Linear Variation Patents (Class 359/486.02)
  • Patent number: 11485200
    Abstract: A filtering vision element forming a windshield or rearview mirror of a road vehicle includes a lower region and an upper region. The filtering vision element is designed so that a difference in attenuation between two linear polarizations of an incident radiation has values that are of opposite signs in the lower and upper regions. The two linear polarizations may respectively be horizontal and contained in a vertical plane. Blinding of the driver caused by a spot of reflected light produced on a road by headlights of an external vehicle may thus be decreased or prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: OFFICE NATIONAL D'ETUDES ET DE RECHERCHES AÉROSPATIALES
    Inventors: Riad Haïdar, Sylvain Maine, Gregory Vincent, Jérôme Primot, Hervé Lachaud
  • Patent number: 11467328
    Abstract: Provided is a polarizer having a non-polarization portion with reduced shape unevenness. The polarizer of the present invention is a polarizer having a non-polarization portion, in which the non-polarization portion has a shape matching degree of 0.05 or less. In such polarizer, the number of portions where the shape of the non-polarization portion is distorted is small. Accordingly, when the non-polarization portion of the polarizer is used as, for example, a portion corresponding to a camera portion of an image display apparatus, alignment processability is improved and hence the alignment of the camera can be satisfactorily performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: NITTO DENKO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shinobu Nagano, Masahiro Yaegashi
  • Patent number: 11306529
    Abstract: A space adjustment system and a control method thereof are provided. The space adjustment system includes a body, at least one door leaf, at least one motor, and a control circuit. The door leaf is movably disposed at the body. The door panel of each door leaf includes a panel. The motor can drive the motion of the door leaf. The control circuit is coupled with the panel of the door leaf and motor. The control circuit controls the motor to drive the door leaf, and adjusts the transparency or display function of the panel on the corresponding door leaf in response to a location of the door leaf. Accordingly, multiple space type can be created.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: COMPAL ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Ruei-Hong Hong, Wen-Yi Chiu, Wei-Jun Wang, Po-Chun Liu
  • Patent number: 11221497
    Abstract: A system includes a view screen with polarized output. A window capable of blocking the polarized output at least in part cloaks the view screen to frustrate viewing of the view screen through the window. In some cases, the window comprises an array of panels capable of blocking multiple polarizations. The array may disrupt multiple different polarized view screen outputs while maintaining transparency to unpolarized light. In some cases, the window capable of blocking polarized output may be paired with view screen cover that converts view screen output in an unblocked polarization to one of the one or more polarizations blocked by the window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: STEELCASE INC.
    Inventors: Andrew Graham, Skylar Thorne Kelly, Carl C. Cobb, Ryan Tatzel
  • Patent number: 11204641
    Abstract: Methods and devices for improving visual perception in challenging vision environments and for some with low vision conditions (including age related macular degeneration, AMD) are disclosed. A plurality of frequently co-pathological conditions that together make undistorted, clear and bright vision challenging are dealt with by managing the nature, amounts and patterns of light reaching the eyes while managing the sensitivity and dynamic ranges of the eyes. For example, the sensitivity of chromophore response to particular wavelengths and the instant status of the visual transduction system are, in some embodiments, measured, monitored and managed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Inventor: John Castle Simmons
  • Patent number: 10684684
    Abstract: Methods and devices for improving visual perception in challenging vision environments and for some with low vision conditions (including age related macular degeneration, AMD) are disclosed. A plurality of frequently co-pathological conditions that together make undistorted, clear and bright vision challenging are dealt with by managing the nature, amounts and patterns of light reaching the eyes while managing the sensitivity and dynamic ranges of the eyes. For example, the sensitivity of chromophore response to particular wavelengths and the instant status of the visual transduction system are, in some embodiments, measured, monitored and managed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Inventor: John Castle Simmons
  • Patent number: 10571957
    Abstract: An electronic device may have a display. Inactive portions of the display such as peripheral portions of the display may be masked using an opaque masking layer. An opening may be provided in the opaque masking layer to allow light to pass. For example, a logo may be viewed through an opening in the opaque masking layer and a camera may receive light through an opening in the opaque masking layer. The display may include upper and lower polarizers, a color filter layer, and a thin-film transistor layer. The opaque masking layer may be formed on the upper polarizer, may be interposed between the upper polarizer and the color filter layer, or may be interposed between the color filter layer and the thin-film transistor layer. The upper polarizer may have unpolarized windows for cameras, logos, or other internal structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Dinesh C. Mathew, Keith J. Hendren, Jun Qi, Victor H. Yin, Thomas Wilson, Jr., Adam T. Garelli
  • Patent number: 10502394
    Abstract: A display device includes board with a display region, and a light source that emits an illumination light having a polarization direction along a direction of a first absorption axis or a direction of a second absorption axis perpendicular to the first absorption axis. The display region includes a first region including a region polarization-microfabricated in the direction of the first absorption axis, a second absorption axis, and a third region that transmits the light. Only the first region and the third region are displayed on the display board by emitting the light having a polarization direction along the direction of the second absorption axis. Only the second region and the third region are displayed on the display board by the emitting the light having a polarization direction along the direction of the first absorption axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOKAI RIKA DENKI SEISAKUSHO
    Inventor: Hiroshi Yoshida
  • Patent number: 10429560
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a polarizing element including locally bleached areas including steps of providing a polarizing element including a polyvinyl alcohol-based polarizer in which at least one of iodine and dichroic dye is oriented in a certain direction; forming a mask layer including at least one punched area on one surface of the polarizing element; partially bleaching the polarizing element formed with the mask layer by immersing the polarizing element into a bleaching solution; and correcting an appearance of the partially bleached polarizing element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: LG CHEM, LTD.
