Patents by Inventor Gary M. Nelson

Gary M. Nelson 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).

  • Publication number: 20240151880
    Abstract: An optical film includes a structured film and a light control film formed on the structured film. The structured film includes a substrate and a plurality of polymeric microstructures formed on a major surface of the substrate. Each microstructure includes an optical facet and a sidewall meeting the optical facet at a ridge of the microstructure. The light control film includes an optically transparent material disposed on and covering the plurality of polymeric microstructures, and a plurality of optically absorptive louvers formed in the optically transparent material opposite the structured film. The louvers extend along a longitudinal direction and are spaced apart along an orthogonal transverse direction. The louvers have an average depth D into the optically transparent material and have an average width W in the transverse direction. D/W can be greater than 2. The optical film is integrally formed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2020
    Publication date: May 9, 2024
    Inventors: Tao Liu, Tri D. Pham, Gary T. Boyd, Daniel J. Schmidt, Caleb T. Nelson, Owen M. Anderson
  • Publication number: 20240142673
    Abstract: An optical film has a major surface including a plurality of microstructures. Each microstructure includes an optical facet and a sidewall meeting the optical facet at a ridge of the microstructure. The optical facet and the sidewall define an oblique angle therebetween. For each microstructure in at least a majority of the microstructures, an optically absorptive layer is disposed on the sidewall. The optical film can include a polymeric layer having a microstructured surface at least partially coated with an inorganic optically transparent layer. The optically absorptive layer can an average thickness t where 100 nm<t<1 micrometer. A first layer can be disposed between the sidewall and the optically absorptive layer where the first layer has a lower extinction coefficient than the optically absorptive layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2020
    Publication date: May 2, 2024
    Inventors: Tao Liu, Gary T. Boyd, Daniel J. Schmidt, Caleb T. Nelson, Owen M. Anderson, Tri D. Pham
  • Publication number: 20240122043
    Abstract: An optical system includes a light source, an optical film curved about a first axis, and a light control film curved about the first axis and disposed between the light source and the optical film. The optical film includes a microstructured first major surface and an opposing second major surface. The microstructured first major surface defines a linear Fresnel lens including a plurality of Fresnel elements extending longitudinally along the first axis. The first major surface of the optical film faces of the optically transmissive regions, a centerline between adjacent optically absorptive regions is substantially normal to a major surface of the light control film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2020
    Publication date: April 11, 2024
    Inventors: Tao Liu, Gary T. Boyd, Daniel J. Schmidt, Caleb T. Nelson, Owen M. Anderson, Tri D. Pham, Encai Hao, Shu-Ching Fan
  • Patent number: 5044386
    Abstract: A portable dental care unit is disclosed, including an upper piece and a lower piece. The upper piece has a head portion and bristles which are attached to, and extend generally laterally from the head portion. A base of the upper piece is selectively attached to the lower piece such that the lower piece forms a handle for the toothbrush apparatus. An intermediate portion interconnects the head portion and the base portion and includes a recessed region formed below the bristles. The lower piece has a receptacle for accommodating a first dentifrice therein. A container is received by the recessed region for holding a second dentifrice therein. A closure is selectively engaged with the toothbrush apparatus for provisionally enclosing at least the head portion and the bristles of the upper piece between uses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1991
    Inventor: Gary M. Nelson