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).

  • Patent number: 10114162
    Abstract: Optical film stacks are disclosed. The optical film stacks can include a first reflective polarizer, a second reflective polarizer, and a retardance layer disposed between the first reflective polarizer and the second reflective polarizer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Kenneth A. Epstein, Adam D. Haag, Seo-Hern Lee, Youn Sihn Kim, Myeong-Kyun Kang
  • Publication number: 20180267228
    Abstract: A light guide includes a light input surface, a first major surface orthogonal to the light input surface, a second major surface opposing the first major, a plurality of discrete light extraction features disposed on the second major surface and a plurality of closely packed prisms disposed along the second major surface. The plurality of discrete light extraction features separate the plurality of closely packed prisms from the second major surface. Each of the closely packed prisms include a first prism surface forming a first angle with the second surface in a range from 80 to 100 degrees or in a range from 85 to 95 degrees or in a range from 87 to 93 degrees.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2016
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Inventors: Kenneth A. EPSTEIN, John A. WHEATLEY, Tao LIU
  • Publication number: 20180246266
    Abstract: A light guide includes a light input surface, a first major surface orthogonal to the light input surface and a second major surface opposing the first major surface and forming a converging wedge with the first major surface. The second surface includes a plurality of doublet light extraction features closely-packed or separated by a land feature. Each doublet feature includes a first prism feature having a first shape and a second prism feature having a second shape and the second shape is different than the first shape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2016
    Publication date: August 30, 2018
    Inventors: Kenneth A. EPSTEIN, John A. WHEATLEY
  • Patent number: 10031260
    Abstract: A sensor comprising a thin film photovoltaic pixel is fitted with optics to provide a field-of-view for the sensing of persons, or other objects, entering or exiting said field-of-view. When a person enters the field-of-view, a processor may sense such entry, then provide signals to other electronic apparatus indicative of such an event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Scott E. Brigham, Kenneth A. Epstein, Kiran S Kanukurthy, John C. Schultz, Philip E Watson
  • Publication number: 20180100963
    Abstract: Optical films are described. In particular, optical films that include top and bottom structured surfaces are described. Films that may be suitable for use in backlights as turning films or recycling films are also described. Optical films described may include reflective polarizers and optically birefringent substrates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2016
    Publication date: April 12, 2018
    Inventors: Gary T. Boyd, Robert M. Emmons, Kenneth A. Epstein
  • Publication number: 20180003364
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2017
    Publication date: January 4, 2018
    Inventors: John A. Wheatley, Guanglei Du, Kenneth A. Epstein
  • Patent number: 9804311
    Abstract: A light control film, and light collimating assemblies and liquid crystal displays incorporating such light control films are described. The light control film includes alternating transmissive and absorptive regions, where the refractive index of each transmissive region is greater than the refractive index of each absorptive region. The absorptive regions form interfaces at angles that are close to the perpendicular to the light control film. A portion of the incident light intercepting the absorptive region undergoes Total Internal Reflection, and is transmitted through the film. The axial brightness of light passing through the film is increased, the brightness is more uniform within the viewing angle, and the viewing cutoff angle is sharpened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Gary E. Gaides, Kenneth A. Epstein
  • Patent number: 9773847
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to emissive displays and, in particular, to emissive displays that include a top surface (111) that has a diffusely reflective inactive surface (116) adjacent a diffusely reflective emissive surface (114). The emissive display further includes a polarization selective antireflection film component (120) that includes a linear absorbing polarizer (126), a reflective polarizer (124), and a quarter-wave retarder (122), and is positioned separated from the top surface. The disclosure also relates to issues arising from these antireflection film components, such as brightness efficiency loss and image degradation such as pixel blur. The enhanced antireflection stack performs well in commercial OLED displays, with a 20% or greater brightness gain, a 30% or greater ambient light reflectance gain and no visually apparent image degradation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Kenneth A. Epstein, Adam D. Haag, Seong Taek Lee, Sergey Lamansky
