Reflective Patents (Class 264/1.9)
  • Patent number: 11415731
    Abstract: A retroreflective article including a reflective-particle-containing binder layer and a plurality of retroreflective elements. Each retroreflective element includes a transparent microsphere partially embedded in the binder layer. At least some of the retroreflective elements comprise a primary reflective layer that covers a portion of the embedded surface area of the transparent microsphere, and a secondary reflective layer provided by portions of the reflective-particle-containing binder layer that are adjacent to portions of the embedded surface area of the transparent microsphere that are not covered by the primary reflective layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Michael A. McCoy, Ying Xia, Lok-Man Ng, Shri Niwas, Scott J. Jones, Kevin W. Gotrik, Kui Chen-Ho
  • Patent number: 11099475
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a display system comprising a retro-reflective screen having retro-reflective screen elements that reflect incident light. Each of the retro-reflective screen elements can include three intersecting planes. At least one of the three intersecting planes intersects an adjacent plane at an angle that is 90° with an offset greater than 0°. The display system can further include at least one projector that projects the light onto the retro-reflective, which light characterizes an image or video. The retro-reflective screen having the retro-reflective screen elements can reflect the light at a cross-talk that is decreased by at least 10% and/or an intensity that is increased by at least 5%, as compared to a retro-reflective screen with retro-reflective screen elements having planes that each intersects an adjacent plane at an angle of 90° without the offset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: MirraViz, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Wang
  • Patent number: 10899052
    Abstract: A system for molding a door part of an automobile air conditioner is provided. The system is capable of automating a double injection-molding performed in two stages for a cover plate and a seal of the door part. The system includes a first molding unit for molding the cover plate, a second molding unit for integrally molding the seal onto a circumference of the cover plate, and a carrier unit arranged between the first and second molding units for moving the cover plate molded by the first molding unit to the second molding unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Inventor: Junghun Kwak
  • Patent number: 10668686
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a laminated composite material and a method for making the same. The laminated composite material includes a base layer and a protection layer. The base layer includes a first surface, a second surface and a plurality of through holes. The second surface is opposite to the first surface. The through holes extend from the first surface of the base layer to the second surface to penetrate through the base layer. The protection layer is disposed on the first surface of the base layer, and has a plurality of penetration holes. Sizes and locations of the penetration holes correspond to those of the through holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: SAN FANG CHEMICAL INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chung-Chih Feng, Pai-Hsiang Wu, Chien-Chia Huang, Chieh Lee
  • Patent number: 10663850
    Abstract: A projection screen comprising a polymer layer (250) comprising a front side (250a) that faces incoming incident light generated from a projector (110), incorporating a plurality of diffusing particles distributed throughout the polymer layer (250) and a first rear reflective layer (280) arranged on a back side of the polymer layer opposite to the front side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: Harkness Screens International Limited
    Inventor: David Harrison
  • Patent number: 10589480
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing netted dots on a light guide plate is disclosed, including: engraving, on a surface of a metal plate with a preset roughness, a female mould or a male mould corresponding to a shape of the netted dots on the light guide plate; coating the metal plate onto a surface of a roller; heating the roller so that a temperature of the metal plate rises to a preset temperature; adjusting a distance of a center of the roller in relation to a light guide plate feeding passage so that the metal plate applies a preset pressure onto the light guide plate to be machined; and making the light guide plate to be machined pass through the light guide plate feeding passage, wherein the metal plate transfer-prints a shape of netted dots of the female mould or the male mould onto the light guide plate to be machined at a preset pressure and a preset temperature to form the netted dots on the light guide plate. A device for manufacturing netted dots on a light guide plate is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Inventors: Jian Wang, Shuiyin Wang
  • Patent number: 10586446
    Abstract: Disclosed is an identification system to improve safety on roads and allow for the driver or for the vehicle itself, if it is autonomous or semi-autonomous, to have readable and useful information about road signs, roadways, and adjacent roadway information. The disclosed identification system comprises a marker with marker communication information that can be read by a vehicle information system to provide information to the vehicle. Information that the marker communication information may convey would allow the vehicle information system to detect or recognize, or both detect and recognize critical road sign, roadway information, and adjacent roadway information. Then, the vehicle information system could respond to the information received from the marker communication information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Jeffrey D. Janovec, Kenneth L. Smith, Michael R. Duoos, Todd A. Ballen, Travis L. Potts, James Howard, Thomas J. Dahlin
  • Patent number: 10491788
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for controlling the quality of transparent objects, comprising at least one light source being adapted to illuminate the object, and at least one image capturing device, by means of which at least one image of the object can be detected, wherein the apparatus comprises further at least one reflector, wherein the reflector and the image capturing device define a beam path, wherein the reflector, the image capturing device, and the light source are arranged such that the object can be arranged between the reflector, on the one hand, and the image capturing device and the light source, on the other hand, such that a single sheet of material is located in the beam path. Furthermore, the invention relates to a corresponding method for controlling the quality of transparent objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignees: Karlsruher Institut fur Technologie, Fraunhofer Gesellschaft Zur Forderung Der Angew. Forschung E.V.
