Reflector Patents (Class 359/584)
  • Publication number: 20130207374
    Abstract: Security documents often incorporate optically variable devices to prevent or hinder counterfeiters. Disclosed herein are layered optically variable devices such as colour-shift foils, and methods for their production and use. Such devices afford new techniques for a user of a security document to check quickly and easily whether the security document is a legitimate document or a counterfeit copy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2011
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Applicant: Fortress Optical Features Ltd.
    Inventors: Charles Douglas MacPherson, Bruce Alfred Hardwick
  • Publication number: 20130208359
    Abstract: An optical filter device includes an interference filter and a housing. The interference filter includes a fixed substrate, a movable substrate joined to the fixed substrate, a fixed reflective film provided on the fixed substrate, and a movable reflective film provided on the movable substrate and opposed to the fixed reflective film across an inter-reflective film gap. The housing includes a base substrate on which the interference filter is arranged. A fixing member is arranged between the movable substrate and the base substrate. The movable substrate is fixed to the base substrate by the fixing member in one place excluding a region where the movable reflective film is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2013
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Seiko Epson Corporation
  • Patent number: 8507790
    Abstract: A solar element with increased efficiency and also a method for increasing the efficiency of a solar cell are provided. The solar cell comprises a luminescent element, an upconverter, and also at least one selectively reflecting structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignees: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der Angewandten Forschung E.V., Albert-Ludwigs-Universitaet Freiburg
    Inventors: Jan Christoph Goldschmidt, Philipp Loeper, Marius Peters
  • Patent number: 8496340
    Abstract: Retroreflective elements and articles that include such elements. The retroreflective elements (100) include a solid spherical core (110) having an outer surface. A first complete concentric optical interference layer (112) overlays the outer surface of the core providing a first interface between the core and the first optical interference layer, and a second complete concentric optical interference layer (122) overlays the first optical interference layer to provide a second interface between the first optical interference layer and the second optical interference layer. In some embodiments, a third complete concentric optical interference layer overlays the second optical interference layer to provide a third interface between the second optical interference layer and the third optical interference layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Kenton D. Budd, Matthew H. Frey, Christopher K. Haas, Vivek Krishnan
  • Publication number: 20130188253
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a substrate with an interference filter layer includes a plate-like first substrate and a filter layer. The filter layer includes optically semi-transparent first and second reflective layers and a light-transmitting layer, the light-transmitting layer being formed of first, second, and third spacer layers, the first, second, and third spacer layers being optically transparent, the light-transmitting layer including first, second, and third areas which include the first spacer layer in common, the first, second, and third areas having different optical film thicknesses due to the second and the third spacer layers, the first, second, and the third areas transmitting light with different wavelengths.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2012
    Publication date: July 25, 2013
    Inventors: Yutaka NAKAI, Tomio Ono, Yoshinori Honguh, Hideki Nukada, Yuzo Hirayama, Hitoshi Nagato, Takashi Miyazaki
  • Patent number: 8477413
    Abstract: An optical element for reflecting solar light has excellent weather resistance, and furthermore, a high reflectance in a wide band. When solar light enters an optical element (OE), light (L1) in a short wavelength band among the solar light is reflected by a dielectric multilayer film (DF). Other light (L2) in longer wavelength bands are passed through the dielectric multilayer film (DF), then a base material (SS), and reflected by a metal deposition film (MV) to pass through the base material (SS) and the dielectric multilayer film (DF). Thus, high reflectance in a wide band is ensured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Opto, Inc.
