Patents by Inventor Stephen J. Etzkorn

Stephen 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).

  • Patent number: 11957032
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a display system. The display system includes a backlight configured to emit substantially collimated polarized light from an emission surface thereof. The emitted polarized light is polarized along a polarization direction. The display system further includes a display panel configured to receive an illumination light and form an image. The display system further includes a grating system substantially coextensive in length and width with the display panel and the emission surface. The grating system includes a plurality of substantially parallel elongated features extending along an in-plane first direction and arranged along an orthogonal in-plane second direction. The grating system is configured to receive and transmit an incident polarized light as a first transmitted light having different first and second polarization states in response to different respective first and second signals applied to the grating system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Stephen J. Etzkorn, Michael L. Steiner, Kevin W. Gotrik, Luke A. Schroeder, Nicholas A. Johnson, John A. Wheatley
  • Patent number: 11909107
    Abstract: A gradient permittivity film comprises (a) a first permittivity layer comprising a first continuous matrix of a first material having a first relative permittivity (?r1) and a second component having a second relative permittivity (?r2) dispersed in the first continuous matrix, the first permittivity layer having a first effective layer relative permittivity (?1) and a thickness (T1); And (b) a second permittivity layer having a second effective layer relative permittivity (?2) and a thickness (T2) disposed on the first permittivity layer. T1=0.8(t1) to 1.2(t1), where t 1 = c 4 ? f ? ? 1 ; ? T 2 = 0.8 ( t 2 ) ? to 1.2 ( t 2 ) , where ? t 2 = c 4 ? f ? ? 2 .
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Mohsen Salehi, Stephen J. Etzkorn, Jaewon Kim, Brett J. Sitter
  • Publication number: 20230413653
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a display system. The display system includes a backlight configured to emit substantially collimated polarized light from an emission surface thereof. The emitted polarized light is polarized along a polarization direction. The display system further includes a display panel configured to receive an illumination light and form an image. The display system further includes a grating system substantially coextensive in length and width with the display panel and the emission surface. The grating system includes a plurality of substantially parallel elongated features extending along an in-plane first direction and arranged along an orthogonal in-plane second direction. The grating system is configured to receive and transmit an incident polarized light as a first transmitted light having different first and second polarization states in response to different respective first and second signals applied to the grating system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2023
    Publication date: December 21, 2023
    Inventors: Stephen J. Etzkorn, Michael L. Steiner, Kevin W. Gotrik, Luke A. Schroeder, Nicholas A. Johnson, John A. Wheatley
  • Patent number: 11811139
    Abstract: Gradient permittivity films are described. In particular, gradient permittivity films including a plurality of layers each having a thickness where at least one layer is perforated and has a different air volume fraction from another of the plurality of layers by at least 0.05. Such films may be useful in improving the signal to noise ratio for transmitting and receiving units operating between 20 GHz and 300 GHz behind a protective cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Jaewon Kim, Stephen J. Etzkorn, Ronald D. Jesme, Dipankar Ghosh, Mohsen Salehi, Guanglei Du, John A. Wheatley
  • Publication number: 20230350107
    Abstract: A light control film includes a plurality of substantially parallel optical cavities. Each of the optical cavities has a height H along a thickness direction of the light control film and a minimum lateral dimension W along an in-plane width direction orthogonal to the thickness direction, where H?W. The optical cavities are substantially filled with a liquid including a plurality of light absorbing particles configured to move along the thickness direction in response to one or more applied signals or fields such that the movement along the thickness direction causes each of the optical cavities to transition between a substantially opaque state and a substantially transparent state. A full viewing angle of the light control film increases when the optical cavities transition from the substantially opaque state to the substantially transparent state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2023
    Publication date: November 2, 2023
    Inventors: Kevin W. Gotrik, Stephen J. Etzkorn, Nicholas A. Johnson, Tao Liu, John J. Sullivan, Bharat R. Acharya
  • Publication number: 20230350262
    Abstract: An optical component includes a substrate and a plurality of structures formed on a first major surface of the substrate and extending from the first major surface along a thickness direction of the optical component. The optical component can be assembled with another optical component to form a light control film. A light control film includes first and second optical components including respective pluralities of first and second structures formed on, and extending from, respective first and second substrates. The first and second optical components are assembled so that the first and second structures are disposed between the first and second substrates and interleaved to form a plurality of pairs of adjacent first and second structures. For each of at least some of the pairs, the adjacent first and second structures define an optical cavity therebetween substantially filled with a light absorbing material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2023
