Patents by Inventor Kenneth A. Epstein
Kenneth A. Epstein 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: 20250093555Abstract: An optical system comprises a turning film and a lenticular diffuser. The lenticular diffuser comprises a structured surface comprising a plurality of microstructures comprises a plurality of lenticular prisms separated by substantially flat land areas, the lenticular prisms having a rounded tip and two sides comprising a linear base section and a linear tip section connected by a polynomial blend section.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 3, 2024Publication date: March 20, 2025Inventors: Robert M. Emmons, Kenneth A. Epstein, Bryan V. Hunt
-
Publication number: 20250067914Abstract: A light control film is described comprising alternating transmissive regions and absorptive regions disposed between the light input surface and the light output surface. The absorptive regions have an aspect ratio of at least 30. In some embodiments, an absorptive layer or reflective layer is disposed between the alternating transmissive regions and absorptive regions and the light input surface and/or light output surface. In another embodiment, the alternating transmissive regions comprise an absorptive material. The light control film can exhibit low transmission of visible light and high transmission of near infrared light. Also described is a light detection system comprising such light control films and a microstructured film.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 12, 2024Publication date: February 27, 2025Inventors: Daniel J. Schmidt, Caleb T. Nelson, Kevin W. Gotrik, Raymond J. Kenney, Kenneth A. Epstein, Gary T. Boyd, Corey D. Balts, Morgan A. Priolo, John A. Wheatley, Elisa M. Cross
-
Patent number: 12189150Abstract: An optical system comprises a turning film and a lenticular diffuser. The lenticular diffuser comprises a structured surface comprising a plurality of microstructures each comprising a lenticular prism having linear end sections connected by a blend section separated by a substantially flat land area, wherein the blend section shape is a segment of an ellipse of 2nd, 4th or 6th order polynomial.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2019Date of Patent: January 7, 2025Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANYInventors: Robert M. Emmons, Kenneth A. Epstein, Bryan V. Hunt
-
Patent number: 12174407Abstract: A light control film is described comprising alternating transmissive regions and absorptive regions disposed between the light input surface and the light output surface. The absorptive regions have an aspect ratio of at least 30. In some embodiments, an absorptive layer or reflective layer is disposed between the alternating transmissive regions and absorptive regions and the light input surface and/or light output surface. In another embodiment, the alternating transmissive regions comprise an absorptive material. The light control film can exhibit low transmission of visible light and high transmission of near infrared light. Also described is a light detection system comprising such light control films and a microstructured film.Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 2019Date of Patent: December 24, 2024Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANYInventors: Daniel J. Schmidt, Caleb T. Nelson, Kevin W. Gotrik, Raymond J. Kenney, Kenneth A. Epstein, Gary T. Boyd, Corey D. Balts, Morgan A. Priolo, John A. Wheatley, Elisa M. Cross
-
Patent number: 12164120Abstract: An optical film (210) includes a microstructured surface (211) comprising a plurality of prismatic structures (230), the microstructured surface (211) defining a reference plane (241-242) and a thickness direction (243) perpendicular to the reference plane; wherein the plurality of prismatic structures includes a plurality of facets (231), each facet having a facet normal direction forming a polar angle with respect to the thickness direction and an azimuthal angle along the reference plane, and wherein the microstructured surface has a surface azimuthal distribution of the plurality of facets that is substantially uniform, and wherein the microstructured surface has a surface polar distribution of the plurality of facets that has an off-axis peak polar distribution.Type: GrantFiled: January 8, 2018Date of Patent: December 10, 2024Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANYInventors: Kristopher J. Derks, Tri D. Pham, Kenneth A. Epstein, David J. Lamb
-
Publication number: 20240192544Abstract: A light control film comprises a light input surface and a light output surface opposite the light input surface; alternating transmissive regions and absorptive regions disposed between the light input surface and the light output surface, wherein the absorptive regions comprise a core having a first concentration, C1, of a light absorbing material sandwiched between cladding layers having a second concentration, C2, of the light absorbing material, wherein C2<C1, and wherein the cores have an aspect ratio of at least 20.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 19, 2024Publication date: June 13, 2024Inventors: Daniel J. Schmidt, Kevin W. Gotrik, Nicholas A. Johnson, Raymond J. Kenney, Caleb T. Nelson, Kenneth A. Epstein
-