    Inventors: Nobuyoshi Mori, Kazuo Ishida, Takuji Hatano, Setsuo Tokuhiro
  • Publication number: 20130155515
    Abstract: A plane-parallel optical window is the spacer of single-cavity filters in the stack used for DWDM applications. Highly reflective quarter-wave stacks are deposited on each side of the optical window and the single-cavity structure so obtained is diced to produce a plurality of filters. Because the single-cavity structure has the same thickness over the entire window area and the quarter-wave-stack deposition process is carried out throughout under the same conditions, each single-cavity filter fabricated from the optical window has the same transmission wavelength and is therefore readily stackable for DWDM applications. Alternatively, an optical window with a thickness equal to one half that required for the spacer of a single-cavity filter is coated on a single side. The window is then divided in multiple identical components that can be combined in pairs by placing them in optical contact so as to form individual single-cavity filters with the same transmission wavelength.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2012
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Applicant: OPTOPLEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Daryuan Song, Yung-Chieh Hsieh
  • Patent number: 8445097
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a multi-layer fluoropolymeric film that is useful as a light capture front sheet in solar modules, and more broadly as an antireflection layer. The present invention further discloses a glass shaped article having a multi-layer fluoropolymeric film disposed upon the surface thereof. The shaped article is useful in applications where it is desirable to reduce reflection of incident light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: E I du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Kostantinos Kourtakis, Mark E. Lewittes, Jose Manuel Rodriguez-Parada
  • Publication number: 20130107355
    Abstract: The present invention provides a highly flexible near-infrared reflecting film which has achieved good near-infrared reflection characteristics by comprising layers that have different refractive indexes and which is not susceptible to bending or cracks. This near-infrared reflecting film has a multilayer film, in which films having refractive indexes different from each other are laminated, on a film, and is characterized in that: the difference of the refractive indexes between at least two adjacent layers is 0.3 or more; at least one of the two adjacent layers contains a metal oxide; and at least one of the two adjacent layers contains a polyvinyl alcohol or an inorganic polymer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2011
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA HOLDINGS, INC.
    Inventors: Noriyuki Kokeguchi, Takeo Arai
  • Patent number: 8430514
    Abstract: In order to produce stress-reduced reflective optical elements (1) for an operating wave length in the soft X-ray and extreme ultraviolet wavelength range, in particular for use in EUV lithography, it is proposed to apply, between substrate (2) and a multilayer system (4) optimized for high reflectivity at the operating wavelength, a stress-reducing multilayer system (6) with the aid of particle-forming particles having an energy of 40 eV or more, preferably 90 eV or more. Resulting reflective optical elements are distinguished by low surface roughness, a low number of periods in the stress-reducing multilayer system and also high values of the stress-reducing multilayer system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss SMT GmbH
    Inventor: Gisela Von Blanckenhagen
  • Patent number: 8411355
    Abstract: A reflective optical element e.g. for use in EUV lithography, configured for an operating wavelength in the soft X-ray or extreme ultraviolet wavelength range, includes a multilayer system (20) with respective layers of at least two alternating materials (21, 22) having differing real parts of the refractive index at the operating wavelength. Preferably, at least at an interface from the material (21) having the higher real part of the refractive index to the material (22) having the lower real part of the refractive index, a further layer (23) of a nitride or a carbide of the material (22) having the lower real part is arranged. Particularly preferably the material (22) having the lower real part of the refractive index is lanthanum or thorium. Preferably, the layers (21, 22, 23) of at least one material are applied in a plasma-based process for manufacturing a reflective optical element as described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss SMT GmbH
    Inventors: Tim Tsarfati, Erwin Zoethout, Eric Louis, Frederik Bijkerk
  • Publication number: 20130075596
    Abstract: An optical filter device includes a variable wavelength interference filter having a stationary substrate, a movable substrate, a stationary reflecting film, and a movable reflecting film, and a housing adapted to house the variable wavelength interference filter therein. The housing has a base substrate, a lid bonded to the base substrate, and forming an internal space between the base substrate and the lid, and a lid-side glass substrate adapted to block a light passage hole provided to the lid. Further, the lid-side glass substrate has a substrate edge located outside the outer peripheral edge of the light passage hole, and is bonded to the lid in an area extending from the outer peripheral edge of the light passage hole to the substrate edge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2012
