Patents by Inventor Colleen M. Brenner-Watschke

Colleen M. Brenner-Watschke 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).

  • Rear projection screen
    Patent number: 6515798
    Abstract: A rear projection screen assembly is described that includes a diffuser and a polarizer. The diffuser has particles dispersed within a binder. The particles and the binder have different refractive indices and are chosen such that the diffuser spreads light of an initial polarization state a cone of angles while substantially preserving the initial polarization state of the light. The diffuser also substantially depolarizing a portion of the light that is laterally scattered in the diffuser. The polarizer is disposed to receive light transmitted through the diffuser. The polarizer transmits light of the initial polarization state while absorbing a portion of the laterally scattered light that has a different polarization state. The resolution of the overall screen assembly may be made higher while also improving other characteristics of the screen assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2003
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Hsin-Hsin Chou, Patrick A. Thomas, Colleen M. Brenner-Watschke, Jeffrey C. Chang, Robert M. Moshrefzadeh
  • Rear projection screen
    Patent number: 6163402
    Abstract: A rear projection screen assembly is described that includes a diffuser and a polarizer. The diffuser has particles dispersed within a binder. The particles and the binder have different refractive indices and are chosen such that the diffuser spreads light of an initial polarization state a cone of angles while substantially preserving the initial polarization state of the light. The diffuser also substantially depolarizing a portion of the light that is laterally scattered in the diffuser. The polarizer is disposed to receive light transmitted through the diffuser. The polarizer transmits light of the initial polarization state while absorbing a portion of the laterally scattered light that has a different polarization state. The resolution of the overall screen assembly may be made higher while also improving other characteristics of the screen assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2000
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Hsin-Hsin Chou, Patrick A. Thomas, Colleen M. Brenner-Watschke, Jeffrey C. Chang, Robert M. Moshrefzadeh