Patents by Inventor Wade D. Kretman
Wade D. Kretman 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: 9690038Abstract: A backlight includes a light source and one or more light recycling films. The light source generates light that exits the light source with an angular exit distribution. The light recycling films are oriented in relation to the light source so that the prism peaks of the recycling films are oriented away from the light source. The recycling films have a range of optimal incident angles that allow light to pass through the recycling films without recycling. The components of the light source, the characteristics of the recycling films, or both, are configured to control the overlap between the exit distribution of the light source and the optimal incident angle range of the recycling films.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2008Date of Patent: June 27, 2017Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Gary T. Boyd, Ji-Young Choi, John T. Cowher, Yasuyuki Daigo, Kenneth A. Epstein, Shandon D. Hart, Charles D. Hoyle, Min-Young Ji, Chideuk Kim, Byung-Soo Ko, Keith M. Kotchick, Wade D. Kretman, David J. Lamb, Seo-Hern Lee, Eric W. Nelson, Youngsoo Park, Xianneng Peng, Yuji Saito, Naoya Taniguchi, John F. Van Derlofske, III, Leland R. Whitney, Xingpeng Yang, Yang Yu, Jie Zhou, Rui Zhang
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Patent number: 8588574Abstract: A backlight includes a lightguide, a light source disposed with respect to the lightguide to introduce light into the lightguide and a turning film. Optical structures are formed in one of an output surface and a back surface of the lightguide. The optical structures are arranged to extract light from the lightguide. A back reflector is disposed adjacent the back surface. The optical structures are formed to include a varying pattern arranged to mask non-uniformities in the output of the lightguide.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2007Date of Patent: November 19, 2013Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Mark E. Gardiner, Sanford Cobb, Jr., Kenneth A. Epstein, Wade D. Kretman
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Patent number: 8057613Abstract: An optical construction that is static-dissipative and includes a static-dissipative layer buried within optical material.Type: GrantFiled: August 11, 2010Date of Patent: November 15, 2011Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: William L. Kausch, James E. Lockridge, Wade D. Kretman
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Publication number: 20110261584Abstract: A backlight includes a light source and one or more light recycling films. The light source generates light that exits the light source with an angular exit distribution. The light recycling films are oriented in relation to the light source so that the prism peaks of the recycling films are oriented away from the light source. The recycling films have a range of optimal incident angles that allow light to pass through the recycling films without recycling. The components of the light source, the characteristics of the recycling films, or both, are configured to control the overlap between the exit distribution of the light source and the optimal incident angle range of the recycling films.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 20, 2008Publication date: October 27, 2011Inventors: Gary T. Boyd, Ji-Young Choi, John T. Cowher, Yasuyuki Daigo, Kenneth A. Epstein, Shandon D. Hart, Charles D. Hoyle, Min-Young Ji, Chideuk kim, Byung-Soo Ko, Keith M. Kotchick, Wade D. Kretman, David J. Lamb, Seo-Hern Lee, Eric W. Nelson, Youngsoo Park, Xianneng Peng, Yuji Saito, Naoya Taniguchi, John F. Van Derlofske, III, Leland R. Whitney, Kingpeng Yang, Yang Yu, Jie Zhou, Rui Zhang
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Patent number: 7873256Abstract: A backlight includes a lightguide, a light source disposed with respect to the lightguide to introduce light into the lightguide and a turning film. Optical structures are formed in one of an output surface and a back surface of the lightguide. The optical structures are arranged to extract light from the lightguide. A back reflector is disposed adjacent the back surface. The optical structures are formed to include a varying pattern arranged to mask non-uniformities in the output of the lightguide.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 2005Date of Patent: January 18, 2011Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Mark E. Gardiner, Sanford Cobb, Jr., Kenneth A. Epstein, Wade D. Kretman
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Publication number: 20100300610Abstract: An optical construction that is static-dissipative and includes a static-dissipative layer buried within optical material.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 11, 2010Publication date: December 2, 2010Inventors: William L. Kausch, James E. Lockridge, Wade D. Kretman
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Patent number: 7794780Abstract: A method of making an optical construction that is static-dissipative and includes a static-dissipative layer buried within optical material.Type: GrantFiled: April 10, 2006Date of Patent: September 14, 2010Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: William L. Kausch, James E. Lockridge, Wade D. Kretman
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Patent number: 7221847Abstract: An optical element, such as a lightguide or an optical film, is formed with a predetermined, programmed pattern of optical structures. The optical structures may be arranged to selectively correct for non-uniformities in the output a lightguide, or may be arranged to otherwise enhance the performance of a display.Type: GrantFiled: August 3, 2004Date of Patent: May 22, 2007Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Mark E. Gardiner, Sanford Cobb, Kenneth A. Epstein, Wade D. Kretman
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Patent number: 7052168Abstract: An illumination system includes a light guide for distributing light. Extraction structures are provided to uniformly extract light from the light guide. The structures extract more light out of the light guide when light is propagating in the light guide in a direction toward the light input area than when light is propagating in the light guide in a direction away from the light input area.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2003Date of Patent: May 30, 2006Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Kenneth A. Epstein, Leland R. Whitney, Charles D. Hoyle, Wade D. Kretman
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Patent number: 7046905Abstract: A backlight includes a lightguide, a light source disposed with respect to the lightguide to introduce light into the lightguide and a turning film. Optical structures are formed in one of an output surface and a back surface of the lightguide. The optical structures are arranged to extract light from the lightguide. A back reflector is disposed adjacent the back surface. The optical structures are formed to include a varying pattern arranged to mask non-uniformities in the output of the lightguide.Type: GrantFiled: July 11, 2000Date of Patent: May 16, 2006Inventors: Mark E. Gardiner, Sanford Cobb, Wade D. Kretman
