3m Innovative Properties Company

Other

David J Lamb

Kenneth A Epstein

Philip Edwin Watson

Leland Ray Whitney

Keith Michael Kotchick

Mark E Gardiner

Shandon Dee Hart

Richard John Pokorny

Gary Timothy Boyd

Ying-Yuh Lu

Robert S Moshrefzadeh

Jie Yang

Robert M Emmons

Yaoqi Joe Liu

Mark B O'Neill

Larry A Meixner

Steven J Rhyner

John Allen Wheatley

Sanford Cobb, Jr

Tri Dinh Pham

David G Freier

Guanglei Du

Kristopher J Derks

Eric Wayne Nelson

Charles David Hoyle

Rui Zhang

Suman K Patel

Jie Zhou

Wade D Kretman

Byung-Soo Ko

Yuji Saito

John T Cowher

John F Van Derlofske, Iii

Patrick H Marushin

Yasuyuki Daigo

Xianneng Peng

Xingpeng Yang

Ji-young Choi

Seo-Hern Lee

Chideuk Kim

Youngsoo Park

Min-Young Ji

Scotty A Kopp

Naoya Taniguchi

Yang Yu

An optical film () includes a microstructured surface () comprising a plurality of prismatic structures (), the microstructured surface () defining a reference plane (-) and a thickness direction () perpendicular to the reference plane; wherein the plurality of prismatic structures includes a plurality of facets (), each facet having a facet normal direction forming a polar angle with respect to the thickness direction and an azimuthal angle along the reference plane, and wherein the microstructured surface has a surface azimuthal distribution of the plurality of facets that is substantially uniform, and wherein the microstructured surface has a surface polar distribution of the plurality of facets that has an off-axis peak polar distribution.

Faceted microstructured surface

A retroreflective article including a retroreflective layer including a structured surface that is opposite a major surface, a pressure sensitive adhesive that contacts at least a portion of the structured surface to form an optically inactive area that does not substantially retroreflect incident light and at least one low refractive index layer forming an optically active area that retroreflects incident light, wherein the optically active area comprises about 25% or less of the structured surface.

Visibly transparent, infrared radiation retroreflective articles

A backlight includes a light source and one or more light recycling films. The light source generates light that exits the light source with an angular exit distribution. The light recycling films are oriented in relation to the light source so that the prism peaks of the recycling films are oriented away from the light source. The recycling films have a range of optimal incident angles that allow light to pass through the recycling films without recycling. The components of the light source, the characteristics of the recycling films, or both, are configured to control the overlap between the exit distribution of the light source and the optimal incident angle range of the recycling films.

Systems and methods for controlling backlight output characteristics

A backlight () that includes a front reflector () and a back reflector () that form a hollow light recycling cavity () having an output surface () is disclosed. The front reflector includes at least four directional recycling films (). The backlight also includes a semi-specular diffuser disposed between the front reflector and the back reflector, and one or more light sources () disposed to emit light into the light recycling cavity.

Hollow backlight with structured films

The present disclosure is directed to backlighting systems, which include first and second lightguides, at least one light source optically connected to an edge of the first lightguide and at least one light source optically connected to an edge of the second lightguide for supplying light into their respective interiors. In the appropriate exemplary embodiments, the backlighting systems of the present disclosure include an extractor disposed at a surface of the second lightguide for diffuse extraction of light from the interior of the second lightguide. In such exemplary embodiments, at least a portion of the light supplied into the interior of the second lightguide and then diffusely extracted therefrom enters the interior of the first lightguide through a substantially optically clear surface. In some exemplary embodiments, the backlighting systems of the present disclosure include recycling enhancement structures, which may be attached to the first lightguide.

Multiple lightguide backlight

Backlighting systems are disclosed, which include a lightguide with at least one light source optically connected to an edge of the lightguide for supplying light into its interior and a reflective cavity with at least one light source optically connected to the reflective cavity for supplying light into its interior. The reflective cavity may include a first reflector and a second reflector and at least one source may be disposed at an edge of the reflective cavity. Alternatively, the reflective cavity may include a back reflector portion and light sources may be disposed at the back reflector portion.

Hybrid lightguide backlight

An integrated optical assembly including a light management component with an entry surface and a light delivery component having an exit surface attached to the entry surface of the light management component is disclosed The light management component and the light delivery component are attached together in a manner that defines voids between the entry surface of the light management component and the exit surface of the light delivery component. The voids between the light management component and the light delivery component may provide an air interface over substantial portions of the entry surface of the light management component.

Multifunctional optical assembly

A light guide including a light guide body having a light re-directing side positioned opposite from a light output side. A plurality of elongate prisms are located adjacent the light output side of the light guide body. The prisms extend side-by-side relative to one another along lengths. The prisms include upper edges defining heights of the prisms. The upper edges extend along the lengths of the prisms. Each upper edge includes a plurality of edge segments having different magnitudes of slope. The light guide also includes a plurality of light extraction structures located adjacent the light re-directing side of the light guide body for reflecting light toward the light output side. The light extraction structures include elongated projections each having a plateau segment and first and second facets. The elongated projections are separated by lands that are recessed relative to the plateau segments. The first and second facets extend from the plateau segments to the lands.

Light guide for use with backlit display

Growing community of inventors

Oakdale, MN, United States of America

David J Lamb