Including Metal Or Conductive Layer Patents (Class 359/585)
  • Patent number: 7508567
    Abstract: A device includes a pair of two partially transmitting optical surfaces positioned approximately parallel to each other and spaced apart. A high reflectance metal etalon coating is formed on each of the optical surfaces. An enhancing stack is coupled to the metal etalon coating on each of the optical surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Stephan R. Clark
  • Patent number: 7508586
    Abstract: An optical filter is formed of a layer stack that includes metallic layers and dielectric layers, with at least one dielectric layer being defined by more than one zinc-based film. These zinc-based films have different percentages of zinc. The selections of the percentages are based upon the positions of the films within the dielectric layer. An unexpectedly low sheet resistance is available if the zinc-based film that immediately precedes forming a metallic layer has a percentage of zinc in the range of 80 percent to next to 100 percent. Process stabilization and manufacturing cost are provided by placing the percentage of the lower zinc-based film closer to 50 percent (25-75). Process stabilization is further enhanced by providing an indium-based film within the dielectric layer adjacent to the metallic layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignee: Southwall Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Roland Thielsch, Thomas Boehme, Chris H. Stoessel, Lee Boman
  • Patent number: 7508591
    Abstract: A projector incorporating a prism and a plurality of light valves for modulating light that passes though the prism, wherein the color splitting-converging prism includes a dichroic coating having multiple layers of high and low index of refraction and ¼ wavelength thickness at each desired angle of incidence for reducing dichroic shift and thereby minimizing light loss.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignee: Christie Digital Systems Canada, Inc,
    Inventor: George P. Pinho
  • Publication number: 20080278052
    Abstract: A filter that has an excellent light room contrast, reduced double image formation, reduced external light reflection, lightweight, slim, inexpensive to produce, and a display apparatus having the filter. The filter made out of one sheet includes a reflection preventing layer arranged as the outermost layer of the filter, an electromagnetic wave shielding layer arranged on a rear surface of the reflection preventing layer and a base film arranged on a rear surface of the electromagnetic wave shielding layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2008
    Publication date: November 13, 2008
    Inventor: Cha-Won Hwang
  • Publication number: 20080278817
    Abstract: The invention relates to a layered system of a component that can be thermally stressed, comprising at least one for expanding the application scope of layered systems and in particular for improving their life cycle. Said layer has at least one first and at least one second material and a mixture profile (1) that varies at least almost continuously with the layer thickness, without forming a boundary layer between the first and second material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2008
    Publication date: November 13, 2008
    Applicant: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft Patente und Lizenzen
    Inventors: Michael Vergohl, Christoph Rickers, Frank Neumann, Christina Polenzky
  • Patent number: 7449244
    Abstract: The invention relates to a plate for fireplace insert or stove, or equivalent, formed from at least one substrate made of a glass material comprising at least one reflective coating on at least one of its faces. The invention also relates to the process for manufacturing the plate and to the device that includes said plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: Eurokera S.N.C.
    Inventors: Pablo Vilato, Mieke Nelson, Atticus Rutledge
  • Publication number: 20080212189
    Abstract: A rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle includes a reflective element having at least one substrate with a reflective coating thereon. A specularly reflective indicia reflector is established to form indicia or information at the reflective element. The indicia reflector provides a visible contrast to the main mirror reflector so that the indicia or information is subtly viewable by a person viewing the mirror assembly. The reflective element reflects light incident thereon over the surface coated by the reflective coating of the main mirror reflector, including the area at which the indicia reflector is established.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2006
    Publication date: September 4, 2008
    Applicant: DONNELLY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael J. Baur, Ian A. McCabe, Hamid Habibi, Niall R. Lynam
  • Patent number: 7417219
    Abstract: Using a realistic plasmonic model, an optically thick electrically conductive film with subwavelength hole or holes therein is shown to always support propagating modes near the surface plasmon frequency, where cross-sectional dimensions of the hole or holes are less than about ?/2nh, ? being the wavelength of the light and nh the refractive index of the dielectric material in the hole or holes. This is the case even when material losses are taken into account. Based on the dispersion analysis, in both a single hole or hole array designs, propagating modes play a dominant role in the transport properties of incident light. These structures exhibit a new region of operation, while featuring a high packing density and diffraction-less behavior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2008
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University
    Inventors: Peter B. Catrysse, Hocheol Shin, Shanhui Fan
  • Patent number: 7405872
    Abstract: A combination of filters for filtering selected wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation is provided on a transparent substrate such as a plastic film or glazing of a window. The combination of filters prevents or attenuates the passage of wavelengths through the substrate into a building, where the passage of the wavelengths into the building could adversely affect people or machinery within the building. The combination of filters is useful improve wireless networks performance by blocking or attenuating undesired electromagnetic interference, and radio frequency interference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignees: ASTIC Signals Defenses LLC, CPFilms, Inc.
