Patents by Inventor Anthony Nichol
Anthony Nichol has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 11966116Abstract: In one embodiment, a display comprises a light source positioned to emit light into a 0.5 millimeter thick lightguide with light extraction features, a cladding layer optically coupled to a core layer of the lightguide on a first side, a light turning film optically coupled to the cladding layer on an opposite side, the light turning film comprising a light turning features that redirect frustrated totally internally reflected light from the core layer into a first portion of light with a first peak luminous intensity at a first angle and a second portion of light with a second peak luminous intensity at a second angle different from the first angle and on an opposite side of the thickness direction, and the light diffusely reflecting from a reflective spatial light modulator has a peak luminous intensity within degrees from a direction normal to a surface of the display.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 2021Date of Patent: April 23, 2024Inventors: Anthony Nichol, Zane Coleman
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Patent number: 11947149Abstract: A display comprises a film-based lightguide, a light source positioned to emit light into the lightguide, and a light turning film with light turning features comprising a first surface with a first coating of a first material with a first refractive index that redirects light extracted from lightguide toward a reflective spatial light modulator wherein the light turning features also comprise a second surface that does not comprise a coating of the first material or comprises a coating of a thickness of the first material less than 500 nanometers. The light turning film may comprise a base layer of a second material with a second refractive index, and the first refractive index is less than the second refractive index. The first surface may be an angled planar surface oriented at an angle the surface of the light turning film or comprise a curved surface.Type: GrantFiled: November 28, 2022Date of Patent: April 2, 2024Assignee: Azumo, Inc.Inventors: Anthony Nichol, Zane Coleman
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Patent number: 11828966Abstract: A display includes a transmissive spatial light modulator with an active area; a plurality of lightguides stacked above the active area; and a light source positioned to emit light that propagates into the plurality of lightguides such that the light is totally internally reflected within each lightguide then extracted from each lightguide to illuminate the active area, wherein each lightguide is folded at a first fold. In a first embodiment, each of the plurality of lightguides include a core layer and an emitting region with a plurality of light extraction features arranged in a spatially varying pattern. In a second embodiment, each lightguide is a film-based light guide with a thickness between 0.005 millimeter and 0.175 millimeter. In a third embodiment, the light source is positioned behind the spatial light modulator.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2022Date of Patent: November 28, 2023Assignee: Azumo, Inc.Inventors: Anthony Nichol, Zane Coleman
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Publication number: 20230366221Abstract: A multipurpose reusable support device is provided. The device includes a horizontal support member and a vertical support member connected at an intersecting pivot point to establish a support angle. The horizontal support member and the vertical support member are connected via an adjustable support member such that the device forms a shape substantially similar to a triangle. The adjustable support member may further include an adjustable ratchet configured to adjust the length of the adjustable support member which in turn adjusts the support angle to fit the needs of a user.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 12, 2023Publication date: November 16, 2023Inventor: Anthony Nichols
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Publication number: 20230358941Abstract: A method of manufacturing a film assembly comprises forming a film-based lightguide with a lightguide region, adding a layer comprising linear light turning features to the film-based lightguide while it is moving in a web direction such that the linear light turning features are oriented in the web direction of the film-based lightguide, and cutting the film-based lightguide while it is moving in a web direction in a plurality of linear sections, the plurality of linear sections comprises linear sections that define lateral edges a light emitting region and/or lateral edges of coupling lightguides extending from the lightguide region, wherein the linear sections are cut at first cut angle between 3 degrees and 25 degrees to a transverse direction of the film-based lightguide orthogonal to the web direction and the thickness direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 28, 2021Publication date: November 9, 2023Applicant: Azumo, Inc.Inventors: Anthony Nichol, Mohammad Azim
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Publication number: 20230350122Abstract: In one embodiment, a film-based lightguide comprises a plurality interior light directing edges in a tapered light mixing region with curved sections which redirect light within the tapered light mixing region of the film. The interior light directing edges may be formed by cuts in the film that create an air gap between internal edges of the film. In one embodiment, the difference between radii of curvature of neighboring radii of arc sections of interior light directing edges is within 20% of an average distance between the arc sections. In one embodiment, the interior light directing edges totally internally reflect light propagating through the tapered light mixing region such that the light propagates at a smaller angle to a direction orthogonal to a width direction and orthogonal to the thickness direction of the film.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 7, 2023Publication date: November 2, 2023Applicant: Azumo, Inc.Inventors: Anthony Nichol, Zane Coleman
