Patents by Inventor Timothy J. Nevitt

Timothy J. Nevitt 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).

  • Publication number: 20200183065
    Abstract: Optical films are disclosed that include a plurality of interference layers. Each interference layer reflects or transmits light primarily by optical interference. The total number of the interference layers is less than about 1000. For a substantially normally incident light in a predetermined wavelength range, the plurality of interference layers has an average optical transmittance greater than about 85% for a first polarization state, an average optical reflectance greater than about 80% for an orthogonal second polarization state, and an average optical transmittance less than about 0.2% for the second polarization state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2020
    Publication date: June 11, 2020
    Inventors: Adam D. Haag, Timothy J. Nevitt, Carl A. Stover, Andrew J. Ouderkirk, Robert D. Taylor, Zhaohui Yang
  • Publication number: 20200174170
    Abstract: Multilayer optical film reflective polarizers previously considered to have excessive off-axis color can provide adequate performance in an LC display in an “on-glass” configuration, laminated to a back absorbing polarizer of the display, without any light diffusing layer or air gap in such laminate. The reflective polarizer is a tentered-one-packet (TOP) multilayer film, having only one packet of microlayers, and oriented using a standard tenter such that birefringent microlayers in the film are biaxially birefringent. The thickness profile of optical repeat units (ORUs) in the microlayer packet is tailored to avoid excessive perceived color at normal and oblique angles. Color at high oblique angles in the white state of the display is reduced by positioning thicker ORUs closer to the absorbing polarizer, and by ensuring that, with regard to a boxcar average of the ORU thickness profile, the average slope from an ORU(600) to an ORU(645) does not exceed 1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2020
    Publication date: June 4, 2020
    Inventors: Timothy J. Nevitt, Carl A. Stover, Gilles J. Benoit, Kristopher J. Derks, Zhaohui Yang
  • Publication number: 20200150329
    Abstract: Multilayer optical film reflective polarizers previously considered to have excessive off-axis color can provide adequate performance in an LC display without any high haze light diffusing layer or air gap between the reflective polarizer and the back absorbing polarizer of the display. The reflective polarizer has only one packet of microlayers, and is oriented using a standard tenter such that birefringent microlayers in the film are biaxially birefringent. The microlayers in the packet have a layer thickness profile suitably tailored to avoid excessive perceived color at normal and oblique angles. A laminate made by combining this type of reflective polarizer with an absorbing polarizer, without an air gap or any high haze light diffusing layer or structure between the polarizers, can be used and incorporated into a liquid crystal display or the like with adequate color performance both at normal incidence and oblique incidence up to a polar angle of 60 degrees.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2020
    Publication date: May 14, 2020
    Inventors: Carl A. Stover, Kristopher J. Derks, Timothy J. Nevitt, Gilles J. Benoit
  • Patent number: 10613264
    Abstract: Multilayer optical film reflective polarizers previously considered to have excessive off-axis color can provide adequate performance in an LC display in an “on-glass” configuration, laminated to a back absorbing polarizer of the display, without any light diffusing layer or air gap in such laminate. The reflective polarizer is a tentered-one-packet (TOP) multilayer film, having only one packet of microlayers, and oriented using a standard tenter such that birefringent microlayers in the film are biaxially birefringent. The thickness profile of optical repeat units (ORUs) in the microlayer packet is tailored to avoid excessive perceived color at normal and oblique angles. Color at high oblique angles in the white state of the display is reduced by positioning thicker ORUs closer to the absorbing polarizer, and by ensuring that, with regard to a boxcar average of the ORU thickness profile, the average slope from an ORU(600) to an ORU(645) does not exceed 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Timothy J. Nevitt, Carl A. Stover, Gilles J. Benoit, Kristopher J. Derks, Zhaohui Yang
  • Publication number: 20200073038
    Abstract: A hybrid polarizer includes an absorbing element having a first major surface and a second major surface. The hybrid polarizer also includes a first birefringent reflective polarizer disposed on the first major surface of the absorbing element, the first birefringent reflective polarizer having a first pass axis and a first block axis. The hybrid polarizer further includes a second birefringent reflective polarizer disposed on the second major surface of the absorbing element, the second reflective polarizer having a second pass axis and a second block axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2019
    Publication date: March 5, 2020
    Inventors: Michael F. Weber, Timothy J. Nevitt, Roger J. Strharsky
  • Patent number: 10545273
