Patents by Inventor Tri D. Pham
Tri D. Pham 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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Publication number: 20240151880Abstract: An optical film includes a structured film and a light control film formed on the structured film. The structured film includes a substrate and a plurality of polymeric microstructures formed on a major surface of the substrate. Each microstructure includes an optical facet and a sidewall meeting the optical facet at a ridge of the microstructure. The light control film includes an optically transparent material disposed on and covering the plurality of polymeric microstructures, and a plurality of optically absorptive louvers formed in the optically transparent material opposite the structured film. The louvers extend along a longitudinal direction and are spaced apart along an orthogonal transverse direction. The louvers have an average depth D into the optically transparent material and have an average width W in the transverse direction. D/W can be greater than 2. The optical film is integrally formed.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 4, 2020Publication date: May 9, 2024Inventors: Tao Liu, Tri D. Pham, Gary T. Boyd, Daniel J. Schmidt, Caleb T. Nelson, Owen M. Anderson
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Publication number: 20240142673Abstract: An optical film has a major surface including a plurality of microstructures. Each microstructure includes an optical facet and a sidewall meeting the optical facet at a ridge of the microstructure. The optical facet and the sidewall define an oblique angle therebetween. For each microstructure in at least a majority of the microstructures, an optically absorptive layer is disposed on the sidewall. The optical film can include a polymeric layer having a microstructured surface at least partially coated with an inorganic optically transparent layer. The optically absorptive layer can an average thickness t where 100 nm<t<1 micrometer. A first layer can be disposed between the sidewall and the optically absorptive layer where the first layer has a lower extinction coefficient than the optically absorptive layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 29, 2020Publication date: May 2, 2024Inventors: Tao Liu, Gary T. Boyd, Daniel J. Schmidt, Caleb T. Nelson, Owen M. Anderson, Tri D. Pham
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Patent number: 11960683Abstract: A display system for sensing a finger of a user applied to the display system includes a display panel; a sensor for sensing the finger; a sensing light source configured to emit a first light having a first wavelength W1; and a reflective polarizer disposed between the display panel and the sensor. For a substantially normally incident light, an optical transmittance of the reflective polarizer versus wavelength for a first polarization state has a band edge such that for a first wavelength range extending from a smaller wavelength L1 to a greater wavelength L2 and including W1, where 30 nm?L2?L1?50 nm and L1 is greater than and within about 20 nm of a wavelength L3 corresponding to an optical transmittance of about 50% along the band edge, the optical transmittance has an average of greater than about 75%.Type: GrantFiled: May 4, 2021Date of Patent: April 16, 2024Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANYInventors: Bharat R. Acharya, Robert D. Taylor, Joseph P. Attard, Benjamin J. Forsythe, David T. Yust, Matthew E. Sousa, Jason S. Petaja, Anthony M. Renstrom, William Blake Kolb, Matthew S. Cole, Matthew S. Stay, Matthew R. D. Smith, Jeremy O. Swanson, Tri D. Pham, David A. Rosen, Qunyi Chen, Lisa A. DeNicola, Quinn D. Sanford, Carl A. Stover, Lin Zhao, Gilles J. Benoit
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Publication number: 20240122043Abstract: An optical system includes a light source, an optical film curved about a first axis, and a light control film curved about the first axis and disposed between the light source and the optical film. The optical film includes a microstructured first major surface and an opposing second major surface. The microstructured first major surface defines a linear Fresnel lens including a plurality of Fresnel elements extending longitudinally along the first axis. The first major surface of the optical film faces of the optically transmissive regions, a centerline between adjacent optically absorptive regions is substantially normal to a major surface of the light control film.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 29, 2020Publication date: April 11, 2024Inventors: Tao Liu, Gary T. Boyd, Daniel J. Schmidt, Caleb T. Nelson, Owen M. Anderson, Tri D. Pham, Encai Hao, Shu-Ching Fan
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Publication number: 20240096127Abstract: Various embodiments of an optical construction and an electronic device that includes such optical construction are disclosed. The optical construction includes a lens film having an outermost structured first major surface and an opposing outermost substantially planar second major surface. The structured first major surface includes a plurality of microlenses. The optical construction further includes a mask disposed adjacent to the second major surface of the lens film, where the mask includes a polymeric layer, a nanoparticle layer, and plurality of laser-ablated openings disposed through the mask. The openings are aligned to the microlenses in a one-to-one correspondence.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 30, 2021Publication date: March 21, 2024Inventors: Neeraj Sharma, Przemyslaw P. Markowicz, Timothy J. Reddy, Mark A. Roehrig, Tri D. Pham, Zhaohui Yang
