Patents by Inventor William J. Bryan
William J. Bryan 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: 8917447Abstract: Microreplicated light redirecting films suitable for use in autostereoscopic displays and backlights are made to incorporate at least one nanovoided layer whose interface with another layer forms an embedded structured surface of the light redirecting film. The nanovoided layer includes a polymer binder and optional nanoparticles, and may have a refractive index less than 1.35 or 1.3. The light redirecting films may be adapted for attachment to one or more other components of an autostereoscopic display, such as a display panel and/or a light guide of a backlight.Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 2010Date of Patent: December 23, 2014Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Martin B. Wolk, Michael J. Sykora, William Blake Kolb, Encai Hao, John C. Schultz, Robert L. Brott, William J. Bryan, Scott M. Tapio, Audrey A. Sherman
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Publication number: 20140347724Abstract: A projection system includes a projection screen defining a shape and a projector configured to project an image onto the projection screen. The projector may project a static or dynamic image that has substantially the same shape as the projection screen or otherwise block portions of the projected image that are projected outside of the projection screen with the aid of a physical mask.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 5, 2014Publication date: November 27, 2014Applicant: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANYInventors: John C. Schultz, William J. Bryan
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Publication number: 20140240981Abstract: A backlight that includes a front reflector and a back reflector that form a hollow light recycling cavity including an output surface is disclosed. The backlight further includes one or more light sources disposed to emit light into the light recycling cavity. The front reflector includes an on-axis average reflectivity of at least 90% for visible light polarized in a first plane, and an on-axis average reflectivity of at least 25% but less than 90% for visible light polarized in a second plane perpendicular to the first plane.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 8, 2014Publication date: August 28, 2014Applicant: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANYInventors: Michael F. Weber, Timothy J. Hebrink, Timothy J. Nevitt, John A. Wheatley, Craig R. Schardt, Rolf W. Biernath, William J. Bryan, Andrew J. Ouderkirk, David G. Freier, Myron K. Jordan, Kristopher J. Derks, Zhaohui Yang, Edward J. Kivel
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Patent number: 8740442Abstract: A backlight that includes a front reflector and a back reflector that form a hollow light recycling cavity including an output surface is disclosed. The backlight further includes one or more light sources disposed to emit light into the light recycling cavity. The front reflector includes an on-axis average reflectivity of at least 90% for visible light polarized in a first plane, and an on-axis average reflectivity of at least 25% but less than 90% for visible light polarized in a second plane perpendicular to the first plane.Type: GrantFiled: January 15, 2013Date of Patent: June 3, 2014Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Michael F. Weber, Timothy J. Hebrink, Timothy J. Nevitt, John A. Wheatley, Craig R. Schardt, Rolf W. Biernath, William J. Bryan, Andrew J. Ouderkirk, David G. Freier, Myron K. Jordan, Kristopher J. Derks, Zhaohui Yang, Edward J. Kivel
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Publication number: 20140003086Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention generally provide an inductively coupled plasma (ICP) reactor having a substrate RF bias that is capable of control of the RF phase difference between the ICP source (a first RF source) and the substrate bias (a second RF source) for plasma processing reactors used in the semiconductor industry. Control of the RF phase difference provides a powerful knob for fine process tuning. For example, control of the RF phase difference may be used to control one or more of average etch rate, etch rate uniformity, etch rate skew, critical dimension (CD) uniformity, and CD skew, CD range, self DC bias control, and chamber matching.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 23, 2012Publication date: January 2, 2014Inventors: Kevin R. Schaffer, David Scott Thompson, Zhaohui Yang, Encai Hao, Audrey A. Sherman, Michael A. Meis, William J. Bryan
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Publication number: 20130235614Abstract: An illumination device, such as a backlight for electronic display devices, is disclosed. The illumination device includes a viscoelastic lightguide optically coupled to a light source, and a nanovoided polymeric layer is used in conjunction with the lightguide to manage light emitted by the light source. The viscoelastic lightguide may be a pressure sensitive adhesive.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 13, 2011Publication date: September 12, 2013Inventors: Martin B. Wolk, Michael J. Sykora, Robert L. Brott, William J. Bryan, Erik A. Aho, Martin Kristoffersen, Michael A. Meis, Kevin R. Schaffer, Audrey A. Sherman, John C. Schultz, Mieczyslaw H. Mazurek
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Publication number: 20130170218Abstract: An illumination device, such as a backlight for electronic display devices, is disclosed. The illumination device includes a lightguide optically coupled to a light source, and a viscoelastic layer and a nanovoided polymeric layer are used in conjunction with the lightguide to manage light emitted by the light source. The viscoelastic layer may be a pressure sensitive adhesive.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 9, 2011Publication date: July 4, 2013Applicant: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANYInventors: Martin B. Wolk, Michael J. Sykora, Robert L. Brott, William J. Bryan, Erik A. Aho, Martin Kristoffersen, Michael A. Meis, Kevin R. Schaffer, Audrey A. Sherman, John C. Schultz, Mieczyslaw H. Mazurek