Publication number: 20240118463Abstract: A light control film comprises a light input surface and a light output surface opposite the light input surface. Alternating transmissive regions and absorptive regions are disposed between the light input surface and the light output surface. The absorptive regions have an aspect ratio of at least 30 and the alternating transmissive region and absorptive regions have a relative transmission at a viewing angle of 0 degrees of at least 75%.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 12, 2023Publication date: April 11, 2024Inventors: Daniel J. Schmidt, Caleb T. Nelson, Kevin W. Gotrik, Raymond J. Kenney, John A. Wheatley, Kenneth A. Epstein, Gary T. Boyd, Corey D. Balts
-
Patent number: 11947135Abstract: A light control film is described comprising alternating transmissive regions and absorptive regions disposed between a light input surface and a light output surface. The absorptive regions have an aspect ratio of at least 30. In some embodiments, the alternating transmissive regions and absorptive regions have a transmission as measured with a spectrophotometer at a viewing angle of 0 degrees of at least 35, 40, 45, or 50% for a wavelength of the range 320-400 nm (UV) and/or at least 65, 70, 75, or 80% for a wavelength of the range 700-1400 nm (NIR). In another embodiment, the absorptive regions block light at the light input surface and light output surface and the maximum surface area that is blocked is less than 20% of the total alternating transmissive regions and absorptive regions. Also described are various optical communication systems comprising the light control films described herein and methods.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2018Date of Patent: April 2, 2024Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANYInventors: Daniel J. Schmidt, Caleb T. Nelson, Kevin W. Gotrik, Raymond J. Kenney, John A. Wheatley, Kenneth A. Epstein, Gary T. Boyd, Corey D. Balts
-
Patent number: 11940689Abstract: A light control film comprises a light input surface and a light output surface opposite the light input surface; alternating transmissive regions and absorptive regions disposed between the light input surface and the light output surface, wherein the absorptive regions comprise a core having a first concentration, C1, of a light absorbing material sandwiched between cladding layers having a second concentration, C2, of the light absorbing material, wherein C2<C1, and wherein the cores have an aspect ratio of at least 20.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2022Date of Patent: March 26, 2024Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANYInventors: Daniel J. Schmidt, Kevin W. Gotrik, Nicholas A. Johnson, Raymond J. Kenney, Caleb T. Nelson, Kenneth A. Epstein
-
Patent number: 11885989Abstract: A light control film, comprises a light input surface and alight output surface opposite the light input surface. Alternating transmissive regions and absorptive regions are disposed between the light input surface and the light output surface. The absorptive regions have an aspect ratio of at least 30 and the alternating transmissive region and absorptive regions have a relative transmission at a viewing angle of 0 degrees of at least 75%.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2018Date of Patent: January 30, 2024Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANYInventors: Daniel J. Schmidt, Caleb T. Nelson, Kevin W. Gotrik, Raymond J. Kenney, John A. Wheatley, Kenneth A. Epstein, Gary T. Boyd, Corey D. Balts
-
Patent number: 11708962Abstract: An optical system including a lighting component and a switchable diffuser in optical communication with the lighting component. The optical system may further include a low absorbing optical component. At least one outer surface of the switchable diffuser and/or the low absorbing optical component includes light redirecting structures. When the switchable diffuser is in a first state and the optical system produces a light output, the light redirecting structures are configured to increase the full width at half-maximum (FWHM) of the light output of the optical system in at least one direction by at least 5 degrees relative to that of an otherwise equivalent optical system that does not include the light redirecting structures.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2022Date of Patent: July 25, 2023Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANYInventors: John A. Wheatley, Guanglei Du, Kenneth A. Epstein
-
Publication number: 20230109003Abstract: A light control film comprises a light input surface and a light output surface opposite the light input surface; alternating transmissive regions and absorptive regions disposed between the light input surface and the light output surface, wherein the absorptive regions comprise a core having a first concentration, C1, of a light absorbing material sandwiched between cladding layers having a second concentration, C2, of the light absorbing material, wherein C2 < C1, and wherein the cores have an aspect ratio of at least 20.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 12, 2022Publication date: April 6, 2023Inventors: Daniel J. Schmidt, Kevin W. Gotrik, Nicholas A. Johnson, Raymond J. Kenney, Caleb T. Nelson, Kenneth A. Epstein
-
Patent number: 11585966Abstract: The disclosure describes asymmetric turning films (ATFs) that may be used in conjunction with multiple light sources in a liquid crystal display assembly to provide multiple different characteristic output distributions of light. In some examples, the ATFs include a structured surface defining a plurality of microstructures having two or more faces with each face configured to reflect light in different directions. The microstructure may define a microstructure axis and an angle gradient characterizing the rotation of the microstructure axis across the structured surface of the ATF.Type: GrantFiled: February 12, 2021Date of Patent: February 21, 2023Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANYInventors: Kenneth A. Epstein, Nicholas A. Johnson, Michael E. Lauters, Shannon L. Siefken, Gary T. Boyd