    Inventors: Beom Seok Lee, Eung Jin Jang, Kyun Il Rah, Hyung Koo Kang, Byung Sun Lee, Du Jin Choi, Ho Jeong Yun
  • Patent number: 10331207
    Abstract: A multi-component method and device for improving vision for some with low vision conditions including age related macular degeneration (AMD) is disclosed. A plurality of co-pathological conditions that together make undistorted, clear and bright vision challenging are dealt with by managing the nature, amounts and patterns of light provided to the eye in a display embodiment. For example, a worn embodiment, in providing an improved image of the view ahead, modifies the frequency mix of incoming light, the relative intensities of light to different retinal locations and the color perception of the wearer while undistorting certain kinds of progressive distortion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Inventor: John Castle Simmons
  • Patent number: 10295727
    Abstract: A display device includes a polarizing layer having a polarizing function for reflecting or absorbing light polarized in a stretching direction of a pigment, a first display panel in which the polarizing function is disabled in a first region, a second display panel in which the polarizing function is disabled in a second region, and a light source that emits an illumination light having a polarization direction along the stretching direction or a direction perpendicular to the stretching direction. The first display panel and the second display panel are stacked together to form a display unit. Only the first region is displayed on the display unit by emitting illumination light having a polarization direction along the stretching direction of the first display panel. Only the second region is displayed on the display unit by emitting illumination light having a polarization direction along the stretching direction of the second display panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOKAI RIKA DENKI SEISAKUSHO
    Inventors: Mitsuru Naruse, Hiroshi Yoshida
  • Patent number: 10202074
    Abstract: This vehicular transmissive member includes: a first transmissive layer that is provided on a first side in a light passing direction and that has a first luminescent portion, which becomes visually recognizable by specific light; a second transmissive layer that is provided on a second side in the light passing direction further than the first transmissive layer and that has a second luminescent portion, which becomes visually recognizable by the specific light; and a light blocking layer that is provided between the first transmissive layer and the second transmissive layer and that blocks the specific light from passing through.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: HONDA ACCESS CORP.
    Inventor: Akira Kumada
  • Patent number: 9871594
    Abstract: Various embodiments include a variable transmission device including a first smart window panel, a second smart window panel, and a mechanical device configured to linearly translate at least a portion of the first panel relative to the second panel. Further embodiments include a method of varying radiation transmission including the steps of providing a variable transmission device, comprising a first smart window panel, a second smart window panel, and a mechanical device and actuating the mechanical device to linearly translate at least a portion of the first panel relative to the second panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: VG SMARTGLASS, LLC
    Inventors: Ryan Tatzel, William McLeod, William Glaser
  • Patent number: 9562388
    Abstract: Methods of forming polarized panes for variable transmission windows are disclosed. The polarized panes are formed from transparent substrates that are brushed with a brushing pattern that varies continuously in a select direction over each of one or more periods. A layer of polarizable material such as POLARCOAT material can be deposited on and responds to the brushed surface by forming a polarization pattern that substantially matches the brushing pattern and thus also includes one or more periods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventor: Timothy James Orsley
  • Patent number: 9423694
    Abstract: There is disclosed a polarization-modulating element for modulating a polarization state of incident light into a predetermined polarization state, the polarization-modulating element being made of an optical material with optical activity and having a circumferentially varying thickness profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Osamu Tanitsu, Koji Shigematsu, Hiroyuki Hirota, Tomoyuki Matsuyama
  • Patent number: 9103527