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Patent number: 8469575Abstract: A backlight that includes a front reflector and a back reflector that form a hollow light recycling cavity including an output surface is disclosed. The backlight further includes one or more light sources disposed to emit light into the light recycling cavity. The front reflector includes an on-axis average reflectivity of at least 90% for visible light polarized in a first plane, and an on-axis average reflectivity of at least 25% but less than 90% for visible light polarized in a second plane perpendicular to the first plane.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 2008Date of Patent: June 25, 2013Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Michael F. Weber, Timothy J. Hebrink, Timothy J. Nevitt, John A. Wheatley, Craig R. Schardt, Rolf W. Biernath, William J. Bryan, Andrew J. Ouderkirk, David G. Freier, Myron K. Jordan, Kristopher J. Derks, Zhaohui Yang, Edward J. Kivel
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Patent number: 8339444Abstract: A display apparatus includes an autosteroscopic liquid crystal display panel having a frame response time of less than 10 milliseconds, and a backlight positioned to provide light to the autosteroscopic liquid crystal display. The backlight includes a right eye solid state light source and a left eye solid state light source capable of being modulated between the right eye solid state light source and a left eye solid state light source at a rate of at least 90 Hertz.Type: GrantFiled: April 9, 2007Date of Patent: December 25, 2012Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: John C. Schultz, William J. Bryan, Alan G. Hulme-Lowe, Michael J. Sykora, Billy L. Weaver
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Patent number: 8236226Abstract: Methods for changing the shape of a surface of an article are disclosed. The methods may include providing a liquid polymer precursor, casting the precursor against a first tool assembly, curing the precursor to form a shape memory polymer substrate, deforming one or more surfaces of the substrate, and mobilizing the shape memory polymer to shift the deformed surface of the substrate from a deformed shape to a pre-set shape.Type: GrantFiled: April 22, 2011Date of Patent: August 7, 2012Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Audrey A. Sherman, William J Bryan, Robert K. Galkiewicz, Mieczyslaw H. Mazurek, James R. Starkey, Wendi J. Winkler, Haiyan Zhang, Jeffrey M. Olofson
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Publication number: 20120020110Abstract: A backlight is disclosed and includes a visible light transmissive body primarily propagating light by TIR with a light input surface and a light output surface and a light guide portion and a light input portion. The light guide portion has a light reflection surface and a light emission surface. The light input portion has opposing side surfaces that are not parallel. One of the opposing surfaces is co-planar with either the light emission surface or the light reflection surface. A light source is disposed adjacent to the light input surface. The light source emits light into the light input portion. A reflective layer is disposed adjacent to or on the opposing side surfaces.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 28, 2011Publication date: January 26, 2012Inventors: William J. Bryan, John C. Schultz, Michael A. Meis, Patrick R. Destain
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Patent number: 8059217Abstract: A scanning backlight for a stereoscopic 3D liquid crystal display apparatus includes a light guide formed from a plurality of segments. Each segment has a first side and a second side opposite the first side, and a first surface extending between the first and second sides and a second surface opposite the first surface. The first surface substantially re-directs light and the second surface substantially transmits light. The plurality of segments are arranged substantially in parallel and with the second surfaces transmitting light in substantially the same direction to provide backlighting for a stereoscopic 3D liquid crystal display. A first light source is disposed along the first side of each segment for transmitting light into the light guide from the first side, and a second light source is disposed along the second side of each segment for transmitting light into the light guide from the second side.Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 2011Date of Patent: November 15, 2011Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Robert L. Brott, William J. Bryan, David J. Lundin, Michael A. Meis, John C. Schultz
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Patent number: 8059933Abstract: A backlight is disclosed and includes a visible light transmissive body primarily propagating light by TIR with a light input surface and a light output surface and a light guide portion and a light input portion. The light guide portion has a light reflection surface and a light emission surface. The light input portion has opposing side surfaces that are not parallel. One of the opposing surfaces is co-planar with either the light emission surface or the light reflection surface. A light source is disposed adjacent to the light input surface. The light source emits light into the light input portion. A reflective layer is disposed adjacent to or on the opposing side surfaces.Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 2011Date of Patent: November 15, 2011Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: William J. Bryan, John C. Schultz, Michael A. Meis, Patrick R Destain
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Publication number: 20110198781Abstract: Methods for changing the shape of a surface of an article are disclosed. The methods may include providing a liquid polymer precursor, casting the precursor against a first tool assembly, curing the precursor to form a shape memory polymer substrate, deforming one or more surfaces of the substrate, and mobilizing the shape memory polymer to shift the deformed surface of the substrate from a deformed shape to a pre-set shape.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 22, 2011Publication date: August 18, 2011Inventors: Audrey A. Sherman, William J. Bryan, Robert K. Galkiewicz, Mieczyslaw H. Mazurek, James R. Starkey, Wendi J. Winkler, Haiyan Zhang, Jeffrey M. Olofson
