Multilayer Polarizer Patents (Class 359/485.03)
  • Patent number: 11960683
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: 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
  • Patent number: 11550089
    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: July 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Timothy J. Nevitt, Carl A. Stover, Gilles J. Benoit, Kristopher J. Derks, Zhaohui Yang
  • Patent number: 11442210
    Abstract: A polarizer substrate includes a substrate, a reflective layer, and a metal pattern layer. The reflective layer is located on the substrate and has a transmission area and a reflective area. The metal pattern layer is located on the reflective layer and the substrate. The metal pattern layer includes a polarizer structure and a microstructure. The polarizer structure includes a plurality of grid lines overlapping the transmission area. A thickness of each of the grid lines is 200 nm to 500 nm, a width of each of the grid lines is 30 nm to 70 nm, and a distance between each adjacent two of the grid lines is 30 nm to 70 nm. The microstructure overlaps the reflective area, and a thickness of the microstructure is 20 nm to 500 nm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Au Optronics Corporation
    Inventors: Sheng-Kai Lin, Chia-Hsin Chung, Tsai-Sheng Lo, Sheng-Ming Huang, Ming-Jui Wang, Chih-Chiang Chen, Hui-Ku Chang, Cheng-Chan Wang, Chia-Po Lin, Jen-Kuei Lu
  • Patent number: 11391875
    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 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Carl A. Stover, Kristopher J. Derks, Timothy J. Nevitt, Gilles J. Benoit
  • Patent number: 11362300
    Abstract: A display device includes a display panel, a cover member disposed on the display panel, and an adhesive layer disposed between the display panel and the cover member. The adhesive layer has a first surface facing the cover member and a second surface facing the display panel, and includes a first area and a second area disposed at positions different from each other in a first direction from the first surface toward the second surface. A modulus of the first area is different from a modulus of the second area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kukbin Lim
  • Patent number: 11346990
    Abstract: In a process of manufacturing a polarizing element, in a first film forming step, a metal film, a light absorption film, a hard mask, and a resist mask are sequentially formed, and then, in a patterning step, the metal film and the light absorption film are patterned to form a protruded portion provided with a light absorbing portion at a surface side of a metal portion. In a first etching step, dry etching is performed, with the light absorbing portion being an etching mask, to narrow a width of the metal portion. In a second film forming step, a silicon oxide film is formed to cover the protruded portion. In a second etching step, the dry etching is performed on the silicon oxide film, using the light absorbing portion as an etching mask, to leave the silicon oxide film at a side surface of the metal portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yoshitomo Kumai
  • Patent number: 11181769
    Abstract: A polarizer substrate includes a substrate, an organic planarization layer, an inorganic buffer layer, and a plurality of strip-shaped polarizer structures. The organic planarization layer is located on the substrate. The inorganic buffer layer is located on the organic planarization layer. The inorganic buffer layer has a plurality of trenches located on a first surface. The trenches do not penetrate through the inorganic buffer layer. The strip-shaped polarizer structures are located on the first surface of the inorganic buffer layer. Each of the trenches is located between two adjacent polarizer structures. A display panel is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: Au Optronics Corporation
    Inventors: Tsai-Sheng Lo, Chih-Chiang Chen, Ming-Jui Wang, Sheng-Kai Lin, Sheng-Ming Huang, Chia-Hsin Chung, Hui-Ku Chang, Wei-Chi Wang, Jen-Kuei Lu
  • Patent number: 11179030
    Abstract: An illumination device includes a laser light source that emits laser light, a wavelength converter that converts the laser light to converted light of a different wavelength, and a first light guide that mixes the converted light while guiding, and a second light guide that guides the converted light mixed by the first light guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yudai Shibata, Yoshiyuki Takahira, Shintaro Hayashi
  • Patent number: 11163159
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present application sets forth an apparatus that includes a composite display layer that transmits a set of composite light. The composite display layer includes a display layer that provides a first subset of light included in the set of composite light, and a first mirror layer parallel to the first display layer that provides a second subset of light included in the set of composite light, where the second subset of light comprises a reflection of a first portion of the first subset of light. The composite display layer also includes a polarizer layer disposed on the composite display layer, where the polarizer layer provides the first portion of the first subset of light to the first mirror layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: FACEBOOK TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventor: Wei Rong
  • Patent number: 11165969
    Abstract: A system and method for capturing images of an object upon which retroreflective materials have been applied, wherein at least some of the retroreflective materials appear to glow in the image or video being captured. An array of LEDs is provided that operates in different color frequency ranges. The color frequency ranges correspond to the reflectivity profile of the retroreflective materials that are applied to the object being imaged. The LEDs are attached to the camera, wherein the LEDs shine light in a same direction as the line of sight of the camera. The LEDs being activated during image capture can be varied. The light from the colored sets of LEDs causes retroreflective materials to appear. When recorded with the camera, the resulting images cause the retroreflective materials to glowing brightly in contrast to other objects in the captured image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Sky Castle Toys LLC
    Inventors: Martin Levin Nelson, Webb T. Nelson
  • Patent number: 11150391
    Abstract: A wire grid polarizer (WGP) can include a flexible substrate. The flexible substrate might be desirable for WGP flexibility or to aid in further processing of the WGP. Wires of the WGP can include flexible ribs to minimize or avoid defects such as cracks in the WGP. An etch stop layer in the wires can allow formation of the flexible ribs without delamination of a reflective portion of the wires. The WGP embodiments herein can have improved flexibility, stretchability, compressibility, or combinations thereof with reduced cracking, collapse, and delamination of wires or ribs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: Moxtek, Inc.
