Patents by Inventor R. Stewart Nielson

R. Stewart Nielson 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: 11988859
    Abstract: A reflective wire grid polarizer (WGP) can include an array of wires 12 on a face of a substrate 11, with channels 15 between adjacent wires 12. The wires 12 can have certain characteristics for WGP performance, such as index of refraction, alternating high/low index continuous thin films, thickness of layer(s), duty cycle, reflective rib shape, a curved side of transparent ribs 21 or 32, aspect ratio, or combinations thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: Moxtek, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Bacon-Brown, Michael Black, R. Stewart Nielson, Bradley R. Williams, Benjamin Downard, Jeffrey H. Rice, Jim Pierce
  • Publication number: 20240061147
    Abstract: A metasurface optical device can include an array of pillars 13 on a first-side 11f of a substrate 11 aligned with an aperture 15 of, or proximate to, a blocking-layer 12. The blocking-layer 12 can located on the first-side 11f of the substrate 11, on a second-side 11s of the substrate 11 opposite of the first-side 11f, or both. The blocking-layer 12 can prevent light from transmitting through the device in undesirable locations. The blocking-layer 12 can be opaque to incident light and can include an absorptive-layer. Thus, the blocking-layer 12 can have dual functions—blocking and absorbing light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2023
    Publication date: February 22, 2024
    Inventors: R. Stewart Nielson, Shaun Patrick Ogden, Bradley R. Willliams
  • Publication number: 20230384501
    Abstract: A wire grid polarizer (WGP) can include an array of support-ribs on a substrate. Sides of the support-ribs can be inclined to one side. A wire can be applied on an upper-side and distal end of each support-rib, each wire being separate from wires on adjacent support-ribs. The WGP can be made with reduced or no etching.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2023
    Publication date: November 30, 2023
    Inventors: R. Stewart NIELSON, Bradley R. WILLIAMS, Bob WEST
  • Publication number: 20230375766
    Abstract: A method of making a polarizer can include applying a liquid with solid inorganic nanoparticles dispersed throughout a continuous phase, then forming this into a different phase including a solid, interconnecting network of the inorganic nanoparticles. This method can improve manufacturability and reducing manufacturing cost. This method can be used to provide an antireflective coating, to provide a protective coating on polarization structures, to provide thin films for optical properties, or to form the polarization structures themselves.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2023
    Publication date: November 23, 2023
    Inventors: Bradley R. WILLIAMS, R. Stewart NIELSON, Anubhav DIWAN, Eric GARDNER, Shaun Patrick OGDEN, Bob WEST
  • Patent number: 11762140
    Abstract: A wire grid polarizer (WGP) can include an array of support-ribs on a substrate. Sides of the support-ribs can be inclined to one side. A wire can be applied on an upper-side and distal end of each support-rib, each wire being separate from wires on adjacent support-ribs. The WGP can be made with reduced or no etching.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: Moxtek, Inc.
    Inventors: R. Stewart Nielson, Bradley R. Williams, Bob West
  • Patent number: 11754765
    Abstract: A method of making a polarizer can include applying a liquid with solid inorganic nanoparticles dispersed throughout a continuous phase, then forming this into a different phase including a solid, interconnecting network of the inorganic nanoparticles. This method can improve manufacturability and reducing manufacturing cost. This method can be used to provide an antireflective coating, to provide a protective coating on polarization structures, to provide thin films for optical properties, or to form the polarization structures themselves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Moxtek, Inc.
    Inventors: Bradley R. Williams, R. Stewart Nielson, Anubhav Diwan, Eric Gardner, Shaun Patrick Ogden, Bob West
  • Patent number: 11714221
    Abstract: A method for making a wire grid polarizer (WGP) can provide WGPs with high temperature resistance, robust wires, oxidation resistance, and corrosion protection. In one embodiment, the method can comprise: (a) providing an array of wires on a bottom protection layer; (b) applying a top protection layer on the wires, spanning channels between wires; then (c) applying an upper barrier-layer on the top protection layer and into the channels through permeable junctions in the top protection layer. In a variation of this embodiment, the method can further comprise applying a lower barrier-layer before applying the top protection layer. In another variation, the bottom protection layer and the top protection layer can include aluminum oxide. In another embodiment, the method can comprise applying on the WGP an amino phosphonate then a hydrophobic chemical.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: Moxtek, Inc.