    Inventors: Deron Simpson, Lisa Y. Winckler
  • Patent number: 7405873
    Abstract: A UV-bandpass filter for transmitting therethrough light having a wavelength included in a UV-region. The bandpass filter is an optical filter including a thin silver film; wherein the thin silver film includes an entrance face and an exit face opposing the entrance face, for emitting light having a wavelength included in a specific UV-region whose wavelength ranges from 250 nm to 400 nm in the light having reached the entrance face, and has such a thickness as to yield a transmittance of 10% or less with respect to light having a wavelength excluding the specific UV-region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Hamamatsu Photonics K.K.
    Inventors: Masayuki Sakakibara, Masaru Morishita
  • Publication number: 20080174872
    Abstract: An electroconductive laminate comprising a substrate and an electroconductive film formed on the substrate, wherein the electroconductive film has a multilayer structure having a high refractive index layer containing an inorganic compound and a metal layer alternately laminated from the substrate side in a total layer number of (2n+1) (wherein n is an integer of from 1 to 12); the refractive index of the inorganic compound is from 1.5 to 2.7; the metal layer is a layer containing silver; the total thickness of all metal layer(s) is from 25 to 100 nm; and the resistivity of the electroconductive film is from 2.5 to 6.0 ??cm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2007
    Publication date: July 24, 2008
    Applicant: Asahi Glass Company, Limited
    Inventors: Tamotsu MORIMOTO, Masato Kawasaki, Hideaki Miyazawa
  • Patent number: 7362506
    Abstract: A projector incorporating a prism and a plurality of light valves for modulating light that passes though the prism, wherein the color splitting-converging prism includes a dichroic coating having multiple layers of high and low index of refraction and ¼ wavelength thickness at each desired angle of incidence for reducing dichroic shift and thereby minimizing light loss.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: Christie Digital Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: George P. Pinho
  • Patent number: 7351448
    Abstract: An apparatus and process for coating surfaces of metal or metallic components including providing at least one metal having a patterned outer surface exhibiting an optical reflection greater than about 40%, providing at least one anti-reflective coating material, the anti-reflective coating material(s) including effective amount of electrically conductive light scattering and/or wavelength absorbent properties, and depositing the anti-reflective coating material(s) onto the patterned outer surface(s) of each metal, wherein the anti-reflective coating material(s) conforms to the desired patterned outer surface(s) of each metal. In another embodiment, a coated metal component includes at least one metal having a patterned outer surface(s); and, a coating of at least one antireflective material deposited on the metal patterned outer surface by deposition, wherein the antireflective coating material(s) including effective amount of electrically conductive light scattering and/or wavelength absorbent properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: David J. Irvin, Andrew Guenthner, Nicholas Prokopuk
  • Patent number: 7323217
    Abstract: An optical-interference type reflective panel and a method for making the same are disclosed, wherein the display panel has a substrate on which multiple supporting layers are firstly formed. Then, a plurality of first conductive optical film stacks, spacing layers and multiple second conductive optical film stacks are sequentially formed on the substrate. Finally, once the spacing layers are removed, optical-interference regulators are formed. Since said supporting layers forming step is prior to the first conductive optical film stacks, a precise back-side exposing step is not necessary so that the making procedure of the panel is simplified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: QUALCOMM MEMS Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Wen-Jian Lin, Hsiung-Kuang Tsai
  • Patent number: 7301703
    Abstract: A tunable filter including; a fixed substrate provided with a fixed reflecting film and capable of transmitting light having a shorter wavelength than infrared light; a movable substrate provided with a movable section equipped with a movable reflecting film and disposed to the fixed substrate so that the movable reflecting film and the fixed reflecting film faces each other with a predetermined length of gap; and a drive section for varying the length of the gap by displacing the movable section with respect to the fixed substrate, wherein light entering the gap from the outside is repeatedly reflected by the movable reflecting film and the fixed reflecting film for outputting light having a wavelength corresponding to the length of the gap, and the movable section is provided, at an area to which the movable reflecting film is disposed, with a light transmitting section capable of transmitting light having a shorter wavelength than infrared light and for inputting/outputting light from/to the outside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Ryosuke Nakamura, Akihiro Murata
  • Patent number: 7298550