    Inventors: Matthias Hartrumpf, Thomas Längle, Michael Heizmann, Henning Schulte, Eduardo Monari, Markus Vogelbacher, Robin Gruna
  • Patent number: 10339804
    Abstract: Disclosed is an identification system to improve safety on roads and allow for the driver or for the vehicle itself, if it is autonomous or semi-autonomous, to have readable and useful information about road signs, roadways, and adjacent roadway information. The disclosed identification system comprises a marker with marker communication information that can be read by a vehicle information system to provide information to the vehicle. Information that the marker communication information may convey would allow the vehicle information system to detect or recognize, or both detect and recognize critical road sign, roadway information, and adjacent roadway information. Then, the vehicle information system could respond to the information received from the marker communication information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Jeffrey D. Janovec, Kenneth L. Smith, Michael R. Duoos, Todd A. Ballen, Travis L. Potts, James Howard, Thomas J. Dahlin
  • Patent number: 10261222
    Abstract: Retroreflective articles include a layer of optical elements, and a polyurethane bead bond layer. The optical elements include transparent microspheres, and at least one reflective layer. The polyurethane bead bond layer is the reaction product of a reaction mixture of at least one aliphatic polycarbonate polyol and at least one polyisocyanate, and the reaction mixture is free of polyols containing unsaturated groups. The retroreflective articles have improved wash durability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Bruce H. Edwards, Shri Niwas, Ying Xia
  • Patent number: 10038150
    Abstract: The invention relates to electrochemical devices comprising complexes of cobalt comprising at least one ligand with a 5- or six membered, N-containing heteroring. The complex are useful as p- and n-dopants, as over of electrochemical devices, in particular in organic semiconductors. The complexes are further useful as over-discharge prevention and overvoltage protection agents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL)
    Inventors: Julian Burschka, Florian Kessler, Etienne Baranoff, Mohammad Khaja Nazeeruddin, Michael Graetzel, Shaik Mohammed Zakeeruddin, Anders Hagfeldt, Marina Freitag, Fabrizio Giordano
  • Patent number: 9977320
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a display system comprising a retro-reflective screen having retro-reflective screen elements that reflect incident light. Each of the retro-reflective screen elements can include three intersecting planes. At least one of the three intersecting planes intersects an adjacent plane at an angle that is 90° with an offset greater than 0°. The display system can further include at least one projector that projects the light onto the retro-reflective, which light characterizes an image or video. The retro-reflective screen having the retro-reflective screen elements can reflect the light at a cross-talk that is decreased by at least 10% and/or an intensity that is increased by at least 5%, as compared to a retro-reflective screen with retro-reflective screen elements having planes that each intersects an adjacent plane at an angle of 90° without the offset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: MIRRAVIZ, INC.
    Inventor: Michael W. Wang
  • Patent number: 9933696
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a display system comprising a retro-reflective screen having retro-reflective screen elements that reflect incident light. Each of the retro-reflective screen elements can include three intersecting planes. At least one of the three intersecting planes intersects an adjacent plane at an angle that is 90° with an offset greater than 0°. The display system can further include at least one projector that projects the light onto the retro-reflective, which light characterizes an image or video. The retro-reflective screen having the retro-reflective screen elements can reflect the light at a cross-talk that is decreased by at least 10% and/or an intensity that is increased by at least 5%, as compared to a retro-reflective screen with retro-reflective screen elements having planes that each intersects an adjacent plane at an angle of 90° without the offset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: MIRRAVIZ, INC.