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Patent number: 7041365Abstract: An optical construction that is static-dissipative and includes a static-dissipative layer buried within optical material.Type: GrantFiled: May 12, 2003Date of Patent: May 9, 2006Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: William L. Kausch, James E. Lockridge, Wade D. Kretman
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Patent number: 6845212Abstract: An optical element, such as a lightguide or an optical film, is formed with a predetermined, programmed pattern of optical structures. The optical structures may be arranged to selectively correct for non-uniformities in the output a lightguide, or may be arranged to otherwise enhance the performance of a display.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 1999Date of Patent: January 18, 2005Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Mark E. Gardiner, Sanford Cobb, Kenneth A. Epstein, Wade D. Kretman
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Publication number: 20040229059Abstract: An optical construction that is static-dissipative and includes a static-dissipative layer buried within optical material.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 12, 2003Publication date: November 18, 2004Inventors: William L. Kausch, James E. Lockridge, Wade D. Kretman
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Patent number: 6780355Abstract: Diffuse reflective materials proximate to a structure formed by thermally induced phase separation of a thermoplastic polymer and a diluent providing enhanced flexibility and reflectivity especially in the visible wavelengths of 380-730 nanometers are described. Such materials find a wide variety of application among combinations with other reflective layers. The diffuse reflective articles are useful in backlight units of liquid crystal displays, lights, copy machines, projection system displays, facsimile apparatus, electronic blackboards, diffuse white standards, photographic lights and the like.Type: GrantFiled: October 17, 2002Date of Patent: August 24, 2004Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Wade D Kretman, Scott R Kaytor
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Patent number: 6707611Abstract: An optical turning film has a first surface including an array of prisms. The array has a plurality of first prisms, with each of the first prisms having a first prism configuration, and a plurality of second prisms, with each of the second prisms having a second prism configuration different from the first prism configuration. The optical film also has a second surface opposing the first surface, and light rays incident to the first surface are directed by the plurality of first prism and the plurality of second prisms along a direction substantially parallel to a viewing axis.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 2003Date of Patent: March 16, 2004Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Mark E. Gardiner, Sanford Cobb, Kenneth A. Epstein, Wade D. Kretman
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Publication number: 20040005451Abstract: Diffuse reflective materials proximate to a structure formed by thermally induced phase separation of a thermoplastic polymer and a diluent providing enhanced flexibility and reflectivity especially in the visible wavelengths of 380-730 nanometers are described. Such materials find a wide variety of application among combinations with various light management films, including other reflective layers, turning films, brightness enhancement films, and polarizing films. The diffuse reflective articles are useful in backlight units of liquid crystal displays, lights, copy machines, projection system displays, facsimile apparatus, electronic blackboards, diffuse white standards, photographic lights and the like.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 29, 2003Publication date: January 8, 2004Applicant: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing companyInventors: Wade D. Kretman, Scott R. Kaytor
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Publication number: 20030118805Abstract: Diffuse reflective materials proximate to a structure formed by thermally induced phase separation of a thermoplastic polymer and a diluent providing enhanced flexibility and reflectivity especially in the visible wavelengths of 380-730 nanometers are described. Such materials find a wide variety of application among combinations with other reflective layers. The diffuse reflective articles are useful in backlight units of liquid crystal displays, lights, copy machines, projection system displays, facsimile apparatus, electronic blackboards, diffuse white standards, photographic lights and the like.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 17, 2002Publication date: June 26, 2003Applicant: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing CompanyInventors: Wade D. Kretman, Scott R. Kaytor
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Patent number: 6581286Abstract: An optical film having structures that vary in height along their length where the variations have a nominal period of less than forty times the nominal height of the structures is taught. In some embodiments of the invention the variation is random.Type: GrantFiled: January 16, 2002Date of Patent: June 24, 2003Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Alan B. Campbell, Sanford Cobb, Jr., Wade D. Kretman, Marvin J. Niezgocki, Timothy L. Hoopman
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Publication number: 20030112521Abstract: An optical turning film has a first surface including an array of prisms. The array has a plurality of first prisms, with each of the first prisms having a first prism configuration, and a plurality of second prisms, with each of the second prisms having a second prism configuration different from the first prism configuration. The optical film also has a second surface opposing the first surface, and light rays incident to the first surface are directed by the plurality of first prism and the plurality of second prisms along a direction substantially parallel to a viewing axis.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 29, 2003Publication date: June 19, 2003Applicant: 3MInventors: Mark E. Gardiner, Sanford Cobb, Kenneth A. Epstein, Wade D. Kretman
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Publication number: 20030103760Abstract: An optical element, such as a lightguide or an optical film, is formed with a predetermined, programmed pattern of optical structures. The optical structures may be arranged to selectively correct for non-uniformities in the output a lightguide, or may be arranged to otherwise enhance the performance of a display.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 8, 1999Publication date: June 5, 2003Inventors: MARK E. GARDINER, SANFORD COBB, KENNETH A. EPSTEIN, WADE D. KRETMAN