Patents by Inventor Andrew J. Ouderkirk

Andrew J. Ouderkirk has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Titled dichroic polarizing beamsplitter
    Patent number: 9784985
    Abstract: The disclosure generally relates to beamsplitters useful in color combiners, and in particular color combiners useful in small size format projectors such as pocket projectors. The disclosed beamsplitters and color combiners include a tilted dichroic reflective polarizer plate having at least two dichroic reflective polarizers tilted at different angles relative to incident light beams, with light collection optics to combine at least two colors of light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Yarn Chee Poon, Andrew J. Ouderkirk, Philip E. Watson, Xiaohui Cheng, Kim Leong Tan, Stephen J. Willett
  • FLEXIBLE LIGHT EMITTING SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE
    Publication number: 20170290212
    Abstract: A flexible polymeric dielectric layer has first and second major surfaces. The first major surface has a conductive layer thereon. The dielectric layer has at least one cavity extending from the second major surface toward the first major surface. The conductive layer includes electrically separated first and second portions configured to support and electrically connect a light emitting semiconductor device to the conductive layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2017
    Publication date: October 5, 2017
    Inventors: Ravi Palaniswamy, Arokiaraj Jesudoss, Alejandro Aldrin II Agacaoili Narag, Siang Sin Foo, Fong Liang Tan, Wei Meng Pee, Andrew J. Ouderkirk, Justine A. Mooney
  • Light guide
    Patent number: 9778407
    Abstract: A light guide having a first major surface, a second major surface, an input edge and an opposing edge, where at least one of the first major surface and the second major surface includes a plurality of multiplets. Each multiplet includes two or more extraction features having an indented geometry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Timothy J. Nevitt, Charles David Hoyle, Michael F. Weber, Andrew J. Ouderkirk
  • OPTICAL STACK AND OPTICAL SYSTEM
    Publication number: 20170269368
    Abstract: Integral optical stacks and optical systems including the integral optical stack are described. The integral optical stack may include first and second lenses, a partial reflector, a reflective polarizer curved about two orthogonal axes, and a quarter wave retarder. The reflective polarizer is curved about two orthogonal axes and includes at least one layer that is substantially optically biaxial at at least one first location on the at least one layer away from an optical axis of the optical stack and substantially optically uniaxial at at least one second location away from the optical axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2017
    Publication date: September 21, 2017
    Inventors: Zhisheng Yun, Andrew J. Ouderkirk, Timothy L. Wong, Erin A. McDowell, Gregg A. Ambur
  • Light control film with varied viewing angle
    Patent number: 9740018
    Abstract: A light control film includes a plurality of spaced apart substantially parallel first light absorbing regions arranged along a first direction, each first light absorbing region having a width and a height, the plurality of first light absorbing regions including nonoverlapping first and second sub-pluralities of the plurality of first light absorbing regions, the first sub-plurality of the plurality of first light absorbing regions having a first viewing angle, the second sub-plurality of the plurality of first light absorbing regions having a different second viewing angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Andrew J. Ouderkirk, Michael J. Sykora, Robert R. Kieschke, Kenneth L. Smith, Olester Benson, Jr., Gary E. Gaides, Tao Liu, Thomas J. Blong, Gary T. Boyd
  • HEAD-MOUNTED DISPLAY SYSTEM AND COMPONENTS
    Publication number: 20170219825
    Abstract: A head-mounted display system including a contact lens having a first region and a second region adjacent the first region, an eyewear lens having an inner surface facing the contact lens, and an illuminator configured to produce an imaged light output directed toward the inner surface of the eyewear lens. A first imaged light ray produced by the illuminator is incident on the inner surface and is reflected by the eyewear lens to the first region. The first region is configured to transmit the first imaged light ray, and the second region is configured to reflect or absorb a second imaged light ray produced by the illuminator and reflected from the eyewear lens. The eyewear lens is configured to transmit an ambient light ray to the second region and the second region is configured to transmit the ambient light ray.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2015
    Publication date: August 3, 2017
    Inventors: Gilles Jean-Baptiste Benoit, Andrew J. Ouderkirk, Erin A. McDowell, Brian K. Riddle, Kenneth Andrew Penner Meyer
  • GLASS AND POLYMER FILM ASSEMBLIES AND METHODS OF MAKING
    Publication number: 20170210095
    Abstract: A glass and polymer film assembly including a glass film and a polymer film bonded to a surface of the glass film. The polymer film is directly bonded to the glass film by applying the polymer to the glass film when the glass film is above a bonding temperature of the polymer film. The glass film may have a thickness less than about 1 mm and the polymer film may be an oriented semicrystalline homopolymer which is permanently bonded to a major surface of the glass film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2015