  • Patent number: 9761843
    Abstract: An emissive display comprising an OLED, a first birefringent reflective polarizer, a second birefringent reflective polarizer optically between the OLED and the first birefringent reflective polarizer, a first linear absorbing polarizer having a contrast ratio of less than 100:1 optically between the first birefringent reflective polarizer and the second birefringent reflective polarizer, a second linear absorbing polarizer having a contrast ratio of less than 100:1, where the first birefringent reflective polarizer is optically between the second linear absorbing polarizer and the first linear absorbing polarizer, and a structured optical film optically between the OLED and the second birefringent reflective polarizer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Adam D. Haag, Ghidewon Arefe, Kenneth A. Epstein, Nathaniel K. Naismith, Seong Taek Lee, Sergey Lamansky, William A. Tolbert
  • Patent number: 9690038
    Abstract: A backlight includes a light source and one or more light recycling films. The light source generates light that exits the light source with an angular exit distribution. The light recycling films are oriented in relation to the light source so that the prism peaks of the recycling films are oriented away from the light source. The recycling films have a range of optimal incident angles that allow light to pass through the recycling films without recycling. The components of the light source, the characteristics of the recycling films, or both, are configured to control the overlap between the exit distribution of the light source and the optimal incident angle range of the recycling films.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Gary T. Boyd, Ji-Young Choi, John T. Cowher, Yasuyuki Daigo, Kenneth A. Epstein, Shandon D. Hart, Charles D. Hoyle, Min-Young Ji, Chideuk Kim, Byung-Soo Ko, Keith M. Kotchick, Wade D. Kretman, David J. Lamb, Seo-Hern Lee, Eric W. Nelson, Youngsoo Park, Xianneng Peng, Yuji Saito, Naoya Taniguchi, John F. Van Derlofske, III, Leland R. Whitney, Xingpeng Yang, Yang Yu, Jie Zhou, Rui Zhang
  • Publication number: 20170175976
    Abstract: Optical systems are disclosed. More particularly, optical systems including an asymmetric turning film (110) with at least a first (120) and second light source (130) are disclosed. Selection of geometries for the asymmetric turning film can enable different output viewing angles depending on the selective illumination of the first light source, the second light source, or both. The optical systems disclosed may be suitable in both luminaires and displays.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2015
    Publication date: June 22, 2017
    Applicant: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Nicholas A. Johnson, Gilles J. Benoit, John A. Wheatley, Kenneth A. Epstein, David Scott Thompson, Michael E. Lauters
  • Publication number: 20170116930
    Abstract: Backlights are disclosed. More particularly, temporally multiplexed backlights utilizing asymmetric turning films are disclosed. The disclosed backlights are capable of displaying a primary image to on-axis viewers while simultaneously providing a secondary image to off-axis viewers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2015
    Publication date: April 27, 2017
    Inventors: Nicholas A. Johnson, Kenneth A. Epstein, James M. Hillis, Michael E. Lauters
  • Publication number: 20160320525
    Abstract: A sensor comprising a thin film photovoltaic pixel is fitted with optics to provide a field-of-view for the sensing of persons, or other objects, entering or exiting said field-of-view. When a person enters the field-of-view, a processor may sense such entry, then provide signals to other electronic apparatus indicative of such an event.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2014
    Publication date: November 3, 2016
    Inventors: Scott E. BRIGHAM, Kenneth A. EPSTEIN, Kiran S KANUKURTHY, John C. SCHULTZ, Philip E WATSON
  • Publication number: 20160216420
    Abstract: A light control film, and light collimating assemblies and liquid crystal displays incorporating such light control films are described. The light control film includes alternating transmissive and absorptive regions, where the refractive index of each transmissive region is greater than the refractive index of each absorptive region. The absorptive regions form interfaces at angles that are close to the perpendicular to the light control film. A portion of the incident light intercepting the absorptive region undergoes Total Internal Reflection, and is transmitted through the film. The axial brightness of light passing through the film is increased, the brightness is more uniform within the viewing angle, and the viewing cutoff angle is sharpened.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2016
