Patents by Inventor Shannon L. Siefken

Shannon L. Siefken 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: 11927855
    Abstract: A display system includes an extended illumination source, a first liquid crystal assembly disposed on the extended illumination source, and a second liquid crystal assembly disposed on the first liquid crystal display assembly. The first liquid crystal assembly includes a bottom reflective polarizer, a top reflective polarizer, and a bottom liquid crystal panel disposed between the top and bottom reflective polarizers. The second liquid crystal assembly includes a top absorbing polarizer, and a top liquid crystal panel disposed between the top absorbing polarizer and the first liquid crystal assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Inventors: Kristopher J. Derks, Shannon L. Siefken, Tao Liu, Nathaniel K. Naismith
  • Patent number: 11585966
    Abstract: The disclosure describes asymmetric turning films (ATFs) that may be used in conjunction with multiple light sources in a liquid crystal display assembly to provide multiple different characteristic output distributions of light. In some examples, the ATFs include a structured surface defining a plurality of microstructures having two or more faces with each face configured to reflect light in different directions. The microstructure may define a microstructure axis and an angle gradient characterizing the rotation of the microstructure axis across the structured surface of the ATF.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Kenneth A. Epstein, Nicholas A. Johnson, Michael E. Lauters, Shannon L. Siefken, Gary T. Boyd
  • Publication number: 20220260869
    Abstract: A display system includes an extended illumination source, a first liquid crystal assembly disposed on the extended illumination source, and a second liquid crystal assembly disposed on the first liquid crystal display assembly. The first liquid crystal assembly includes a bottom reflective polarizer, a top reflective polarizer, and a bottom liquid crystal panel disposed between the top and bottom reflective polarizers. The second liquid crystal assembly includes a top absorbing polarizer, and a top liquid crystal panel disposed between the top absorbing polarizer and the first liquid crystal assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2020
    Publication date: August 18, 2022
    Inventors: Kristopher J. Derks, Shannon L. Siefken, Tao Liu, Nathaniel K. Naismith
  • Publication number: 20210165138
    Abstract: The disclosure describes asymmetric turning films (ATFs) that may be used in conjunction with multiple light sources in a liquid crystal display assembly to provide multiple different characteristic output distributions of light. In some examples, the ATFs include a structured surface defining a plurality of microstructures having two or more faces with each face configured to reflect light in different directions. The microstructure may define a microstructure axis and an angle gradient characterizing the rotation of the microstructure axis across the structured surface of the ATF.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2021
    Publication date: June 3, 2021
    Inventors: Kenneth A. Epstein, Nicholas A. Johnson, Michael E. Lauters, Shannon L. Siefken, Gary T. Boyd
  • Patent number: 10955592
    Abstract: The disclosure describes asymmetric turning films (ATFs) that may be used in conjunction with multiple light sources in a liquid crystal display assembly to provide multiple different characteristic output distributions of light. In some examples, the ATFs include a structured surface defining a plurality of microstructures having two or more faces with each face configured to reflect light in different directions. The microstructure may define a microstructure axis and an angle gradient characterizing the rotation of the microstructure axis across the structured surface of the ATF.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Kenneth A. Epstein, Nicholas A. Johnson, Michael E. Lauters, Shannon L. Siefken, Gary T. Boyd
  • Publication number: 20200057343
    Abstract: The disclosure describes asymmetric turning films (ATFs) that may be used in conjunction with multiple light sources in a liquid crystal display assembly to provide multiple different characteristic output distributions of light. In some examples, the ATFs include a structured surface defining a plurality of microstructures having two or more faces with each face configured to reflect light in different directions. The microstructure may define a microstructure axis and an angle gradient characterizing the rotation of the microstructure axis across the structured surface of the ATF.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2017
    Publication date: February 20, 2020
    Inventors: Kenneth A. EPSTEIN, Nicholas A. JOHNSON, Michael E. LAUTERS, Shannon L. SIEFKEN, Gary T. BOYD
  • Publication number: 20160306408
    Abstract: The present invention provides a power control device, a machine comprising the same and a power control method. The device is used for an integrated machine comprising a thin client and a display and comprises: a current detecting unit for detecting the current flowing through a port in the thin client connecting to the peripheral device; and a control signal generating unit for generating a control signal based on the intensity of the detected current to adjust the power consumption of the display and/or the thin client to maintain no increase in the power consumption of the integrated machine. The power control device, the machine comprising the same and the power control method of the present invention can be used to avoid low efficiency resulting from the power reservations for peripheral devices connected by a USB port.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2016
    Publication date: October 20, 2016
    Inventors: Guanglei DU, Fedja KECMAN, Shannon L. SIEFKEN
  • Patent number: 9389671
    Abstract: The present invention provides a power control device, a machine comprising the same and a power control method. The device is used for an integrated machine comprising a thin client and a display and comprises: a current detecting unit for detecting the current flowing through a port in the thin client connecting to the peripheral device; and a control signal generating unit for generating a control signal based on the intensity of the detected current to adjust the power consumption of the display and/or the thin client to maintain no increase in the power consumption of the integrated machine. The power control device, the machine comprising the same and the power control method of the present invention can be used to avoid low efficiency resulting from the power reservations for peripheral devices connected by a USB port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Guanglei Du, Fedja Kecman, Shannon L. Siefken
  • Publication number: 20140223207
    Abstract: The present invention provides a power control device, a machine comprising the same and a power control method. The device is used for an integrated machine comprising a thin client and a display and comprises: a current detecting unit for detecting the current flowing through a port in the thin client connecting to the peripheral device; and a control signal generating unit for generating a control signal based on the intensity of the detected current to adjust the power consumption of the display and/or the thin client to maintain no increase in the power consumption of the integrated machine. The power control device, the machine comprising the same and the power control method of the present invention can be used to avoid low efficiency resulting from the power reservations for peripheral devices connected by a USB port.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2012
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Guanglei Du, Fedja Kecman, Shannon L. Siefken