Patents by Inventor Scott J. Kienitz

Scott J. Kienitz 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).

  • Direct-lit backlight having light recycling cavity with concave transflector
    Patent number: 9857518
    Abstract: Direct-lit backlights and associated methods and components are disclosed in which a transflector that partially transmits and partially reflects incident light is shaped to form at least one concave structure facing a back reflector of the backlight. This provides at least one recycling cavity therebetween, the at least one recycling cavity substantially filling the output area of the backlight. At least one light source is disposed behind the output area to inject light into each cavity, and can be positioned in the recycling cavity or behind an aperture in the back reflector. The cavities are preferably shallow and wide, having a width-to-depth ratio of at least 5 or 10, and can provide uniform brightness and color at the output area with sparsely distributed light sources and in a thin profile backlight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: David Scott Thompson, Craig R. Schardt, Brian W. Ostlie, Scott J. Kienitz, John A. Wheatley
  • DIRECT-LIT BACKLIGHT HAVING LIGHT RECYCLING CAVITY WITH CONCAVE TRANSFLECTOR
    Publication number: 20110025947
    Abstract: Direct-lit backlights and associated methods and components are disclosed in which a transflector that partially transmits and partially reflects incident light is shaped to form at least one concave structure facing a back reflector of the backlight. This provides at least one recycling cavity therebetween, the at least one recycling cavity substantially filling the output area of the backlight. At least one light source is disposed behind the output area to inject light into each cavity, and can be positioned in the recycling cavity or behind an aperture in the back reflector. The cavities are preferably shallow and wide, having a width-to-depth ratio of at least 5 or 10, and can provide uniform brightness and color at the output area with sparsely distributed light sources and in a thin profile backlight.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2010
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Inventors: David Scott Thompson, Craig R. Schardt, Brian W. Ostlie, Scott J. Kienitz, John A. Wheatley
  • Direct-lit backlight having light recycling cavity with concave transflector
    Patent number: 7815355
    Abstract: Direct-lit backlights and associated methods and components are disclosed in which a transflector that partially transmits and partially reflects incident light is shaped to form at least one concave structure facing a back reflector of the backlight. This provides at least one recycling cavity therebetween, the at least one recycling cavity substantially filling the output area of the backlight. At least one light source is disposed behind the output area to inject light into each cavity, and can be positioned in the recycling cavity or behind an aperture in the back reflector. The cavities are preferably shallow and wide, having a width-to-depth ratio of at least 5 or 10, and can provide uniform brightness and color at the output area with sparsely distributed light sources and in a thin profile backlight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: David Scott Thompson, Craig R. Schardt, Brian W. Ostlie, Scott J. Kienitz, John A. Wheatley