Patents by Inventor Robert L. Brott
Robert L. Brott 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: 20240151889Abstract: A multilayer optical film includes a plurality of optical repeat units. Each of the optical repeat units includes at least four sequentially arranged first through fourth layers including first and third layers having respective f-ratios f1 and f3. The optical film has a first order reflection band having a reflection peak height Rp1 and any second order reflection band has a reflection peak height Rp2, where Rp1/Rp2?5. Rp1/Rp2 may remain at least 5 when changing at least one of the f-ratios f1 and f3 continuously by 0.2. A thickness of each of the second and fourth layers can be less than a thickness of each of the first and third layers by at least a factor of 2, or a thickness of a same one of the first and third layers can differ from a thickness of each other layer by at least a factor of 2.5.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 17, 2022Publication date: May 9, 2024Inventors: Kevin T. Huseby, Stephen A. Johnson, Samuel A. Minno, Lin Zhao, William T. Fay, Robert L. Brott, Gilles J-B Benoit
-
Publication number: 20240088185Abstract: Fingerprint sensor assemblies using metasurface arrays. The sensor assemblies include an image sensor having a sensor pixel array and a metasurface array on the sensor pixel array. An optical filter such as an IR cutfilter or notch filter can be located on the metasurface array. The assemblies can also include a substrate, optical spacer, or optically clear adhesive between the sensor pixel array and the metasurface array. The fingerprint sensor assemblies can be incorporated into mobile devices.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 17, 2022Publication date: March 14, 2024Inventors: Martin B. Wolk, Craig R. Schardt, John A. Wheatley, Jonah Shaver, Robert L. Brott
-
Publication number: 20240004110Abstract: An optical article includes a waveguide and a structured film. The structured film includes a polymeric substrate, an etch stop layer disposed on the polymeric substrate, a structured layer including a plurality of engineered structures disposed on a side of the etch stop layer opposite the polymeric substrate, a planarizing backfill layer disposed over the plurality of engineered structures to define a substantially planar major surface of the planarizing backfill layer having a surface roughness Ra, and an adhesive layer disposed on the substantially planar surface of the planarizing backfill layer and bonding the structured film to the waveguide. A difference in index of refraction of the planarizing backfill layer and the structured layer is at least 0.25 for at least a first wavelength W1 in a range of 400 nm to 2500 nm. The adhesive layer has an average thickness ta where Ra<ta<¼W1.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 15, 2021Publication date: January 4, 2024Inventors: Martin B. Wolk, Robert L. Brott, Kevin W. Gotrik, Christopher S. Lyons, Caleb T. Nelson, Vadim Savvateev, James M. Nelson, Craig R. Schardt, Jeffrey L. Solomon, Karl K. Stensvad
-
Publication number: 20240004282Abstract: A structured film for forming a pattern on a substrate includes a polymeric support layer, an adhesive layer, an etch resist layer disposed between the polymeric support layer and the adhesive layer, a structured resin layer disposed between the polymeric support layer and the etch resist layer, and one or more unstructured layers disposed between the etch resist layer and the adhesive layer. The structured resin layer has a structured major surface including a plurality of engineered structures. The etch resist layer at least partially fills spaces between adjacent engineered structures to substantially planarize the structured major surface. Methods of using the structured film to form a pattern on a substrate are described.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 15, 2021Publication date: January 4, 2024Inventors: Martin B. Wolk, Robert L. Brott, Kevin W. Gotrik, Christopher S. Lyons, Caleb T. Nelson, Vadim Savvateev, James M. Nelson, Craig R. Schardt, Jeffrey L. Solomon, Karl K. Stensvad, Steven D. Theiss
-
Publication number: 20230184996Abstract: An optical metasurface film includes a flexible polymeric film having a first major surface, a patterned polymer layer having a first surface proximate to the first major surface of the flexible polymeric film and having a second nanostructured surface opposite the first surface, and a refractive index contrast layer including a refractive index contrast material adjacent to the nanostructured surface of the patterned polymer layer forming a nanostructured bilayer with a nano structured interface. The nanostructured bilayer comprising a plurality of nanostructures disposed on the flexible polymeric film. The nanostructured bilayer imparts a light phase shift that varies as a function of position of the nano structured bilayer on the flexible polymeric film. The light phase shift of the nanostructured bilayer defines a predetermined operative phase profile of the optical metasurface film. A light reflecting layer is in optical communication with the nano structured bilayer.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 9, 2021Publication date: June 15, 2023Inventors: Martin B. WOLK, Robert L. BROTT, Karl K. STENSVAD, Vadim N. SAVVATEEV, James M. NELSON, Lin ZHAO, Caitlin RACE, Adam D. HAAG