    Inventor: Matthew C. George
  • Patent number: 11149382
    Abstract: Hot melt sequins and methods of applying these sequins are disclosed. Sequins can be arranged in various patterns. Sequins can be arranged in dispersive patterns. Sequin patterns can be used to create gradients on the outside of an upper. The sequins can be used to attach two layers where the density of the sequins used to attach the layers can affect thermal properties, flexibility and relative motion between the layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: Under Armour, Inc.
    Inventor: Tom Luedecke
  • Patent number: 11125999
    Abstract: A polarization plate includes a sapphire plate having a first main surface, and a thin metal wire disposed in a stripe pattern on the first main surface of the sapphire plate. The polarization plate has an angle of 5° or less between a c-axis of the sapphire plate and a longitudinal direction of the thin metal wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: KYOCERA Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshinori Kubo
  • Patent number: 11034830
    Abstract: A film is described comprising a first film layer having a Tg ranging from 30° C. to 60° C. The first film layer comprises a (meth)acrylic polymer and polyvinyl acetal polymer composition. The film further comprises a second layer proximate the first film layer. The second layer is different than the first film layer. The second may be a cured (meth)acrylic polymer film or coating; a backing such as thermoplastic polymer, woven or nonwoven fabrics, metal foils, paper, foams; or a coverfilm such as a fluoropolymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Jonathan E. Janoski, Carla S. Thomas, Anthony F. Schultz, Tien Y. H. Whiting, Kevin M. Lewandowski, Duane D. Fansler, Keith R. Lyon, Arlin L. Weikel, Timothy J. Hebrink, Amanda K. Hulke, Eric D. Shockey, Anthony M. Renstrom, Sonja S. Mackey, Thomas P. Klun
  • Patent number: 11022736
    Abstract: An embodiment of this disclosure discloses a metal wire grid comprising: a patterned metal layer and a patterned antireflective layer located on the patterned metal layer, wherein a surface of the antireflective layer distal to the patterned metal layer has a plurality of continuous pits. Embodiments of this disclosure further disclose a method of manufacturing a metal wire grid and a display panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: BOE Technology Group Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Qingzhao Liu, Jiushi Wang, Shuilang Dong, Guoqiang Wang
  • Patent number: 11018796
    Abstract: Methods and systems for eliminating polarization dependence for 45 degree incidence MUX/DEMUX designs may include an optical transceiver, where the optical transceiver comprises an input optical fiber, a beam splitter, and a plurality of thin film filters arranged above corresponding grating couplers in a photonics die. The transceiver may receive an input optical signal comprising different wavelength signals via the input optical fiber, split the input optical signal into signals of first and polarizations using the beam splitter by separating the signals of the second polarization laterally from the signals of the first polarization, communicate the signals of the first polarization and the second polarization to the plurality of thin film filters, and reflect signals of each of the plurality of different wavelength signals to corresponding grating couplers in the photonics die using the thin film filters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: Luxtera LLC
    Inventors: Subal Sahni, John Andrew Guckenberger
  • Patent number: 10895676
    Abstract: An optical stack includes a liquid crystal panel with a color filter array. The liquid crystal panel has a filter side closest to the color filter array and a non-filter side opposite the filter side. An absorbing polarizer is laminated directly to the filter side of the liquid crystal panel, and a reflective polarizer laminated directly to the absorbing polarizer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignees: 3M Innovative Properties Company, Nitto Denko Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew B. Johnson, Chikara Abe, Hiroaki Sawada, Minoru Miyatake
  • Patent number: 10877363
    Abstract: A display device includes a light source unit, light guide on which light from the light source unit is incident, liquid crystal panel modulating emitted light, and reflective polarizing element between the light guide and liquid crystal panel. The element includes a reflective metal portion extending in one direction and reflection enhancing portion on an end portion in the metal portion thickness direction. Light is incident on the element from an opposite side from the metal portion with respect to the reflection enhancing portion. The reflection enhancing portion includes a low refractive index film to overlap with the metal portion end portion and a high refractive index film on an opposite side of the low refractive index film from the metal portion. The high refractive index film thickness is set to an appropriate thickness corresponding to the metal portion thickness and width, and the low refractive index film thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yoshitomo Kumai