    Publication date: November 2, 2023
    Inventors: Kevin W. Gotrik, Stephen J. Etzkorn, Adam T. Ringberg, Owen M. Anderson, Vivian W. Jones, Nicholas A. Johnson, Bharat R. Acharya
  • Publication number: 20230341715
    Abstract: A display system includes a display configured to emit an image for viewing by a viewer. The display system further includes one or more phase lens layers disposed on, and substantially co-extensive in length and width with the display. Each of the one or more phase lens layers is configured to have different first and second focal lengths for different respective first and second polarization states. The display system further includes a first polarization modifying layer disposed between the display and the one or more phase lens layers. The first polarization modifying layer is configured to receive the emitted image and transmit a transmitted image. The transmitted image has the first and second polarization states in response to different respective first and second signals applied to the first polarization modifying layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2023
    Publication date: October 26, 2023
    Inventors: Stephen J. Etzkorn, Michael L. Steiner, Kevin W. Gotrik, Luke A. Schroeder, Nicholas A. Johnson, John A. Wheatley
  • Patent number: 11749900
    Abstract: Radar standing wave dampening systems and components are described. In particular, systems and components including an absorber composite including at least one of ceramic filler, magnetic filler, or conductive filler materials are described. Such components can reduce the intensity of standing waves and may also be combined in systems with one or more gradient permittivity tapes or films.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Dipankar Ghosh, Jaewon Kim, Stephen J. Etzkorn, Ronald D. Jesme, Mohsen Salehi, Guanglei Du, John A. Wheatley
  • Publication number: 20230253701
    Abstract: A gradient permittivity film comprises (a) a first permittivity layer comprising a first continuous matrix of a first material having a first relative permittivity (?r1) and a second component having a second relative permittivity (?r2) dispersed in the first continuous matrix, the first permittivity layer having a first effective layer relative permittivity (?1) and a thickness (T1); And (b) a second permittivity layer having a second effective layer relative permittivity (?2) and a thickness (T2) disposed on the first permittivity layer. T1=0.8(t1) to 1.2(t1), where t 1 = c 4 ? f ? ? 1 ; ? T 2 = 0.8 ( t 2 ) ? to 1.2 ( t 2 ) , where ? t 2 = c 4 ? f ? ? 2 .
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2023
    Publication date: August 10, 2023
    Inventors: Mohsen SALEHI, Stephen J. ETZKORN, Jaewon KIM, Brett J. SITTER
  • Patent number: 11637367
    Abstract: A gradient permittivity film comprises (a) a first permittivity layer comprising a first continuous matrix of a first material having a first relative permittivity (?r1) and a second component having a second relative permittivity (?r2) dispersed in the first continuous matrix, the first permittivity layer having a first effective layer relative permittivity (?1) and a thickness (T1); and (b) a second permittivity layer having a second effective layer relative permittivity (?2) and a thickness (T2) disposed on the first permittivity layer T1=0.8(t1) to 1.2(t1), where t1=(I); T2=0.8(t2) to 1.2 (T2), where T2=(II).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Mohsen Salehi, Stephen J. Etzkorn, Jaewon Kim, Brett J. Sitter
  • Publication number: 20210159591
    Abstract: A gradient permittivity film comprises (a) a first permittivity layer comprising a first continuous matrix of a first material having a first relative permittivity (?r1) and a second component having a second relative permittivity (?r2) dispersed in the first continuous matrix, the first permittivity layer having a first effective layer relative permittivity (?1) and a thickness (T1); and (b) a second permittivity layer having a second effective layer relative permittivity (?2) and a thickness (T2) disposed on the first permittivity layer T1=0.8(t1) to 1.2(t1), where t1=(I); T2=0.8(t2) to 1.2 (T2), where T2=(II).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2019
    Publication date: May 27, 2021
    Inventors: Mohsen SALEHI, Stephen J. ETZKORN, Jaewon KIM, Brett J. SITTER
  • Publication number: 20210050673
    Abstract: Radar standing wave dampening systems and components are described. In particular, systems and components including an absorber composite including at least one of ceramic filler, magnetic filler, or conductive filler materials are described. Such components can reduce the intensity of standing waves and may also be combined in systems with one or more gradient permittivity tapes or films.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2019
    Publication date: February 18, 2021
    Inventors: Dipankar Ghosh, Jaewon Kim, Stephen J. Etzkorn, Ronald D. Jesme, Mohsen Salehi, Guanglei Du, John A. Wheatley
  • Publication number: 20210028538
