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).
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Patent number: 11988859Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 26, 2022Date of Patent: May 21, 2024Assignee: Moxtek, Inc.Inventors: Daniel Bacon-Brown, Michael Black, R. Stewart Nielson, Bradley R. Williams, Benjamin Downard, Jeffrey H. Rice, Jim Pierce
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Publication number: 20240061147Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: July 17, 2023Publication date: February 22, 2024Inventors: R. Stewart Nielson, Shaun Patrick Ogden, Bradley R. Willliams
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Publication number: 20230384501Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: August 9, 2023Publication date: November 30, 2023Inventors: R. Stewart NIELSON, Bradley R. WILLIAMS, Bob WEST
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Publication number: 20230375766Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: July 31, 2023Publication date: November 23, 2023Inventors: Bradley R. WILLIAMS, R. Stewart NIELSON, Anubhav DIWAN, Eric GARDNER, Shaun Patrick OGDEN, Bob WEST
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Patent number: 11762140Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 21, 2022Date of Patent: September 19, 2023Assignee: Moxtek, Inc.Inventors: R. Stewart Nielson, Bradley R. Williams, Bob West
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Patent number: 11754765Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 28, 2021Date of Patent: September 12, 2023Assignee: Moxtek, Inc.Inventors: Bradley R. Williams, R. Stewart Nielson, Anubhav Diwan, Eric Gardner, Shaun Patrick Ogden, Bob West
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Patent number: 11714221Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 1, 2021Date of Patent: August 1, 2023Assignee: Moxtek, Inc.Inventors: R. Stewart Nielson, Matthew C. George, Shaun Ogden, Brian Bowers
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Publication number: 20230236347Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: January 10, 2023Publication date: July 27, 2023Inventors: Matthew C. George, Daniel Bacon-Brown, R. Stewart Nielson, Shaun Patrick Ogden
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Patent number: 11609369Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: January 5, 2022Date of Patent: March 21, 2023Assignee: Moxtek, Inc.Inventor: R. Stewart Nielson
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Publication number: 20230046399Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: October 26, 2022Publication date: February 16, 2023Inventors: Daniel Bacon-Brown, Michael Black, R. Stewart Nielson, Bradley R. Williams, Benjamin Downard, Jeffrey H. Rice, JIm Pierce
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Publication number: 20230021232Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 16, 2022Publication date: January 19, 2023Inventors: Matthew C. George, Daniel Bacon-Brown, R. Stewart Nielson, Shaun Patrick Ogden
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Patent number: 11555953Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 13, 2020Date of Patent: January 17, 2023Assignee: Moxtek, Inc.Inventors: Anubhav Diwan, Bradley R. Williams, R. Stewart Nielson
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Patent number: 11513271Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 2, 2020Date of Patent: November 29, 2022Assignee: Moxtek, Inc.Inventors: Daniel Bacon-Brown, Michael Black, R. Stewart Nielson, Bradley R. Williams, Benjamin Downard, Jeffrey H. Rice, Jim Pierce
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Publication number: 20220357495Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: July 21, 2022Publication date: November 10, 2022Inventors: R. Stewart Nielson, Bradley R. Williams, Bob West
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Publication number: 20220291434Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: February 14, 2022Publication date: September 15, 2022Inventors: Bob West, R. Stewart Nielson
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Patent number: 11435513Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 13, 2020Date of Patent: September 6, 2022Assignee: Moxtek, Inc.Inventors: R. Stewart Nielson, Bradley R. Williams, Bob West
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Patent number: 11435512Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 2, 2020Date of Patent: September 6, 2022Assignee: Moxtek, Inc.Inventors: R. Stewart Nielson, Bradley R. Williams
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Publication number: 20220128750Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: January 5, 2022Publication date: April 28, 2022Inventor: R. Stewart Nielson
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Patent number: 11249234Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 15, 2020Date of Patent: February 15, 2022Assignee: Moxtek, Inc.Inventor: R. Stewart Nielson
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Publication number: 20210325589Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 28, 2021Publication date: October 21, 2021Inventors: Bradley R. Williams, R. Stewart Nielson, Anubhav Diwan, Eric Gardner, Shaun Patrick Ogden, Bob West