    Inventor: Michael W. Wang
  • Patent number: 9873218
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a resin sealing module, which includes an injection step of injecting an uncured curable liquid resin into a module case and a positioning step of positioning the mold member, is provided. In the injection step, a substrate with electronic components is immersed into the curable liquid resin. In the positioning step, the mold member is positioned so that inside space of the first partition wall faces a second region. In the positioning step, at least a protruding end portion of the first partition wall is immersed into the curable liquid resin while a gas layer is held in the inside space. Thereby, a partial region of an upper surface of the curable liquid resin is depressed by the gas layer, so that this region is positioned lower in level than other regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: SHINDENGEN ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Masaaki Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 9862180
    Abstract: A removable flexible jacket for use in a printing press having a transfer cylinder for transferring a freshly printed substrate comprises a sheet of woven fabric, a beaded film sheet coupled to the sheet of woven fabric, and an image disposed between the sheet of woven fabric and the beaded film sheet. The image is visible through the beaded film sheet, and wherein the image divides at least a portion of a surface of the beaded film sheet into a plurality of zones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Printing Research, Inc
    Inventors: Howard W. DeMoore, Arnold Cooper, David Dean Douglas, W. Scott Brown, Joey V. Le
  • Patent number: 9511522
    Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing a crash pad having a foam layer by injecting and foam-molding a foam liquid between a base and a skin may include a first mold and a second mold which mold the base by injecting molten resin into a base forming space formed in a mold-closed state and a vacuum mold for vacuum-molding the skin, in which when the vacuum mold to which the formed skin may be attached may be mold-closed with the first mold, a foam space may be formed between the skin and the base of the first mold, and an injection channel for injecting the molten resin into the base forming space and a foam liquid injection channel for injecting the foam liquid into the foam space may be provided in the first mold, such that the first mold may be used as a foam mold, together with the vacuum mold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Byung Seok Kong
  • Patent number: 9464774
    Abstract: The vehicular lamp comprises: an outer housing made of a heat dissipating material, opened at a front thereof, and having a circuit board received therein, the outer housing including a plurality of heat-dissipating fins formed on an outer surface thereof and including an engaging groove depressed rearwardly along an opened front edge thereof; a reflective housing including a reflective surface formed on a front side thereof and having a rearwardly recessed shape, with the reflective housing received in the opened front portion of the outer housing; an LED fixing member inserted into an inner lower portion of the outer housing through the reflective housing, and having an upwardly bently extending part and including an LED light module mounted at a rear surface thereof so as to be electrically connected to the circuit board; and a transparent cover including an engaging protrusion rearwardly protrudingly formed at a rear edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: CRESLITE.INC.
    Inventor: Dong Sun Kim
  • Patent number: 9217817
    Abstract: Retroreflective appliqués and articles include a first binder layer with a first major surface and a second major surface, a retroreflective layer including a plurality of retroreflective elements at least partially embedded in the first major surface of the first binder layer, a second binder layer adhered to the second major surface of the first binder layer, and a substrate layer attached to the second binder layer. The first binder layer is a non-thermoplastic crosslinked copolymer with a Tg of less than 30° C. The second binder layer is an adhesive polymer. The first binder layer and the second binder layer include functional groups capable of co-reacting to form a chemical bond. The retroreflective appliqués can be attached to clothing articles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Xiwen Zhang, Ningyong Huang
  • Patent number: 9174568
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed a thermoplastic energy absorbing headlamp mounting bracket comprising a frame having a proximal end and a distal end, and an energy absorbing member having a proximal end affixed to the proximal end of the frame, a distal end extending at least partially over the distal end of the frame, and an arcuate central portion extending between the distal end and the proximal end of the energy absorbing member. The proximal end of the energy absorbing member is configured to operably couple to a portion of the headlamp, and the frame is frictionally slidable in relation to the distal end of the energy absorbing member. Headlamps and vehicles comprising the energy absorbing headlamp mounting bracket are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: SABIC GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES B.V.
