Patents by Inventor Matthew B. Johnson

Matthew B. Johnson 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: 20220003913
    Abstract: Thermoplastic birefringent multilayer optical films are described. More particularly, thermoplastic multilayer films having alternating first and second layers having a linear layer profile where both outer layers are thinner than 350 nm but thicker than 150 nm are described. Thermoplastic birefringent multilayer optical films with thinner outer protective boundary layers are described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2021
    Publication date: January 6, 2022
    Inventors: Matthew B. Johnson, Adam D. Haag, Martin E. Denker
  • Patent number: 11187847
    Abstract: Backlights are described. In particular, backlights including wide-web turning films and reflective polarizers having quarter-wave retarders are disclosed. Such configurations can provide turning film systems with improved luminance uniformity for large format displays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Quinn D. Sanford, Kenneth A. Epstein, Matthew B. Johnson, Gary T. Boyd
  • Publication number: 20210349248
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a multi-layer film and display system. The multi-layer film and display system includes a birefringent film, wherein the birefringent film substantially reduces a visibility of a regular optical pattern generated on the multi-layer film and display system when an at least partially polarized light is incident on the multi-layer film and display system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2019
    Publication date: November 11, 2021
    Inventors: Eileen M. Franey, Stephan J. Pankratz, John F. VanDerlofske, III, Matthew B. Johnson
  • Publication number: 20210325587
    Abstract: Multilayer reflective polarizers are described. In particular, multilayer reflective polarizers that include both crystalline high index layers and low index layers are disclosed. These reflective polarizers may be particularly suitable for automotive, architectural, and industrial applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2019
    Publication date: October 21, 2021
    Inventors: Matthew B. Johnson, Adam D. Haag, Carl A. Stover, Timothy J. Nevitt, William F. Edmonds, Stephen A. Johnson
  • Patent number: 11150393
    Abstract: Thermoplastic birefringent multilayer optical films are described. More particularly, thermoplastic multilayer films having alternating first and second layers having a linear layer profile where both outer layers are thinner than 350 nm but thicker than 150 nm are described. Thermoplastic birefringent multilayer optical films with thinner outer protective boundary layers are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Matthew B. Johnson, Adam D. Haag, Martin E. Denker
  • Publication number: 20210302637
    Abstract: Optical films are described. In particular, optical films including a reflective polarizer portion and an infrared portion, with no adhesive between these two portions, are described. These optical films may be particularly suitable for combiner applications, including automotive heads up display applications with demanding ambient environments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2019
    Publication date: September 30, 2021
    Inventors: Adam D. Haag, Matthew B. Johnson, Carl A. Stover, Timothy J. Nevitt
  • Publication number: 20210278586
    Abstract: Backlights are described. In particular, backlights including wide-web turning films and reflective polarizers having quarter-wave retarders are disclosed. Such configurations can provide turning film systems with improved luminance uniformity for large format displays.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2018
    Publication date: September 9, 2021
    Inventors: Quinn D. Sanford, Kenneth A. Epstein, Matthew B. Johnson, Gary T. Boyd
  • Publication number: 20210231844
    Abstract: Multilayer reflectors are described. In particular, multilayer reflectors that partially transmit blue light and reflect green and red light are described. The multilayer reflectors have good efficiency and color performance in a backlight including a downconverting material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2019
    Publication date: July 29, 2021
    Inventors: Gilles J. Benoit, Matthew B. Johnson
  • Patent number: 11073646
    Abstract: Thin multilayer reflectors are described. In particular, thin multilayer reflectors that partially transmit blue light and reflect green and red light are described. The thin multilayer reflectors have a uniform left bandedge across each dimension of the film, wherein the location of the left bandedge varies in a range of no more than 10% of the average left bandedge across that dimension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Matthew B. Johnson, Edward J. Kivel, Ryan T. Fabick, Gilles J. Benoit
  • Patent number: 10895676
    Abstract: An optical stack includes a liquid crystal panel with a color filter array. The liquid crystal panel has a filter side closest to the color filter array and a non-filter side opposite the filter side. An absorbing polarizer is laminated directly to the filter side of the liquid crystal panel, and a reflective polarizer laminated directly to the absorbing polarizer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignees: 3M Innovative Properties Company, Nitto Denko Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew B. Johnson, Chikara Abe, Hiroaki Sawada, Minoru Miyatake
  • Publication number: 20200386931
    Abstract: Thin multilayer reflectors are described. In particular, thin multilayer reflectors that partially transmit blue light and reflect green and red light are described. The thin multilayer reflectors have a uniform left bandedge across each dimension of the film, wherein the location of the left bandedge varies in a range of no more than 10% of the average left bandedge across that dimension.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2018
    Publication date: December 10, 2020
    Inventors: Matthew B. Johnson, Edward J. Kivel, Ryan T. Fabick, Gilles J. Benoit