    Inventors: R. Stewart Nielson, Matthew C. George, Shaun Ogden, Brian Bowers
  • Publication number: 20230236347
    Abstract: The reflective wire grid polarizers herein can withstand ultraviolet light without rapid degradation and can have high performance in the ultraviolet spectrum. In one example, each wire can include a metal layer, a pair of low index layers, a silicon layer, and a high index layer. The metal layer can be sandwiched between the pair of low index layers. The metal layer and the pair of low index layers can be sandwiched between the silicon layer and the high index layer. In another example, each wire can include a metal layer and a silicon layer. The silicon layer can be thicker than the metal layer. Thus, the silicon layer can be relatively thick, and can be the main polarizing component of the wire. The metal layer can be added for increased reflectance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2023
    Publication date: July 27, 2023
    Inventors: Matthew C. George, Daniel Bacon-Brown, R. Stewart Nielson, Shaun Patrick Ogden
  • Patent number: 11609369
    Abstract: It would be advantageous to improve polarizer high temperature resistance, corrosion resistance, oxidation resistance, optical properties, and etchability. Composite polarizer materials can be used to achieve this. A polarizer can comprise polarization structures configured for polarization of light. The polarization structures can include a reflective rib, the reflective rib being a composite of two different elements. The polarization structures can include an absorptive rib, the absorptive rib being a composite of two different elements. The polarizer can include a transparent layer, the transparent layer being a composite of two different elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: Moxtek, Inc.
    Inventor: R. Stewart Nielson
  • Publication number: 20230046399
    Abstract: A reflective wire grid polarizer (WGP) can include an array of wires 12 on a face of a substrate 11, with channels 15 between adjacent wires 12. The wires 12 can have certain characteristics for WGP performance, such as index of refraction, alternating high/low index continuous thin films, thickness of layer(s), duty cycle, reflective rib shape, a curved side of transparent ribs 21 or 32, aspect ratio, or combinations thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2022
    Publication date: February 16, 2023
    Inventors: Daniel Bacon-Brown, Michael Black, R. Stewart Nielson, Bradley R. Williams, Benjamin Downard, Jeffrey H. Rice, JIm Pierce
  • Publication number: 20230021232
    Abstract: The wire grid polarizers 10 and 30 described herein, and wire grid polarizers made by methods described herein, can have high performance across a broad range of the ultraviolet spectrum and across a broad angle of incidence. These polarizers can be durable (resistant to heat, moisture, ultraviolet light, and oxidation). The polarizer can include an array of wires 15 on a substrate 11. Each wire 15 can have a silicon core 12 and a pair of silicon dioxide ribs 13. The core 12 can be sandwiched between the pair of ribs 13, with each rib 13 adjacent to a sidewall 12s of the core 12. A rib width W13 can be ?4 nm. Each wire 15 can also include a silicon dioxide cap 14. The core 12 can be encircled by a silicon dioxide ring 17.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2022
    Publication date: January 19, 2023
    Inventors: Matthew C. George, Daniel Bacon-Brown, R. Stewart Nielson, Shaun Patrick Ogden
  • Patent number: 11555953
    Abstract: An optical device can comprise wires 12 on a face of a substrate 11, with channel(s) 13 between adjacent wires 12. Each wire 12 can include embedded organic moieties. Each wire 12 can include multiple ribs 31. Part or all of the wire 12, the substrate 11, or both can have a high refractive index n and a low extinction coefficient k. The optical device can have reduced separation of layers of different materials during flexing and temperature changes. The optical device can be manufactured by a method designed for improved manufacturability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: Moxtek, Inc.