-
Publication number: 20230099923Abstract: A solar cell is described that comprises a transparent conductor sheet having a polymeric substrate with an embedded metal grid, disposed within microchannels extending partially through a thickness of polymeric substrate from a first surface of the polymeric substrate; and a photoactive layer disposed adjacent to the first surface of the polymeric substrate. The transparent conductor sheet has a sheet resistance less than 1 ?/? and an average solar direct transmittance over the visible and infrared portion of the spectrum of at least about 80%.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 29, 2022Publication date: March 30, 2023Inventors: Daniel M. Pierpont, John J. Sullivan, Robert L. Brott, Mark B. O'Neill, Mark D. Weigel, Raymond P. Johnston
-
Publication number: 20220404525Abstract: An optical metasurface film includes a flexible polymeric film having a first major surface, a patterned polymer layer having a first surface proximate to the first major surface of the flexible polymeric film and having a second nanostructured surface opposite the first surface, and a refractive index contrast layer adjacent to the nanostructured surface of the patterned polymer layer forming a nanostructured bilayer with a nanostructured interface. The nanostructured bilayer acts locally on amplitude, phase, or polarization of light, or a combination thereof and imparts a light phase shift that varies as a function of position of the nano structured bilayer on the flexible polymeric film. The light phase shift of the nanostructured bilayer defines a predetermined operative phase profile of the optical metasurface film.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 1, 2020Publication date: December 22, 2022Inventors: Martin B. Wolk, Robert L. Brott, Karl K. Stensvad, James M. Nelson, Federico Capasso, Xinghui Yin, Joon-Suh Park
-
Patent number: 10991765Abstract: Optical stacks configured to reduce variation of color with view angle in organic light emitting diode (OLED) displays having an emissive OLED layer are described. An optical stack having first and second layers with differing refractive indices includes a nanostructured interface between the first and second layers. The second layer can be disposed between the first layer and the emissive layer with the nanostructured interface proximate to, and outside of, an evanescent zone of the emissive layer. The nanostructured interface has a substantially azimuthally symmetric power spectral density (PSD) and a wavenumber-PSD product has a maximum for a wavenumber larger than 6 radians/micrometer times the refractive index of the second layer. For all wavenumbers lower than 6 radians/micrometer times the second refractive index, the wavenumber-PSD product is no more than 0.3 times the maximum.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2019Date of Patent: April 27, 2021Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANYInventors: David G. Freier, Robert L. Brott, Justin P. Meyer
-
Publication number: 20210098546Abstract: An OLED display including a display panel and a color-correction component is described. A plurality of comparative display panels otherwise equivalent to the display panel but having one or more different optical thicknesses of OLED layers have a maximum white-point color shift from 0 to 45 degrees of WPCSC45 and a white-point axial efficiency of WPAEC. The plurality of comparative display panels defines a performance curve along a boundary of performance points. The OLED display and the display panel have respective maximum white-point color shifts from 0 to 45 degrees of WPCS45 and WPCS045 and respective white-point axial efficiencies of WPAE and WPAE0. WPCS045 and WPAE0 defines a performance point of the display panel to the right of the performance curve and WPCS45 and WPAE defines a performance point of the OLED display above or to the left of the performance curve. Methods of making the OLED display are described.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 9, 2019Publication date: April 1, 2021Inventors: Nicholas C. Erickson, David G. Freier, Robert L. Brott, Bing Hao, David A. Rosen, Stephen M. Menke, Bert T. Chien, Song Taek Lee, Encai Hao, Zhaohui Yang, Albert I. Everaerts, Yongshang Lu, William Blake Kolb, Keith R. Bruesewitz, Adam D. Haag, Sun-Yong Park, Timothy J. Nevitt (Deceased), Brianna N. Wheeler, Jody L. Peterson, Gilles J. Benoit
-
Patent number: 10769402Abstract: A non-contact friction ridge capture device is described. The device comprises a device housing, the device housing including an electronics compartment and an illumination shield, with an opening between the electronics compartment and the illumination shield into which a user can insert the user's hand. The device further comprising a camera disposed in the electronics compartment for capturing an image of at least one friction ridge surface on a user's hand. The device further comprises a light source disposed in the electronics compartment, the light source emitting light in the direction of the illumination shield, wherein the peak wavelength of emitted light is in the range of 440 to 570 nanometers (nm). The user's hand is not required to contact the device when the camera captures the image of at least one friction ridge surface on a user's hand.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2016Date of Patent: September 8, 2020Assignee: Thales Dis France SAInventors: David J. Badzinski, Robert L. Brott, Alexander Domek, Douglas Dunn, Jonathan D. Grandrud, Robert D. Lorentz, Michael A. Meis, Theresa Meyer, Anthony J. Sabelli, Shannon D. Scott, Blake R. Shamla, Robert W. Shannon, John A. Wheatley, Glenn E. Casner, Brett A. Howell
