Patents by Inventor Keith M. Kotchick
Keith M. Kotchick 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).
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Publication number: 20220197024Abstract: An optical system includes a reflective polarizer (20), and a display (10), first mirror (30a), and second mirror (30b) disposed on a same side of the reflective polarizer (20). The reflective polarizer (20) transmits an image emitted by the display (10) after the image is reflected by the first and second mirrors (30a, 30b). A mid-plane defined by intersection points between an optical axis of the system and the display (10), reflective polarizer (20), and second mirror (30b) has one-pass through four-pass regions having respective areas, A1 through A4.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 6, 2019Publication date: June 23, 2022Inventors: Zhisheng Yun, Stephen J. Willett, Craig R. Schardt, Gilles J. Benoit, Keith M. Kotchick, Ryan C. Shirk, David A. Rosen, Hao Wu
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Patent number: 9690038Abstract: A backlight includes a light source and one or more light recycling films. The light source generates light that exits the light source with an angular exit distribution. The light recycling films are oriented in relation to the light source so that the prism peaks of the recycling films are oriented away from the light source. The recycling films have a range of optimal incident angles that allow light to pass through the recycling films without recycling. The components of the light source, the characteristics of the recycling films, or both, are configured to control the overlap between the exit distribution of the light source and the optimal incident angle range of the recycling films.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2008Date of Patent: June 27, 2017Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Gary T. Boyd, Ji-Young Choi, John T. Cowher, Yasuyuki Daigo, Kenneth A. Epstein, Shandon D. Hart, Charles D. Hoyle, Min-Young Ji, Chideuk Kim, Byung-Soo Ko, Keith M. Kotchick, Wade D. Kretman, David J. Lamb, Seo-Hern Lee, Eric W. Nelson, Youngsoo Park, Xianneng Peng, Yuji Saito, Naoya Taniguchi, John F. Van Derlofske, III, Leland R. Whitney, Xingpeng Yang, Yang Yu, Jie Zhou, Rui Zhang
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Patent number: 9488859Abstract: A backlight that includes an illumination device that has at least one light source, a circular-mode reflective polarizer, and a specular partial reflector is disclosed. The specular partial reflector is disposed between the illumination device and the circular-mode reflective polarizer. Furthermore, the specular partial reflector is in substantially direct polarization communication with the circular-mode reflective polarizer.Type: GrantFiled: August 11, 2014Date of Patent: November 8, 2016Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANYInventors: Mark B. O'Neill, Philip E. Watson, Matthew B. Johnson, Adam D. Haag, Keith M. Kotchick, Sergey Lamansky
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Patent number: 9116285Abstract: Light directing film is disclosed. The light directing film includes a first structured major surface and an opposing second major surface. The first structured major surface includes a plurality of unitary discrete structures. Each unitary discrete structure includes a light directing portion that is primarily for directing light and includes a plurality of first side facets. Each first side facet makes an angle with the plane of the light directing film in a range from about 35 degrees to about 55 degrees. Each light directing portion also includes a first base that is defined by the plurality of first side facets and has a first minimum dimension. Each light directing portion also has a first maximum height. Each unitary discrete structure also includes a bonding portion that is primarily for bonding the light directing film to a surface. The bonding portion is disposed on and between the plurality of first side facets and includes a plurality of second side facets.Type: GrantFiled: February 2, 2015Date of Patent: August 25, 2015Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: William F. Edmonds, Vivian W. Jones, Keith M. Kotchick, Tri Dinh Pham, John F. Van Derlofske, III
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Publication number: 20150153021Abstract: Light directing film is disclosed. The light directing film includes a first structured major surface and an opposing second major surface. The first structured major surface includes a plurality of unitary discrete structures. Each unitary discrete structure includes a light directing portion that is primarily for directing light and includes a plurality of first side facets. Each first side facet makes an angle with the plane of the light directing film in a range from about 35 degrees to about 55 degrees. Each light directing portion also includes a first base that is defined by the plurality of first side facets and has a first minimum dimension. Each light directing portion also has a first maximum height. Each unitary discrete structure also includes a bonding portion that is primarily for bonding the light directing film to a surface. The bonding portion is disposed on and between the plurality of first side facets and includes a plurality of second side facets.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 2, 2015Publication date: June 4, 2015Inventors: William F. Edmonds, Vivian W. Jones, Keith M. Kotchick, Tri Dinh Pham, John F. Van Derlofske, III
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Patent number: 8947799Abstract: Light directing film is disclosed. The light directing film includes a first structured major surface and an opposing second major surface. The first structured major surface includes a plurality of unitary discrete structures. Each unitary discrete structure includes a light directing portion that is primarily for directing light and includes a plurality of first side facets. Each first side facet makes an angle with the plane of the light directing film in a range from about 35 degrees to about 55 degrees. Each light directing portion also includes a first base that is defined by the plurality of first side facets and has a first minimum dimension. Each light directing portion also has a first maximum height. Each unitary discrete structure also includes a bonding portion that is primarily for bonding the light directing film to a surface. The bonding portion is disposed on and between the plurality of first side facets and includes a plurality of second side facets.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 2011Date of Patent: February 3, 2015Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: William F. Edmonds, Vivian W. Jones, Keith M. Kotchick, Tri D. Pham, John F. Van Derlofske, III