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Patent number: 11703626Abstract: A light emitting device comprises a lightguide formed from a film having an array of coupling lightguides in the form of strips extending from a lightguide region of the film, the coupling lightguides are folded and stacked, and a light source is positioned to emit light into edges of the stacked coupling lightguides to propagate into a light mixing region and then into a light emitting region. The light mixing region comprises a plurality of reflecting surfaces that reflect a portion of the light from the coupling lightguides toward one or more of the lateral edges of the film prior to exiting the film in the light emitting region. The plurality of reflecting surfaces may a light transmitting material printed in the form of lines on the surface of the film and may improve the uniformity of light emitted from the light emitting region.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2022Date of Patent: July 18, 2023Assignee: Azumo, Inc.Inventors: Anthony Nichol, Zane Coleman
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Publication number: 20230099260Abstract: A display comprises a film-based lightguide, a light source positioned to emit light into the lightguide, and a light turning film with light turning features comprising a first surface with a first coating of a first material with a first refractive index that redirects light extracted from lightguide toward a reflective spatial light modulator wherein the light turning features also comprise a second surface that does not comprises a coating of the first material or comprises a coating of a thickness of the first material less than 500 nanometers. The light turning film may comprises a base layer of a second material with a second refractive index, and the first refractive index is less than the second refractive index. The first surface may be an angled planar surface oriented at an angle the surface of the light turning film or comprise a curved surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 28, 2022Publication date: March 30, 2023Inventors: Anthony Nichol, Zane Coleman
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Publication number: 20230011530Abstract: A light emitting device comprises a lightguide formed from a film having an array of coupling lightguides in the form of strips extending from a lightguide region of the film, the coupling lightguides are folded and stacked, and a light source is positioned to emit light into edges of the stacked coupling lightguides to propagate into a light mixing region and then into a light emitting region. The light mixing region comprises a plurality of reflecting surfaces that reflect a portion of the light from the coupling lightguides toward one or more of the lateral edges of the film prior to exiting the film in the light emitting region. The plurality of reflecting surfaces may a light transmitting material printed in the form of lines on the surface of the film and may improve the uniformity of light emitted from the light emitting region.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 12, 2022Publication date: January 12, 2023Applicant: Azumo, Inc.Inventors: Anthony Nichol, ZANE COLEMAN
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Patent number: 11513274Abstract: A lightguide formed from a film comprises a light mixing region between a light emitting region and an array of coupling lightguides. The first coupling lightguide of the array of coupling lightguides comprises a first light input edge between an inner lateral edge of the first coupling lightguide and an outer lateral edge of the first coupling lightguide opposite the inner lateral edge, wherein a width of the first light input edge is less than a width of the first coupling lightguide at the light mixing region and the first coupling lightguide is folded toward the outer lateral edge such that the first light input edge is between the outer lateral edge and the inner lateral edge along the array direction. In one embodiment, the first light input edge is offset from the outer lateral edge and positioned above the first coupling lightguide.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2020Date of Patent: November 29, 2022Assignee: Azumo, Inc.Inventors: Anthony Nichol, Jose Romero, Zane Coleman, Gil Palmon
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Patent number: 11442213Abstract: In one aspect, a film-based lightguide includes a film with a light emitting region, a plurality of coupling lightguides in a form of an array of strips extended from the body of the film and folded along a fold line, a light mixing region of the film positioned along the film between the plurality of coupling lightguides and the light emitting region, and an extended coupling lightguide region of the coupling lightguides between the fold line and the light mixing region where the plurality of coupling lightguides are not folded. For one or more of the plurality of coupling lightguides, a length along a coupling lightguide between the fold line and a light input end of the coupling lightguide is less than a length of the coupling lightguide in the extended coupling lightguide region.Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 2021Date of Patent: September 13, 2022Assignee: Azumo, Inc.Inventors: Anthony Nichol, Zane Coleman
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Publication number: 20220268984Abstract: A lightguide formed from a film comprises a light mixing region between a light emitting region and an array of coupling lightguides. The first coupling lightguide of the array of coupling lightguides comprises a first light input edge between an inner lateral edge of the first coupling lightguide and an outer lateral edge of the first coupling lightguide opposite the inner lateral edge, wherein a width of the first light input edge is less than a width of the first coupling lightguide at the light mixing region and the first coupling lightguide is folded toward the outer lateral edge such that the first light input edge is between the outer lateral edge and the inner lateral edge along the array direction. In one embodiment, the first light input edge is offset from the outer lateral edge and positioned above the first coupling lightguide.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 31, 2020Publication date: August 25, 2022Applicant: Azumo, Inc.Inventors: Anthony Nichol, Jose Romero, Zane Coleman, Gil Palmon