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Publication number: 20110134347Abstract: A scanning backlight for a stereoscopic 3D liquid crystal display apparatus includes a light guide formed from a plurality of segments. Each segment has a first side and a second side opposite the first side, and a first surface extending between the first and second sides and a second surface opposite the first surface. The first surface substantially re-directs light and the second surface substantially transmits light. The plurality of segments are arranged substantially in parallel and with the second surfaces transmitting light in substantially the same direction to provide backlighting for a stereoscopic 3D liquid crystal display. A first light source is disposed along the first side of each segment for transmitting light into the light guide from the first side, and a second light source is disposed along the second side of each segment for transmitting light into the light guide from the second side.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 14, 2011Publication date: June 9, 2011Inventors: Robert L. Brott, William J. Bryan, David J. Lundin, Michael A. Meis, John C. Schultz
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Patent number: 7951319Abstract: Methods for changing the shape of a surface of an article are disclosed. The methods may include providing a liquid polymer precursor, casting the precursor against a first tool assembly, curing the precursor to form a shape memory polymer substrate, deforming one or more surfaces of the substrate, and mobilizing the shape memory polymer to shift the deformed surface of the substrate from a deformed shape to a pre-set shape.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 2006Date of Patent: May 31, 2011Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Audrey A. Sherman, William J Bryan, Robert K. Galkiewicz, Mieczyslaw H. Mazurek, James R. Starkey, Wendi J. Winkler, Haiyan Zhang, Jeffrey M. Olofson
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Patent number: 7941028Abstract: A backlight is disclosed and includes a visible light transmissive body primarily propagating light by TIR with a light input surface and a light output surface and a light guide portion and a light input portion. The light guide portion has a light reflection surface and a light emission surface. The light input portion has opposing side surfaces that are not parallel. One of the opposing surfaces is co-planar with either the light emission surface or the light reflection surface. A light source is disposed adjacent to the light input surface. The light source emits light into the light input portion. A reflective layer is disposed adjacent to or on the opposing side surfaces.Type: GrantFiled: July 8, 2009Date of Patent: May 10, 2011Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: William J. Bryan, John C. Schultz, Michael A. Meis, Patrick R. Destain
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Publication number: 20110099864Abstract: A backlight is disclosed and includes a visible light transmissive body primarily propagating light by TIR with a light input surface and a light output surface and a light guide portion and a light input portion. The light guide portion has a light reflection surface and a light emission surface. The light input portion has opposing side surfaces that are not parallel. One of the opposing surfaces is co-planar with either the light emission surface or the light reflection surface. A light source is disposed adjacent to the light input surface. The light source emits light into the light input portion. A reflective layer is disposed adjacent to or on the opposing side surfaces.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 14, 2011Publication date: May 5, 2011Inventors: William J. Bryan, John C. Schultz, Michael A. Meis, Patrick R. Destain
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Patent number: 7911547Abstract: A scanning backlight for a stereoscopic 3D liquid crystal display apparatus includes a light guide formed from a plurality of segments. Each segment has a first side and a second side opposite the first side, and a first surface extending between the first and second sides and a second surface opposite the first surface. The first surface substantially re-directs light and the second surface substantially transmits light. The plurality of segments are arranged substantially in parallel and with the second surfaces transmitting light in substantially the same direction to provide backlighting for a stereoscopic 3D liquid crystal display. A first light source is disposed along the first side of each segment for transmitting light into the light guide from the first side, and a second light source is disposed along the second side of each segment for transmitting light into the light guide from the second side.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 2007Date of Patent: March 22, 2011Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Robert L. Brott, William J. Bryan, David J. Lundin, Michael A. Meis, John C. Schultz
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Publication number: 20100208041Abstract: 3D stereoscopic viewing enabled by the use of a fast switching speed LCD panel, dynamic backlight, and low cost glasses. The system utilizes an LCD panel with an LED backlight and wavelength selective glasses to isolate each channel by color. The system is based on alternating left and right image frames on an LCD panel. The left and right frames are illuminated by two slightly different red-green-blue light sources that are synchronized sequentially. The light sources are designed to emit light of different spectral composition. The viewer wears glasses where the left lens or filter passes only the spectrum of light used for the left channel of data, and the right lens or filter passes only the spectrum of light used for the right channel of data.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 9, 2010Publication date: August 19, 2010Inventors: Vadim N. Savvateev, William J. Bryan, Anthony J. Piekarczyk, Scott E. Brigham, Kathy L. Hagen, Martin B. Wolk, Craig R. Schardt