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Seiko Epson Corporation
  • Patent number: 8404335
    Abstract: A laminated film includes a structure where each 200 layers or more of a layer composed of a resin A (A layer) and a layer composed of a resin B (B layer) are alternately laminated, wherein a relative reflectance in a wavelength range of 400 nm to 1000 nm is 30% or more, tensile stresses at 100% elongation in a longitudinal direction and a width direction of the film are 3 MPa or more and 90 MPa or less in a tensile test at 150° C., and the number of layers with a layer pair-thickness of 120 nm or more and less than 220 nm is 1.05 times or more to 2.5 times or less the number of layers with a layer-thickness of 220 nm or more and 320 nm or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Toray Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Syunichi Osada, Wataru Gouda
  • Patent number: 8400616
    Abstract: A laser interference lithography apparatus capable of stitching small exposed areas into a large exposed area includes a body, a laser beam supplying unit, a reflecting mechanism, an L-shaped fixing mechanism and a substrate stage. The laser beam supplying unit fixed onto the body provides a laser beam. The reflecting mechanism is movably and rotatably mounted on the body. The L-shaped fixing mechanism mounted on the body includes a first mounting seat and a second mounting seat. An upright first reflecting mirror is fixed to the first mounting seat. The second mounting seat connected to the first mounting seat fixes a horizontal mask, and is substantially perpendicular to the first mounting seat. The substrate stage, movably mounted on the body and disposed below the second mounting seat, supports a substrate. Thus, a large-area pattern formed by stitching small-area patterns may be obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: National Tsing Hua University
    Inventor: Chien-Chung Fu
  • Publication number: 20130058102
    Abstract: A blue LED device has a transparent substrate and a reflector structure disposed on the backside of the substrate. The reflector structure includes a Distributed Bragg Reflector (DBR) structure having layers configured to reflect yellow light as well as blue light. In one example, the DBR structure includes a first portion where the thicknesses of the layers are larger, and also includes a second portion where the thicknesses of the layers are smaller. In addition to having a reflectance of more than 97.5 percent for light of a wavelength in a 440 nm-470 nm range, the overall reflector structure has a reflectance of more than 90 percent for light of a wavelength in a 500 nm-700 nm range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2012
    Publication date: March 7, 2013
    Applicant: Bridgelux, Inc.
    Inventor: Chao-Kun Lin
  • Publication number: 20130057840
    Abstract: There is provided a multilayer mirror (80) comprising a layer of a first material (84) and a layer of silicon (82). The layer of the first material and the layer of silicon form a stack of layers. An exposed region of the layer of silicon comprises a modification that is arranged to improve the robustness of the exposed region of silicon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2011
    Publication date: March 7, 2013
    Applicant: ASML NETHERLAND B.V.
    Inventors: Vadim Iourievich Timoshkov, Jan Bernard Plechelmus Van Schoot, Antonius Theodorus Wilhelmu Kempen, Andrei Mikhailovich Yakunin, Edgar Alberto Osorio Oliveros
  • Patent number: 8390929
    Abstract: A display panel easily implements reflection color of a display. The display panel includes a panel which has a plate shape to implement an image, and an optical filter which is attached to the panel. The optical filter includes a color compensating layer which implements transmittance color by controlling transmittance light passing from an interior to an exterior of the panel, and a reflection layer which implements reflection color by controlling reflection light which is incident from the exterior to the panel, and which is reflected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Cha-Won Hwang, Sang-Mi Lee
  • Patent number: 8379310
    Abstract: Provided is a highly reliable solar collecting system. Since a concave minor has a reflection film on a base material on the side opposite to the side of a solar light incoming surface, peeling, breaking and the like are suppressed by protecting the reflection film by the base material, even when a dropping material is brought into contact with the side of the reflection film with impact or accumulated dropped materials are periodically cleaned. As an elliptical mirror has a reflection film on the base material on the side of the solar light incoming surface, even when solar light having large energy enters, the solar light is reflected by the reflection surface before reaching the base material and there is a small possibility of having the base material heated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Opto, Inc.
