Patents by Inventor Kenneth Epstein

Kenneth 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: 20050135116
    Abstract: An illumination system includes a light guide for distributing light. Extraction structures are provided to uniformly extract light from the light guide. The structures extract more light out of the light guide when light is propagating in the light guide in a direction toward the light input area than when light is propagating in the light guide in a direction away from the light input area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2003
    Publication date: June 23, 2005
    Inventors: Kenneth Epstein, Leland Whitney, Charles Hoyle, Wade Kretman
  • Publication number: 20050135115
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to backlighting systems, which include first and second lightguides, at least one light source optically connected to an edge of the first lightguide and at least one light source optically connected to an edge of the second lightguide for supplying light into their respective interiors. In the appropriate exemplary embodiments, the backlighting systems of the present disclosure include an extractor disposed at a surface of the second lightguide for diffuse extraction of light from the interior of the second lightguide. In such exemplary embodiments, at least a portion of the light supplied into the interior of the second lightguide and then diffusely extracted therefrom enters the interior of the first lightguide through a substantially optically clear surface. In some exemplary embodiments, the backlighting systems of the present disclosure include recycling enhancement structures, which may be attached to the first lightguide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2003
    Publication date: June 23, 2005
    Inventors: David Lamb, Keith Kotchick, Mark O'Neill, Patrick Marushin, Mark Gardiner, Kenneth Epstein, Philip Watson
  • Publication number: 20050135117
    Abstract: Backlighting systems are disclosed, which include a lightguide with at least one light source optically connected to an edge of the lightguide for supplying light into its interior and a reflective cavity with at least one light source optically connected to the reflective cavity for supplying light into its interior. The reflective cavity may include a first reflector and a second reflector and at least one source may be disposed at an edge of the reflective cavity. Alternatively, the reflective cavity may include a back reflector portion and light sources may be disposed at the back reflector portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2003
    Publication date: June 23, 2005
    Inventors: David Lamb, Keith Kotchick, Mark Gardiner, Mark O'Neill, Patrick Marushin, Kenneth Epstein, Philip Watson
  • Publication number: 20050024754
    Abstract: An optical film for use in transparent displays, such as reflective LCDs. The optical film has three-dimensional, prismatic structures that reflect incoming light. The prismatic structures are configured so that the reflecting facets orient the reflected light in desired reflective light pattern. The pattern shape and intensity can be controlled by the shape and dimensions of the various reflecting facets. In one embodiment, the height of the prismatic structure varies along two dimensions of the structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2004
    Publication date: February 3, 2005
    Inventors: Kenneth Epstein, Richard Griffith, Alan Campbell
  • Publication number: 20050001043
    Abstract: An optical element, such as a lightguide or an optical film, is formed with a predetermined, programmed pattern of optical structures. The optical structures may be arranged to selectively correct for non-uniformities in the output a lightguide, or may be arranged to otherwise enhance the performance of a display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2004
    Publication date: January 6, 2005
    Inventors: Mark Gardiner, Sanford Cobb, Kenneth Epstein, Wade Kretman
  • Publication number: 20030236729
    Abstract: Systems and methods for permitting consumers to send messages to a trusted agent or agents, causing the trusted agent or agents to decipher the messages and send the messages to the appropriate provider(s,) causing the trusted agent or agents to receive a responsive informational or transactional message from the provider(s) and causes the trusted agent or agents to route the provider's messages to the consumer or otherwise communicating to the consumer as a result of or relative to the provider. The system functions independently and automatically, such that new offerings of goods and/or services can be searched for and located by, or otherwise brought to the attention of, the trusted agent and conveyed to the consumer, all based on profile data provided by the consumer to the trusted agent or agents and transactional data gathered by the trusted agent about potential goods, services or information filling the needs of the consumer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2002
    Publication date: December 25, 2003
    Inventors: Kenneth Epstein, Roberto Rafalowsky, Srinivasan Rao, Miguel Ramos, Elliot Kopstein, P.G. Mohan Rao