  • Patent number: 10877199
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a polarizer apparatus is described. The method includes forming a patterned resist structure having lines with a top surface and two or more side surfaces; depositing a conductive material over the patterned resist structure, wherein the conductive material is provided at the top surface and the two or more side surfaces, and wherein a layer structure is formed; and etching the layer structure to remove the conductive material from the top surface of the lines to form conductive lines of the conductive material at the two or more side surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Kevin Cunningham, Christopher Bencher
  • Patent number: 10859742
    Abstract: Provided is a polarizing plate having a wire grid structure, including: a transparent substrate; grid-shaped protrusions that are arranged in a one-dimensional grid shape on the transparent substrate at a pitch shorter than a wavelength of light in a use band and extend in a predetermined direction, in which the grid-shaped protrusions include a first grid-shaped protrusion group arranged, at a first pitch P1 and a second grid-shaped protrusion group arranged at a second pitch P2 between the adjacent grid-shaped protrusions of the first grid-shaped protrusion group, and in which a width W1 of the grid-shaped protrusion in the first grid-shaped protrusion group is larger than a width W2 of the grid-shaped protrusion in the second grid-shaped protrusion group. In addition, provided is an optical device including the polarizing plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: Dexerials Corporation
    Inventor: Akio Takada
  • Patent number: 10815147
    Abstract: A material includes a transparent substrate coated with a stack of thin layers successively including, starting from the substrate, an alternation of three silver-based functional metallic layers and of four dielectric coatings, referred to, starting from the substrate, as M1, M2, M3 and M4, wherein the thickness of the first functional layer is less than the thickness of the second functional layer and less than the thickness of the third functional layer, the dielectric coatings M1 and M2 each have an optical thickness Eo1 and Eo2 satisfying the following equation: Eo2<1.1 Eo1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: SAINT-GOBAIN GLASS FRANCE
    Inventors: Jean Carlos Lorenzzi, Benoît Georges
  • Patent number: 10809517
    Abstract: An imaging telescope including a first mirror configured to receive electromagnetic radiation having a first polarization state and to reflect electromagnetic radiation having a second polarization state, the first mirror including a multi-layer dielectric (MLD) coating configured to convert the first polarization state to the second polarization state, and a plurality of reflecting configured to receive the electromagnetic radiation having the second polarization state reflected from the first mirror and to reflect and focus the electromagnetic radiation having the second polarization state onto an image plane of the imaging telescope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: RAYTHEON COMPANY
    Inventors: Tim P. Johnson, Eric C. Fest
  • Patent number: 10629137
    Abstract: A display device is provided, including a display panel and a backlight component configured to provide a backlight to the display panel and a display controller. The backlight component includes a standby display backlight component and a normal display backlight component with the standby display backlight component being configured to provide the backlight to the display panel during a standby display mode. The display controller includes a display driver, a data memory, a signal switcher, and a mode controller configured to control the display panel to switch between a normal display mode and the standby display mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Pan Li, Yong Qiao
  • Patent number: 10598846
    Abstract: An optical sheet module consisting of optical sheets having different thicknesses, includes: a first base film having a predetermined thickness and transmitting light from a lower portion thereof through an upper portion thereof; an upper optical sheet formed on the first base film and having a first structural pattern in which the upper optical sheet protrudes upwardly and the cross-sectional area thereof decreases when progressing toward an upper portion thereof; a second based film laminated beneath the upper optical sheet so as to transmit light from a lower portion thereof to the upper optical sheet; and a lower optical sheet formed on the second base film and having a second structural pattern in which the lower optical sheet protrudes toward the upper optical sheet and the cross-sectional area thereof decreases when progressing toward an upper portion thereof. The first base film is relatively thicker than the second base film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: LMS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jee Hong Min, Young Il Kim, Sung Sik Cho, Woo Jong Lee, Tae Jun Lee, Hee Jeong Kim, Yong Jin Kang
  • Patent number: 10551529
