Patents by Inventor Carl A. Stover

Carl A. Stover 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).

  • Patent number: 11536886
    Abstract: Rolls of film are described. In particular, rolls of film including multilayer birefringent polarizers having low pass axis variation are described. The multilayer birefringent polarizers have low pass axis variation across a full crossweb width of the roll of film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Kristy A. Gillette, Matthew B. Johnson, Carl A. Stover
  • Patent number: 11520093
    Abstract: A polarizer stack including an absorbing polarizer and a multilayer polymeric reflective polarizer bonded together is described. The absorbing polarizer has a first block axis and the reflective polarizer has a second block axis substantially parallel to the first block axis. The reflective polarizer may be substantially free of micro-wrinkling when the polarizer stack adhered to a glass layer is heated at 95° C. for 100 hours.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Carl A. Stover, Kristopher J. Derks
  • Publication number: 20220381964
    Abstract: Polyester copolymeric materials include 40 to 51 mol % substituted naphthalate units, such as dimethyl-2,6-naphthalene dicarboxylate units, 10 to 40 mol % ethylene units, and 10 to 40 mol % hexane units. The polyester copolymers can be used to prepare multi-layer optical films by coextrusion and/or co-stretching. The copolyester polymeric materials have desirable optical properties and permit thermal processing at lower temperatures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2020
    Publication date: December 1, 2022
    Inventors: Stephen A. Johnson, Carl A. Stover, Kristopher J. Derks, Richard Yufeng Liu
  • Patent number: 11493677
    Abstract: Optical films are disclosed that include a plurality of interference layers. Each interference layer reflects or transmits light primarily by optical interference. The total number of the interference layers is less than about 1000. For a substantially normally incident light in a predetermined wavelength range, the plurality of interference layers has an average optical transmittance greater than about 85% for a first polarization state, an average optical reflectance greater than about 80% for an orthogonal second polarization state, and an average optical transmittance less than about 0.2% for the second polarization state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Adam D. Haag, Timothy J. Nevitt, Carl A. Stover, Andrew J. Ouderkirk, Robert D. Taylor, Zhaohui Yang
  • Patent number: 11391875
    Abstract: Multilayer optical film reflective polarizers previously considered to have excessive off-axis color can provide adequate performance in an LC display without any high haze light diffusing layer or air gap between the reflective polarizer and the back absorbing polarizer of the display. The reflective polarizer has only one packet of microlayers, and is oriented using a standard tenter such that birefringent microlayers in the film are biaxially birefringent. The microlayers in the packet have a layer thickness profile suitably tailored to avoid excessive perceived color at normal and oblique angles. A laminate made by combining this type of reflective polarizer with an absorbing polarizer, without an air gap or any high haze light diffusing layer or structure between the polarizers, can be used and incorporated into a liquid crystal display or the like with adequate color performance both at normal incidence and oblique incidence up to a polar angle of 60 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Carl A. Stover, Kristopher J. Derks, Timothy J. Nevitt, Gilles J. Benoit
  • Publication number: 20220179143
    Abstract: Multi-layer optical films that can be utilized as polarizer or mirror films and can be incorporated into optical stacks. The optical film includes a plurality of alternating polymeric first and second interference layers numbering greater than 50 and disposed between, and integrally formed with, first and second skin layers, each of the first and second interference layers has an average thickness less than 250 nm. The first and second interference layers and the first and second skin layers are compositions that include polyester.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2020
    Publication date: June 9, 2022
    Inventors: Carl A. Stover, Kristopher J. Derks, Stephen A. Johnson, Benjamin J. Forsythe
  • Publication number: 20220137455
    Abstract: An optical stack for reflecting and transmitting light in a predetermined wavelength range includes stacked first and second optical films, the predetermined wavelength range defining a first wavelength range and a remaining wavelength range. For normally incident light and for each wavelength in a first wavelength range, the first optical film substantially reflects light having a first polarization state, and substantially transmits light having a second polarization state. For each of the first and second polarization states, for wavelengths in the first wavelength range, the second optical film has a maximum optical transmittance Tmax for light incident at a first incident angle, and an optical transmittance Tmax/2 for light incident at a second incident angle, where the second incident angle is greater than the first incident angle by less than about 50 degrees. For wavelengths in the remaining wavelength range, the second optical film reflects at least 80% of light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2020
