Patents by Inventor Stephen K. Eckhardt
Stephen K. Eckhardt 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).
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Patent number: 9816679Abstract: Light assembly having reflector, light source, an outer light cover, and a curved transflective surface. Embodiments of light assemblies described herein are useful, for example, as signs, backlights, displays, task lighting, luminaire, and vehicle (e.g., cars, trucks, airplanes, etc.) components.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2015Date of Patent: November 14, 2017Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Stephen K. Eckhardt, Barry S. Carpenter, David A. Ender, David J. Lundin, Mark E. Napierala, Jennifer J. Sahlin, David F. Slama, Karl A. Vick, John A. Wheatley
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Publication number: 20160047521Abstract: Light assembly having reflector, light source, an outer light cover, and a curved transflective surface. Embodiments of light assemblies described herein are useful, for example, as signs, backlights, displays, task lighting, luminaire, and vehicle (e.g., cars, trucks, airplanes, etc.) components.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 29, 2015Publication date: February 18, 2016Inventors: Stephen K. Eckhardt, Barry S. Carpenter, David A. Ender, David J. Lundin, Mark E. Napierala, Jennifer J. Sahlin, David F. Slama, Karl A. Vick, John A. Wheatley
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Patent number: 9229200Abstract: Panoramic optical systems are disclosed comprising an ellipsoidal mirror and a lens system that reduces astigmatism. The lens systems are capable of operating at fast speeds. Simple and highly manufacturable lens systems are provided for capturing and/or projecting high quality 360-degree panoramic scenes.Type: GrantFiled: January 9, 2013Date of Patent: January 5, 2016Assignee: EyeSee360, Inc.Inventor: Stephen K. Eckhardt
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Patent number: 9200775Abstract: Light assembly (10) having reflector (16), light source (18), an outer light cover (12), and a curved transflective surface (15). Embodiments of light assemblies described herein are useful, for example, as signs, backlights, displays, task lighting, luminaire, and vehicle (e.g., cars, trucks, airplanes, etc.) components. Vehicle comprising light assemblies include those where the light assembly is a vehicle tail light assembly.Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 2010Date of Patent: December 1, 2015Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Stephen K. Eckhardt, Barry S. Carpenter, David A. Ender, David J. Lundin, Mark E. Napierala, Jennifer J. Sahlin, David F. Slama, Karl A. Vick, John A. Wheatley
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Patent number: 8721153Abstract: A back reflector for a lightguide in a turning film backlight includes a prism film layer in direct contact with a reflective layer. The lightguide includes a light guiding region having a refractive index that is substantially spatially uniform. The reflective layer may be specular or diffuse and may include a multilayer polymeric film.Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 2008Date of Patent: May 13, 2014Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Brian A. Kinder, Gary T. Boyd, Stephen K. Eckhardt, Chun-Yi Ting, Han-Lin Tung, Linda M. Rivard, Tao Liu
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Patent number: 8675194Abstract: The present invention comprises various embodiments of a retroreflectometer capable of measuring the retroreflectance of a material. The retroreflectometer comprises an illumination path and a retroreflection path. The illumination path comprises focusing optics, a source aperture, a beamsplitter and a collimating lens. The retroreflection path comprises a focusing lens, a beamsplitter, a receiver aperture and a receiver. The source aperture shapes the transverse profile of the light to make it appropriate to the measurement. Focusing optics, such as a biconvex lens, may be placed between the light source and the source aperture. After the beam is reflected by the object under test, it enters the retroreflection path of the instrument. The focusing lens focuses the light through the beamsplitter and onto the receiver aperture. The receiver aperture may be the input slit for a spectrometer, or there may be optics, such as a lens or an optical fiber, that transfer the light from the aperture to the receiver.Type: GrantFiled: May 12, 2011Date of Patent: March 18, 2014Assignee: Gamma Scientific Inc.Inventors: Stephen K. Eckhardt, Norbert L. Johnson
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Publication number: 20120287432Abstract: The present invention comprises various embodiments of a retroreflectometer capable of measuring the retroreflectance of a material. The retroreflectometer comprises an illumination path and a retroreflection path. The illumination path comprises focusing optics, a source aperture, a beamsplitter and a collimating lens. The retroreflection path comprises a focusing lens, a beamsplitter, a receiver aperture and a receiver. The source aperture shapes the transverse profile of the light to make it appropriate to the measurement. Focusing optics, such as a biconvex lens, may be placed between the light source and the source aperture. After the beam is reflected by the object under test, it enters the retroreflection path of the instrument. The focusing lens focuses the light through the beamsplitter and onto the receiver aperture. The receiver aperture may be the input slit for a spectrometer, or there may be optics, such as a lens or an optical fiber, that transfer the light from the aperture to the receiver.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 12, 2011Publication date: November 15, 2012Inventors: Stephen K. Eckhardt, Norbert L. Johnson