    Abstract: The invention provides a dichroic mirror having a transmission characteristic in which a step due to splitting of P-polarized and S-polarized light can be reduced and having a fluorescence-transmitting band extending to long wavelengths. The invention also provides a fluorescence filter set that can be constructed of environmentally conscious glass materials that do no use harmful substances, such as lead, and a fluoroscopy apparatus including such a fluorescence filter set. The dichroic mirror comprises a transparent substrate and a dielectric multilayer film formed by alternately laminating high-refractive-index layers and low-refractive-index layers on the transparent substrate. The dielectric multilayer film includes from 50 to 150 alternately laminated high-refractive-index layers and low-refractive-index layers each having an optical film thickness from 1.5?0/4 to 2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Daisuke Nishiwaki, Kei Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 7295368
    Abstract: A combination of filters for filtering selected wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation is provided on a transparent substrate such as a plastic film or glazing of a window. The combination of filters prevents or attenuates the passage of wavelengths through the substrate which would pose a security risk. The combination of filters is useful to prevent unauthorized data collection and information exchange from or within buildings or otherwise prevent such unauthorized data collection and information exchange from, for example, computer monitors or screens, personal digital assistance, and local area networks. The substrate with the combination of filters may be in the form of a bag or a tent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignees: Astic Signals Defenses, LLC, CPFilms, Inc.
    Inventors: Deron Simpson, Lisa Y. Winckler, Ronald L. Spraker
  • Patent number: 7283303
    Abstract: A conductive anti-reflection coating has a surface quarterwave layer that is broken up into smaller portions by inserting one or more thin layers of conductive material in the dielectric material. The resulting stack of alternating layers of a dielectric material and an electrically conductive material provides a solid electrical contact to the buried conductive layer and exhibits a low surface contact resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2007
    Assignee: JDS Uniphase Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuaki Takano, Andrew John Church, Thomas R. Jones, Brad Scott Tarter
  • Patent number: 7239464
    Abstract: An absorption type multi-layer film ND filter having a substrate and an optical multi-layer member consisting essentially of metal layers each composed chiefly of nickel (Ni) and dielectric layers each formed of any one of SiO2, Al2O3 and a mixture of these; the layers being alternately layered on the substrate. An Ni type metallic material having a small wavelength dependence of transmittance in the visible spectral range is used in the metal layers serving as light attenuation layers, and this enables materialization of an ND filter which can attain transmittance attenuation that is flat for wavelengths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: Sumitomo Metal Mining Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideharu Okami, Yoshiyuki Abe, Tokuyuki Nakayama
  • Patent number: 7224527
    Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a reflector using a metal thin film layer, particularly a reflector having higher reflectance than in the prior art. Specifically, studies have been made to provide a reflector which exhibits a superior reflection-increasing effect. As a result, it has been found that if the thickness of a low refractive index thin film layer (B) which comes in contact with a metal thin film layer (A) is controlled so that it is within a range of 0.7 ?/8nL–1.3 ?/8nL, a reflector having an arrangement of metal layer (A)/low refractive index thin film layer (B)/high refractive index thin film layer (C) exhibits reflectance which is extremely superior than in the prior art over a wide wavelength range. More specifically, it exhibits higher reflectance than a pure silver single film does, and a reflector superior in durability can be obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    Assignee: Mitsui Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Katsuhiko Koike, Koichi Shimada, Shin Fukuda
  • Patent number: 7224528
    Abstract: A security article includes a light transmissive substrate having a first surface and an opposing second surface, with the first surface having an optical interference pattern such as a holographic image pattern or an optical diffraction pattern thereon. A color shifting optical coating is formed on the substrate such as on the interference pattern or on the opposing second surface of the substrate, with the optical coating providing an observable color shift as the angle of incident light or viewing angle changes. Various processes can be utilized to form the security article, such as vacuum coating processes, lamination, laser scribing, and laser imaging. The security article can be affixed to a variety of objects through various attachment mechanisms, such as pressure sensitive adhesives or hot stamping processes, to provide for enhanced security measures such as anticounterfeiting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    Assignee: JDS Uniphase Corporation
    Inventors: Roger W. Phillips, Richard L. Bonkowski, Patrick K. Higgins, Charles T. Markantes
  • Patent number: 7215473
    Abstract: A heat mirror film containing visible light-transmissive and infrared reflective film comprising a birefringent dielectric multilayer support that reflects at least 50% of light in a band at least 100 nm wide in a wavelength region of interest, a metal or metal alloy layer whose thickness is such that the film is visible light-transmissive and its reflection band is broadened, and a crosslinked polymeric layer has improved infrared reflecting properties. The film can be joined or laminated into glazing (especially non-planar vehicular safety glazing) with reduced likelihood that the metal or metal alloy layer will be damaged or distorted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2007