    Publication date: May 5, 2022
    Inventors: Gilles J. Benoit, Carl A. Stover, Matthew B. Johnson, Ryan T. Fabick, Quinn D. Sanford
  • Publication number: 20220003911
    Abstract: Optical films are disclosed that include a plurality of interference layers. Each interference layer reflects or transmits light primarily by optical interference. The total number of the interference layers is less than about 1000. For a substantially normally incident light in a predetermined wavelength range, the plurality of interference layers has an average optical transmittance greater than about 85% for a first polarization state, an average optical reflectance greater than about 80% for an orthogonal second polarization state, and an average optical transmittance less than about 0.2% for the second polarization state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2021
    Publication date: January 6, 2022
    Inventors: Adam D. Haag, Timothy J. Nevitt, Carl A. Stover, Andrew J. Ouderkirk, Robert D. Taylor, Zhaohui Yang
  • Publication number: 20210341660
    Abstract: Multilayer optical film reflective polarizers previously considered to have excessive off-axis color can provide adequate performance in an LC display in an “on-glass” configuration, laminated to a back absorbing polarizer of the display, without any light diffusing layer or air gap in such laminate. The reflective polarizer is a tentered-one-packet (TOP) multilayer film, having only one packet of microlayers, and oriented using a standard tenter such that birefringent microlayers in the film are biaxially birefringent. The thickness profile of optical repeat units (ORUs) in the microlayer packet is tailored to avoid excessive perceived color at normal and oblique angles. Color at high oblique angles in the white state of the display is reduced by positioning thicker ORUs closer to the absorbing polarizer, and by ensuring that, with regard to a boxcar average of the ORU thickness profile, the average slope from an ORU(600) to an ORU(645) does not exceed 1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2021
    Publication date: November 4, 2021
    Inventors: Timothy J. Nevitt, Carl A. Stover, Gilles J. Benoit, Kristopher J. Derks, Zhaohui Yang
  • Patent number: 11156757
    Abstract: Optical films are disclosed that include a plurality of interference layers. Each interference layer reflects or transmits light primarily by optical interference. The total number of the interference layers is less than about 1000. For a substantially normally incident light in a predetermined wavelength range, the plurality of interference layers has an average optical transmittance greater than about 85% for a first polarization state, an average optical reflectance greater than about 80% for an orthogonal second polarization state, and an average optical transmittance less than about 0.2% for the second polarization state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Adam D. Haag, Timothy J. Nevitt, Carl A. Stover, Andrew J. Ouderkirk, Robert D. Taylor, Zhaohui Yang
  • Publication number: 20210325587
    Abstract: Multilayer reflective polarizers are described. In particular, multilayer reflective polarizers that include both crystalline high index layers and low index layers are disclosed. These reflective polarizers may be particularly suitable for automotive, architectural, and industrial applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2019
    Publication date: October 21, 2021
    Inventors: Matthew B. Johnson, Adam D. Haag, Carl A. Stover, Timothy J. Nevitt, William F. Edmonds, Stephen A. Johnson
  • Publication number: 20210302637
    Abstract: Optical films are described. In particular, optical films including a reflective polarizer portion and an infrared portion, with no adhesive between these two portions, are described. These optical films may be particularly suitable for combiner applications, including automotive heads up display applications with demanding ambient environments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2019
    Publication date: September 30, 2021
    Inventors: Adam D. Haag, Matthew B. Johnson, Carl A. Stover, Timothy J. Nevitt
  • Patent number: 11099312
    Abstract: Multilayer optical film reflective polarizers previously considered to have excessive off-axis color can provide adequate performance in an LC display in an “on-glass” configuration, laminated to a back absorbing polarizer of the display, without any light diffusing layer or air gap in such laminate. The reflective polarizer is a tentered-one-packet (TOP) multilayer film, having only one packet of microlayers, and oriented using a standard tenter such that birefringent microlayers in the film are biaxially birefringent. The thickness profile of optical repeat units (ORUs) in the microlayer packet is tailored to avoid excessive perceived color at normal and oblique angles. Color at high oblique angles in the white state of the display is reduced by positioning thicker ORUs closer to the absorbing polarizer, and by ensuring that, with regard to a boxcar average of the ORU thickness profile, the average slope from an ORU(600) to an ORU(645) does not exceed 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Timothy J. Nevitt, Carl A. Stover, Gilles J. Benoit, Kristopher J. Derks, Zhaohui Yang