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Publication number: 20140347604Abstract: A backlight that includes an illumination device that has at least one light source, a circular-mode reflective polarizer, and a specular partial reflector is disclosed. The specular partial reflector is disposed between the illumination device and the circular-mode reflective polarizer. Furthermore, the specular partial reflector is in substantially direct polarization communication with the circular-mode reflective polarizer.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 11, 2014Publication date: November 27, 2014Inventors: Mark B. O'Neill, Philip E. Watson, Matthew B. Johnson, Adam D. Haag, Keith M. Kotchick, Sergey Lamansky
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Patent number: 8804069Abstract: A backlight that includes an illumination device that has at least one light source, a circular-mode reflective polarizer, and a specular partial reflector is disclosed. The specular partial reflector is disposed between the illumination device and the circular-mode reflective polarizer. Furthermore, the specular partial reflector is in substantially direct polarization communication with the circular-mode reflective polarizer.Type: GrantFiled: April 10, 2013Date of Patent: August 12, 2014Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Mark B. O'Neill, Philip E. Watson, Matthew B. Johnson, Adam D. Haag, Keith M. Kotchick, Sergey Lamansky
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Publication number: 20130039077Abstract: Light directing film is disclosed. The light directing film includes a first structured major surface and an opposing second major surface. The first structured major surface includes a plurality of unitary discrete structures. Each unitary discrete structure includes a light directing portion that is primarily for directing light and includes a plurality of first side facets. Each first side facet makes an angle with the plane of the light directing film in a range from about 35 degrees to about 55 degrees. Each light directing portion also includes a first base that is defined by the plurality of first side facets and has a first minimum dimension. Each light directing portion also has a first maximum height. Each unitary discrete structure also includes a bonding portion that is primarily for bonding the light directing film to a surface. The bonding portion is disposed on and between the plurality of first side facets and includes a plurality of second side facets.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 11, 2011Publication date: February 14, 2013Inventors: William F. Edmonds, Vivian W. Jones, Keith M. Kotchick, Tri D. Pham, John F. Van Derlofske, III
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Publication number: 20130004728Abstract: Optical stack is disclosed. The optical stack includes a light redirecting film that includes a first structured major surface that includes a plurality of unitary discrete structures. The optical stack also includes an optical adhesive layer that is disposed on the light directing film. At least portions of at least some unitary discrete structures in the plurality of unitary discrete structures penetrate into the optical adhesive layer. At least portions of at least some unitary discrete structures in the plurality of unitary discrete structures do not penetrate into the optical adhesive layer. The peel strength of the light redirecting film and the optical adhesive layer is greater than about 30 grams/inch. The average effective transmission of the optical stack is not less or is less than by no more than about 10% as compared to an optical stack that has the same construction except that no unitary discrete structure penetrates into the optical adhesive layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 11, 2011Publication date: January 3, 2013Inventors: Gary T. Boyd, William F. Edmonds, Vivian W. Jones, Keith M. Kotchick, Tri D. Pham, John F. Van Derlosfske III
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Patent number: 8339542Abstract: A passive daylight-coupled display having an LCD panel, a diffuser, and a curved reflector behind the LCD panel. For passive backlighting, the diffuser transmits daylight to the reflector, which reflects the daylight to the LCD panel and provides for substantially uniform distribution of the daylight on the LCD panel for backlighting it. An N-stack daylight-coupled display includes a plurality of passive backlights cascaded in a stack for backlighting of LCD panels or static display panels. One N-stack display can include an active light source to provide light to the reflectors, and a secondary light source to provide light to at least one of the reflectors to provide backlighting of the display in low lighting conditions. A collapsible daylight-coupled display includes a daylight-coupled backlight that is collapsible when not in use for hand-held or portable display devices.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2009Date of Patent: December 25, 2012Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Rolf W. Biernath, Jennifer R. Yi, Keith M. Kotchick
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Patent number: 8149351Abstract: A passive daylight-coupled display having an LCD panel, a diffuser, and a curved reflector behind the LCD panel. For passive backlighting, the diffuser transmits daylight to the reflector, which reflects the daylight to the LCD panel and provides for substantially uniform distribution of the daylight on the LCD panel for backlighting it. A hybrid display includes both a passive backlight and an active backlight for providing backlighting from an active light source.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 2008Date of Patent: April 3, 2012Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Rolf W. Biernath, Jennifer R. Yi, Keith M. Kotchick, John S. Huizinga
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Publication number: 20110261584Abstract: A backlight includes a light source and one or more light recycling films. The light source generates light that exits the light source with an angular exit distribution. The light recycling films are oriented in relation to the light source so that the prism peaks of the recycling films are oriented away from the light source. The recycling films have a range of optimal incident angles that allow light to pass through the recycling films without recycling. The components of the light source, the characteristics of the recycling films, or both, are configured to control the overlap between the exit distribution of the light source and the optimal incident angle range of the recycling films.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 20, 2008Publication date: October 27, 2011Inventors: Gary T. Boyd, Ji-Young Choi, John T. Cowher, Yasuyuki Daigo, Kenneth A. Epstein, Shandon D. Hart, Charles D. Hoyle, Min-Young Ji, Chideuk kim, Byung-Soo Ko, Keith M. Kotchick, Wade D. Kretman, David J. Lamb, Seo-Hern Lee, Eric W. Nelson, Youngsoo Park, Xianneng Peng, Yuji Saito, Naoya Taniguchi, John F. Van Derlofske, III, Leland R. Whitney, Kingpeng Yang, Yang Yu, Jie Zhou, Rui Zhang