    Abstract: Multilayer optical film reflective polarizers previously considered to have excessive off-axis color can provide adequate performance in an LC display without any high haze light diffusing layer or air gap between the reflective polarizer and the back absorbing polarizer of the display. The reflective polarizer has only one packet of microlayers, and is oriented using a standard tenter such that birefringent microlayers in the film are biaxially birefringent. The microlayers in the packet have a layer thickness profile suitably tailored to avoid excessive perceived color at normal and oblique angles. A laminate made by combining this type of reflective polarizer with an absorbing polarizer, without an air gap or any high haze light diffusing layer or structure between the polarizers, can be used and incorporated into a liquid crystal display or the like with adequate color performance both at normal incidence and oblique incidence up to a polar angle of 60 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Carl A. Stover, Kristopher J. Derks, Timothy J. Nevitt, Gilles J. Benoit
  • Publication number: 20200003941
    Abstract: Polymeric multilayer optical films are described. More particularly, polymeric multilayer optical films having a first optical packet and a second optical packet are described. The second optical packet is disposed on the first optical packet. How the configuration of the layers of the optical packets affect hemispheric reflectivity of the overall film is also described. The polymeric multilayer optical film reflects more than 95% of light from 400 nm to 700 nm at normal incidence.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2019
    Publication date: January 2, 2020
    Inventors: Timothy J. Nevitt, Ryan T. Fabick, Laurence R. Gilbert
  • Publication number: 20190391311
    Abstract: An article including a reflector with a reflectance band that is substantially constant as a function of an incidence angle; a polymeric multilayer film packet including a front surface partial reflector with a reflectivity that increases with an increasing incidence angle away from the normal; and a wavelength-selective absorber with a transmission band that at least partially coincides with the reflectance band of the reflector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2018
    Publication date: December 26, 2019
    Inventors: Timothy J. Nevitt, Gilles J. Benoit, Matthew B. Johnson
  • Publication number: 20190369314
    Abstract: Multilayer infrared (IR) reflecting films are provided. An optical repeating unit of the film include a plurality of optical polymeric layers arranged to reflect light by constructive and destructive interference. Optical layer A is a high refractive index polymeric layer, and optical layer B is a low refractive index isotropic polymeric layer containing fluoropolymers. The film has an average reflectance of about 50% to about 100% in a near infrared wavelength range of about 850 nm to about 1850 nm, and an average transmission of about 70% to about 90% in a visible light range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2017
    Publication date: December 5, 2019
    Inventors: Timothy J. Hebrink, Mark B. O'Neill, Stephen J. Kuncio, Edward J. Kivel, Laurence R. Gilbert, Tracey D. Sorensen, Timothy J. Nevitt, Stephen A. Johnson
  • Publication number: 20190346605
    Abstract: Multilayer optical film reflective polarizers previously considered to have excessive off-axis color can provide adequate performance in an LC display in an “on-glass” configuration, laminated to a back absorbing polarizer of the display, without any light diffusing layer or air gap in such laminate. The reflective polarizer is a tentered-one-packet (TOP) multilayer film, having only one packet of microlayers, and oriented using a standard tenter such that birefringent microlayers in the film are biaxially birefringent. The thickness profile of optical repeat units (ORUs) in the microlayer packet is tailored to avoid excessive perceived color at normal and oblique angles. Color at high oblique angles in the white state of the display is reduced by positioning thicker ORUs closer to the absorbing polarizer, and by ensuring that, with regard to a boxcar average of the ORU thickness profile, the average slope from an ORU(600) to an ORU(645) does not exceed 1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2017
    Publication date: November 14, 2019
    Inventors: Timothy J. Nevitt, Carl A. Stover, Gilles J. Benoit, Kristopher J. Derks, Zhaohui Yang
  • Publication number: 20190339433
    Abstract: Optical stacks including a first reflective polarizer and a partially reflective component are described. The partially reflective component may be a second reflective polarizer or a collimating reflector. The first reflective polarizer has a first average visible light reflectance for light polarized along the first block axis at normal incidence of at least 90 percent and a first average visible light transmittance for light polarized along the first pass axis at normal incidence of at least 85 percent. The second reflective polarizer has a second block axis and a second average visible light reflectance for light polarized along the second block axis at normal incidence being no more than the first average visible light reflectance minus 10 percent. The first and second block axes are not parallel and the first and second reflective polarizers have different f-ratios.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2017
    Publication date: November 7, 2019
    Inventors: Gilles J. BENOIT, Timothy J. NEVITT, Matthew B. JOHNSON
  • Patent number: 10429558
    Abstract: Polymeric multilayer optical films are described. More particularly, polymeric multilayer optical films having a first optical packet and a second optical packet are described. The second optical packet is disposed on the first optical packet. How the configuration of the layers of the optical packets affect hemispheric reflectivity of the overall film is also described. The polymeric multilayer optical film reflects more than 95% of light from 400 nm to 700 nm at normal incidence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Timothy J. Nevitt, Ryan T. Fabick, Laurence R. Gilbert