    Inventor: Takaaki Nemoto
  • Patent number: 9114561
    Abstract: A manufacturing method for container having an opening and a bottom on which an artificial creature is disposed includes the following steps: (a) forming an artificial creature integrated with a base by plastic injection molding; (b) providing a injection mold comprising a male mold and a female mold comprising a cavity corresponding to the artificial creature; (c) positioning the artificial creature and the base to the male mold; and (d) matching the male mold and female mold to form paths between the male mold and female mold and between the base and the female mold to allow molten plastic flow therethrough so as to form the container in such a manner that the bottom of the container encloses the base so as to position the artificial animal on the bottom of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: JJ RABBIT LLC
    Inventors: Karen Lin, Cheng-Tsung Lin
  • Patent number: 9097831
    Abstract: Disclosed is a plate-like light guide element (24) provided with a light incident surface, a light exit surface (242), and an underside surface (243) disposed on the opposite side of the light exit surface (242). A foamed surface layer (244) is formed on at least a part of at least either the light exit surface (242) or the underside surface (243). The foamed surface layer (244) contains air bubbles and has a recessed sectional surface including the normal direction of the light exit surface (242) or the underside surface (243). The light guide element (24) is produced by performing infrared laser etching for at least a part of at least one of the main surfaces of a plate-like light guide element material composed of an acryl resin plate produced by a continuous plate production method, to form the foamed surface layer (244).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Rayon Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Yagi, Minoru Shimizu, Yasuo Wakui, Yoshiya Kurachi, Masatoshi Toda
  • Publication number: 20150144054
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a reflective tire marking system for use as a warning indication to highlight the width of large vehicles, the system including a reflective tire marking inserted into an outer edge of a tire lug, wherein the reflective tire marking is made of a reflective rubber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2013
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Inventor: Andrew Cassidy
  • Patent number: 8999210
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method of manufacturing a lens (1, 2) that has a front face and a rear face, and into which light beams emitted by an optical element of a light beam generator system (IB) are introduced via an entry surface (Si) and directed towards the eye of the wearer to enable information content to be viewed, by means of a transparent optical insert (IA, 2A, I) constituted by a light guide, said insert (I) being with a form substantially identical to the form of a final lens suitable for being positioned in a frame (3) of a support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Essilor International
    Inventors: Cédric Buchon, Gérard Gelly, Vincent Roptin, Antoine Videmann
  • Publication number: 20150090868
    Abstract: A purpose is to provide a resin encoder scale a cost of which can be reduced by making processing easy by producing the encoder scale as a resin molded piece including a scale pattern. A resin encoder scale is used in a reflection-type optical encoder and a scale pattern for position measurement is provided thereto. In the scale pattern, a low reflection part a surface of which is molded as a rough surface during resin molding and which has low reflectivity of light and a high reflection part a surface of which is molded as a mirror surface during the resin molding and which has higher reflectivity of light than the low reflection part are arranged alternately.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2014
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Inventors: Mitsunobu SUZUISHI, Masataka SHIBUYA, Hiroshi TOKAIRIN
  • Patent number: 8945440
    Abstract: A method of determining conditioning pulse parameters for an optical element includes directing a pump pulse to impinge on the optical element and directing a probe pulse to impinge on the optical element. The method also includes determining a first time associated with an onset of electronic excitation leading to formation of an absorbing region of the optical element and determining a second time associated with expansion of the absorbing region of the optical element. The method further includes defining a turn-off time for a conditioning pulse between the first time and the second time. According to embodiments of the present invention, pulse shaping of the conditioning pulse enables laser conditioning of optical elements to achieve improvements in their laser induced damage threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC
    Inventors: Stavros G. Demos, Rajesh Raman, Raluca A. Negres
  • Publication number: 20150009571
