. Epstein, Chideuk Kim, Youngsoo Park
  • Patent number: 7446827
    Abstract: In a directly-illuminated liquid crystal display (LCD), for example an LCD monitor or an LCD-TV, a number of light management films, including a diffuser layer, lie between the light source and the LCD panel to provide bright, uniform illumination. The diffuser layer is attached to a substrate which is separate from the light source and the LCD panel, or may be attached to either the LCD panel or, when using a two dimensional light source, to the light source. The other light management layers may also be attached to the separate substrate or to the LCD panel or two-dimensional light source. High levels of illumination uniformity at the LCD may be achieved with a uniform (non-patterned) diffuser, even with relatively low levels of diffusion, when the diffuser is used with a brightness enhancing layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Byungsoo Ko, Mark D. Gehlsen, Chingwen Chen, Robert M. Emmons, James W. Laumer, Ji-Hyung Kim, Ji-Hwa Lee, Kang-il Seo, Ryan T. Fabick, Linda M. Rivard, Kenneth A. Epstein, Chideuk Kim, Youngsoo Park
  • Patent number: 7436469
    Abstract: In a directly-illuminated liquid crystal display (LCD), for example an LCD monitor or an LCD-TV, a number of light management layers lie between the light source and the LCD panel to provide bright, uniform illumination. The light management layers, including, for example, a diffuser, a reflective polarizer and a brightness enhancing layer, are contained in a light management unit that is formed from two subassemblies. The two subassemblies each contain a substrate and are attached together so as to leave a gap between the two subassemblies. The diffuser is located in one of the subassemblies, and the other light management layers may be in either of the subassemblies, or may be disposed in the gap between the subassemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2008
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Mark D. Gehlsen, Chingwen Chen, Byungsoo Ko, Robert M. Emmons, James W. Laumer, Ryan T. Fabick, Linda M. Rivard, Kenneth A. Epstein, Youngsoo Park, Chideuk Kim, James A. Stevenson
  • 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
  • Patent number: 6895156
    Abstract: A coated optical fiber, preferably a GGP optical fiber includes an optical fiber core, and a silica cladding over the optical fiber core, to provide a silica clad core. A permanent polymeric coating forms on the silica cladding during ultraviolet radiation of a photocurable composition containing a non-hydrolyzable photoinitiator. The coated optical fiber has a diameter from about 120 microns to about 160 microns and a relative frequency distribution of at least about 85% for dynamic fatigue measurements between about 49.2×103 kg/cm2 (700 kpsi) and about 63.3×103 kg/cm2 (900 kpsi).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2005
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Christopher Bland Walker, Jr., James W. Laumer, Jesper Karl Marklund
  • Publication number: 20030099451
    Abstract: A coated optical fiber, preferably a GGP optical fiber includes an optical fiber core, and a silica cladding over the optical fiber core, to provide a silica clad core. A permanent polymeric coating forms on the silica cladding during ultraviolet radiation of a photocurable composition containing a non-hydrolyzable photoinitiator. The coated optical fiber has a diameter from about 120 microns to about 160 microns and a relative frequency distribution of at least about 85% for dynamic fatigue measurements between about 49.2×103 kg/cm2 (700 kpsi) and about 63.3×103 kg/cm2 (900 kpsi).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2001
    Publication date: May 29, 2003
    Applicant: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Christopher Bland Walker, James W. Laumer, Jesper Karl Marklund
  • Patent number: 5381504
    Abstract: An optical fiber element includes an optical fiber having a numerical aperture ranging from 0.08 to 0.34 and a protective coating affixed to the outer surface of the optical fiber. The protective coating has a Shore D hardnees value of 65 or more and remains on the optical fiber during connectorization so that the fiber is neither damaged by the blades of a stripping tool nor subjected to chemical or physical attack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 10, 1995
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: James C. Novack, Bryon J. Cronk, James W. Laumer, Tracy R. Woodward, David A. Krohn