Patents by Inventor Timothy A. McCollum

Timothy A. McCollum 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: 6827456
    Abstract: The transreflectors may comprise a transparent substrate having reflective surfaces and other light transmissive surfaces for respectively reflecting and transmitting a greater portion of the light striking opposite sides of the substrate. Alternatively, the transreflectors may comprise two or more transparent substrates of different indices of refraction bonded together, with a pattern of optical deformities in the mating side of one of the substrates and an inverse pattern of optical deformities in the mating side of an other substrate in mating engagement with each other. The transreflectors are used in a transreflector system or display to transmit more of the light emitted by a backlight or other light source incident on one side of the transreflectors and reflect more of the light incident on the opposite side of the transreflectors. The transreflectors and backlight may be tuned to each other to enable the transreflectors to better transmit more of the light emitted by the backlight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2004
    Assignee: Solid State Opto Limited
    Inventors: Jeffery R. Parker, Timothy A. McCollum
  • Publication number: 20040135273
    Abstract: The method involves cutting or forming one or more patterns of optical element shapes in the exterior surface of a sleeve or one or more curved substrates or films on a roll during rotation of the roll. Then at least a portion of the sleeve or substrates or films containing at least one pattern of optical element shapes is removed from the roll and the pattern of optical element shapes or a copy or inverse copy thereof is used to form a corresponding pattern of optical elements on or in an optical substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2003
    Publication date: July 15, 2004
    Inventors: Jeffery R. Parker, Timothy A. McCollum, Kurt R. Starkey
  • Patent number: 6752505
    Abstract: Light redirecting films include a pattern of individual optical elements of well defined shape on the light exit surface of the films for refracting the light entering the entrance surface of the films from a backlight toward a direction normal to the exit surface. The individual optical elements overlap and intersect each other. Also, the orientation, size and/or shape of the optical elements may be tailored to redirect more of the incident light from the backlight within a desired viewing angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2004
    Assignee: Solid State Opto Limited
    Inventors: Jeffery R. Parker, Timothy A. McCollum, Robert M. Ezell
  • Publication number: 20040114346
    Abstract: Light redirecting films include a pattern of individual optical elements of well defined shape on the light exit surface of the films for refracting the light entering the entrance surface of the films from a backlight toward a direction normal to the exit surface. The individual optical elements overlap and intersect each other. Also, the orientation, size and/or shape of the optical elements may be tailored to redirect more of the incident light from the backlight within a desired viewing angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2003
    Publication date: June 17, 2004
    Inventors: Jeffery R. Parker, Timothy A. McCollum, Robert M. Ezell
  • Publication number: 20040085749
    Abstract: The transreflectors may comprise a transparent substrate having reflective surfaces and other light transmissive surfaces for respectively reflecting and transmitting a greater portion of the light striking opposite sides of the substrate. Alternatively, the transreflectors may comprise two or more transparent substrates of different indices of refraction bonded together, with a pattern of optical deformities in the mating side of one of the substrates and an inverse pattern of optical deformities in the mating side of an other substrate in mating engagement with each other. The transreflectors are used in a transreflector system or display to transmit more of the light emitted by a backlight or other light source incident on one side of the transreflectors and reflect more of the light incident on the opposite side of the transreflectors. The transreflectors and backlight may be tuned to each other to enable the transreflectors to better transmit more of the light emitted by the backlight.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2003
    Publication date: May 6, 2004
    Inventors: Jeffery R. Parker, Timothy A. McCollum
  • Publication number: 20020080598
    Abstract: The transreflectors may comprise a transparent substrate having reflective surfaces and other light transmissive surfaces for respectively reflecting and transmitting a greater portion of the light striking opposite sides of the substrate. Alternatively, the transreflectors may comprise two or more transparent substrates of different indices of refraction bonded together, with a pattern of optical deformities in the mating side of one of the substrates and an inverse pattern of optical deformities in the mating side of an other substrate in mating engagement with each other. The transreflectors are used in a transreflector system or display to transmit more of the light emitted by a backlight or other light source incident on one side of the transreflectors and reflect more of the light incident on the opposite side of the transreflectors. The transreflectors and backlight may be tuned to each other to enable the transreflectors to better transmit more of the light emitted by the backlight.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2002
    Publication date: June 27, 2002
    Inventors: Jeffery R. Parker, Timothy A. McCollum
  • Publication number: 20010053075
    Abstract: Light redirecting films include a pattern of individual optical elements of well defined shape on the light exit surface of the films for refracting the light entering the entrance surface of the films from a backlight toward a direction normal to the exit surface. The individual optical elements overlap and intersect each other. Also, the orientation, size and/or shape of the optical elements may be tailored to redirect more of the incident light from the backlight within a desired viewing angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2001
    Publication date: December 20, 2001
    Inventors: Jeffery R. Parker, Timothy A. McCollum, Robert M. Ezell