    Publication date: July 27, 2017
    Inventor: Andrew J. Ouderkirk
  • Flexible light emitting semiconductor device
    Patent number: 9716061
    Abstract: A flexible polymeric dielectric layer has first and second major surfaces. The first major surface has a conductive layer thereon. The dielectric layer has at least one via extending from the second major surface to the first major surface. The conductive layer includes electrically separated first and second portions configured to support and electrically connect a light emitting semi-conductor device to the conductive layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Ravi Palaniswamy, Arokiaraj Jesudoss, Alejandro Aldrin Il Agcaoili Narag, Siang Sin Foo, Fong Liang Tan, Wei Meng Pee, Andrew J. Ouderkirk, Justine A. Mooney
  • Optical stack and optical system
    Patent number: 9715114
    Abstract: Integral optical stacks and optical systems including an image surface, a stop surface and an integral optical stack disposed between the image surface and the stop surface are described. The integral optical stack includes an optical lens, a partial reflector, a multilayer reflective polarizer and a quarter wave retarder. At least one chief light ray transmitted through the stop surface and the image surface passes through the stop surface at an incident angle of at least 40 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Zhisheng Yun, Andrew J. Ouderkirk, Timothy L. Wong, Erin A. McDowell, Gregg A. Ambur
  • Flexible LED device and method of making
    Patent number: 9698563
    Abstract: Provided is a flexible light emitting semiconductor device, such as an LED device, that includes a flexible dielectric layer having first and second major surfaces with a conductive layer on the first major surface and at least one cavity in the first major surface with a conductive layer in the cavity that supports a light emitting semiconductor device. The conductive layer in the cavity is electrically isolated from the second major surface of the dielectric layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Ravi Palaniswamy, Arokiaraj Jesudoss, Alejandro Aldrin Il Agcaoili Narag, James R. White, Fong Liang Tan, Andrew J. Ouderkirk, Justine A. Mooney, Nathan P. Kreutter, Qihong Nie, Jian Xia Gao
  • NEAR-EYE DISPLAY SYSTEM HAVING A PELLICLE AS A COMBINER
    Publication number: 20170176751
    Abstract: Near-eye combiner displays are disclosed that utilize dichroic reflectors and/or reflective polarizers disposed as a pellicle positioned within a field of view of the eye. A secondary image can be reflected off of the reflective polarizer and/or dichroic layer towards the eye, and can be superimposed over a primary world-view image being viewed by the eye. The position and orientation of the pellicle can be independently adjusted as desired.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2015
    Publication date: June 22, 2017
    Inventors: Andrew J. Ouderkirk, Timothy L. Wong
  • HEAD MOUNTED DISPLAY AND LOW CONSPICUITY PUPIL ILLUMINATOR
    Publication number: 20170176749
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides for an optical element useful in an optical device for illuminating the pupil of an eye, particularly for use with a head mountable display that can include eye-tracking. The optical device includes a light source and an optical element that transmits light, where light emitted from the light source is directed by the optical element toward the pupil of the eye, and attributes of the eye can then be detected by an optical sensor such as a camera. The light source can emit infrared light that is not visible to the human eye, so that world view images and/or combined digital images of the head-mountable display are not compromised.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2015
    Publication date: June 22, 2017
    Applicant: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Andrew J. Ouderkirk, Timothy L. Wong, Kandyce M. Bohannon, Gilles J. Benoit
  • Flexible LED device for thermal management
    Patent number: 9674938
    Abstract: Provided is a flexible light emitting semiconductor device (26), such as an LED device, that includes a flexible dielectric layer (12) having first and second major surfaces and at least one via (10) extending through the dielectric layer from the first to the second major surface, with a conductive layer (19, 20, 18) on each of the first and second major surfaces and in the via. The conductive layer (18) in the via supports a light emitting semiconductor device (26) and is electrically isolated from the conductive layer (19) on the first major surface of the dielectric layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Ravi Palaniswamy, Arokiaraj Jesudoss, Alejandro Aldrin Il Agcaoili Narag, James R. White, Fong Liang Tan, Andrew J. Ouderkirk, Justine A. Mooney, Nathan P. Kreutter, Qihong Nie, Jian Xia Gao
  • CONVEX MULTILAYER REFLECTIVE POLARIZER
    Publication number: 20170146714
    Abstract: A multilayer reflective polarizer substantially rotationally symmetric about an optical axis passing thorough an apex of the multilayer reflective polarizer and convex along orthogonal first and second axes orthogonal to the optical axis is described. The multilayer reflective polarizer has at least one first location having a radial distance r1 from the optical axis and a displacement s1 from a plane perpendicular to the optical axis at the apex, where s1/r1 is at least 0.1. The multilayer reflective polarizer may have at least one inner layer substantially optically uniaxial at at least one first location away from the apex. For an area of the reflective polarizer defined by s1 and r1, a maximum variation of a transmission axis of the reflective polarizer may be less than about 2 degrees.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2017