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing nanostructures on a surface of a metal substrate is provided. The method includes forming the nanostructures by a forming step, which includes subsequently performing at least once the steps of anodizing the surface at a second voltage for forming at the surface a second oxidized metal layer comprising second pores, and performing an etching step on the surface for modifying the dimensions of the second pores. Prior to the forming step, the method comprises a substrate preparation step for enabling the forming a mix of different sized nanostructures during the forming step, the preparation step including the steps of anodizing the surface at a first voltage for forming at the surface an first oxidized metal layer comprising first pores, selectively etching the surface for extending the first pores into the metal underneath the first oxidized metal layer, and removing the first oxidized metal layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2013
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Inventor: Patrick Chin
  • Patent number: 8877104
    Abstract: An optical laminate produced by a process for producing an anti-dazzling laminate comprising a light transparent base material and an anti-dazzling layer provided on the light transparent base material. The process includes providing the light transparent base material and forming the anti-dazzling layer having a concavoconvex shape on the light transparent base material, wherein the concavoconvex shape of the anti-dazzling layer satisfies the following requirements: Sm is not less than 100 ?m and not more than 600 ?m, ?a is not less than 0.1 degree and not more than 1.2 degrees, and Rz is more than 0.2 ?m and not more than 1 ?m, wherein Sm represents the average spacing of concavoconvexes or profile irregularities in the anti-dazzling layer; ?a represents the average inclination angle of the concavoconvexes or profile irregularities; and Rz represents the average roughness of the concavoconvexes or profile irregularities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukimitsu Iwata, Koichi Mikami, Yoshihiro Nishimura, Takashi Kodama
  • Publication number: 20140322505
    Abstract: A thermoplastic resin finely-foamed reflective sheet, containing: a foamed layer; and non-foamed layers, each of which has a thickness of 150 ?m or less and 30 ?m or more, and which are provided one above the other while sandwiching the foamed layer between the non-foamed layers, wherein the thermoplastic resin finely-foamed reflective sheet has an integrated structure, wherein the foamed layer is a thermoplastic resin finely-foamed product having a homogeneous bubble structure, in which an average bubble diameter is 10 ?m or less and 0.5 ?m or more, and in which a bubble number density is 1×106/mm3 or more and 1.0×1012/mm3 or less, and wherein at least one of the non-foamed layers comprises a functionality-providing layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2014
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Inventors: Hideyuki IKEDA, Kojiro INAMORI, Masaki ONDA, Kazuhiro KIMURA
  • Patent number: 8865031
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for applying a mid-IR graded microstructure to the end of an As2S3 optical fiber are presented herein. The method and apparatus transfer a microstructure from a negative imprint on a nickel shim to an As2S3 fiber tip with minimal shape distortion and minimal damage-threshold impact resulting in large gains in anti-reflective properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph M. Owen, David P. Kelly, Michael E. Chadwick
  • Publication number: 20140293414
    Abstract: Since a screen contains a diffusion agent, the diffusion agent changes polarization characteristics of picture light and degrades the stereoscopic image. Provided is a screen comprising a substrate shaped as a flat board; a reflective layer made of metal arranged on one surface of the substrate; and an exposure layer that is arranged on a surface of the reflective layer facing away from the substrate, is optically isotropic and transparent with respect to visible light, and has bumps and depressions formed in an exposed surface thereof. Also provided is a screen manufacturing method comprising providing a reflective layer on a substrate shaped as a flat board; and forming an exposure layer on a surface of the reflective layer facing away from the substrate, the exposure layer being optically isotropic and transparent with respect to visible light and having bumps and depressions formed in an exposed surface thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2014
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Inventors: Hajime MARUTA, Haruhisa MURO, Masatoshi NIWA
  • Publication number: 20140231386
    Abstract: Compositions, structures and methods that relate to films having switchable reflectivity and anti-reflectivity depending on ambient conditions, such as temperature. A film with switchable reflectivity and anti-reflectivity includes a nanostructured first layer having nanopillars associated with nanowells. A hydrogel occupies at least a portion of the nanowells. As the hydrogel moves from a dehydrated state to a hydrated state, the surface of the film switches from being reflective to being anti-reflective in a repeatable and reversible process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2014
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: KOREA UNIVERSITY RESEARCH AND BUSINESS FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Kwangyeol LEE, Donghoon CHOI
  • Publication number: 20140160587
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a reflective element for solar fields, having a sandwich-type structure, comprising a reflective sheet (1), a reinforcement sheet (2) and a layer of foam (3) arranged between the reflective sheet (1) and the reinforcement sheet (2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2012
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: RIOGLASS SOLAR, S.A.