-
Patent number: 10756306Abstract: A nanostructured article having a first layer with a nanostructured surface is described. The nanostructured surface includes a plurality of pillars extending from a base surface of the first layer. The pillars have an average height greater than an average lateral dimension of the pillars. An average center-to-center spacing between pillars is no more than 2000 nm. The average lateral dimension is no less than 50 nm. Each pillar in the plurality of pillars has at least a lower portion and an upper portion where the lower portion is between the upper portion and the base surface, and the upper and lower portions have differing compositions. The nanostructured article includes a second layer disposed over the plurality of pillars and extending continuously to the base surface.Type: GrantFiled: October 17, 2017Date of Patent: August 25, 2020Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Nicholas C. Erickson, Moses M. David, Xiaoguang Sun, Manoj Nirmal, Haeen Sykora, Hui Luo, Samuel J. Carpenter, Jilliann M. Nelson, Justin P. Meyer, Bert T. Chien, David J. Rowe, Robert L. Brott, David G. Freier, Hyacinth L. Lechuga
-
Publication number: 20200127058Abstract: Optical stacks configured to reduce variation of color with view angle in organic light emitting diode (OLED) displays having an emissive OLED layer are described. An optical stack having first and second layers with differing refractive indices includes a nanostructured interface between the first and second layers. The second layer can be disposed between the first layer and the emissive layer with the nanostructured interface proximate to, and outside of, an evanescent zone of the emissive layer. The nanostructured interface has a substantially azimuthally symmetric power spectral density (PSD) and a wavenumber-PSD product has a maximum for a wavenumber larger than 6 radians/micrometer times the refractive index of the second layer. For all wavenumbers lower than 6 radians/micrometer times the second refractive index, the wavenumber-PSD product is no more than 0.3 times the maximum.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 17, 2019Publication date: April 23, 2020Inventors: David G. Freier, Robert L. Brott, Justin P. Meyer
-
Patent number: 10598349Abstract: A lighting component including an optical volume and a switchable diffuser disposed at least partially within the optical volume is described. The optical volume includes a light injection region, at least one reflective or transflective outer major surface, and an output major surface. The at least one reflective or transflective outer major surface defines opposing boundaries of the optical volume. The output major surface is adjacent one or more distal edges of the at least one reflective or transflective outer major surface. The switchable diffuser has at least a first state and a second state. The switchable diffuser may have a surface normal that is not parallel to an optical axis of the optical volume. The at least one reflective or transflective outer major surface may have a spatially varying reflective property.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 2015Date of Patent: March 24, 2020Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANYInventors: Guanglei Du, John A. Wheatley, Robert L. Brott
-
Patent number: 10566391Abstract: Organic light emitting diode (OLED) displays having an emissive OLED layer and a nanostructured interface configured to reduce variability of color with view angle are described. An optical stack having first and second layers with differing refractive indices includes the nanostructured interface between the first and second layers. The second layer is disposed between the first layer and the emissive OLED layer. The nanostructured interface has a substantially azimuthally symmetric power spectral density (PSD) and a wavenumber-PSD product has a maximum for a wavenumber larger than 6 radians/micrometer times the refractive index of the second layer. For all wavenumbers lower than 6 radians/micrometer times the second refractive index, the wavenumber-PSD product is no more than 0.3 times the maximum.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 2017Date of Patent: February 18, 2020Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANYInventors: David G. Freier, Robert L. Brott, Justin P. Meyer
-
Patent number: 10539722Abstract: Optical film is disclosed. The optical film includes a binder, a plurality of particles, and a plurality of interconnected voids. The volume fraction of the plurality of interconnected voids in the optical film is not less than about 20%. The weight ratio of the binder to the plurality of the particles is not less than about 1:2.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 2010Date of Patent: January 21, 2020Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANYInventors: Encai Hao, William Blake Kolb, Brant U. Kolb, Brian W. Ostlie, Naiyong Jing, Michael Benton Free, Hui Ren, Robert L. Brott, Fei Lu, Audrey A. Sherman, Scott M. Tapio, Charles David Hoyle, John A. Wheatley
-