-
Patent number: 11550183Abstract: A light control film comprises a light input surface and a light output surface opposite the light input surface; alternating transmissive regions and absorptive regions disposed between the light input surface and the light output surface, wherein the absorptive regions comprise a core having a first concentration, C1, of a light absorbing material sandwiched between cladding layers having a second concentration, C2, of the light absorbing material, wherein C2<C1, and wherein the cores have an aspect ratio of at least 20.Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 2019Date of Patent: January 10, 2023Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Daniel J. Schmidt, Kevin W. Gotrik, Nicholas A. Johnson, Raymond J. Kenney, Caleb T. Nelson, Kenneth A. Epstein
-
Patent number: 11448814Abstract: An optical system comprises a turning film and a lenticular diffuser. The lenticular diffuser comprises a structured surface comprising a plurality of microstructures comprises a plurality of lenticular prisms separated by substantially flat land areas, the lenticular prisms having a rounded tip and two sides comprising a linear base section and a linear tip section connected by a polynomial blend section.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2019Date of Patent: September 20, 2022Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Robert M. Emmons, Kenneth A. Epstein, Nicholas A. Johnson
-
Publication number: 20220214027Abstract: An optical system including a lighting component and a switchable diffuser in optical communication with the lighting component. The optical system may further include a low absorbing optical component. At least one outer surface of the switchable diffuser and/or the low absorbing optical component includes light redirecting structures. When the switchable diffuser is in a first state and the optical system produces a light output, the light redirecting structures are configured to increase the full width at half-maximum (FWHM) of the light output of the optical system in at least one direction by at least 5 degrees relative to that of an otherwise equivalent optical system that does not include the light redirecting structures.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 23, 2022Publication date: July 7, 2022Inventors: John A. Wheatley, Guanglei Du, Kenneth A. Epstein
-
Patent number: 11307333Abstract: An optical system including a light guide and a turning film that includes a first major surface, where the first major surface is substantially smooth and a second major surface including a plurality of asymmetric microstructures each respective asymmetric microstructure including a first side, where the first side is substantially planar, and a second side including a first surface segment defining a substantially planar surface and a second surface segment defining a non-planar surface.Type: GrantFiled: January 3, 2018Date of Patent: April 19, 2022Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Robert M. Emmons, Kenneth A. Epstein
-
Patent number: 11300716Abstract: Retroreflecting articles are described. In particular, retroreflecting articles including a quarter wave retarder and a retroreflecting layer are described. The retarder is rotationally invariant and the retroreflecting layer is non-depolarizing. Such articles may be useful for sensor-detectable signs, labels, and garments.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2017Date of Patent: April 12, 2022Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANYInventors: John A. Wheatley, Michael A. McCoy, Tien Yi T. H. Whiting, Guanglei Du, Neeraj Sharma, Kui Chen-Ho, Kenneth A. Epstein
-
Publication number: 20220050231Abstract: An optical system comprises a turning film and a lenticular diffuser. The lenticular diffuser comprises a structured surface comprising a plurality of microstructures each comprising a lenticular prism having linear end sections connected by a blend section separated by a substantially flat land area, wherein the blend section shape is a segment of an ellipse of 2nd, 4th or 6th order polynomial.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2019Publication date: February 17, 2022Inventors: Robert M. Emmons, Kenneth A. Epstein, Bryan V. Hunt
-
Publication number: 20220019007Abstract: A light control film is described comprising alternating transmissive regions and absorptive regions disposed between the light input surface and the light output surface. The absorptive regions have an aspect ratio of at least 30. In some embodiments, an absorptive layer or reflective layer is disposed between the alternating transmissive regions and absorptive regions and the light input surface and/or light output surface. In another embodiment, the alternating transmissive regions comprise an absorptive material. The light control film can exhibit low transmission of visible light and high transmission of near infrared light. Also described is a light detection system comprising such light control films and a microstructured film.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 2, 2019Publication date: January 20, 2022Inventors: Daniel J. Schmidt, Caleb T. Nelson, Kevin W. Gotrik, Raymond J. Kenney, Kenneth A. Epstein, Gary T. Boyd, Corey D. Balts, Morgan A. Priolo, John A. Wheatley, Elisa M. Cross