    Inventor: Félix Ainz Ibarrondo
  • Publication number: 20140146560
    Abstract: A reflection sheet of display backlighting unit is designed to be spaced apart by a predetermined gap distance from an overlying optical layer. However, the reflection sheet may inadvertently come into at least partial contact with the overlying optical layer. The reflection sheet is configured to avoid the creation of line contacts and wide area contacts with the optical layer. More specifically, the reflection sheet includes an upper skin layer having particles embedded therein. An average of surface roughness or height differences of the protrusions is caused to have a value of 15 ?m or larger, and an interval between the adjacent protrusions is caused to be 200 ?m or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2013
    Publication date: May 29, 2014
    Applicant: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dong Hoon KIM, Young Jun CHOI
  • Patent number: 8727589
    Abstract: A vehicular lamp includes a vehicular component part that is molded by charging molten resin into a cavity defined by a first die that has a mirror surface-molding portion and a semi-gloss surface-molding portion and a second die that is movable relative to the first die and cooling the molten resin. The vehicular component part includes a mirror surface-formed portion having a mirror surface that is formed by the mirror surface-molding portion and a semi-gloss surface-formed portion having a semi-gloss surface that is formed by the semi-gloss surface-molding portion. A step surface is provided between the mirror surface and the semi-gloss surface of the vehicular component part. The semi-gloss surface-formed portion is protruded on a first die side relative to the mirror surface-formed portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takahiro Kohata, Toshimasa Ikeda
  • Patent number: 8728360
    Abstract: [Object] An apparatus and a method for producing optical sheeting with which increased productivity can be achieved while maintaining the accuracy of produced optical sheeting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Nippon Carbide Industries Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Ikuo Mimura, Chihiro Hayashi, Akihiro Mathuda, Hiroshi Hamada, Naotake Osaki
  • Publication number: 20140133161
    Abstract: A reflective cover molding method and a reflective cover manufactured thereof are disclosed. The reflective cover molding method comprises the steps of: providing a metal substrate; setting the metal substrate on a substrate mold, and punching the metal substrate by a pressure to form a circular substrate; propping the circular substrate onto a fixed mold with a prop; jointly rotating the fixed mold and the circular substrate, applying a pressure by a spinning roller to attach the circular substrate, and applying a pressure to spin out a molded cover; setting the molded cover onto a shaped mold, and punching the molded cover by a pressure to form an optical structure surface on the molded cover; and punching the molded cover to remove a bottom hole to form the reflective cover, so as to accelerate production rate and enhance product quality, stability and precision.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2012
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Applicants: LEDLINK OPTICS, INC., YANG ZHOU LEDLINK OPTICS CO., LTD., LEDLINK OPTICS (DONG GUAN) CO., LTD.
