Patents by Inventor Jo Anne Etter

Jo Anne Etter 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: 11327324
    Abstract: A display system including an imager for forming an image, and a projection lens system for projecting the image formed by the imager is described. For each pixel in the plurality of pixels, the imager is configured to emit a cone of light having a central ray having a direction that varies with location of the pixel in the imager. The variation may increase a brightness of an image projected through the projection lens system by at least 30 percent. The display system may include a light guide having a light insertion portion adapted to receive light; a light transport portion disposed to receive light from the light insertion portion; and a light extraction portion disposed to receive light from the light transport portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Andrew J. Ouderkirk, Timothy L. Wong, Erin A. McDowell, Zhisheng Yun, Gilles J. Benoit, Jo Anne Etter
  • Patent number: 11314097
    Abstract: An optical system for displaying an object to a viewer is described. The optical system includes an integral first optical assembly, an integral second optical assembly, and an integral third optical assembly disposed between the integral first and second optical assemblies. The integral first optical assembly has a first focal length and includes one or more first optical lenses, and a reflective polarizer. The integral second optical assembly has a second focal length and includes one or more second optical lenses, and a partial reflector having an average optical reflectance of at least 30% for a desired plurality of wavelengths. The integral third optical assembly has a third focal length and includes a curved first phase retarder. The third focal length is greater than a smaller of the first and second focal lengths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Andrew J. Ouderkirk, Zhisheng Yun, Jo Anne Etter
  • Publication number: 20210278679
    Abstract: A display system includes a pixelated display being curved about at least one axis and including a plurality of groups of pixels; a plurality of light redirecting elements where each light redirecting element corresponds to a different group of pixels in the plurality of groups of pixels; and an optical lens system adapted to receive light emitted by the pixelated display and transmitted by the plurality of light redirecting elements. The optical lens system transmits at least a portion of the received light. For at least one pixel in the plurality of groups of pixels, the light redirecting element corresponding to the pixel reduces an angle between a central light ray emitted by the pixel and a chief light ray emitted by the pixel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2021
    Publication date: September 9, 2021
    Inventors: Andrew J. Ouderkirk, Timothy L. Wong, Erin A. McDowell, Zhisheng Yun, Gilles J. Benoit, Jo Anne Etter
  • Patent number: 10663745
    Abstract: Light emitting systems and optical systems including a light emitting system and a lens system are described. The light emitting system includes a pixelated light source having a plurality of discrete spaced apart pixels, and includes a plurality of light redirecting elements, each light redirecting element corresponding to a different pixel in the plurality of pixels. The light redirecting elements may be adapted to alter one or both of a central ray direction and a divergence angle of light received from the corresponding pixel. A lens system disposed to receive light from the light emitting system may include a reflective polarizer and a partial reflector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Andrew J. Ouderkirk, Erin A. McDowell, Timothy L. Wong, Zhisheng Yun, Jo Anne Etter
  • Publication number: 20200096780
    Abstract: An optical system for displaying an object to a viewer is described. The optical system includes an integral first optical assembly, an integral second optical assembly, and an integral third optical assembly disposed between the integral first and second optical assemblies. The integral first optical assembly has a first focal length and includes one or more first optical lenses, and a reflective polarizer. The integral second optical assembly has a second focal length and includes one or more second optical lenses, and a partial reflector having an average optical reflectance of at least 30% for a desired plurality of wavelengths. The integral third optical assembly has a third focal length and includes a curved first phase retarder. The third focal length is greater than a smaller of the first and second focal lengths.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2017
    Publication date: March 26, 2020
    Inventors: Andrew J. Ouderkirk, Zhisheng Yun, Jo Anne Etter
  • Publication number: 20190285902
    Abstract: A display system including an imager for forming an image, and a projection lens system for projecting the image formed by the imager is described. For each pixel in the plurality of pixels, the imager is configured to emit a cone of light having a central ray having a direction that varies with location of the pixel in the imager. The variation may increase a brightness of an image projected through the projection lens system by at least 30 percent. The display system may include a light guide having a light insertion portion adapted to receive light; a light transport portion disposed to receive light from the light insertion portion; and a light extraction portion disposed to receive light from the light transport portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2017
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Inventors: Andrew J. Ouderkirk, Timothy L. Wong, Erin A. McDowell, Zhisheng Yun, Gilles J. Benoit, Jo Anne Etter
  • Publication number: 20170357100
    Abstract: Light emitting systems and optical systems including a light emitting system and a lens system are described. The light emitting system includes a pixelated light source having a plurality of discrete spaced apart pixels, and includes a plurality of light redirecting elements, each light redirecting element corresponding to a different pixel in the plurality of pixels. The light redirecting elements may be adapted to alter one or both of a central ray direction and a divergence angle of light received from the corresponding pixel. A lens system disposed to receive light from the light emitting system may include a reflective polarizer and a partial reflector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2017
    Publication date: December 14, 2017
    Inventors: Andrew J. Ouderkirk, Erin A. McDowell, Timothy L. Wong, Zhisheng Yun, Jo Anne Etter