    Abstract: A colored mirror includes a transparent substrate, a reflective metal layer and at least one interface layer between the substrate and the metal layer, wherein the interface layer includes at least one discontinuous metal layer, and at least one overlayer of a dielectric material deposited on the discontinuous layer. The discontinuous metal layer allows the adaptation of the color reflected by the mirror. The nominal thickness thereof and the type of material, as well as the nature and thickness of the dielectric overlayer, play a role in obtaining the color of the mirror.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: SAINT-GOBAIN GLASS FRANCE
    Inventors: Yémima Bon Saint Come, Elodie Meunier, Benoit Georges, Virginie Moreau
  • Patent number: 10539729
    Abstract: Multilayer reflective polarizers are described. More particularly, multilayer reflective polarizers having a higher block light transmission at longer wavelengths than shorter wavelengths while having a high pass light transmission are described. The described multilayer reflective polarizers may be combined with absorbing polarizers or used in display devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Matthew B. Johnson, Adam D. Haag, Martin E. Denker, Takashi Fujita
  • Patent number: 10527768
    Abstract: An inorganic polarizing plate, including in the order of reciting: a substrate that is transparent to light in a range used; a plurality of linear metal layers; a plurality of linear dielectric layers; and a plurality of linear light absorbing layers having a light absorbing effect. The plurality of linear metal layers are arranged on the substrate in a state of being apart from each other at intervals shorter than a wavelength of the light, and the plurality of linear dielectric layers are arranged on the plurality of linear metal layers respectively. The plurality of linear light absorbing layers are arranged on the plurality of linear dielectric layers respectively, and the linear metal layers have hollow portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: Dexerials Corporation
    Inventor: Eiji Takahashi
  • Patent number: 10496164
    Abstract: An electronic device may have a display. Input-output circuitry in the electronic device may be used to gather input from a viewer of the display. The input-output circuitry may include a gaze tracking system that gathers point-of-gaze information, vergence information, and head position information, may be a biometric sensor, may be an input device such as a button or touch sensor, may capture hand gestures, and/or may gather other information. The display may include a pixel array for producing images. An adjustable reflectance and transmittance layer may overlap the pixel array. Control circuitry in the electronic device may individually adjust different areas of the adjustable reflectance and transmittance layer. The control circuitry may place each area in a reflective mirror more or in a content-displaying mode and may move the areas in response to the information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Paul V. Johnson, Yuan Chen, Bryan W. Posner, Cheng Chen, Chia Hsuan Tai, Jiaying Wu, Robert Y. Cao, Shih-Chyuan Fan Jiang, Shih-Wei Chang, Xiaokai Li, Zhibing Ge, Dinesh C. Mathew
  • Patent number: 10492660
    Abstract: An embodiment of an image processing apparatus includes: an illuminating section which sequentially irradiates an object with a first and second illuminating light beams polarized in different directions. The section emits the polarized light beams sequentially so that the wavelength ranges of the light beams do not overlap with each other. The apparatus further includes: a polarization image sensor; a polarization mosaic processing section which obtains a first polarization image while the object is being irradiated with the first illuminating light beam and a second polarization image while the object is being irradiated with the second illuminating light beam; a depressed area detecting section which detects a depressed area on the surface of the object based on the polarization images; and an image forming section which forms an image representing the depressed area in an enhanced form.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsuhiro Kanamori, Norihiro Imamura
  • Patent number: 10469195
    Abstract: Methods and systems for eliminating polarization dependence for 45 degree incidence MUX/DEMUX designs may include an optical transceiver, where the optical transceiver comprises an input optical fiber, a beam splitter, and a plurality of thin film filters coupled to a photonics die. The thin film filters are arranged above corresponding grating couplers in the photonics die. The transceiver may receive an input optical signal comprising different wavelength signals via the input optical fiber, split the input optical signal into signals of first and polarizations using the beam splitter by separating the signals of the second polarization laterally from the signals of the first polarization, communicate the signals of the first polarization and the second polarization to the plurality of thin film filters, and reflect signals of each of the plurality of different wavelength signals to corresponding grating couplers in the photonics die using the thin film filters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Luxtera, Inc.