    Publication date: May 25, 2017
    Inventors: Gregg A. Ambur, Timothy L. Wong, Andrew J. Ouderkirk, Zhisheng Yun
  • EFFICIENT LIGHTING SYSTEM WITH WIDE COLOR RANGE
    Publication number: 20170138570
    Abstract: Broadband solid state light sources include remote phosphor LED(s), short-wavelength direct emitting LED(s), and long-wavelength direct emitting LED(s). A diffuse or clear cover member covers these LEDs. Each remote phosphor LED includes an LED, a phosphor layer, and a dichroic reflector. The light sources can provide a broadband output light over a wide color range, and can do so efficiently while energizing a high percentage or proportion of the total number of LEDs in the system. The broadband output may for example exhibit a color difference of at least 0.2 in CIE chromaticity units, and/or a correlated color temperature difference of at least 4000 or 5000 Kelvin, while energizing more than half, or at least 60%, or at least 70%, of the total number of LEDs. Numbers of LEDs can be replaced with effective numbers of LEDs if LEDs of substantially different sizes are included in the light source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2017
    Publication date: May 18, 2017
    Inventor: Andrew J. Ouderkirk
  • OPTICAL STACKS FOR SPARKLE REDUCTION
    Publication number: 20170131559
    Abstract: Optical stacks including a grating structure that generates diffraction in two in-plane dimensions. The optical stacks may include two gratings, which may be one-directional or two-directional, or may include a single two-directional grating. The optical stacks include particles selected to give controlled diffusion of light. The optical stacks are suitable for reducing sparkle in displays.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2015
    Publication date: May 11, 2017
    Inventors: Brett J. Sitter, Marc D. Radcliffe, Thomas R. Hoffend, JR., Andrew J. Ouderkirk, Daniel W. Hennen, Lan H. Liu
  • Backlight light guide
    Patent number: 9632353
    Abstract: A backlight light guide comprises a generally planar structure having a light guide layer having a surface that includes a spaced array of extractors, a backside reflective layer, a low refractive index coupling layer disposed on an opposite major surface of the light guide layer, and a reflective polarizer to provide recycling of unused light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Andrew J. Ouderkirk, Erin A. McDowell
  • Lens assembly for remote phosphor LED device
    Patent number: 9625123
    Abstract: Lens assemblies for use in remote phosphor lighting systems, and methods of making and using them, are described. The lens assemblies typically include a lens member, a dichroic reflector attached to an outer surface of the lens member, and a phosphor layer attached to an inner surface of the lens member. The dichroic reflector reflects LED light originating from a given source point in a reference plane proximate the inner surface to a given image point in the reference plane. The phosphor layer may be patterned to cover one or more first portions of the inner surface and to expose one or more second portions, and/or the phosphor layer may be removably bonded to the inner surface. The lens assemblies can be readily combined with one or more short wavelength (e.g. blue) LEDs and other components to provide a remote phosphor lighting system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Andrew J. Ouderkirk, Ravi K. Sura, Nicholas T. Gabriel, Huang Chin Hung
  • METHOD OF MAKING OPTICAL FILMS AND STACKS
    Publication number: 20170097453
    Abstract: Methods of making optical films and optical stacks are described. A method of making an optical stack includes providing a thermoform tool centered on a tool axis and having an external surface rotationally asymmetric about the tool axis; heating an optical film resulting in a softened optical film; conforming the softened optical film to the external surface while stretching the softened film along at least orthogonal first and second directions away from the tool axis resulting in a conformed optical film rotationally asymmetric about an optical axis of the conformed film where the optical axis coincident with the tool axis; cooling the conformed optical film resulting in a symmetric optical film rotationally symmetric about the optical axis; and molding an optical lens on the symmetric optical film resulting in the optical stack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2016
    Publication date: April 6, 2017
    Inventors: Gregg A. Ambur, Timothy L. Wong, Andrew J. Ouderkirk, Zhisheng Yun
  • OPTICAL STACK AND OPTICAL SYSTEM
    Publication number: 20170097508
    Abstract: Integral optical stacks and optical systems including an image surface, a stop surface and an integral optical stack disposed between the image surface and the stop surface are described. The integral optical stack includes an optical lens, a partial reflector, a multilayer reflective polarizer and a quarter wave retarder. At least one chief light ray transmitted through the stop surface and the image surface passes through the stop surface at an incident angle of at least 40 degrees.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2016
    Publication date: April 6, 2017
    Inventors: Zhisheng Yun, Andrew J. Ouderkirk, Timothy L. Wong, Erin A. McDowell, Gregg A. Ambur