    Inventors: Nobuyoshi Mori, Takuji Hatano, Setsuo Tokuhiro
  • Patent number: 8361593
    Abstract: A plasmonic coating for reflecting electromagnetic energy is disclosed. The coating includes a plurality of layers, at least one of which is a dielectric layer; and a patterned dielectric layer in structural communication with the plurality of layers and having a pattern configured to plasmonically reflect electromagnetic energy incident thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventor: Clara A. Rivero
  • Publication number: 20130010275
    Abstract: A reflector includes a multi layer mirror structure configured to reflect radiation at a first wavelength, and one or more additional layers. The absorbance and refractive index at a second wavelength of the multi layer mirror structure and the one or more additional layers, and the thickness of the multi layer mirror structure and the one or more additional layers, are configured such that radiation of the second wavelength which is reflected from a surface of the reflector interferes in a destructive manner with radiation of the second wavelength which is reflected from within the reflector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2011
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Applicant: ASML Netherlands BV
    Inventors: Viacheslav Medvedev, Vadim Yevgenyevich Banine, Vladimir Mihailovitch Krivtsun, Wouter Anthon Soer, Andrei Mikhailovich Yakunin
  • Publication number: 20130011656
    Abstract: This invention relates to methods of generating NP gallium nitride (GaN) across large areas (>1 cm2) with controlled pore diameters, pore density, and porosity. Also disclosed are methods of generating novel optoelectronic devices based on porous GaN. Additionally a layer transfer scheme to separate and create free-standing crystalline GaN thin layers is disclosed that enables a new device manufacturing paradigm involving substrate recycling. Other disclosed embodiments of this invention relate to fabrication of GaN based nanocrystals and the use of NP GaN electrodes for electrolysis, water splitting, or photosynthetic process applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2012
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Applicant: YALE UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Yu Zhang, Qian Sun, Jung Han
  • Patent number: 8310758
    Abstract: A static interferometric image device including a plurality of solidified liquid layers is formed over a substrate by an inkjet process such that the layers are lateral to one another. In some embodiments, the substrate includes pre-defined cavities, and the liquid layers are formed in the cavities. In other embodiments, the substrate includes a substantially planar, stepped, or continuously transitioning surface, and the solidified liquid layers are formed on the surface. Optical fillers or spacers are provided for defining interferometric gaps between absorbers and reflectors in the display device, based at least partially on an image that the display device is designed to display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Qualcomm Mems Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark W. Miles, Brian W. Arbuckle, Ion Bita, Manish Kothari, Patrick F. Brinkley, Gang Xu, Nassim Khonsari, Jonathan C. Griffiths
  • Patent number: 8305688
    Abstract: A article includes a substrate and a metal dielectric reflective film. The metal dielectric reflective film is formed on the substrate, the metal dielectric reflective film includes a dielectric multiple layer and a metal layer. The dielectric multiple layer includes a first layer, a second layer, a third layer, and a fourth layer arranged in the order written and stacked one on another. The first and third layers comprised of a low refractive index material, the second and fourth layers comprised of a high refractive index material. The metal layer is disposed on the fourth layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chien-Hao Huang
  • Publication number: 20120268824
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a mirror includes a plurality of dielectric layers stacked in a first direction. A thickness along the first direction of each of the dielectric layers is half a design wavelength. The dielectric layers include a first dielectric layer. The first dielectric layer includes a first portion with a thickness being ? of the design wavelength, a second portion stacked with the first portion with a thickness being ? of the design wavelength, and a third portion provided between the first and second portions with a thickness being ¼ of the design wavelength. The second portion has a refractive index lower than that of the first portion. The third portion has a refractive index gradually decreasing from a side of the first portion toward a side of the second portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2012
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Hayato GOTO, Kouichi ICHIMURA
  • Publication number: 20120268809
    Abstract: An optical spectrum filtering device, e.g., color filter, having reduced angle dependence is provided that comprises an interference filter assembly comprising a high refractive index dielectric material, such as a Fabry-Perot based resonator structure. The filter assembly is capable of transmitting a portion of an electromagnetic spectrum into the dielectric material to generate a filtered output with a predetermined range of wavelengths that displays minimal angle dependence, when viewed from a range of incidence angles ranging from normal (0°) to 90°. Methods of making minimal angle dependent optical spectrum filters and reducing angle dependence for such devices are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2012