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: Robert James Fleming
  • Patent number: 7212342
    Abstract: An indium tin oxide layer is formed on a glass substrate, and then a silicon nitride layer, an amorphous silicon layer and an n-type silicon layer are sequentially formed on the indium tin oxide layer to serve as a color filter. Thicknesses and processing conditions of the above layers are adjustable for providing various color filters, such as black matrixes, reflective red color filters, reflective green color filters, and reflective blue color filters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Assignee: Prime View International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Wei-Chou Lan, Shih-Kwei Chiou
  • Patent number: 7209608
    Abstract: Provided is a Fabry-Perot type wavelength tunable optical filter, comprising a first mirror; a second mirror located over the first mirror; a driving body located over the first mirror, and having both ends fixed to the first mirror through a spacer; a plurality of electrodes, each formed on both ends of the driving body; a rod structure connecting a center of the driving body and the second mirror; a plurality of fixing means, each fixed to the first mirror at both sides of the rod structure through the spacer; and a plurality of elastic bodies connecting the rod structure with the plurality of fixing means and acting as a rotational axis. And the mirror is driven by the rod structure acting as a lever that has an elastic body as a rotational axis, when warping is generated by electro-thermal expansion, electromagnetic force or external force. Thereby the mirror can be driven in the larger wavelength tunable range and the low power consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2007
    Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Chang Kyu Kim, Myung Lae Lee, Chi Hoon Jun, Chang Auck Choi, Yun Tae Kim
  • Patent number: 7203003
    Abstract: A reflective Ag alloy film includes a Ag—Bi alloy thin film, and a Bi layer and/or a Bi oxide layer formed on the surface and/or between the Ag—Bi alloy thin film and another layer formed on the Ag—Bi alloy thin film. The thickness of the Bi layer and/or the Bi oxide layer is 2.0 nm or below. The Ag—Bi alloy thin film of the reflective Ag alloy film has a Bi content in the range of 0.01 to 3.0 at %. A reflector is formed by depositing the Ag—Bi alloy thin film on a base member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
    Inventors: Junichi Nakai, Toshiki Sato, Katsutoshi Takagi, Yuuki Tauchi
  • Patent number: 7199927
    Abstract: In an optical element, a first mirror stack layer is formed on a substrate, and a spacer layer made of a paraelectric material having a secondary electrooptic effect is formed thereon through a first conductive thin film. Further, a second mirror stack layer is formed thereon through a second conductive thin film, and a coupling layer is formed thereon; thus, a basic structure of the optical element is formed. By changing a voltage to be applied between the first and second conductive thin films, it becomes possible to switch wavelengths of light to be transmitted through the optical element at a high speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Santec Corporation
    Inventor: Noboru Uehara
  • Patent number: 7193768
    Abstract: An optical interference display unit with a first electrode, a second electrode and support structures located between the two electrodes is provided. The second electrode has at least a first material layer and a second material layer. At least one material layer of the two is made from conductive material and the second conductive layer is used as a mask while an etching process is performed to etch the first material layer to define the second electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Assignee: Qualcomm MEMS Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Wen-Jian Lin
  • Patent number: 7184215
    Abstract: An exemplary embodiment of the invention is an optical filter including a mirror including a plurality of first dielectric layers having a first index of refraction and a plurality of second dielectric layers having a second index of refraction. A plurality of the first dielectric layers have an integer quarter wave optical thickness and at least one of the first dielectric layers has a non-integer quarter wave optical thickness. A plurality of the second dielectric layers have an integer quarter wave optical thickness and at least one of the second dielectric layers has a non-integer quarter wave optical thickness. In an exemplary embodiment, the non-integer quarter wave optical thickness first layer and the non-integer quarter wave optical thickness second layer are determined so as to enhance transmission at a predetermined wavelength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2007
    Assignee: Ciena Corporation
    Inventor: Vladimir Pelekhaty
  • Patent number: 7177075
    Abstract: A combination of filters for filtering selected wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation is provided on a transparent substrate such as a plastic film or glazing of a window. The combination of filters prevents or attenuates the passage of wavelengths through the substrate which would pose a security risk. The combination of filters is useful to prevent unauthorized data collection and information exchange from or within buildings or otherwise prevent such unauthorized data collection and information exchange from, for example, computer monitors or screens, personal digital assistance, and local area networks. The substrate with the combination of filters may be in the form of a bag or a tent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignees: Astic Signals Defenses, LLC, CPFilms, Inc.