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Publication number: 20120039084Abstract: Light assembly (10) having reflector (16), light source(18), an outer light cover(12), and a curved transflective surface (15). Embodiments of light assemblies described herein are useful, for example, as signs, backlights, displays, task lighting, luminaire, and vehicle (e.g., cars, trucks, airplanes, etc.) components. Vehicle comprising light assemblies include those where the light assembly is a vehicle tail light assembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 23, 2010Publication date: February 16, 2012Inventors: Stephen K. Eckhardt, Barry S. Carpenter, David A. Ender, David J. Lundin, Mark E. Napierala, Jennifer J. Sahlin, David F. Slama, Karl A. Vick, John A. Wheatley
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Publication number: 20110032727Abstract: A back reflector for a lightguide in a turning film backlight includes a prism film layer in direct contact with a reflective layer. The lightguide includes a light guiding region having a refractive index that is substantially spatially uniform. The reflective layer may be specular or diffuse and may include a multilayer polymeric film.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 3, 2008Publication date: February 10, 2011Inventors: Brian A. Kinder, Gary T. Boyd, Stephen K. Eckhardt, Chun-Yi Ting, Han-Lin Tung, Linda M. Rivard, Tao Liu
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Patent number: 7804649Abstract: A microreplicated achromatic lens is disclosed. The article includes a web including first and second opposed surfaces. The first surface includes a first microreplicated structure having a plurality of first features. The second surface includes a second microreplicated structure having a plurality of second features. Opposing first and second features are registered to within 10 micrometers. Corresponding opposed first and second features cooperate to form an achromatic microlens element.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2005Date of Patent: September 28, 2010Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Stephen K. Eckhardt, James N. Dobbs
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Patent number: 7684126Abstract: Provided is a Fresnel lens for use with an array of semiconductor pixels that are separated by inactive areas, comprising a faceted surface with a plurality of facets for receiving an imaging beam, the facets being arranged into a plurality of zones separated by zone edges, and wherein the zone edges are generally aligned with the inactive areas throughout the array. Also provided are an optical detector and an imaging system incorporating such a Fresnel lens system.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2006Date of Patent: March 23, 2010Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventor: Stephen K. Eckhardt
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Patent number: 7475991Abstract: An optical unit that includes a polarizing beamsplitter (PBS). The PBS includes a reflective polarizer that transmits a portion of a light beam that has a first polarization and reflects a portion of the light beam that has a second polarization. A light absorbing device is operatively disposed relative to the PBS. The light absorbing device receives the light either transmitted or reflected by the PBS. The light absorbing device includes a light capture portion having a structured surface.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2005Date of Patent: January 13, 2009Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Jiaying Ma, Michael K. Domroese, Stephen K. Eckhardt, Glendon D. Kappel, Hamid R. Mortazavi, Michael J. Raykowski
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Patent number: 7411734Abstract: A color-splitting optical element is disclosed that includes a first prism having a first transmissive curved outer side, a second transmissive curved outer side and an inner side. The color-splitting optical element also includes a second prism having a first transmissive curved outer side, a second side and an inner side. A dichroic element is disposed between the inner side of the first prism and the inner side of the second prism. The first transmissive curved outer side of the first prism is disposed generally opposite the first transmissive curved outer side of the second prism along a first direction and the second transmissive curved outer side of the first prism is disposed generally opposite the second side of the second prism along a second direction. Also disclosed are optical systems utilizing such color-splitting optical elements.Type: GrantFiled: November 10, 2005Date of Patent: August 12, 2008Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Simon Magarill, Stephen K. Eckhardt
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Patent number: 7329006Abstract: Generally, the present invention relates to an apparatus for reducing astigmatism in a projection system that is particularly well suited to reducing astigmatism in LCD projection systems. A projection system includes a light source to generate light, conditioning optics to condition the light from the light source and an imaging core to impose on image on conditioned light from the conditioning optics to form image light. The imaging core includes a polarizing beamsplitter and at least one imager, and at least one element in the imaging core is adapted to reduce astigmatism in the image light. The astigmatism may arise in the polarizing beamsplitter. A projection lens system projects the astigmatism-reduced image light from the imaging core.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2003Date of Patent: February 12, 2008Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: David J. W. Aastuen, Charles L. Bruzzone, Stephen K. Eckhardt, Jiaying Ma