    Inventors: Subal Sahni, John Andrew Guckenberger
  • Patent number: 10459138
    Abstract: An embedded wire-grid polarizer (WGP) can include ribs 13 located over a surface of a transparent substrate 11, gaps 16 between the ribs 13, and a fill-layer 15 substantially filling the gaps 16. The fill-layer can have a relatively high index of refraction, such as greater than 1.4. At a wavelength of light incident upon the WGP, E? transmission can be greater than E? transmission. E? is a polarization of light with an electric field oscillation parallel to a length L of the ribs, and E? is a polarization of light with an electric field oscillation perpendicular to a length L of the ribs. This embedded, inverse WGP is especially useful for polarizing, with high WGP performance, small wavelength (high-energy) regions of the electromagnetic spectrum (e.g. UV) which are difficult to polarize with conventional WGPs (E? transmission >E? transmission).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: Moxtek, Inc.
    Inventors: Ted Wangensteen, Bin Wang, Matt George, Paul Steven Mills, Arash Farhang
  • Patent number: 10449630
    Abstract: An invisible laser system and an optical path visualization method thereof are disclosed. The invisible laser system comprises an invisible laser light generator for generating invisible laser light; a visible light generator for generating visible light; and an optical path visualization component arranged in optical paths of the invisible and visible light, and comprising a first and second incident end and a first outgoing end. The invisible laser light is incident on the first incident end, and the visible light is incident on the second incident end. All of the invisible laser light and at least part of the visible light are emitted in parallel with each other at the first outgoing end. All of the invisible laser light is present in a direction parallel with the optical path of the visible light, and no invisible laser light is present in other directions, so radiation risks are eliminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignees: BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD., HEFEI XINSHENG OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Haiping Wang, Dong Guo, Hong Qiang, Xu Yan
  • Patent number: 10444496
    Abstract: A multilayer reflective polarizer convex along orthogonal first and second axes orthogonal to an optical axis passing thorough an apex of the multilayer reflective polarizer is described. The multilayer reflective polarizer has at least one first location having a radial distance r1 from the optical axis and a displacement s1 from a plane perpendicular to the optical axis at the apex, where s1/r1 is in a range of about 0.2 to about 0.8. The multilayer reflective polarizer may have at least one inner layer substantially optically uniaxial at at least one first location away from the apex. For an area of the reflective polarizer defined by s1 and r1, a maximum variation of a transmission axis of the reflective polarizer may be less than about 2 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Gregg A. Ambur, Timothy L. Wong, Andrew J. Ouderkirk, Zhisheng Yun
  • Patent number: 10308185
    Abstract: A vehicle mirror with an image display function including, in this order: an image display device; a circular polarization reflection layer; and a front surface plate made of glass or plastic, in which the circular polarization reflection layer includes a linear polarization reflection plate and a ¼ wavelength plate from the image display device side. The vehicle mirror with an image display function of the invention is capable of displaying a bright image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Akihiro Anzai, Kazuhiro Oki, Mitsuyoshi Ichihashi, Takao Taguchi
  • Patent number: 10300956
    Abstract: A frame for an automobile windshield and side windows with improved visibility is formed by a plurality of hollow quadrangular prisms. Each hollow quadrangular prism includes four rigid right triangular prisms laid symmetrically in a V-like shape, two on each side of the V. Each rigid right triangular prism has a base triangle which is an obtuse and scalene triangle, and front and rear lateral faces which are covered with a reflective material of visible light. The front and rear lateral faces of the four right triangular prisms face each other forming a channel between them, which is filled with a transparent material. The hollow quadrangular prism reflects incident light in sequence by the reflective lateral faces of right triangular prisms. Many hollow invisible quadrangular prisms are stacked up to form a pillar for an automobile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Inventor: Yizong He
  • Patent number: 10241244
    Abstract: A diffraction grating may include a substrate. The diffraction grating may include an etch stop layer to prevent etching of the substrate. The etch stop layer may be deposited on the substrate. The diffraction grating may include a marker layer to indicate an etch end-point associated with etching of a dielectric layer. The marker layer may be deposited on a portion of the etch stop layer. The diffraction grating may include the dielectric layer to form a grating layer after being etched. The dielectric layer may be deposited on at least the marker layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: Lumentum Operations LLC