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Publication number: 20240094444Abstract: Various embodiments of an optical construction and an electronic device that includes such optical construction are disclosed. The optical construction includes a lens film having an outermost structured first major surface and an opposing outermost substantially planar second major surface. The structured first major surface includes a plurality of microlenses. The optical construction further includes a mask disposed adjacent to the second major surface of the lens film, where the mask includes a polymeric layer, a metal layer, and a plurality of laser-ablated openings disposed through the mask and aligned to the microlenses in a one-to-one correspondence.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 30, 2021Publication date: March 21, 2024Inventors: Neeraj Sharma, Przemyslaw P. Markowicz, Michael W. Bench, Timothy J. Reddy, Mark A. Roehrig, Tri D. Pham, Zhaohui Yang
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Patent number: 11906759Abstract: An optical film having a first surface, an opposing second surface, and a thickness normal to the first and second surfaces is cut. Cutting the film forms a channel at least partially through the thickness of the film. A light control material is printed proximate to a surface of the film. The ink traverses through the channel by capillary motion.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 2019Date of Patent: February 20, 2024Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Daniel J. Theis, Tri D. Pham, Bradley S. English, Steven J. Botzet, Qingbing Wang, Shu-Ching Fan
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Patent number: 11885999Abstract: An optical construction includes a reflective polarizer and an optically diffusive film disposed on the reflective polarizer. The reflective polarizer includes an outer layer including a plurality of first particles partially protruding from a first major surface thereof to form a structured major surface. A first optically diffusive layer is conformably disposed on the structured major surface. The optically diffusive film includes a second optically diffusive layer including a plurality of nanoparticles dispersed therein, and a structured layer including a structured major surface. For a substantially normally incident light and a visible wavelength range from about 450 nm to about 650 nm and an infrared wavelength range from about 930 nm to about 970 nm, the second optically diffusive layer has an average specular transmittance Vs in the visible wavelength range and an average specular transmittance Is in the infrared wavelength range, where Is/Vs?2.5.Type: GrantFiled: May 4, 2021Date of Patent: January 30, 2024Assignee: 3M INNOVATION PROPERTIES COMPANYInventors: Bharat R. Acharya, Robert D. Taylor, Joseph P. Attard, Benjamin J. Forsythe, David T. Yust, Matthew E. Sousa, Jason S. Petaja, Anthony M. Renstrom, William Blake Kolb, Matthew S. Cole, Matthew S. Stay, Matthew R.D. Smith, Jeremy O. Swanson, Tri D. Pham, David A. Rosen, Qunyi Chen, Lisa A. DeNicola, Quinn D. Sanford, Carl A. Stover, Lin Zhao, Gilles J. Benoit
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Publication number: 20240027262Abstract: Various embodiments of an optical construction and an electronic device that includes such optical construction are disclosed. The optical construction includes a lens film having an outermost structured first major surface and an opposing outermost substantially planar second major surface. The structured first major surface includes a plurality of microlenses. The optical construction also includes a mask disposed adjacent to the second major surface of the lens film and includes a plurality of laser-ablated openings disposed through the mask. The openings are aligned to the microlenses in a one-to-one correspondence. The mask further includes a UV-cured polymer material and an optically absorptive material.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 30, 2021Publication date: January 25, 2024Inventors: Neeraj Sharma, Przemyslaw P. Markowicz, Timothy J. Reddy, Mark A. Roehrig, Tri D. Pham
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Publication number: 20230400606Abstract: An optical construction includes a lens layer and optically opaque first and second mask layers. The lens layer has a first major surface including a plurality of microlenses arranged along orthogonal first and second directions. The first and second mask layers are spaced apart from the first major surface and define respective pluralities of through first and second openings therein arranged along the first and second directions. The first mask layer is disposed between the structured first major surface and the second mask layer. There is a one-to-one correspondence between the microlenses and the first and second openings. The optical construction includes an intermediate layer disposed between the structured first major surface and the first mask layer and including an undulating second major surface facing, and in substantial registration with, an undulating third major surface of first mask layer so as to define a substantially uniform spacing therebetween.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 20, 2021Publication date: December 14, 2023Inventors: Adam T. Ringberg, Vivian W. Jones, James A. Phipps, Tri D. Pham, Przemyslaw P. Markowicz, Mark A. Roehrig, Stephen P. Maki, Bing Hao, David J. Rowe, Serena L. Mollenhauer, Mikhail A. Belkin, Zhaohui Yang, Jathan D. Edwards