    Publication date: July 28, 2016
    Inventors: Gary E. Gaides, Kenneth A. Epstein
  • Patent number: 9335449
    Abstract: A light control film, and light collimating assemblies and liquid crystal displays incorporating such light control films are described. The light control film includes alternating transmissive and absorptive regions, where the refractive index of each transmissive region is greater than the refractive index of each absorptive region. The absorptive regions form interfaces at angles that are close to the perpendicular to the light control film. A portion of the incident light intercepting the absorptive region undergoes Total Internal Reflection, and is transmitted through the film. The axial brightness of light passing through the film is increased, the brightness is more uniform within the viewing angle, and the viewing cutoff angle is sharpened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Gary E. Gaides, Kenneth A. Epstein
  • Publication number: 20160118448
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to emissive displays and, in particular, to emissive displays that include a top surface (111) that has a diffusely reflective inactive surface (116) adjacent a diffusely reflective emissive surface (114). The emissive display further includes a polarization selective antireflection film component (120) that includes a linear absorbing polarizer (126), a reflective polarizer (124), and a quarter-wave retarder (122), and is positioned separated from the top surface. The disclosure also relates to issues arising from these antireflection film components, such as brightness efficiency loss and image degradation such as pixel blur. The enhanced antireflection stack performs well in commercial OLED displays, with a 20% or greater brightness gain, a 30% or greater ambient light reflectance gain and no visually apparent image degradation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2014
    Publication date: April 28, 2016
    Inventors: Kenneth A. Epstein, Adam D. Haag, Seong Taek Lee, Sergey Lamansky
  • Publication number: 20150325816
    Abstract: An emissive display includes an OLED, a linear polarizer, a reflective polarizer optically between the OLED and the linear polarizer, and a structured optical film optically between the OLED and the reflective polarizer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2013
    Publication date: November 12, 2015
    Inventors: Adam D. HAAG, Ghidewon AREFE, Kenneth A. EPSTEIN, Nathaniel K. NAISMITH, Seong Taek LEE, Sergey LAMANSKY, William A. TOLBERT
  • Publication number: 20150325813
    Abstract: An emissive display comprising an OLED, a first birefringent reflective polarizer, a second birefringent reflective polarizer optically between the OLED and the first birefringent reflective polarizer, a first linear absorbing polarizer having a contrast ratio of less than 100:1 optically between the first birefringent reflective polarizer and the second birefringent reflective polarizer, a second linear absorbing polarizer having a contrast ratio of less than 100:1, where the first birefringent reflective polarizer is optically between the second linear absorbing polarizer and the first linear absorbing polarizer, and a structured optical film optically between the OLED and the second birefringent reflective polarizer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2013
    Publication date: November 12, 2015
    Inventors: Adam D. HAAG, Ghidewon AREFE, Kenneth A. EPSTEIN, Nathaniel K. NAISMITH, Seong Taek LEE, Sergey LAMANSKY, William A. TOLBERT
  • Patent number: 9001286
    Abstract: An optical device has a first film (200) that has a first side and a second side. When illuminated by light (204) at the first side, the first film is characterized by a first fraction of broadly diffused transmitted light (206) and a second fraction of narrowly diffused transmitted light (208). A second film (202) is disposed to the second side of the first film. The second film has at least one free surface that diverts light. In some embodiments, the first film has a diffuse scattering optical density between 0.5 and 3. The device finds use in spreading and making light uniform in a backlight in a display such as a liquid crystal display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Kenneth A. Epstein, Stephen J. Etzkorn, Eric W. Nelson, Mark D. Gehisen, Brian G. Koethe
  • Patent number: 8848132
    Abstract: A backlight (120) that includes a front reflector (130) and a back reflector (160) that form a hollow light recycling cavity (162) having an output surface (164) is disclosed. The front reflector includes at least four directional recycling films (132). The backlight also includes a semi-specular diffuser disposed between the front reflector and the back reflector, and one or more light sources (166) disposed to emit light into the light recycling cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Mark B. O'Neill, Shandon D. Hart, Kenneth A. Epstein, David G. Freier, David J. Lamb