Patents by Inventor Stephan J. Etzkorn

Stephan J. Etzkorn 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).

  • BRIGHTNESS ENHANCING FILM AND FILM BASED DIFFUSER FOR IMPROVED ILLUMINATION UNIFORMITY OF DISPLAYS
    Publication number: 20110037736
    Abstract: An optical device has a first film (200) that has a first side and a second side. When illuminated by light (204) at the first side, the first film is characterized by a first fraction of broadly diffused transmitted light (206) and a second fraction of narrowly diffused transmitted light (208). A second film (202) is disposed to the second side of the first film. The second film has at least one free surface that diverts light. In some embodiments, the first film has a diffuse scattering optical density between 0.5 and 3. The device finds use in spreading and making light uniform in a backlight in a display such as a liquid crystal display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2009
    Publication date: February 17, 2011
    Inventors: Kenneth A. Epstein, Stephan J. Etzkorn, Eric W. Nelson, Mark D. Gehlsen, Brian G. Koethe