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Publication number: 20220196903Abstract: A display includes a transmissive spatial light modulator with an active area; a plurality of lightguides stacked above the active area; and a light source positioned to emit light that propagates into the plurality of lightguides such that the light is totally internally reflected within each lightguide then extracted from each lightguide to illuminate the active area, wherein each lightguide is folded at a first fold. In a first embodiment, each of the plurality of lightguides include a core layer and an emitting region with a plurality of light extraction features arranged in a spatially varying pattern. In a second embodiment, each lightguide is a film-based light guide with a thickness between 0.005 millimeter and 0.175 millimeter. In a third embodiment, the light source is positioned behind the spatial light modulator.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 14, 2022Publication date: June 23, 2022Inventors: Anthony Nichol, Zane Coleman
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Patent number: 11275204Abstract: A display includes a reflective spatial light modulator with an active area; a plurality of lightguides stacked above the active area; and a light source positioned to emit light that propagates into the plurality of lightguides such that the light is totally internally reflected within each lightguide then extracted from each lightguide to illuminate the active area, wherein each lightguide is folded at a first fold. In a first embodiment, each of the plurality of lightguides include a core layer and an emitting region with a plurality of light extraction features arranged in a spatially varying pattern. In a second embodiment, each lightguide is a film-based light guide with a thickness between 0.005 millimeter and 0.175 millimeter. In a third embodiment, the light source is positioned behind the spatial light modulator.Type: GrantFiled: October 7, 2020Date of Patent: March 15, 2022Assignee: AZUMO, INC.Inventors: Anthony Nichol, Zane Coleman
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Publication number: 20210341475Abstract: Novel antibody pairs for use in an Influenza A diagnostic test.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 11, 2019Publication date: November 4, 2021Inventors: Dennis Joseph CHURCH, Anthony NICHOLS
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Publication number: 20210333629Abstract: In one embodiment, a display comprises a light source positioned to emit light into a 0.5 millimeter thick lightguide with light extraction features, a cladding layer optically coupled to a core layer of the lightguide on a first side, a light turning film optically coupled to the cladding layer on an opposite side, the light turning film comprising a light turning features that redirect frustrated totally internally reflected light from the core layer into a first portion of light with a first peak luminous intensity at a first angle and a second portion of light with a second peak luminous intensity at a second angle different from the first angle and on an opposite side of the thickness direction, and the light diffusely reflecting from a reflective spatial light modulator has a peak luminous intensity within degrees from a direction normal to a surface of the display.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 1, 2021Publication date: October 28, 2021Inventors: Anthony NICHOL, Zane COLEMAN
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Publication number: 20210337173Abstract: In some aspects, a display comprises a reflective spatial light modulator, a light source, and a film-based lightguide having an array of coupling lightguides in a form of strips of the film extending from and continuous with a lightguide region of the film. The coupling lightguides are folded and stacked behind the reflective spatial light modulator along fold lines oriented at different orientation angles. In some embodiments, the coupling lightguides comprise lateral edges with curved portions. In some embodiments, the coupling lightguides are tapered. In some embodiments, the reflective spatial light modulator comprises an active area in a shape of a polygon with more than four sides or an active area defined by a boundary with a circular, semi-circular, or arcuate portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 8, 2021Publication date: October 28, 2021Inventors: Anthony Nichol, Zane Coleman
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Publication number: 20210294021Abstract: A method of manufacturing a display includes coupling light from at least one light source into a front illumination film-based lightguide comprising a pressure sensitive adhesive layer between a core polymer film layer and a diffusely reflective release liner such that light from the at least one light source propagates by total internal reflection through the core polymer film layer, is extracted from the core polymer film layer, passes through the pressure sensitive adhesive layer, diffusely reflects from the diffusely reflective release liner and passes back through the pressure sensitive adhesive layer and core polymer film layer out of the front illumination film-based lightguide; analyzing the light exiting front illumination film-based lightguide from the at least one light source for defects; removing the diffusely reflective release liner from the front illumination film-based lightguide after analyzing; and laminating the front illumination film-based lightguide to a reflective spatial light modulaType: ApplicationFiled: June 9, 2021Publication date: September 23, 2021Inventors: Jose ROMERO, Anthony NICHOL, Eric BLAIR, Zane COLEMAN
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Publication number: 20210278585Abstract: In one aspect, a film-based lightguide includes a film with a light emitting region, a plurality of coupling lightguides in a form of an array of strips extended from the body of the film and folded along a fold line, a light mixing region of the film positioned along the film between the plurality of coupling lightguides and the light emitting region, and an extended coupling lightguide region of the coupling lightguides between the fold line and the light mixing region where the plurality of coupling lightguides are not folded. For one or more of the plurality of coupling lightguides, a length along a coupling lightguide between the fold line and a light input end of the coupling lightguide is less than a length of the coupling lightguide in the extended coupling lightguide region.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 17, 2021Publication date: September 9, 2021Inventors: Anthony Nichol, Zane Coleman
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Publication number: 20210247395Abstract: Novel antibody pairs for use in an Influenza B diagnostic test.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 11, 2019Publication date: August 12, 2021Inventors: Dennis Joseph CHURCH, Anthony NICHOLS