  • Publication number: 20210215866
    Abstract: A polarizer stack including an absorbing polarizer and a multilayer polymeric reflective polarizer bonded together is described. The absorbing polarizer has a first block axis and the reflective polarizer has a second block axis substantially parallel to the first block axis. The reflective polarizer may be substantially free of micro-wrinkling when the polarizer stack adhered to a glass layer is heated at 95° C. for 100 hours.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2021
    Publication date: July 15, 2021
    Inventors: Carl A. Stover, Kristopher J. Derks
  • Patent number: 11022734
    Abstract: A polarizer stack including an absorbing polarizer and a multilayer polymeric reflective polarizer bonded together is described. The absorbing polarizer has a first block axis and the reflective polarizer has a second block axis substantially parallel to the first block axis. The reflective polarizer has a shrinkage in a range of 0.4 percent to 3 percent along the second block axis when the reflective polarizer is heated at 95° C. for 40 minutes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Carl A. Stover, Kristopher J. Derks
  • Publication number: 20210116747
    Abstract: Optical films are disclosed that include a plurality of interference layers. Each interference layer reflects or transmits light primarily by optical interference. The total number of the interference layers is less than about 1000. For a substantially normally incident light in a predetermined wavelength range, the plurality of interference layers has an average optical transmittance greater than about 85% for a first polarization state, an average optical reflectance greater than about 80% for an orthogonal second polarization state, and an average optical transmittance less than about 0.2% for the second polarization state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2018
    Publication date: April 22, 2021
    Inventors: Adam D. Haag, Timothy J. Nevitt, Carl A. Stover, Andrew J. Ouderkirk, Robert D. Taylor, Zhaohui Yang
  • Patent number: 10928571
    Abstract: Hybrid polarizers are described. More particularly, hybrid polarizers including reflective polarizer portions and hybrid polarizing portions, including embedded absorbing polarizing elements are described. The hybrid polarizers may be used in backlights or display devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Adam D. Haag, Timothy J. Nevitt, Quinn D. Sanford, Robert D. Taylor, Carl A. Stover
  • Publication number: 20210048571
    Abstract: Multilayer optical film reflective polarizers previously considered to have excessive off-axis color can provide adequate performance in an LC display without any high haze light diffusing layer or air gap between the reflective polarizer and the back absorbing polarizer of the display. The reflective polarizer has only one packet of microlayers, and is oriented using a standard tenter such that birefringent microlayers in the film are biaxially birefringent. The microlayers in the packet have a layer thickness profile suitably tailored to avoid excessive perceived color at normal and oblique angles. A laminate made by combining this type of reflective polarizer with an absorbing polarizer, without an air gap or any high haze light diffusing layer or structure between the polarizers, can be used and incorporated into a liquid crystal display or the like with adequate color performance both at normal incidence and oblique incidence up to a polar angle of 60 degrees.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2020
    Publication date: February 18, 2021
    Inventors: Carl A. Stover, Kristopher J. Derks, Timothy J. Nevitt, Gilles J. Benoit
  • Publication number: 20210033766
    Abstract: Polarizer stacks are described. More particularly, polarizer stacks that include an absorbing polarizer and multiple reflective polarizers, including at least one collimating reflective polarizer are described. Such polarizer stacks are capable of emitted light that is both collimated and color neutral. Backlights incorporating such polarizer stacks are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2020
    Publication date: February 4, 2021
    Inventors: Adam D. Haag, Timothy J. Nevitt, Michael F. Weber, Robert D. Taylor, Carl A. Stover
  • Patent number: 10859741
    Abstract: Multilayer optical film reflective polarizers previously considered to have excessive off-axis color can provide adequate performance in an LC display without any high haze light diffusing layer or air gap between the reflective polarizer and the back absorbing polarizer of the display. The reflective polarizer has only one packet of microlayers, and is oriented using a standard tenter such that birefringent microlayers in the film are biaxially birefringent. The microlayers in the packet have a layer thickness profile suitably tailored to avoid excessive perceived color at normal and oblique angles. A laminate made by combining this type of reflective polarizer with an absorbing polarizer, without an air gap or any high haze light diffusing layer or structure between the polarizers, can be used and incorporated into a liquid crystal display or the like with adequate color performance both at normal incidence and oblique incidence up to a polar angle of 60 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Carl A. Stover, Kristopher J. Derks, Timothy J. Nevitt, Gilles J. Benoit