  • Publication number: 20190293486
    Abstract: In an example, an example article may include a spatially variant microreplicated layer optically coupled to a wavelength selective filter. The wavelength selective filter may have a light incidence angle-dependent optical band. The spatially variant microreplicated layer may be configured to transmit light to a first optical region of the wavelength selective filter at a first predetermined incidence angle and to a second optical region of the wavelength selective filter at a second predetermined incidence angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2017
    Publication date: September 26, 2019
    Inventors: John A. WHEATLEY, Gilles J. BENOIT, Guanglei DU, Rolf W. BIERNATH, Sara Suzanne MERRITT, James HILLIS, Owen M. ANDERSON, Timothy J. NEVITT
  • Patent number: 10422941
    Abstract: An optical film including a collimating reflective polarizer and a structured layer disposed on a major surface of the collimating reflective polarizer. The structured layer includes a plurality of three-dimensional structures on an outer major surface of the structured layer facing away from the collimating reflective polarizer. The three-dimensional structures have a surface normal having an angle relative to a plane of the optical film that is in a range of about 35 degrees to about 55 degrees over at least 50 percent of a surface area of the three-dimensional structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Charles D. Hoyle, Gilles J. Benoit, Timothy J. Nevitt
  • Publication number: 20180372932
    Abstract: Broadband visible reflectors are disclosed. In particular, broadband visible reflectors with reduced on-axis blue reflectivity are described. Broadband visible reflectors that appear yellow in reflection are described. Such broadband visible reflectors may be used in backlights and displays.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2016
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Inventors: Edward J. Kivel, Ryan T. Fabick, Timothy J. Nevitt
  • Patent number: 10162218
    Abstract: A backlight includes a front and back reflector forming a light recycling cavity and one or more light source members disposed to emit light into the light recycling cavity. The front reflector being partially reflective to provide an output illumination area. The front reflector has a blue sloped transmission spectra, at normal incidence with a range among bin values from 15% to 100%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Timothy J. Nevitt, Michael F. Weber, John A. Wheatley, Matthew E. Sousa, Tao Liu
  • Publication number: 20180348418
    Abstract: Multilayer optical film reflective polarizers previously considered to have excessive off-axis color can provide adequate performance in an LC display without any high haze light diffusing layer or air gap between the reflective polarizer and the back absorbing polarizer of the display. The reflective polarizer has only one packet of microlayers, and is oriented using a standard tenter such that birefringent microlayers in the film are biaxially birefringent. The microlayers in the packet have a layer thickness profile suitably tailored to avoid excessive perceived color at normal and oblique angles. A laminate made by combining this type of reflective polarizer with an absorbing polarizer, without an air gap or any high haze light diffusing layer or structure between the polarizers, can be used and incorporated into a liquid crystal display or the like with adequate color performance both at normal incidence and oblique incidence up to a polar angle of 60 degrees.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2016
    Publication date: December 6, 2018
    Inventors: Carl A. Stover, Kristopher J. Derks, Timothy J. Nevitt, Gilles J. Benoit
  • Patent number: 10072333
    Abstract: A method of coating a plurality of sheets. A fluid is forced through gaps in the plurality of sheets. The fluid has a substantially plug flow profile and the fluid deposits a coating on at least one surface of the plurality of sheets in a self-limiting deposition process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Andrew J. Ouderkirk, Nicholas T. Gabriel, Max Powers, Bill H. Dodge, Timothy J. Nevitt, Daniel J. Schmidt, James R. Miller, Robert R. Kieschke, Erin A. McDowell, Kelly S. Johnson
  • Patent number: 10037850
    Abstract: A multilayer film capacitor having a composite stack disposed between two electrodes where the composite stack includes at least one thermoplastic conductive layer and at least one thermoplastic insulating layer. The total thickness of the conductive layers is at least 3 times the total thickness of the insulating layers. The conductive layers may include a thermoplastic polymer blended with conductive particles at a concentration higher than a percolation threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Timothy J. Nevitt, Onur S. Yordem, David T. Yust, Charles D. Hoyle
  • Publication number: 20180164482
    Abstract: A hybrid polarizer includes an absorbing element having a first major surface and a second major surface. The hybrid polarizer also includes a first birefringent reflective polarizer disposed on the first major surface of the absorbing element, the first birefringent reflective polarizer having a first pass axis and a first block axis. The hybrid polarizer further includes a second birefringent reflective polarizer disposed on the second major surface of the absorbing element, the second reflective polarizer having a second pass axis and a second block axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2018
    Publication date: June 14, 2018
    Inventors: Michael F. Weber, Timothy J. Nevitt, Roger J. Strharsky