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Inventors: Lingjie Jay Guo, Ting Xu
  • Publication number: 20120249718
    Abstract: A color printing paper includes a substrate having a printing region and a plurality of photonic crystal patterns formed on the printing region. The plurality of photonic crystal layer patterns have different respective optical reflection characteristics. The printing method includes selecting pixels including a plurality of photonic crystal layer patterns that express at least one of a red color, a green color, and a blue color, and changing optical reflection characteristics of at least a portion of the plurality of photonic crystal layer patterns of the selected pixels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2012
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jin-seung Sohn, Sang-hun Lee, In-kyeong Yoo, Eun-hyoung Cho
  • Publication number: 20120242565
    Abstract: Discussed are a high efficiency reflector which reflects multiple color light, and a display device which can increase display quality by applying the high efficiency reflector thereto. The reflector includes a first reflective layer pair reflecting red light, a second reflective layer pair reflecting green light, and a third reflective layer pair reflecting blue light. The first to third reflective layer pairs are formed as a plurality of inorganic layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2012
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Inventors: YoungHoon NOH, Goeun JUNG
  • Publication number: 20120236385
    Abstract: A display substrate includes a base substrate, a high reflective layer, a metal light reflective layer and a low reflective layer. The high reflective layer is on the base substrate, and includes a high refractive layer and a low refractive layer which alternate with each other. The high refractive layer has a first refractive index, and the low refractive layer has a second refractive index smaller than the first refractive index. The metal light reflective layer is between the high reflective layer and the low reflective layer, and reflects a light. The low reflective layer comprises a light absorbing layer which absorbs a light, and at least one insulating layer. Accordingly, a light utilizing efficiency and a display quality may be increased.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2012
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sung-Sik Yun, Jae-Byung PARK, Jin-Seob BYUN, Hyun-Min CHO, Yu-Kwan KIM
  • Patent number: 8270081
    Abstract: A method of reflecting impinging electromagnetic radiation by using engineered surfaces of alternating layers of materials having different indices of refraction is described. These layers can be fabrication or applied onto the surfaces of macro-scale objects. Also, a method of limiting the heating within the interior of an object being impinged upon by electromagnetic radiation is described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Corporation For National Research Initiatives
    Inventor: Michael A Huff
  • Patent number: 8270067
    Abstract: A DPSK demodulator is implemented in Sagnac interferometer configuration with a delay line element introduced in one or both of the optical paths of the transmitted and reflected beams. Because the two reflected and transmitted beams travel on the same optical path (though in opposite directions), the Sagnac interferometer provides all the advantages of a common-path interferometer, is thermally and mechanically stable, and the phase requirements are greatly reduced. In its simplest form, the Sagnac DPSK demodulator. In the preferred embodiment, the beam-splitting surface and one of the mirrors are combined into a rhomb beam-splitter structure and the other two mirrors into a right-angle prism. In a DQPSK embodiment, the input beam is split by an upfront beam splitter into two parallel beams that are then directed toward the rhomb-beam-splitter/right-angle-prism combination of the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Optoplex Corporation
    Inventors: Yung-Chieh Hsieh, Chiayu Ai
  • Publication number: 20120229905
    Abstract: A method for structuring an omnidirectional non-metal mirror for any predetermined wavelength or range of wavelengths. The mirror having at least two layers of different non-metal materials, with an elementary matrix associated to each layer, including physical parameters of the layer and parameters of the light passing through the layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2009
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Inventors: Francoise Axel, Jacques Peyriere
  • Publication number: 20120224265