    Inventors: Deron Simpson, Lisa Y. Winckler, Ronald L. Spraker
  • Patent number: 7169441
    Abstract: There is provided a UV-reflective interference layer system for transparent substrates with broadband anti-reflection properties in the visible wavelength range. The interference layer system includes at least four individual layers. Successive layers have different refractive indices and the individual layers contain UV and temperature-stable inorganic materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Assignee: Schott Spezialglas GmbH
    Inventors: Bruno Vitt, Juergen Blankenburg, Werner J. Behr, Karl-Heinz Dasecke, Birgit Lintner
  • Patent number: 7167612
    Abstract: A wavelength tunable filter capable of being driven such that reflecting mirrors move more distant as well as closer by using the principle that a direction of the electromagnetic forces changes depending on the direction of the current flowing perpendicular to the external magnetic field. According to the wavelength tunable filter of the present invention, when it is necessary to have the wavelength tuning range and mechanical structure similar to the conventional wavelength tunable filter driven in only one direction, it is possible to lower the maximum force needed to drive the filter to a half, and reduce a probability that a pull-in phenomenon occurs. On the other hand, it is possible to reduce a wavelength change time of the element by increasing a resonant frequency when the same wavelength tuning ranges are implemented by using the same maximum driving forces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2007
    Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Chang Kyu Kim, Myung Lae Lee, Chang Auck Choi, Chi Hoon Jun
  • Patent number: 7167309
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods relating to display stacks wherein one or more index matching layers are utilized to minimize reflectance at the boundaries of otherwise adjacent layers. More particularly, the present invention is directed to methods and apparatus relating to a multilayer display stack comprising a glass layer, a first index matching layer, a first intermediate layer, a second index matching layer, a second intermediate layer, and a light emitting display panel wherein: the glass layer, first index matching layer, first intermediate layer, second index matching layer, and second intermediate layer are each transparent or translucent, and comprise an index of refraction; the index of refraction of the first index matching layer is between the index of refraction of the glass layer and the first intermediate layer; and the index of refraction of the second index matching layer is between the index of refraction of the first intermediate layer and the second intermediate layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2007
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corporation
    Inventors: Ragini Saxena, Ban S. Bong, Steven E. Havelka, Thomas Loo, Albert V. Scappaticci
  • Patent number: 7161738
    Abstract: A secure document value includes a sheet-like substrate and a thin film, optically variable security device on the substrate. The security device includes a carrier and a multilayer coating on the carrier. The multilayer coating includes a dielectric-metal stack having an exposed reflective layer that is tailored after manufacture to include security data proprietary to the issuer of the document of value thereby to deter forgery. Since the security device is tailored after manufacture, the end supplier of the document of value does not need to provide the proprietary information to the manufacturer of the security device for incorporation therein. This also enables the manufacturer of the security device to stockpile material until such time the material must be customized to include proprietary data. This results in shorter lead times and better response to market demands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Assignee: Agra Vadeko Inc.