    Inventors: Anubhav Diwan, Bradley R. Williams, R. Stewart Nielson
  • Patent number: 11513271
    Abstract: A reflective wire grid polarizer (WGP) can include an array of wires 12 on a face of a substrate 11, with channels 15 between adjacent wires 12. The wires 12 can have certain characteristics for WGP performance, such as index of refraction, alternating high/low index continuous thin films, thickness of layer(s), duty cycle, reflective rib shape, a curved side of transparent ribs 21 or 32, aspect ratio, or combinations thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: Moxtek, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Bacon-Brown, Michael Black, R. Stewart Nielson, Bradley R. Williams, Benjamin Downard, Jeffrey H. Rice, Jim Pierce
  • Publication number: 20220357495
    Abstract: A wire grid polarizer (WGP) can include an array of support-ribs on a substrate. Sides of the support-ribs can be inclined to one side. A wire can be applied on an upper-side and distal end of each support-rib, each wire being separate from wires on adjacent support-ribs. The WGP can be made with reduced or no etching.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2022
    Publication date: November 10, 2022
    Inventors: R. Stewart Nielson, Bradley R. Williams, Bob West
  • Publication number: 20220291434
    Abstract: A wire grid polarizer can have a protective-layer PL on each wire 12 sidewall SW. The protective-layer PL can protect the sidewall SW from corrosion, oxidation, or both. The protective-layer PL can be absent from or thinner at a distal-end DE of the wire 12, farther from the substrate. Polarizer performance degradation, from the protective-layer PL, can be minimized or eliminated by removing the protective-layer PL from the distal-end DE. The invention is particularly applicable to a wire grid polarizer with multiple layers UL and LL, and the upper-layer UL at the distal-end DE is more resistant to corrosion and oxidation than the embedded lower-layer LL.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2022
    Publication date: September 15, 2022
    Inventors: Bob West, R. Stewart Nielson
  • Patent number: 11435513
    Abstract: A wire grid polarizer (WGP) can include an array of support-ribs on a substrate. Sides of the support-ribs can be inclined to one side. A wire can be applied on an upper-side and distal end of each support-rib, each wire being separate from wires on adjacent support-ribs. The WGP can be made with reduced or no etching.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: Moxtek, Inc.
    Inventors: R. Stewart Nielson, Bradley R. Williams, Bob West
  • Patent number: 11435512
    Abstract: Each wire of a wire grid polarizer (WGP) can include the following layers moving outwards from the substrate: a high-index-layer, a low-index-layer, and a reflective-layer. Each wire can have a distal-end, farthest from the substrate, with a convex shape. These layers and the convex shape can be combined for a more stable and improved Rs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: Moxtek, Inc.
    Inventors: R. Stewart Nielson, Bradley R. Williams
  • Publication number: 20220128750
    Abstract: It would be advantageous to improve polarizer high temperature resistance, corrosion resistance, oxidation resistance, optical properties, and etchability. Composite polarizer materials can be used to achieve this. A polarizer can comprise polarization structures configured for polarization of light. The polarization structures can include a reflective rib, the reflective rib being a composite of two different elements. The polarization structures can include an absorptive rib, the absorptive rib being a composite of two different elements. The polarizer can include a transparent layer, the transparent layer being a composite of two different elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2022
    Publication date: April 28, 2022
    Inventor: R. Stewart Nielson
  • Patent number: 11249234
    Abstract: It would be advantageous to improve polarizer high temperature resistance, corrosion resistance, oxidation resistance, optical properties, and etchability. Composite polarizer materials can be used to achieve this. A polarizer can comprise polarization structures configured for polarization of light. The polarization structures can include a reflective rib, the reflective rib being a composite of two different elements. The polarization structures can include an absorptive rib, the absorptive rib being a composite of two different elements. The polarizer can include a transparent layer, the transparent layer being a composite of two different elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: Moxtek, Inc.
    Inventor: R. Stewart Nielson
  • Publication number: 20210325589
    Abstract: A method of making a polarizer can include applying a liquid with solid inorganic nanoparticles dispersed throughout a continuous phase, then forming this into a different phase including a solid, interconnecting network of the inorganic nanoparticles. This method can improve manufacturability and reducing manufacturing cost. This method can be used to provide an antireflective coating, to provide a protective coating on polarization structures, to provide thin films for optical properties, or to form the polarization structures themselves.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2021
    Publication date: October 21, 2021
    Inventors: Bradley R. Williams, R. Stewart Nielson, Anubhav Diwan, Eric Gardner, Shaun Patrick Ogden, Bob West