    Abstract: An optical component including a substrate having a first side and a second side opposite the first side, a first plurality of light reflective coating layers disposed adjacent to the first side and a second plurality of light reflective coating layers disposed adjacent to the second side of the substrate. The first plurality of light reflective coating layers has a first combination of a first thickness and a first modulus of elasticity in relation to the substrate. The second plurality of light reflective coating layers has a second combination of a second thickness and a second modulus of elasticity in relation to the substrate that matches the first combination such that the first and second plurality of light reflective coatings layers support the substrate in a neutral shape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2011
    Publication date: September 6, 2012
    Inventors: Stephan R. CLARK, John P. Whitlock
  • Patent number: 8238025
    Abstract: A polarizing mirror device including an optical substrate (1) of real refractive index ns; a dielectric multilayer mirror (2), composed of dielectric layers of low and high refractive index; and a corrugated grating layer (6) of local period ? at the side of a cover medium of refractive index nc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Inventor: Olivier Parriaux
  • Publication number: 20120182606
    Abstract: A micromirror arrangement (1)having: at least one micromirror (3) having a reflective surface (11) formed at a mirror substrate (2), and an antireflective coating (7) formed at the mirror substrate (2) outside the reflective surface (11). A reflective coating (8) is formed within the reflective surface (11) and has at least two layer subsystems, wherein the first layer subsystem has layers (8e, 8f) composed of a periodic sequence of alternate high and low refractive index layers composed of a nonmetallic material and is optimized with regard to the reflectivity in respect of a used wavelength of the micromirror arrangement, and wherein the second layer subsystem is optimized with regard to the reflectivity in respect of a measurement wavelength of the micromirror arrangement, said measurement wavelength deviating from the used wavelength.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2012
    Publication date: July 19, 2012
    Applicant: CARL ZEISS SMT GMBH
    Inventors: Karl-Stefan WEISSENRIEDER, Roland LOERCHER, Alexandra PAZIDIS
  • Patent number: 8213084
    Abstract: A fundamental limit to the sensitivity of optical interferometry is thermal noise that drives fluctuations in the positions of the surfaces of the interferometer's mirrors, and thereby in the phase of the intracavity field. A scheme for substantially reducing this thermally driven phase noise is provided in which the strain-induced phase shift from a mirror's optical coating cancels that due to the concomitant motion of the substrate's surface. As such, although the position of the physical surface may fluctuate, the optical phase upon reflection can be largely insensitive to this motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: California Institute of Technology
    Inventor: H. Jeff Kimble
  • Publication number: 20120162772
    Abstract: A mirror for terrestrial or aerospace application has a substrate, which is preferably of a laminate of a plurality of Graphite Fiber Reinforced Composite (GFRC) uni-directional fiber plies applied in a laminate with layers oriented to achieve appropriate stable properties. The substrate is cured to form the desired shape with a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface. A front buffering layer is immediately adjacent to and contiguous with the substrate on the first surface. The front buffer layer is of a material that buffers the surface morphology of the first surface of the substrate. A front specularizing layer is immediately adjacent to and contiguous with the front buffer layer. The specularizing layer is of a material for providing a smooth, low scatter optical surface. The specularizing layer can use an integral aluminized surface or an added vacuum deposited optical thin film coating for enhanced optical properties and durability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Inventors: Theodore Garry Stern, Stephen Leonard Engelson Wyatt
  • Publication number: 20120154917
    Abstract: A diffusive light reflector with a color-shifting layer for use with LED lighting systems is disclosed. The color-shifting layer shifts higher CCT LED light (e.g. 5000 Kelvin) to lower CCT LED light (e.g. 4000 Kelvin), thereby producing a “warmer” and “whiter” LED light. Also disclosed is a method of shifting low wavelength LED light to higher wavelengths using a diffusive light reflector with a color-shifting layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2012
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Inventor: Eric William Hearn TEATHER
  • Patent number: 8199397
    Abstract: In a mirror including a substrate and a dielectric multilayer coating structure formed on the substrate, the multilayer coating structure includes two mirror-function layer portions, each formed by a plurality of layers deposited one on another, and a cavity layer that is arranged between the two mirror-function layer portions, and which causes light having a predetermined wavelength to resonate between the two mirror-function layer portions. Further, a dispersion value with respect to the light having the predetermined wavelength is in the range of ?600 fs2 to ?3000 fs2 and a reflectance with respect to the light having the predetermined wavelength is in the range of 97% to 99.5%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignees: Fujifilm Corporation, Fujinon Corporation