    Inventors: TE-LUNG TANG, WEI-CHIANG HUANG
  • Publication number: 20140126217
    Abstract: A lighting assembly includes a light source and a lens. The lens includes a light transmissive portion and an optic shield portion for blocking or redirecting at least a portion of light generated by the light source. The light source can include one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs). The optic shield can be painted on or otherwise applied to a portion of the lens. Alternatively, it can be integrally formed with the lens. The optic shield can be an opaque material for blocking light generated by the light source or can be a reflective material for reflecting light generated by the light source through the light transmissive portion of the lens. Methods for making an optic shield are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2014
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Applicant: ABL IP Holding LLC
    Inventor: Mark Anthony Hand
  • Publication number: 20140125959
    Abstract: A thin film mirror, comprising: a mirror shell (605); a reflective film (601) stretched between forming structures (603) provided on said mirror shell and reflective film being arranged such that they form a chamber which is capable of being placed under at least partial vacuum; the mirror shell having an inner surface which forms an inner wail of said chamber, wherein the mirror shell is a moulded part where its inner surface is a controlled surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2012
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Applicant: THALES HOLDINGS UK PLC
    Inventors: Graham Olive, Graham Barnes, Henry Nicholson-Cole
  • Publication number: 20140110043
    Abstract: The subject invention is related to a method for preparing a reflective film, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a first substrate and forming a releasable adhesive layer thereon; (b) applying reflective particles onto the releasable adhesive layer, where the reflective particles are partially embedded in the releasable adhesive layer; (c) applying a pigment onto the reflective particles and the releasable adhesive layer; (d) removing part of the pigment so that the pigment does not completely cover the reflective particles; and (d) forming a reflective layer on the pigment and the reflective particles. The invention further pertains to a method for manufacturing a reflective article by using the reflective film prepared according to the above-mentioned method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2013
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicant: CING WAI KUNG MAU COMPANY
    Inventor: CHIEN MIN WU
  • Publication number: 20140087095
    Abstract: An element which has a decorative outer surface comprising: a first region having a constant luminance that is equal to a first predetermined value; and one second region adjacent to the first region, wherein the second region has a variable luminance that depends on the viewing angle, the variable luminance of the second region being equal to the first predetermined value for a first given viewing angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2012
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Applicant: Faurecia Interieu Industrie
    Inventors: Cédric Habert, Nicolas Pegorier
  • Publication number: 20140078586
    Abstract: Retroreflective articles and methods of making the same, wherein the retroreflective articles (10) include composite cube-corner elements (12) having a first light transmissive polymeric layer (30), a second light transmissive polymeric layer (32), and an interface therebetween, wherein the first light transmissive polymeric layer has a first index of refraction, the second light transmissive polymeric layer has a second index of refraction, and the first and second indices of refraction have an absolute difference of at least 0.0002.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2012
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Kathryn M. Spurgeon, Olester Benson, JR., Randy S. Bay
  • Publication number: 20140056566
    Abstract: The disclosed embodiments generally relate to extruding multiple layers of micro- to nano-polymer layers in a tubular shape. In particular, the aspects of the disclosed embodiments are directed to a method for producing a Bragg reflector comprising co-extrusion of micro- to nano-polymer layers in a tubular shape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2013
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Applicant: Guill Tool & Engineering Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Richard R. Guillemette, Robert G. Peters, Christopher Hummel
  • Publication number: 20140037898
    Abstract: The invention relates to a multi-layer body (10) and a process for the production thereof. The multi-layer body has a first layer (23) with a first surface (231) and a second surface (232) opposite the first surface (231). The first surface (231) of the first layer (23) is defined by a base plane spanned by coordinate axes x and y, wherein a large number of facet faces (50) are moulded into the second surface (232) of the first layer (23) in a first area (31). Each of the facet faces (50) is determined by one or more of the parameters F, S, H, P, Ax, Ay and Az, wherein the parameters of the facet faces (50) arranged in the first area (31) are varied pseudorandomly in the first area (31) within a variation range predefined in each case for the first area of surface and wherein a reflective second layer (24) is applied to each of the facet faces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2012
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Applicant: OVD Kinegram AG
    Inventors: Wayne Robert Tompkin, Harald Walter
  • Patent number: 8609000
    Abstract: The method for manufacturing a housing of a numeric display have the steps of: providing a first injection-molding step for forming a reflecting cover, wherein the reflecting cover has a plurality of pattern segment units, each pattern segment unit is defined by reflecting surfaces of the reflecting cover and has a through hole, and providing a second injection-molding step for forming a transparent injection-molded body into each pattern segment unit, surfaces of the formed transparent injection-molded body being bonded to the corresponding reflecting surfaces, and the reflecting cover and the transparent injection-molded body being constructed as the housing of the numeric display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignees: Lite-On Electronics (Guangzhou) Limited, Lite-On Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Cheng-Han Tsai, Chao-Ming Wu, Shih-Yuan Kuo, Chih-Wei Wang, Hui-Ling Lin
  • Publication number: 20130314788
    Abstract: A reflective optical film includes a reflective light-polarizing unit including a multilayer reflective sheet composed of a plurality of polymer films stacked on top of one another. Each polymer film has a thickness, every two adjacent polymer films are two different materials, and the thicknesses of the polymer films are gradually decreased from two outmost sides of the multilayer reflective sheet to a middle of the multilayer reflective sheet. At least one of the polymer films is a birefringence material layer that conforms to the condition of NX?NY?NZ, where NX is the index of refraction of light at X direction of the multilayer reflective sheet, NY is the index of refraction of light at Y direction of the multilayer reflective sheet, and NZ is the index of refraction of light at Z direction of the multilayer reflective sheet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2012
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Applicant: EXTEND OPTRONICS CORP.