Publication number: 20190386251Abstract: A nanostructured article having a first layer with a nanostructured surface is described. The nanostructured surface includes a plurality of pillars extending from a base surface of the first layer. The pillars have an average height greater than an average lateral dimension of the pillars. An average center-to-center spacing between pillars is no more than 2000 nm. The average lateral dimension is no less than 50 nm. Each pillar in the plurality of pillars has at least a lower portion and an upper portion where the lower portion is between the upper portion and the base surface, and the upper and lower portions have differing compositions. The nanostructured article includes a second layer disposed over the plurality of pillars and extending continuously to the base surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 17, 2017Publication date: December 19, 2019Inventors: Nicholas C. Erickson, Moses M. David, Xiaoguang Sun, Manoj Nirmal, Haeen Sykora, Hui Luo, Samuel J. Carpenter, Jilliann M. Nelson, Justin P. Meyer, Bert T. Chien, David J. Rowe, Robert L. Brott, David G. Freier, Hyacinth L. Lechuga
-
Publication number: 20190214436Abstract: Organic light emitting diode (OLED) displays having an emissive OLED layer and a nanostructured interface configured to reduce variability of color with view angle are described. An optical stack having first and second layers with differing refractive indices includes the nanostructured interface between the first and second layers. The second layer is disposed between the first layer and the emissive OLED layer. The nanostructured interface has a substantially azimuthally symmetric power spectral density (PSD) and a wavenumber-PSD product has a maximum for a wavenumber larger than 6 radians/micrometer times the refractive index of the second layer. For all wavenumbers lower than 6 radians/micrometer times the second refractive index, the wavenumber-PSD product is no more than 0.3 times the maximum.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 18, 2017Publication date: July 11, 2019Inventors: David G. Freier, Robert L. Brott, Justin P. Meyer
-
Publication number: 20180268193Abstract: A non-contact friction ridge capture device is described. The device comprises a device housing, the device housing including an electronics compartment and an illumination shield, with an opening between the electronics compartment and the illumination shield into which a user can insert the user's hand. The device further comprising a camera disposed in the electronics compartment for capturing an image of at least one friction ridge surface on a user's hand. The device further comprises a light source disposed in the electronics compartment, the light source emitting light in the direction of the illumination shield, wherein the peak wavelength of emitted light is in the range of 440 to 570 nanometers (nm). The user's hand is not required to contact the device when the camera captures the image of at least one friction ridge surface on a user's hand.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 30, 2016Publication date: September 20, 2018Inventors: David J. BADZINSKI, Robert L. BROTT, Alexander DOMEK, Douglas DUNN, Jonathan D. GRANDRUD, Robert D. LORENTZ, Michael A. MEIS, Theresa MEYER, Anthony J. SABELLI, Shannon D. SCOTT, Blake R. SHAMLA, Robert W. SHANNON, John A. WHEATLEY, Glenn E. CASNER, Brett A. HOWELL
-
Patent number: 10036517Abstract: A lightguide functioning as a luminaire. The luminaire includes at least one solid state light source, such as an LED, and a lightguide configured to receive light from the solid state light source. Light from the light source is coupled into the lightguide and transported within it by total internal reflection until the light exits the lightguide. A shape of the lightguide causes and directs extraction of the light, and can also be used to create a particular pattern of the extracted light. Such shapes include linear wedges and twisted wedges. Optical films can be included on the light input and output surfaces of the lightguide.Type: GrantFiled: May 16, 2013Date of Patent: July 31, 2018Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANYInventors: Raymond P. Johnston, Robert L. Brott, Patrick R. Fleming, Karl J. L. Geisler, Kayla A. Hagens, Steven G. Lucht, Charles N. Devore, Joseph W. Woody, V, David Scott Thompson
-
Patent number: 9977154Abstract: A manufacturing system includes a sensing system that provides high-resolution feedback for web guiding and tension control. The system may be especially useful for web material that is manufactured to include micro-replicated structures with micron size scale. A micro-replication station forms a pattern of micro-replicated lenses on a web material. The sensing system illuminates a measurement area on the web material and detects an angular distribution of light exiting a set of the micro-replicated lenses within the first measurement area. A control system that adjusts at least one process control parameter of the transport system based on the detected angular distribution.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2011Date of Patent: May 22, 2018Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANYInventors: David L. Hofeldt, Robert L. Brott, Daniel H. Carlson, James N. Dobbs, Andrzej P. Jaworski, Glen A. Jerry, John T. Strand, Michael J. Sykora, Karl K. Stensvad