    Inventors: John Michael Miller, Gonzalo Wills, Lu Tian, Michael O'Leary
  • Patent number: 10215908
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an optical waveguide and an optical device. The optical waveguide includes a first total reflection surface, a second total reflection surface, at least two transflective films, a first phase retardation film, and a second phase retardation film, each of the transflective films being configured to completely transmit light having a first polarization state, half transmit and half reflect light having a second polarization state, so that reflected light having the second polarization state propagates through the second phase retardation film and the second total reflection surface toward a target, thereby ensuring a transmission angle of the light output to the outside of the optical waveguide to be sufficiently small, which effectively solves the problem of the stray light, ensures the imaging quality, and improves the user's experience.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Naifu Wu, Bingchuan Shi
  • Patent number: 10209421
    Abstract: Provided are a polarizing plate having high transmittance characteristics and excellent controllability of reflectance characteristics, a method of manufacturing the polarizing plate, and an optical apparatus including the polarizing plate. A polarizing plate having a wire grid structure includes a transparent substrate and grid-shaped protrusions that are arranged on the transparent substrate at a pitch shorter than a wavelength of light in a use band and extend in a predetermined direction, the grid-shaped protrusion includes, in order from the transparent substrate side, a pedestal, a reflection layer, a dielectric layer, and an absorption layer, and the pedestal has a trapezoidal shape when viewed from the extending direction of the grid-shaped protrusions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: Dexerials Corporation
    Inventor: Tomu Takeda
  • Patent number: 10195801
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a polarized lens film production apparatus, which may include a humidification heat treatment part which is configured to transfer a film engaged to a ring-shaped fixing jig and heat-treat it under a humidification environment and elongate the exposed film at a center portion of the fixing jig; a forming part which is able to form at a predetermined curvature the elongated film by inserting a forming jig into the fixing jig which is configured to fix the film; a heat treatment part which is configured to harden the film by means of a heat treatment, while transferring the fixing jig configured to fix the film and the forming jig engaged to the fixing jig; and a cutting part which is provided to remove unnecessary portions by cutting the film, thus obtaining a polarizing lens film having a predetermined curvature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Inventor: Choong Deuk Kim
  • Patent number: 10101515
    Abstract: A polarizing optical article formed by selectively applying a conductive coating to a portion of a structured surface formed of a series of linear peaks and valleys.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: Vision Ease, LP
    Inventors: Richard Blacker, David Olund
  • Patent number: 10048419
    Abstract: The present invention provides a metallic wire grid polarizer and a manufacturing method thereof. The metallic wire grid polarizer of the present invention includes a base plate (10) and a plurality of metallic wire grids formed on the base plate (10). The metallic wire grids are divided into first wire lines (21) and second wire lines (22) having different heights so as to form a dual-period wire-grid structure for achieving better optical performance and exhibiting more global optimization parameters for making modulation of the optical performance thereof more scientific and more flexible. The manufacturing method of the metallic wire grid polarizer of the present invention may make a wire grid structure having layers of different heights and the manufacturing operation is simple.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: SHENZHEN CHINA STAR OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Lixuan Chen
  • Patent number: 9952371
    Abstract: A multilayer reflective polarizer substantially rotationally symmetric about an optical axis passing thorough an apex of the multilayer reflective polarizer and convex along orthogonal first and second axes orthogonal to the optical axis is described. The multilayer reflective polarizer has at least one first location having a radial distance r1 from the optical axis and a displacement s1 from a plane perpendicular to the optical axis at the apex, where s1/r1 is at least 0.1. The multilayer reflective polarizer may have at least one inner layer substantially optically uniaxial at at least one first location away from the apex. For an area of the reflective polarizer defined by s1 and r1, a maximum variation of a transmission axis of the reflective polarizer may be less than about 2 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Gregg A. Ambur, Timothy L. Wong, Andrew J. Ouderkirk, Zhisheng Yun
  • Patent number: 9933659