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Publication number: 20070201148Abstract: Provided is a Fresnel lens for use with an array of semiconductor pixels that are separated by inactive areas, comprising a faceted surface with a plurality of facets for receiving an imaging beam, the facets being arranged into a plurality of zones separated by zone edges, and wherein the zone edges are generally aligned with the inactive areas throughout the array. Also provided are an optical detector and an imaging system incorporating such a Fresnel lens system.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 15, 2006Publication date: August 30, 2007Inventor: Stephen K. Eckhardt
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Patent number: 7152981Abstract: A projector illumination system includes a tunnel integrator incorporated with a field lens at its output end. One advantage of using the field lens is to form an image of the entrance end of the tunnel integrator at the secondary stop of the illumination system when combined with other relay and/or imager field lenses in the illumination system. This reduces vignetting, resulting in an increased uniformity of illumination, and increased light throughput.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2004Date of Patent: December 26, 2006Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventor: Stephen K. Eckhardt
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Patent number: 6976759Abstract: A compound polarization beam splitter (33) for use with a reflective, polarization-modulating, imaging device (10), e.g., a LCoS device, is provided. The compound PBS has: (a) an input prism (20); (b) an output prism (30), and (c) a polarizer (13), which is located between the two prisms (20,30) and which may be a wire grid polarizer (13a) or a multi-layer reflective polarizer (13b). Polarized illumination light (11) enters the input prism (20) through a first surface (21) and undergoes total internal reflection at a second surface (22) before being reflected from the polarizer (13) and polarization-modulated at the imaging device (10). The polarizer's tilt angle (?) is less than 45°, which reduces astigmatism and the required back working distance of the system's projection lens (74).Type: GrantFiled: April 12, 2004Date of Patent: December 20, 2005Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Simon Magarill, Charles L. Bruzzone, Stephen K. Eckhardt, R. Edward English, Jr., E. Gregory Fulkerson, Jiaying Ma, Todd S. Rutherford
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Patent number: 6857752Abstract: A projector illumination system includes a tunnel integrator incorporated with a field lens at its output end. One advantage of using the field lens is to form an image of the entrance end of the tunnel integrator at the secondary stop of the illumination system when combined with other relay and/or imager field lenses in the illumination system. This reduces vignetting, resulting in an increased uniformity of illumination, and increased light throughput.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 2003Date of Patent: February 22, 2005Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventor: Stephen K. Eckhardt
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Publication number: 20040233393Abstract: A compound polarization beam splitter (33) for use with a reflective, polarization-modulating, imaging device (10), e.g., a LCoS device, is provided. The compound PBS has: (a) an input prism (20); (b) an output prism (30), and (c) a polarizer (13), which is located between the two prisms (20,30) and which may be a wire grid polarizer (13a) or a multi-layer reflective polarizer (13b). Polarized illumination light (11) enters the input prism (20) through a first surface (21) and undergoes total internal reflection at a second surface (22) before being reflected from the polarizer (13) and polarization-modulated at the imaging device (10). The polarizer'stilt angle (&bgr;) is less than 45°, which reduces astigmatism and the required back working distance of the system's projection lens (74).Type: ApplicationFiled: April 12, 2004Publication date: November 25, 2004Applicant: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Simon Magarill, Charles L. Bruzzone, Stephen K. Eckhardt, R. Edward English, E. Gregory Fulkerson, Jiaying Ma, Todd S. Rutherford
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Publication number: 20040201829Abstract: A projector illumination system includes a tunnel integrator incorporated with a field lens at its output end. One advantage of using the field lens is to form an image of the entrance end of the tunnel integrator at the secondary stop of the illumination system when combined with other relay and/or imager field lenses in the illumination system. This reduces vignetting, resulting in an increased uniformity of illumination, and increased light throughput.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 11, 2003Publication date: October 14, 2004Applicant: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventor: Stephen K. Eckhardt