  • Publication number: 20200355859
    Abstract: Multilayer reflective polarizers are described. In particular, multilayer reflective polarizers that include both crystalline high index layers and low index layers are disclosed. These reflective polarizers may be particularly suitable for combiner applications, including automotive heads up display applications with demanding ambient environments. Layers are made of PET and PETG.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2019
    Publication date: November 12, 2020
    Inventors: Adam D. Haag, Matthew B. Johnson, Carl A. Stover, Timothy J. Nevitt, William F. Edmonds, Stephen A. Johnson
  • Publication number: 20200341180
    Abstract: The disclosed light directing article has an optical element and a conformal retarder with predefined thickness that contours with the optical element. In one aspect, the light directing article is a retroreflective article, which further comprises a phase reversing optical reflector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2018
    Publication date: October 29, 2020
    Inventors: Kui CHEN-HO, Michael A. MCCOY, John A. WHEATLEY, Susannah C. CLEAR, Michelle L. TOY, Alex P. PONGRATZ, Matthew E. SOUSA, Matthew B. JOHNSON, Gilles BENOIT, David J.W. AASTUEN, Guanglei DU, Tien Yi T.H. WHITING, Kevin W. GOTRIK, Christopher A. MERTON, Ying XIA, Olester BENSON, JR., Charles A. SHAKLEE, Travis L. POTTS, Carla S. THOMAS
  • Patent number: 10754073
    Abstract: Optical stacks including a first reflective polarizer and a partially reflective component are described. The partially reflective component may be a second reflective polarizer or a collimating reflector. The first reflective polarizer has a first average visible light reflectance for light polarized along the first block axis at normal incidence of at least 90 percent and a first average visible light transmittance for light polarized along the first pass axis at normal incidence of at least 85 percent. The second reflective polarizer has a second block axis and a second average visible light reflectance for light polarized along the second block axis at normal incidence being no more than the first average visible light reflectance minus 10 percent. The first and second block axes are not parallel and the first and second reflective polarizers have different f-ratios.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Gilles J. Benoit, Timothy J. Nevitt, Matthew B. Johnson
  • Patent number: 10712486
    Abstract: Optical stacks including a first reflective polarizer and a partially reflective component are described. The partially reflective component may be a second reflective polarizer or a collimating reflector. The first reflective polarizer has a first average visible light reflectance for light polarized along the first block axis at normal incidence of at least 90 percent and a first average visible light transmittance for light polarized along the first pass axis at normal incidence of at least 85 percent. The second reflective polarizer has a second block axis and a second average visible light reflectance for light polarized along the second block axis at normal incidence being no more than the first average visible light reflectance minus 10 percent. The first and second block axes are not parallel and the first and second reflective polarizers have different f-ratios.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Gilles J. Benoit, Timothy J. Nevitt, Matthew B. Johnson
  • Publication number: 20200209454
    Abstract: Thermoplastic birefringent multilayer optical films are described. More particularly, thermoplastic multilayer films having alternating first and second layers having a linear layer profile where both outer layers are thinner than 350 nm but thicker than 150 nm are described. Thermoplastic birefringent multilayer optical films with thinner outer protective boundary layers are described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2020
    Publication date: July 2, 2020
    Inventors: Matthew B. Johnson, Adam D. Haag, Martin E. Denker
  • Publication number: 20200183068
    Abstract: Rolls of film are described. In particular, rolls of film including a multilayer birefringent reflective polarizer and a polyvinyl alcohol layer are described. Such films exhibit low variation in pass axis across a full crossweb width.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2018
    Publication date: June 11, 2020
    Inventors: Kristy A. Gillette, Carl A. Stover, Matthew B. Johnson
  • Publication number: 20200166684
    Abstract: Rolls of film are described. In particular, rolls of film including multilayer birefringent polarizers having low pass axis variation are described. The multilayer birefringent polarizers have low pass axis variation across a full crossweb width of the roll of film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2018
    Publication date: May 28, 2020
    Inventors: Kristy A. Gillette, Matthew B. Johnson, Carl A. Stover
  • Publication number: 20200142115
    Abstract: Optical bodies are described. In particular, optical bodies having a birefringent multilayer optical film and a continuous adhesive layer with a thickness less than 20 micrometers are described. Optical bodies described herein exhibit reduced occurrence and severity of a non-uniformity defect known as “orange peel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2018
    Publication date: May 7, 2020
    Inventors: Karissa L. Eckert, Michelle L. Toy, Adam D. Haag, Matthew B. Johnson, Albert I. Everaerts, Quinn D. Sanford
  • Patent number: 10627557
    Abstract: Thermoplastic birefringent multilayer optical films are described. More particularly, thermoplastic multilayer films having alternating first and second layers having a linear layer profile where both outer layers are thinner than 350 nm but thicker than 150 nm are described. Thermoplastic birefringent multilayer optical films with thinner outer protective boundary layers are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Matthew B. Johnson, Adam D. Haag, Martin E. Denker