    Abstract: A light source unit includes LED 1 with an emission surface and polarizer 2 that is positioned opposite the emission surface of LED 1 and in which the direction of a transmission axis varies depending on a position in the plane of polarizer 2. Polarizer 2 includes a recessed and protruding structure which transmits, from among light that travels from LED 1 side into polarizer 2, a portion of the light whose polarization direction is parallel to the transmission axis, while reflecting and diffracting a portion of the light whose polarization direction is orthogonal to the transmission axis. The recessed and protruding structure includes diffraction grating 3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: NEC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Mizuho Tomiyama
  • Patent number: 9097858
    Abstract: Retarder film combinations generally include a retarder film connected to another optical component such that light transmitted by the retarder film can impinge on the optical component, the combination being configured to allow independent patterning of the retarder film and the optical component by selective birefringence reduction. The patterning can change a first light retardation to a third light retardation in a first zone without substantially changing optical characteristics of the optical component in the first zone. The optical component may be a second retarder film having a second light retardation, and the patterning may change the second light retardation to a fourth light retardation, without substantially changing the first light retardation, in a second zone. The optical component may also be a multilayer optical film, or a diffusely reflective optical film having a blended layer of first and second distinct phases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventor: William Ward Merrill
  • Patent number: 8998420
    Abstract: A hologram layer (13) is irradiated by light from an optical element (10). The hologram layer (13) is provided with a first hologram (14) that diffracts in a predetermined direction, from among incident light from the optical element (10), X-polarized light in which the polarization component is in a specific direction and emits the light as X-polarized light of a first phase state (P1), and a second hologram (15) that both diffracts in the same direction as the X-polarized light of the first phase state (P1) and moreover at an equal radiation angle, from among incident light from the optical element (10), Y-polarized light in which the polarization component is in a direction orthogonal to that of the X-polarized light and converts it to X-polarized light, and emits the light as X-polarized light of a second phase state (P2) that differs from the first phase state (P1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Shin Tominaga, Masao Imai, Goroh Saitoh, Masanao Natsumeda
  • Patent number: 8970954
    Abstract: A bidirectional Cartesian-cylindrical converter system and method for converting the spatial distribution of polarization states include a radial polarization converter capable of receiving a linearly polarized, spatially uniform, polarization distribution beam in order to convert it into a beam having a radial or azimuthal distribution of polarization states about an axis of symmetry. An optical device compensates for the phase shift induced by the radial polarization converter and is capable of introducing a spatially uniform phase shift to compensate for the phase shift introduced by the radial polarization converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Horiba Jobin Yvon SAS
    Inventors: Frederic Auzas, Olivier Acher
  • Patent number: 8896921
    Abstract: A wire grid type polarization structure is disclosed. In one aspect, the polarization structure includes a retardation layer and a plurality of nanowires formed on the retardation layer. Each of the nanowires includes a wire core and a shell enclosing the wire core. The wire cores include metal nanoparticles embedded therein. The metal nanoparticles may absorb the visible lights effectively, so that the wire grid type polarization structure may have a desired polarization characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hyun-Shik Lee
  • Patent number: 8830579
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a micro-optical phase film and a micro-lenticular lens. The optical phase film is integrally formed and includes an optical phase film base and a concave surface disposed on the optical phase film base. The concave surface has a plurality of concave and semi-cylinder like protrusions which are separated from each other in a constant pitch and have the same height. A lens layer covers the optical phase film to form a micro-lenticular lens. The optical phase film will exhibit different refractive index because of the incident light with different polarization angles, so as to achieve the object of 2D/3D image switching.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Futis International Ltd.