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Publication number: 20230341615Abstract: An optical construction includes a reflective polarizer and an optically diffusive film disposed on the reflective polarizer. The reflective polarizer includes an outer layer including a plurality of first particles partially protruding from a first major surface thereof to form a structured major surface. A first optically diffusive layer is conformably disposed on the structured major surface. The optically diffusive film includes a second optically diffusive layer including a plurality of nanoparticles dispersed therein, and a structured layer including a structured major surface. For a substantially normally incident light and a visible wavelength range from about 450 nm to about 650 nm and an infrared wavelength range from about 930 nm to about 970 nm, the second optically diffusive layer has an average specular transmittance Vs in the visible wavelength range and an average specular transmittance Is in the infrared wavelength range, where Is/Vs?2.5.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 4, 2021Publication date: October 26, 2023Inventors: Bharat R. Acharya, Robert D. Taylor, Joseph P. Attard, Benjamin J. Forsythe, David T. Yust, Matthew E. Sousa, Jason S. Petaja, Anthony M. Renstrom, William Blake Kolb, Matthew S. Cole, Matthew S. Stay, Matthew R.D. Smith, Jeremy O. Swanson, Tri D. Pham, David A. Rosen, Qunyi Chen, Lisa A. DeNicola, Quinn D. Sanford, Carl A. Stover, Lin Zhao, Gilles J. Benoit
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Publication number: 20230333289Abstract: An optical construction can include a lens layer including microlenses formed on a substrate and at least one light absorbing optical cavity disposed on a substrate side of the lens layer. Each light absorbing optical cavity has an average thickness of less than about 300 nm and includes an optically transparent middle layer disposed between light absorbing first and second end layers. Each of the first and second end layers, but not the middle layer, defines a plurality of through openings therein aligned in a one-to-one correspondence with the microlenses. The optical construction can include an optically transparent spacer layer disposed between two light absorbing optical cavities. An optical system includes the optical construction and a refractive component including at least one prism film.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 13, 2021Publication date: October 19, 2023Inventors: Stephen P. Maki, Zhaohui Yang, Przemyslaw P. Markowicz, Mark A. Roehrig, Tri D. Pham, Serena L. Mollenhauer, David A. Rosen, Yang Liu
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Publication number: 20230280512Abstract: An optical construction includes a lens layer having a structured first major surface including a plurality of microlenses; an optical filter disposed on the lens layer; an optically opaque mask layer disposed between the lens layer and the optical filter and defining a plurality of openings therein; and a low index layer disposed on the optical filter. For a first wavelength in a visible wavelength range, a second wavelength that can be in an infrared wavelength range, the optical filter has: an optical transmission of greater than about 50% for the first wavelength for each of a first incident angle of less than about 10 degrees and a second incident angle of greater than about 30 degrees, and for the second wavelength, an optical transmission of less than about 15% for the first incident angle and of greater than about 30% for the second incident angle.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 21, 2023Publication date: September 7, 2023Inventors: Joseph P. Attard, Kristy A. Gillette, Tri D. Pham, Zhaohui Yang
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Publication number: 20230228919Abstract: Optical films and stacks include at least one optically diffusive layer. The optically diffusive layer can include a plurality of nanoparticles and a polymeric material bonding the nanoparticles to each other to form a plurality of nanoparticle aggregates defining a plurality of voids therebetween. For substantially normally incident light and a visible wavelength range from about 450 nm to about 650 nm and an infrared wavelength range from about 930 nm to about 970 nm: in the visible wavelength range, the optical film or optically diffusive layer has an average specular transmittance Vs; and in the infrared wavelength range, the optical film or optically diffusive layer has an average total transmittance It and an average specular transmittance Is, Is/It?0.6, Is/Vs?2.5.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 20, 2021Publication date: July 20, 2023Inventors: Matthew E. Sousa, Matthew S. Cole, Jeremy O. Swanson, Bharat R. Acharya, Jason S. Petaja, Anthony M. Renstrom, Tri D. Pham, David A. Rosen, Qunyi Chen, Lisa A. DeNicola, Quinn D. Sanford
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Publication number: 20230228918Abstract: An optically diffusive film includes an optical substrate layer with opposing first and second major surfaces; and an optical layer disposed on the second major surface of the optical substrate layer and including a structured major surface having a plurality of spaced apart elongated structures elongated along a same first direction and arranged at a substantially uniform density, each elongated structure including a peak such that, in a plane of a cross-section of the elongated structure that is parallel to the first direction and comprises the peak, the elongated structure has a substantially flat top region; wherein for substantially normally incident light and a visible wavelength range and an infrared wavelength range, the optical substrate layer has an average total transmittance or reflectance of greater than about 60% in the visible wavelength range and an average specular transmittance of greater than about 60% in the infrared wavelength range.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 26, 2021Publication date: July 20, 2023Inventors: Tri D. Pham, David A. Rosen, Qunyi Chen, Lisa A. DeNicola, Quinn D. Sanford, Matthew S. Cole, Bharat R. Acharya, Matthew E. Sousa, Robert D. Taylor, Benjamin J. Forsythe