    Inventors: Makio Usui, Tadashi Kasamatsu, Shogo Yamazoe
  • Patent number: 8194303
    Abstract: Disclosed are an optical image modulator, an optical apparatus including the same, and methods of manufacturing and operating the optical image modulator. The optical image modulator includes a light amount increasing unit increasing the amount of forward light emission of an electric-optical unit. The light amount increasing unit includes a first reflector reflecting light, which travels from the inside of the electric-optical unit toward the optical-electric unit, to the electric-optical unit. The light amount increasing unit may further include a second light reflector reflecting light, which passes through the optical-electric unit without optical-electric conversion, to the optical-electric unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignees: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Yong-hwa Park, Jae-hyung Jang, Yong-chul Cho, Chang-soo Park, Byeong-ha Lee
  • Patent number: 8184371
    Abstract: A thin film interference filter system includes a plurality of stacked films having a determined reflectance; a modeled monitor curve; and a topmost layer configured to exhibit a wavelength corresponding to one of the determined reflectance or the modeled monitor curve. The topmost layer is placed on the plurality of stacked films and can be a low-index film such as silica or a high index film such as niobia.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael L. Myrick
  • Publication number: 20120118380
    Abstract: A solar reflective fibre having a longitudinal axis, the fibre comprising: a substantially continuous primary portion having a first refractive index; and a plurality of secondary portions, each secondary portion having a second refractive index different from the first refractive index. The primary and secondary portions are arranged to run substantially continuously along at least a portion of a length of the fibre, the primary portion providing a host medium within which the secondary portions are provided. The primary and secondary portions are arranged to constitute a dielectric mirror structure whereby a phase of a plurality of scattered beams of radiation each beam being scattered at one of a plurality of respective interfaces between primary and secondary portions interfere constructively with one another thereby to reduce an amount of radiation transmitted through the fibre.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2010
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Inventor: Peter Leaback
  • Patent number: 8174756
    Abstract: Rhomb beam splitters are used to implement various optical demodulators, in particular PSK and DPSK demodulators. The parallel beam-splitting and reflective surfaces of the rhomb structure produce reflection and transmission beams that exit the beam splitter parallel to one another and with a relative phase shift determined by the distance between the surfaces. These features afford the advantages of low cost, compactness, easily tunable, and temperature-insensitive optical structures for constructing a variety of optical demodulators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Optoplex Corporation
    Inventor: Yung-Chieh Hsieh
  • Patent number: 8169446
    Abstract: A display device includes: a reflection property control layer which is disposed in the front face of a display screen, whereby reflection properties are switched for each predetermined region; and a control unit configured to switch the reflection properties of the reflection property control layer depending on an input image, with the control means detecting a gloss region from the input image, and switching the reflection properties of a predetermined region according to the relevant detection result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Takao Inoue, Masashi Uchida, Tetsujiro Kondo
  • Patent number: 8164239
    Abstract: To avoid a decline in the reflectivity of an ultraviolet reflection film caused by lighting for an extended period of time and providing a uniform illuminance an excimer lamp has a silica glass discharge vessel with electrodes on opposite sides of the discharge vessel, wherein excimer discharge is generated in the discharge space of the discharge vessel, wherein an ultraviolet reflection film made of silica particles and alumina particles is formed on a surface exposed to the discharge space and wherein the mean particle diameter of silica particles is at least 0.67 times as large as the mean particle diameter of the alumina particles. The alumina particles in the ultraviolet reflection film preferably constitute at least 5 wt % and more preferably at least 10 wt % of the sum of silica particles and alumina particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Ushiodenki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shigeki Fujisawa, Yukihiro Morimoto
  • Publication number: 20120087010
    Abstract: A reflector laminate, and backlights and displays incorporating such reflector laminates are disclosed. The reflector laminate includes a substrate and a reflector that are adhered together by a plurality of adhesive protrusions. The adhesive protrusions provide for a plurality of voids between the reflector and the substrate, so that a free reflector surface is adjacent to an air gap between the reflector and substrate. The reflector can include a multilayer interference reflector, and the presence of the air gap ensures high reflectivity for the laminate. The reflector can be adhered to a solid lightguide, a frame enclosing a portion of a backlight, a frame enclosing a hollow lightguide cavity, or an optical sheet positioned at the output surface of a backlight.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2011