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Publication number: 20100328578Abstract: A passive daylight-coupled display having an LCD panel, a diffuser, and a curved reflector behind the LCD panel. For passive backlighting, the diffuser transmits daylight to the reflector, which reflects the daylight to the LCD panel and provides for substantially uniform distribution of the daylight on the LCD panel for backlighting it. An N-stack daylight-coupled display includes a plurality of passive backlights cascaded in a stack for backlighting of LCD panels or static display panels. One N-stack display can include an active light source to provide light to the reflectors, and a secondary light source to provide light to at least one of the reflectors to provide backlighting of the display in low lighting conditions. A collapsible daylight-coupled display includes a daylight-coupled backlight that is collapsible when not in use for hand-held or portable display devices.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 26, 2009Publication date: December 30, 2010Inventors: Rolf W. Biernath, Jennifer R. Yi, Keith M. Kotchick
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Publication number: 20100141869Abstract: A passive daylight-coupled display having an LCD panel, a diffuser, and a curved reflector behind the LCD panel. For passive backlighting, the diffuser transmits daylight to the reflector, which reflects the daylight to the LCD panel and provides for substantially uniform distribution of the daylight on the LCD panel for backlighting it. A hybrid display includes both a passive backlight and an active backlight for providing backlighting from an active light source.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 8, 2008Publication date: June 10, 2010Inventors: Rolf W. Biernath, Jennifer R. Yi, Keith M. Kotchick, John S. Huizinga
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Patent number: 7520654Abstract: In a new packaging method for light management films in displays, such as liquid crystal displays, a stack of two or more optical films is held together before insertion into the display frame. The stack includes at least two of the films that are adhered together using adhesive positioned outside the viewing area of the films. In some embodiments, the adhesive is provided at one or more tabs provided around the periphery of the film stack.Type: GrantFiled: July 7, 2008Date of Patent: April 21, 2009Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Anthony J. Freking, Keith M. Kotchick
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Publication number: 20080266501Abstract: In a new packaging method for light management films in displays, such as liquid crystal displays, a stack of two or more optical films is held together before insertion into the display frame. The stack includes at least two of the films that are adhered together using adhesive positioned outside the viewing area of the films. In some embodiments, the adhesive is provided at one or more tabs provided around the periphery of the film stack.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 7, 2008Publication date: October 30, 2008Inventors: Anthony J. Freking, Keith M. Kotchick
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Patent number: 7419272Abstract: An optical element having a front side and a back side operates in an ambient lit mode and a backlit mode. The optical element includes a diffusely reflecting layer facing the front side for reflecting ambient light. A light absorbing layer faces the back side and is positioned to prevent back light from illuminating the diffusely reflecting layer. A plurality of light transmitting regions extend through the light absorbing layer and the diffusely reflecting layer for permitting back light to pass through in a restricted angular range without illuminating the diffusely reflecting layer.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 2005Date of Patent: September 2, 2008Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Kay-Uwe Schenke, Guido Hitschmarin, Stefan O. Dietrich, Robert Bennett, Paul E. Humpal, Keith M. Kotchick
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Patent number: 7413336Abstract: In a new packaging method for light management films in displays, such as liquid crystal displays, a stack of two or more optical films is held together before insertion into the display frame. The stack includes at least two of the films that are adhered together using adhesive positioned outside the viewing area of the films. In some embodiments, the adhesive is provided at one or more tabs provided around the periphery of the film stack.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2003Date of Patent: August 19, 2008Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Anthony J. Freking, Keith M. Kotchick
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Patent number: 7385659Abstract: Color transmissive displays have historically used only backlight for forming the color image, and have not used ambient light. Usually, such a display is not used in bright sunlight, since the color image becomes washed out. Transflective color displays form an image by reflecting ambient light or by transmitting backlight, and can be used in bright sunlight. The transflector in such displays reflects the ambient light while also transmitting the backlight. The requirements on the transflector, however, are different from those used in monochromatic displays. According to the invention, a color transflective display device uses comprises a transmissive display unit having a viewing side and a back side and defining picture elements. A structured transflector is disposed to the back side of the color display unit. The structured transflector includes a structured surface and a layered dielectric reflector disposed over the structured surface.Type: GrantFiled: April 21, 2004Date of Patent: June 10, 2008Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Keith M. Kotchick, Kenneth A. Epstein, Patrick H. Marushin, Donald J. McClure, Andrew J. Ouderkirk