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Publication number: 20230214062Abstract: A display system for sensing a finger of a user applied to the display system includes a display panel; a sensor for sensing the finger; a sensing light source configured to emit a first light having a first wavelength W1; and a reflective polarizer disposed between the display panel and the sensor. For a substantially normally incident light, an optical transmittance of the reflective polarizer versus wavelength for a first polarization state has a band edge such that for a first wavelength range extending from a smaller wavelength L1 to a greater wavelength L2 and including W1, where 30 mn?L2?L1?50 nm and L1 is greater than and within about 20 nm of a wavelength L3 corresponding to an optical transmittance of about 50% along the band edge, the optical transmittance has an average of greater than about 75%.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 4, 2021Publication date: July 6, 2023Inventors: Bharat R. Acharya, Robert D. Taylor, Joseph P. Attard, Benjamin J. Forsythe, David T. Yust, Matthew E. Sousa, Jason S. Petaja, Anthony M. Renstrom, William Blake Kolb, Matthew S. Cole, Matthew S. Stay, Matthew R.D. Smith, Jeremy O. Swanson, Tri D. Pham, David A. Rosen, Qunyi Chen, Lisa A. DeNicola, Quinn D. Sanford, Carl A. Stover, Lin Zhao, Gilles J. Benoit
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Publication number: 20220397791Abstract: An optical system includes a lens layer including a plurality of microlenses arranged along orthogonal first and second directions, and at least one optically opaque mask layer spaced apart from the lens layer and defining a plurality of through openings therein arranged along the first and second directions. There is a one-to-one correspondence between the microlenses and the openings, such that for each microlens, the microlens and corresponding openings are substantially centered on a straight line making a same oblique angle with the lens layer. An optical layer can include the lens layer and the optically opaque mask layer embedded in the optical layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 1, 2020Publication date: December 15, 2022Inventors: Zhaohui Yang, Przemyslaw P. Markowicz, Mark A. Roehrig, Tri D. Pham, Serena L. Schleusner, David A. Rosen, Yang Liu
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Publication number: 20220260760Abstract: An optical system is disclosed and includes an image sensor (112), a plurality of microlenses (142), at least one microlens of the plurality of microlenses defining a microlens height and a microlens diameter. The optical system also includes a plurality of light-blocking structures (146), at least one light-blocking structure of the plurality of light-blocking structures defining a light-blocking structure height and a light-blocking structure width. An aperture array (134) includes a plurality of apertures (138), each aperture being aligned with a microlens of the plurality of microlenses, and the microlenses and the light-blocking structures extend from the aperture array toward the image sensor. The systems, structures and features disclosed herein can improve a signal-to-noise ratio when detecting images, via the optical sensor, from behind a display.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 7, 2020Publication date: August 18, 2022Inventors: Zhaohui Yang, Tri D. Pham, Matthew S. Stay, Matthew R.D. Smith, Daniel J. Theis, Serena L. Schleusner, Jathan D. Edwards
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Publication number: 20220163704Abstract: A curved display includes a display panel having a curved major surface and a light control film disposed proximate the display panel. The curved major surface is curved about a first axis, and a central portion of the curved major surface has a surface normal along a second axis substantially orthogonal to the first axis. The light control film includes a major surface having a substantially same shape as the curved major surface and includes a plurality of alternating optically transmissive and optically absorptive regions. In a cross-section orthogonal to the first axis, a transmissive region and adjacent absorptive regions define a central ray transmission direction through the optically transmissive region such that a light ray emitted by the display panel and transmitted through the optically transmissive region along the transmission direction is refracted upon exiting the curved display into a direction substantially parallel to the second axis.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 11, 2020Publication date: May 26, 2022Inventors: Tao Liu, Gary T. Boyd, Tri D. Pham, Garth V. Antila, Keith R. Jacobs
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Patent number: 11294106Abstract: A unitary optical film stack comprising a light redirecting film assembly; a light diffusion film assembly; and an optical adhesive; wherein the light redirecting film assembly and the light diffusion film assembly are physically coupled non-continuously to minimize optical coupling.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 2017Date of Patent: April 5, 2022Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Tri D. Pham, Qingbing Wang, Daniel J. Theis, Encai Hao, Keith R. Bruesewitz