    Inventors: John N. Disano, Omar Caporaletti
  • Patent number: 7156533
    Abstract: A rearview mirror for motor vehicles having a layer substrate and a coating applied onto the back thereof, includes a reflective mirror coating and an intermediate layer, which may be made of a semiconductor material, arranged between the reflective mirror coating and the layer substrate. The value of the coloring parameter C=?{square root over (a02+b02)} is greater than 5 and the color change ?E resulting from a tilting of the rearview mirror by 45° from the perpendicular viewing angle as a function of the magnitude of the color value a0 according to CIE is not greater than ?E?½·(|a0|?8) wherein a0??20, ?E?6 wherein ?20?a0?0, and ?E?½·(a0+12), especially ?½·(a0?3), preferably ??·(a0?3), advantageously ??·(a0?3), wherein a0?0. The intermediate layer may be made of semiconductor material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: Flabeg GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Thomas Hoeing
  • Patent number: 7149032
    Abstract: The present invention provides a Fresnel lens sheet capable of successfully avoiding the “collapse”, “abrasion” and “moiré” problems. A Fresnel lens sheet constitutes, together with a lenticular lens sheet, a rear projection screen, which is mounted in the frame of a rear projection type display. The Fresnel lens sheet includes, on one surface of its substrate, a Fresnel lens part containing a plurality of lenses concentrically formed on one plane. The apexes of the lenses situated in the area between the center and the outer edge of the Fresnel lens part are flattened to give flat faces, and the widths of the flat faces of the lenses on the outer edge side are made greater than the widths of the flat faces of the lenses on the center side. The widths of the flat faces of the lenses are from 0 to 30 ?m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Assignee: Tomoegawa Paper Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuya Ohishi, Yoshiaki Matsuura, Yasuhiko Motoda, Kensaku Higashi
  • Patent number: 7119959
    Abstract: A film for optical applications which effectively prevents reflection of light on the surface of image display devices such as PDP, CRT and LCD, exhibits excellent scratch resistance and transmission of light, provides excellent adhesion between layers and can be produced at a low cost is disclosed. The film comprises (A) a high refractivity hard coat layer (the refractive index: 1.60 to 1.75, the thickness: 2 to 20 ?m) comprising (a) an antimony-doped tin oxide having a needle shape (the average particle diameter along the major axis: 0.05 to 10 ?m, the average aspect ratio: 3 to 100), (b) at least one other metal oxide and (c) a material cured with an ionizing radiation and (B) a low refractivity layer (the refractive index: 1.30 to 1.45, the thickness: 40 to 200 nm), which are successively laminated at least on one face of a substrate film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2006
    Assignee: Lintec Corporation
    Inventors: Satoru Shoshi, Yutaka Onozawa
  • Patent number: 7116483
    Abstract: A distributed Bragg reflector and a method of fabricating the same incorporates a support for supporting the gaps against collapse. The method includes forming a plurality of alternating structure and sacrificial layers on a substrate. The structure and sacrificial layers are etched into at least one mesa protruding from the substrate. A support layer is formed on the at least one mesa leaving a portion of the structure and sacrificial layers exposed. At least a portion of at least one of the exposed sacrificial layers are etched from between the structure layers to form gaps between the structure layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Assignee: Avago Technologies Fiber IP (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Scott W. Corzine, Michael Renne Ty Tan, Chao Kun Lin, Jintian Zhu, Michael H. Leary
  • Patent number: 7113338
    Abstract: A thin-film structure includes plate-shaped metals or plate-shaped structures in which a plate-shaped metal and a plate-shaped dielectric are in contact. The plate-shaped metal or structures are formed on a transparent base having a surface with line-shaped corrugated structures. The plate-shaped metals or structures are perpendicular to or oblique to the surface of the base. The thin-film structure has characteristics suitable for polarizers used in liquid crystal projectors and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2006
    Assignee: Nippon Sheet Glass Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Terufusa Kunisada, Satoru Kusaka, Kenichi Nakama
  • Patent number: 7111950
    Abstract: A method for forming a metallic mirror surface on a receiving surface is shown. The method comprises the steps of: cleaning the underlay surface; spraying on the receiving surface an activating treatment agent solution wherein the activating treatment agent solution contains a hydrochloric acid solution including about 10 cc to about 44 cc of hydrochloric acid, about 1.5 g to about 5 g of stannous chloride and about 0.001 g to about 0.005 g of a precious metal salt of at least one of a silver nitrate, palladium chloride, gold chloride and platinum chloride per 1 liter of water for use as an activating treatment agent for forming a metallic mirror surface on a receiving surface which is treated with the hydrochloric acid solution as an activating treatment agent solution; and separately spraying concurrently on the underlay surface a reacting metal salt and a reducing agent to form the metallic mirror surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2006