    Inventor: Jung-Tsung Wu
  • Patent number: 8727537
    Abstract: An image projection apparatus guides light from a light source to a first and a second image modulation elements and projects light modulated by the first and second image modulation elements towards an image plane. A first color separation element reflects first linearly polarized light of a first color light so as to guide the first linearly polarized light to the first image modulation element side, transmits second linearly polarized light of the first color light so as to guide the second linearly polarized light to the second image modulation element side, and reflects or transmits both of the first and second linearly polarized light of a second color light so as to guide both of the first and second linearly polarized light of the second color light to the second image modulation element side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuuki Maeda, Yu Yamauchi
  • Publication number: 20130163062
    Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for providing continuous light-transmissivity tuning through a mechanical smart window. In one aspect, a mechanical smart window including multiple layers is provided, each layer featuring light-blocking and light-transmitting areas. The layers may be moved relative to each other, changing the amount by which each light-blocking area occludes light-transmitting areas on other layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Applicant: QUALCOMM MEMS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Fan Yang, Wilhelmus Adrianus de Groot
  • Publication number: 20130077077
    Abstract: An optical system for a microlithographic projection exposure apparatus and a microlithographic exposure method are disclosed. In an embodiment an optical system for a microlithographic projection exposure apparatus includes at least one mirror arrangement having a plurality of mirror elements which are displaceable independently of each other for altering an angular distribution of the light reflected by the mirror arrangement. The optical system also includes at least one manipulator downstream of the mirror arrangement in the light propagation direction. The manipulator has a raster arrangement of manipulator elements so that light incident on the manipulator during operation of the optical system is influenced differently in its polarization state and/or in its intensity in dependence on the incidence location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2012
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Applicant: CARL ZEISS SMT GMBH
    Inventor: CARL ZEISS SMT GMBH
  • Publication number: 20130065037
    Abstract: A cellulose ester film has: a ratio of a sound velocity in a width direction to a sound velocity in a longitudinal direction of from 0.9 to 1.1; a moist heat dimensional change rate in the width direction of from ?0.2% to 0.2%, the moist heat dimensional change being one after the cellulose ester film is left standing at 60° C. and 90% RH for 24 hours; and a humidity dimensional change rate in the width direction of 0.38% or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicant: FUJIFILM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hidenori HAYASHI, Hajime NAKAYAMA
  • Publication number: 20130002998
    Abstract: A polarizing element includes a plurality of polarizing sections, wherein a first polarizing section included in the plurality of polarizing sections has a first base material and a plurality of first acicular particles dispersed in the first base material such that long axes of the first acicular particles are aligned in substantially the same direction, a second polarizing section included in the plurality of polarizing sections has a second base material and a plurality of second acicular particles dispersed in the second base material such that long axes of the second acicular particles are aligned in substantially the same direction, and the specification of the first acicular particles is different from that of the second acicular particles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2012
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Daisuke SAWAKI, Nobuhiko KENMOCHI, Noriko Kenmochi
  • Patent number: 8345527
    Abstract: An optical phase controller includes an optical phase control element so that a phase of incident light applied to the optical phase control element is controlled. The optical phase control element includes a metal structure having anisotropy in a first direction and a second direction perpendicular to the first direction within an electric-field vibration plane of the incident light, the wavelength of the incident light includes a plasmon resonance wavelength possessed by the metal structure, and the incident light is linearly polarized light or elliptically polarized light simultaneously having polarized components in the first direction and the second direction perpendicular to the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoichiro Handa
  • Publication number: 20120224262
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a micro-optical phase film and a micro-lenticular lens. The optical phase film is integrally formed and includes an optical phase film base and a concave surface disposed on the optical phase film base. The concave surface has a plurality of concave and semi-cylinder like protrusions which are separated from each other in a constant pitch and have the same height. A lens layer covers the optical phase film to form a micro-lenticular lens. The optical phase film will exhibit different refractive index because of the incident light with different polarization angles, so as to achieve the object of 2D/3D image switching.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2012
    Publication date: September 6, 2012
    Applicant: VUSENSE CORPORATION
    Inventor: JUNG-TSUNG WU
  • Publication number: 20120026586
    Abstract: A display device and a phase retardation film are provided. The display device includes a display module and a phase retardation layer disposed at the display module. The display module has sub-pixel regions arranged into an array along a first direction and a perpendicular second direction. The phase retardation layer has stripe-shaped first regions and second regions. The first regions and the second regions are parallel to each other and alternatively arranged. A long axis of one first region forms an acute angle with the first direction. The first regions and the second regions allow lights in different polarization states to pass through. The phase retardation film is a rectangle and has stripe-shaped first regions and second regions. The first regions and the second regions are parallel to each other and alternatively arranged. A long axis of one first region forms an acute angle with one side of the rectangle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2011
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Applicant: CHIMEI INNOLUX CORPORATION
    Inventor: SHENG-CHANG CHEN
  • Publication number: 20110242652
    Abstract: An optical device (10) comprising two layers (12, 18), with each layer having a plurality of adjacent and substantially coplanar polarizing layer portions (14, 16), with any two adjacent ones of these polarizing layer portions having orthogonal polarization directions. These two layers are movable relative to one another such that each of the polarizing layer portions from one layer can substantially overlap at least two of the polarizing layer portions from the other layer, with one of these other polarizing layer portions having a substantially identical polarization direction (FIG. 2a) and the other having an orthogonal polarization direction (FIG. 26). In this way, radiation wavelengths passing through the two layers can be selectively blocked and transmitted therethrough by moving the two layers relative to one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2009
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Inventor: Hassan Sahouani