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a polarization beam splitter, a backlight module and a liquid crystal display apparatus. The polarization beam splitter comprises a second prism group and a first prism group formed sequentially from a light incidence side to a light outgoing side and meshing with each other; and a polarization beam splitting layer arranged on a meshing surface of the first or second prism group and configured to allow a first polarized light in an incident light to be transmitted through the polarization beam splitting layer to exit from the light outgoing side while reflecting a second polarized light in the incident light back to the light incidence side, the second polarized light having a polarization direction perpendicular to that of the first polarized light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Shang Wang
  • Patent number: 9829604
    Abstract: Methods of making a multilayer optical film are described. In one embodiment, the method comprises providing a multilayer optical film and disposing onto the multilayer optical film a plurality of layers deposited by layer-by-layer self-assembly of nanoparticles, polymers, and combinations thereof. The multilayer optical film typically comprises a plurality of alternating polymeric layers of a low refractive index layer and a high refractive index layer that reflects at least one bandwidth of electromagnetic radiation ranging from ultraviolet to near infrared. Multilayer optical film articles are described comprising a plurality of layers disposed onto the multilayer optical film, wherein the plurality of layers comprises layer-by-layer self-assembled nanoparticles, polymers, and combinations thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Daniel J. Schmidt, James R. Miller, Timothy J. Hebrink, Mark B. O'Neill
  • Patent number: 9798058
    Abstract: Structures and methods of making wire grid polarizers having multiple regions, including side bars, strips, and/or side ribs along sides of a central region. The central region can include a single region or multiple regions. Each region can have a different function for improving polarizer performance. The various regions can support each other for improved wire grid polarizer durability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Moxtek, Inc.
    Inventors: Dean Probst, Qihong Wu, Eric Gardner, Mark Alan Davis
  • Patent number: 9759850
    Abstract: Curved lenses and methods for making curved lenses are described. One embodiment of a method of making a curved lens includes curving a lens blank made of a linear polarizer layer laminated together with a plurality of polymeric layers. The lens blank is curved by heating and pressing the lens blank between a curved rigid member and a flexible member at a pressure and maintaining the pressure for a time sufficient to allow the lens blank to conform to the shape of the curved rigid member. Methods of the invention may be used to make curved lenses with different polarization properties and curvatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: SAFILO S.P.A.
    Inventors: Eric Boinard, Pascal Boinard
  • Patent number: 9726660
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for testing different selected materials and/or surface structures for the culture of cells and/or microorganisms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht Zentrum Fur Material und Kustenforschung GMBH
    Inventors: Frank Klein, Thomas Weigel, Karl Kratz, Friedrich Jung, Bernhard Hiebl, Andreas Lendlein, Karola Lützow, Andreas Kurtz, Petra Reinke, Andy R•mhild
  • Patent number: 9632223
    Abstract: Structures and methods of making wire grid polarizers having multiple regions, including side bars, strips, and/or side ribs along sides of a central region. The central region can include a single region or multiple regions. Each region can have a different function for improving polarizer performance. The various regions can support each other for improved wire grid polarizer durability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: Moxtek, Inc.
    Inventors: Dean Probst, Qihong Wu, Eric Gardner, Mark Alan Davis
  • Patent number: 9618834
    Abstract: A polarization conversion element includes first light transmissive substrates and second light transmissive substrates each of which has a light incident surface and a light exiting surface and which are disposed alternately, polarization separation films, reflection films, and retardation plates. One of each of the polarization separation films and a plasma polymerization film is formed on a first surface of each of the first light transmissive substrate. Each of the reflection films is formed on a second surface of each of the first light transmissive substrate. An adhesive layer is formed on a first surface of each of the second light transmissive substrates. The other of each of the polarization separation films and the plasma polymerization films is formed on a second surface of each of the corresponding second light transmissive substrates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mitsuru Miyabara, Jun Iwabuchi, Masaki Iwamoto
  • Patent number: 9535199
    Abstract: A polarization film including a polarizer polarizing incident light in a polarization direction and having a first polarization groove recessed from an upper surface of the polarizer and extending in a first direction; a first transparent support at the upper surface of the polarizer; and a second transparent support at a lower surface of the polarizer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jong-Hwan Cho