    Assignee: American Spray Coatings
    Inventors: Akihiro Takahagi, Yuji Kanomata
  • Patent number: 7106514
    Abstract: An optical tunable filter includes a first substrate 3 having a light transmitting property which includes a movable portion 31, a second substrate 20 having a light transmitting property which is provided so as to be opposed to the first substrate, a first gap 21 and a second gap 22 which are respectively provided between the movable portion 31 and the second substrate 20, an interference portion which causes interference of incident light between the movable portion 31 and the second substrate 20 through the second gap 22, and a driving portion which changes a distance of the second gap 22 by displacing the movable portion 31 with respect to the second substrate 20 using the first gap 21. This makes it possible to provide an optical tunable filter having a simpler structure and a smaller size, which can be manufactured through a simplified manufacturing process without using a release hole and can achieve stable driving of a movable portion, and a method for manufacturing such an optical tunable filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Akihiro Murata, Ryosuke Nakamura, Shinichi Kamisuki
  • Patent number: 7106516
    Abstract: A material with spectrally selective reflection in the primary valences of red, green and blue is applied preferably onto laser projection screens in order to make possible the projection even in daylight. In a first embodiment, a first layer of a material that is highly reflective over the entire range of visible light, e.g., aluminum is applied onto a substrate, e.g., glass or a synthetic material, followed by a second layer of a material that is essentially non-absorbing over the entire range of visible light, e.g., SiO2. A third layer in contact with air is applied to the second layer and is made of a material that is partially transmissive over the entire range of visible light, e.g., of NiCr An alternative embodiment comprise five layers, The first layer is made a material with a high index of refraction, e.g.; TiO2, a second of a material with a low index of refraction, e.g., SiO2, the third of a material with a high index of refraction, e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Assignee: Applied Films GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Hans-Georg Lotz, Peter Sauer
  • Patent number: 7078090
    Abstract: A decorative foil is in the form of a layer composite structure (1) and comprises at least a transparent base foil (2), a transparent cover layer (4) and a transparent dielectric layer (3) arranged between the base foil (2) and the cover layer (4). When the decorative foil serves as a lamination foil for a substrate (5) the material of the cover layer (4) is an adhesive. A reflective metallic layer (6) is arranged at least in surface portions between the dielectric layer (3) and the cover layer (4) and optionally a metal film (11) is also arranged on the side of the dielectric layer (3) facing the base foil (2). General items of information shown by the decorative foil are produced by means of modulation of the thickness (s) of the dielectric layer (3). Transparent locations (7) form individual items of information, wherein the transparent locations (7) are produced with a laser beam (19) by perforating the metal layer (6; 11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: OVD Kinegram AG
    Inventors: Wayne Robert Tompkin, René Staub
  • Patent number: 7037577
    Abstract: A transparent substrate particularly of glass, provided with a stack of thin layers having at least one metallic layer (4) having properties in the infrared range particularly having low emissivity and two coatings having a base of dielectric material located one (8) under and the other (9) over the layer having properties in the infrared range, as well as a protective metallic layer (5) place immediately over an in contact with the layer having properties in the infrared range, characterized in that in order to prevent the modification of properties of the stack, particularly optical and thermal properties, in the case where the substrate is submitted to a thermal treatment of the tempering or bending kind, firstly the second coating (9) having a base of dielectric material, includes a barrier layer for the diffusion of oxygen chosen from the following materials: components of silicon SiO2, SiOxCy, SiONNy, nitrates such as Si3N4 or AlN, carbides such as SiC, TiC, CrC, TaC of a thickness of at least 10 nanome
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignee: Saint-Gobain Glass France
    Inventors: Philippe Macquart, Olivier Guiselin, Veronique Rondeau
  • Patent number: 7029745
