3m Innovative Properties Company

Life Technologies Corporation

Applera Corporation

Michael Charles Lea

Patrick R Fleming

Nicholas A Lee

John S Shigeura

David Jon Lundin

Joel R Dufresne

Larry J Carson

Richard C Allen

Charles A Marttila

Jeffrey L Solomon

Todd A Ballen

Josef A Graessle

Stephen B Schenk

John C Wright

Stephen Michael Randall

A biological growth plate scanner includes a multi-color illumination system that illuminates a biological growth plate with different illumination colors. A monochromatic image capture device captures images of the biological growth plate during illumination of the growth plate with each of the illumination colors. A processor combines the images to form a composite multi-color image, and/or individual components of the composite image, and analyzes the composite image to produce an analytical result such as a colony count or a presence/absence result. The biological growth plate scanner may include both front and back illumination components. The back illumination component may include a diffuser element disposed under the biological growth plate. The diffuser element receives light from one or more laterally disposed illumination sources, and distributes the light to illuminate a back side of the biological growth plate. The illumination sources in the front and back illumination components may take the form of sets of light emitting diodes (LEDs) that can be independently controlled by the processor.

Back side plate illumination for biological growth plate scanner

A light-guide light is described that is capable of providing a substantially monochromatic beam of light, and is suitable for use as a signal lamp in an automotive vehicle. The light () comprises a housing defining a light-guiding optical cavity () having first and second major faces (), and a light source () arranged to direct light into the cavity from one side. The light source may be an array of light emitting diodes providing substantially monochromatic light. The first major face () comprises an interference film (for example, a multilayer polymeric film) that, for light at the design wavelength, substantially transmits light that is incident on the film over a limited angular range and substantially reflects light that is incident at other angles. The second major face () comprises a scattering reflective material having a reflectance of at least 85%, for example a highly-efficient reflective material provided with a suitable textured pattern.

Light-guide lights providing a substantially monochromatic beam

An analytical cell including a lightguide with a plurality of conduits filled with a migration medium. The medium, the lightguide and a surrounding medium have refractive indices selected such that light entering the lightguide is internally reflected within the lightguide to provide substantially uniform illumination of the conduits.

Analytical device with lightguide illumination of capillary and microgroove arrays

A light exposure system is used to expose an alignment layer formed of anistropically absorbing molecules so as to allow alignment of subsequently applied liquid crystal polymer (LCP) molecules. The light incident on the alignment layer is polarized. When a single polarizer is used, the azimuthal polarization direction varies across the substrate carrying the alignment layer. Various approaches to reducing the azimuthal polarization variation may be adopted, including the introduction of various types of polarization rotation reduction element and in selecting an appropriate tilt angle for the light source. Furthermore, a reflective structure may be inserted between the light source and the alignment layer. Use of the reflective structure increases the total amount of light incident on the alignment layer.

Polarized UV exposure system

Analytical device with lightguide Illumination of capillary and microgrooves arrays

A light-guide light () suitable for use in illuminated displays and signs comprises a housing () defining an optical cavity having first and second generally parallel major faces (), and a light source () positioned to direct light into the optical cavity from one side. The first major face () comprises a material (for example, a prismatic film) having coefficients of reflection and transmission that vary with the angle at which light is incident on the material. The second major face () comprises a narrow-scattering reflective material having a reflectance of at least 85%, for example a highly-efficient reflective material provided with a suitable textured pattern.

Light-guide lights suitable for use in illuminated displays

The invention is directed to an illumination apparatus that includes a light guide within a recessed housing. A light source, such as a light emitting diode can be used to provide light to the light guide. The light is transmitted through the light guide via total internal reflection (TIR), and can be emitted in a controlled manner to ensure that a desired angular distribution of light is achieved without substantially illuminating interior side walls of the recessed housing. In this manner, efficient lighting can be provided. In one embodiment, the invention is can be implemented within a cosmetic compact that includes a mirror. The compact may incorporate aspects of the invention by implementing a light guide within a ring-shaped recess of the compact to provide facial lighting to a user.

Light guide within recessed housing

An optical sheet ( ) for spreading light has a substantially smooth surface ( ), and a structured surface ( ) comprising an array of prisms ( ). A beam of light that is to be spread is directed through the film from the smooth surface. Some of the prisms (termed &ldquo;refraction prisms&rdquo;) deviate normally-incident light only by refraction at a prism facet as the light leaves the film while others (termed &ldquo;reflection prisms&rdquo;) deviates normally-incident light by total internal reflection within the prism before the light leaves the film. There are a plurality of reflection prisms ( ) selected to deviate normally-incident light through different angles and a plurality of refraction prisms ( ) selected to deviate the normally-incident light through different angles, and they are arranged, preferably in a non-ordered manner, so that successive reflection prisms are separated by at least one refraction prism. In alternative embodiments, the structured surface comprises a non-ordered arrangement of a plurality of reflection prisms selected to deviate normally-incident light through different angles, or a non-ordered arrangement of a plurality of refraction prisms selected to deviate normally-incident light through different angles.

Optical sheets suitable for spreading light

An illumination device produces a desired illumination pattern by tailoring the configuration of individual light extraction structures. At least two of the light extraction structures have different configurations from one another. The illumination device includes a light guide having a light guide core and an optically smooth surface for propagating light through the core. A light emitting region extends along a portion of the core and includes a plurality of light extraction structures distributed along the optically smooth surface. The light extraction structures are configured so that light reflected therefrom is emitted from the light guide through the optically smooth surface.

Illumination device for producing predetermined intensity patterns

A luminaire for distributing light from a light source ( ). The luminaire includes one or more reflectors ( ), placed symmetrically about the lamp ( ) to reflect the light output from the lamp ( ). One or more light spreading devices ( ) are provided around the reflectors ( ) to receive the light reflected by the reflectors ( ). Such a luminaire provides for uniform distribution of light while minimizing glare from the light fitting.

Growing community of inventors

Bracknell, United Kingdom

Michael Charles Lea