    Abstract: Gradient permittivity films are described. In particular, gradient permittivity films that include a first continuous matrix of a first component having a first relative permittivity and a second component disposed within the continuous matrix having a second relative permittivity. The first permittivity is greater than the second permittivity for at least one wavelength between 20 GHz and 300 GHz. Such films may be useful in improving the signal to noise ratio for transmitting and receiving units behind a protective cover.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2019
    Publication date: January 28, 2021
    Inventors: Ronald D. JESME, Jaewon KIM, Stephen J. ETZKORN, Dipankar GHOSH, Mohsen SALEHI, Guanglei DU, John A. WHEATLEY
  • Publication number: 20210021050
    Abstract: Gradient permittivity films are described. In particular, gradient permittivity films including a plurality of layers each having a thickness where at least one layer is perforated and has a different air volume fraction from another of the plurality of layers by at least 0.05. Such films may be useful in improving the signal to noise ratio for transmitting and receiving units operating between 20 GHz and 300 GHz behind a protective cover.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2019
    Publication date: January 21, 2021
    Inventors: Jaewon Kim, Stephen J. Etzkorn, Ronald D. Jesme, Dipankar Ghosh, Mohsen Salehi, Guanglei Du, John A. Wheatley
  • Patent number: 10698138
    Abstract: A diffuser including opposing structured first and second major surfaces is described. The first major surface includes a first plurality of surface structures providing a uniform first haze. The second major surface includes a first portion adjacent an edge and a second portion adjacent the first portion. The first portion includes a first region and a second region between the first region and the second portion. The second major surface includes a second plurality of surface structures providing a uniform second haze over the second portion and providing a third haze in the first portion. The third haze in the first region is higher than the second haze, and the third haze in the second region is monotonically decreasing. The second portion has a surface area of at least 90 percent of a surface area of the second major surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Gary T. Boyd, Tri D. Pham, Nicholas A. Johnson, Oanh V. Pham, Sara S. Merritt, Stephen J. Etzkorn, Haiyan Zhang, Corey D. Balts, Joseph T. Aronson
  • Patent number: 10606124
    Abstract: Recycling backlights are described. More specifically, recycling backlights including structured reflectors are described. The structured reflector redirects light at least for angles emitted from a lightguide and retroreflects other light, the retroreflected light having incidence angles not emitted by the lightguide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Nathaniel K. Naismith, Stephen J. Etzkorn, David A. Rosen
  • Publication number: 20190302530
    Abstract: Recycling backlight systems are described. In particular, recycling backlight systems including a circular reflective polarizer, a reflector with a metalized reflective surface, and a lightguide disposed between the reflector and the circular reflective polarizer are described. The described backlights can increase recycling backlight efficiency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2017
    Publication date: October 3, 2019
    Inventors: Nathaniel K. Naismith, Stephen J. Etzkorn
  • Publication number: 20190265547
    Abstract: Recycling backlights are described. More specifically, recycling backlights including structured reflectors are described. The structured reflector redirects light at least for angles emitted from a lightguide and retroreflects other light, the retroreflected light having incidence angles not emitted by the lightguide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2017
    Publication date: August 29, 2019
    Inventors: Nathaniel K. Naismith, Stephen J. Etzkorn, David A. Rosen
  • Publication number: 20180217300
    Abstract: A diffuser including opposing structured first and second major surfaces is described. The first major surface includes a first plurality of surface structures providing a uniform first haze. The second major surface includes a first portion adjacent an edge and a second portion adjacent the first portion. The first portion includes a first region and a second region between the first region and the second portion. The second major surface includes a second plurality of surface structures providing a uniform second haze over the second portion and providing a third haze in the first portion. The third haze in the first region is higher than the second haze, and the third haze in the second region is monotonically decreasing. The second portion has a surface area of at least 90 percent of a surface area of the second major surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2016
    Publication date: August 2, 2018
    Inventors: Gary T. Boyd, Tri D. Pham, Nicholas A. Johnson, Oanh V. Pham, Sara S. Merritt, Stephen J. Etzkorn, Haiyan Zhang, Corey D. Balts, Joseph T. Aronson
  • Patent number: 9618791
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes an optical stack that includes an asymmetric diffuser. As described herein, use of an asymmetric diffuser in an optical stack reduces undesirable defects in a display while maintaining optical gain and/or contrast of the display. The asymmetric diffuser is less diffusive along a first direction that is parallel with linearly extending structures of an associated light directing film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Adam D. Haag, Tri D. Pham, Steven H. C. Kong, Stephen J. Etzkorn, Robert L. Endres, Matthew B. Johnson