    Abstract: A security article includes a light transmissive substrate having a first surface and an opposing second surface, with the first surface having an embossed region with an optical diffraction pattern or a holographic image pattern. A color shifting optical coating is formed on the substrate such as on the opposing second surface, with the optical coating providing an observable color shift as the angle of incident light or viewing angle changes. The security article can be used in a variety of applications and products to provide for enhanced security measures such as anticounterfeiting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: JDS Uniphase Corporation
    Inventors: Richard L. Bonkowski, Patrick K. Higgins, Charles T. Markantes, Roger W. Phillips
  • Patent number: 7005178
    Abstract: A security article includes a light transmissive substrate having a first surface and an opposing second surface, with the first surface having an embossed region with an optical diffraction pattern or a holographic image pattern. A color shifting optical coating is formed on the substrate such as on the opposing second surface, with the optical coating providing an observable color shift as the angle of incident light or viewing angle changes. The security article can be used in a variety of applications and products to provide for enhanced security measures such as anticounterfeiting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2006
    Assignee: JDS Uniphase Corporation
    Inventors: Richard L. Bonkowski, Patrick K. Higgins, Charles T. Markantes, Roger W. Phillips
  • Patent number: 6999236
    Abstract: An optical-interference type reflective panel and a method for making the same are disclosed, wherein the display panel has a substrate on which multiple supporting layers are firstly formed. Then, a plurality of first conductive optical film stacks, spacing layers and multiple second conductive optical film stacks are sequentially formed on the substrate. Finally, once the spacing layers are removed, optical-interference regulators are formed. Since said supporting layers forming step is prior to the first conductive optical film stacks, a precise back-side exposing step is not necessary so that the making procedure of the panel is simplified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Assignee: Prime View International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Wen-Jian Lin, Hsiung-Kuang Tsai
  • Patent number: 6992826
    Abstract: Devices based on surface plasmon filters having at least one metal-dielectric interface to support surface plasmon waves. A multi-layer-coupled surface plasmon notch filter is provided to have more than two symmetric metal-dielectric interfaces coupled with one another to produce a transmission spectral window with desired spectral profile and bandwidth. Such notch filters can form various color filtering devices for color flat panel displays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: California Institute of Technology
    Inventor: Yu Wang
  • Patent number: 6982832
    Abstract: The invention concerns an optically variable element, in particular an optically variable safeguard element for safeguarding banknotes, credit cards and the like, and a security product and a foil, in particular an embossing foil or a laminating foil, with such an optically variable element. The optically variable element has a thin film layer (54, 55, 58) for producing color change by means of interference and a further layer (51, 52, 53, 59). The thin film is in the form of a partial thin film element which covers the surface region of the further layer only in region-wise and pattern-shaped manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Assignee: Leonard Kurz GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Heinrich Wild, Ludwig Brehm
  • Patent number: 6975453
    Abstract: The present invention comprises a multilayer inorganic anti-reflective coating with predetermined optical properties, for application on a flexible substrate. The coating comprises a stack consisting of five material layers, whereby the third layer is a dummy layer consisting of an electrically conductive material, preferably indium-tinoxyde, which provides the coating with an adjustable electrical sheet resistance of between 25 and 2000 ?/sq without thereby influencing its optical properties. The anti-reflective coating can be applied onto a flexible substrate (e.g. a polymer film) by means of a single 12 or double pass vacuum magnetron sputtering operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2005
    Assignee: Innovative Sputtering Technology
    Inventors: Paul Lippens, Peter Persoone
  • Patent number: 6965191
    Abstract: The display filter is constituted by laminating a transparent adhesive layer (C) 31 containing dye, a polymer film (B) 20, a transparent electrically conductive layer (D) 10, a transparent adhesive layer (E) 40, and a functional transparent layer (A) 60 having an anti-reflection property, a hard coat property, a gas barrier property, an antistatic property and an anti-fouling property sequentially in this order, adhered on a display area 00; on this occasion, the transparent electrically conductive layer (D) 10 is grounded to a ground terminal of the display via an electrode 50 and an electrically conductive copper foil adhesive tape 80.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2005
    Assignee: Mitsui Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Katsuhiko Koike, Tomoyuki Okamura, Toshihisa Kitagawa, Hiroaki Saigo, Shin Fukuda, Fumiharu Yamazaki, Taizo Nishimoto, Tsutami Misawa