    Inventors: JEN-HUAI CHANG, CHAO-YING LIN
  • Patent number: 8541095
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are an anti-counterfeiting film and process for preparation thereof. The anti-counterfeiting film comprises a directional retroreflective layer (1), an optical-angle-based color-changing information layer (2), a reflective layer (3) and a support layer (4) which are combined in this turn. The support layer (4) is made of a polymer resin material, the reflective layer (3) is made of a material with high reflectivity and has a thickness of nanoscale, the information layer (2) is made of an optical-angle-based color-changing chiral polymer material having a helical structure or made of an optical-angle-based color-changing cellulose material. The optical-angle-based color-changing chiral polymer material having a helical structure is a condensation product of a chiral compound and a compound with functional group. The optical-angle-based color-changing cellulose material is composed of a cellulose derivative and a polymerisable monomer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Shanghai Techsun Anti-Counterfeiting Technology Holding Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Liangheng Xu, Kai Yang
  • Publication number: 20130242569
    Abstract: A substrate for carrying light emitting diodes and a manufacturing method thereof are provided. The substrate includes a bottom portion, a side portion and a reflective element. The side portion is disposed on the bottom portion. An upper surface of the bottom portion and an inner surface of the side portion define a recess where the light emitting diodes and the reflective element are disposed. More specifically, the light emitting diodes are disposed on the upper surface, while the reflective element is disposed along the inner surface of the recess. With the above-mentioned arrangements, the light extraction efficiency of the light emitting diodes can be increased.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2012
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: WALSIN LIHWA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Chun-Te Wu, Chia-Tsen Huang
  • Patent number: 8482705
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a transflective display. The method includes providing a first substrate; forming a first electrode thereon; providing a second substrate having a reflective area and a transmissive area opposite to the first substrate; forming a second electrode having a plurality of slits on the second substrate opposite to the first electrode; disposing a liquid crystal layer including a plurality of liquid crystal molecules and monomers between the first electrode and the second electrode, wherein the monomers have a weight ratio of about 0.1-20%; and polymerizing the monomers to form a plurality of non-liquid crystal polymers adjacent to the first electrode and the second electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Au Optronics Corp.
    Inventors: Ying-Ru Chen, Tzu-Yuan Lin, Ching-Huan Lin, Chih-Ming Chang
  • Publication number: 20130163259
    Abstract: A surface mount LED support with metallic reflective cavity includes a plastic frame member and a metallic frame member, wherein the LED support comprises a metallic reflector member which is constructed into a metallic reflector cup-member having a concave cavity. The metallic reflector member includes a bottom metallic plate and a side metallic plate constructing the concave cavity of the metallic cup-member. The side metallic plate is integrally formed by folding the bottom metallic plate. The metallic reflector cup-member has an inner surface coated with a highly reflective material. The LED support of the present invention has high light extraction efficiency, superior cooling capacity and wide range of use of power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Applicant: SHENZHEN LUMING SEMICONDUCTOR LIGHTING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Xiaoming Pei, Weichao Wu, Zhen Li
  • Publication number: 20130161845
    Abstract: A method of forming an optical surface on a solar collector that is made from a composite material adds epoxy to the collector. The epoxy is applied to a mandrel that has an outer surface shaped to conform to a concave side of the collector. The concave side of the collector is laid over the mandrel and into contact with the epoxy. The collector is set on the mandrel by first aligning one of the elongate edges of the collector with an elongate edge of the mandrel. Pivoting the collector about the interface defined between the edges of the collector and mandrel produces a wave front in the epoxy, so that when the collector is laid down onto the mandrel, a substantially uniform layer of epoxy is disposed between the collector and mandrel. Heating the resin bonds it to the collector and forms a substantially smooth optical quality surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2012
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Inventor: Robert Romeo