    Publication date: April 12, 2012
    Inventors: Michael A. Meis, Audrey A. Sherman, Mieczyslaw H. Mazurek, Michael F. Weber
  • Publication number: 20120087009
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a semi-transparent reflector may include a multilayered photonic structure. The multilayered photonic structure includes a plurality of coating layers of high index dielectric material and a plurality of coating layers of low index dielectric material. The plurality of coating layers of high index dielectric material and the plurality of coating layers of low index dielectric material of the multilayered photonic structure are arranged in an [LH . . . (LH)N . . . L] structure. L is one of the plurality of coating layers of low index dielectric material. H is one of the plurality of coating layers of high index dielectric material. N is a positive integer. The multilayered photonic structure has substantially constant reflectance values for wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation in a visible spectrum over a range of angles of incidence of the electromagnetic radiation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2010
    Publication date: April 12, 2012
    Applicant: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin Alan Grayson, Debasish Banerjee, Masahiko Ishii
  • Patent number: 8144830
    Abstract: A reflective optical element exhibits an increase in the maximum reflectivity at operating wavelengths in the extreme ultraviolet or soft x-ray wavelength range. A first additional intermediate layer (23a, 23b) and a second additional intermediate layer (24a, 24b) are provided between the absorber layer (22) and the spacer layer (21), wherein the first additional intermediate layer increases the reflectivity and the second additional intermediate layer (24a,b) prevents chemical interaction between the first additional intermediate layer (23a,b) and the adjoining spacer layer (21) and/or the absorber layer (22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss GmbH
    Inventors: Andrey E. Yakshin, Robbert W. E. Van De Kruijs, Fred Bijkerk, Eric Louis, Ileana Nedelcu
  • Publication number: 20120038927
    Abstract: Provided is an inexpensive, high performance, compact, and energy saving light reflection mechanism comprising a first moving portion having a reflecting surface on the front surface, a supporting portion which supports the first moving portion, a first beam and a translating beam which couple the first moving portion and the supporting portion in the form of cantilever beam above and below the supporting portion, and a drive portion which moves the first moving portion, wherein a large amplitude can be obtained by small energy when the first moving portion is forced into resonance vibration in the direction perpendicular to the first reflecting surface. Also provided is an optical interferometer and a spectral analyzer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2010
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Inventors: Shinya Matsuda, Satoru Hirose
  • Patent number: RE43759
    Abstract: A multiple wavelength light emitting device is provided wherewith the resonance strength and directivity between colors can be easily adjusted for balance. This light emitting device comprises a light emission means 4 for emitting light containing wavelength components to be output, and a semi-reflecting layer group 2 wherein semi-reflecting layers 2R, 2G, and 2B that transmit some light having specific wavelengths emitted from the light emission means and reflect the remainder are stacked up in order in the direction of light advance in association with wavelengths of light to be output. Light emission regions AR, AG, and AB are determined in association with the wavelengths of light to be output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignees: Seiko Epson Corporation, Cambridge Display Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Tatsuya Shimoda, Tomoko Koyama, Takeo Kaneko, Jeremy Henley Burroughes
  • Patent number: RE44164
    Abstract: A multiple wavelength light emitting device is provided wherewith the resonance strength and directivity between colors can be easily adjusted for balance. This light emitting device comprises a light emission means 4 for emitting light containing wavelength components to be output, and a semi-reflecting layer group 2 wherein semi-reflecting layers 2R, 2G, and 2B that transmit some light having specific wavelengths emitted from the light emission means and reflect the remainder are stacked up in order in the direction of light advance in association with wavelengths of light to be output. Light emission regions AR, AG, and AB are determined in association with the wavelengths of light to be output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignees: Seiko Epson Corporation, Cambridge Display Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Tatsuya Shimoda, Tomoko Koyama, Takeo Kaneko, Jeremy Henley Burroughes