3m Innovative Properties Company

Stephen J Etzkorn

Jaewon Kim

Mohsen Salehi

John Allen Wheatley

Ronald David Jesme

Guanglei Du

Dipankar Ghosh

Nicholas A Johnson

Tri Dinh Pham

Brett J Sitter

Kenneth A Epstein

Gary Timothy Boyd

Adam D Haag

Matthew B Johnson

Michael L Steiner

Eric Wayne Nelson

Kevin W Gotrik

Mark David Gehlsen

Haiyan Zhang

Ryan T Fabick

Brian G Koethe

Nathaniel K Naismith

Joseph T Aronson

David A Rosen

Oanh V Pham

Corey D Balts

Sara Suzanne Merritt

Luke A Schroeder

Steven H C Kong

Robert L Endres

Mark D Gehisen

Gradient permittivity films are described. In particular, gradient permittivity films that include a first continuous matrix of a first component having a first relative permittivity and a second component disposed within the continuous matrix having a second relative permittivity. The first permittivity is greater than the second permittivity for at least one wavelength between 20 GHz and 300 GHz. Such films may be useful in improving the signal to noise ratio for transmitting and receiving units behind a protective cover.

Gradient permittivity film

The present disclosure provides a display system. The display system includes a backlight configured to emit substantially collimated polarized light from an emission surface thereof. The emitted polarized light is polarized along a polarization direction. The display system further includes a display panel configured to receive an illumination light and form an image. The display system further includes a grating system substantially coextensive in length and width with the display panel and the emission surface. The grating system includes a plurality of substantially parallel elongated features extending along an in-plane first direction and arranged along an orthogonal in-plane second direction. The grating system is configured to receive and transmit an incident polarized light as a first transmitted light having different first and second polarization states in response to different respective first and second signals applied to the grating system.

Display system

A gradient permittivity film comprises (a) a first permittivity layer comprising a first continuous matrix of a first material having a first relative permittivity (ε) and a second component having a second relative permittivity (ε) dispersed in the first continuous matrix, the first permittivity layer having a first effective layer relative permittivity (ε) and a thickness (T); And (b) a second permittivity layer having a second effective layer relative permittivity (ε) and a thickness (T) disposed on the first permittivity layer. T=0.8(t) to 1.2(t), where

Gradient permittivity films are described. In particular, gradient permittivity films including a plurality of layers each having a thickness where at least one layer is perforated and has a different air volume fraction from another of the plurality of layers by at least 0.05. Such films may be useful in improving the signal to noise ratio for transmitting and receiving units operating between 20 GHz and 300 GHz behind a protective cover.

Radar standing wave dampening systems and components are described. In particular, systems and components including an absorber composite including at least one of ceramic filler, magnetic filler, or conductive filler materials are described. Such components can reduce the intensity of standing waves and may also be combined in systems with one or more gradient permittivity tapes or films.

Radar standing wave dampening components and systems

A gradient permittivity film comprises (a) a first permittivity layer comprising a first continuous matrix of a first material having a first relative permittivity (&#x3b5;) and a second component having a second relative permittivity (&#x3b5;) dispersed in the first continuous matrix, the first permittivity layer having a first effective layer relative permittivity (&#x3b5;) and a thickness (T); and (b) a second permittivity layer having a second effective layer relative permittivity (&#x3b5;) and a thickness (T) disposed on the first permittivity layer T=0.8(t) to 1.2(t), where t=(I); T=0.8(t) to 1.2 (T), where T=(II). 

A diffuser including opposing structured first and second major surfaces is described. The first major surface includes a first plurality of surface structures providing a uniform first haze. The second major surface includes a first portion adjacent an edge and a second portion adjacent the first portion. The first portion includes a first region and a second region between the first region and the second portion. The second major surface includes a second plurality of surface structures providing a uniform second haze over the second portion and providing a third haze in the first portion. The third haze in the first region is higher than the second haze, and the third haze in the second region is monotonically decreasing. The second portion has a surface area of at least 90 percent of a surface area of the second major surface.

Graded diffuser

Recycling backlights are described. More specifically, recycling backlights including structured reflectors are described. The structured reflector redirects light at least for angles emitted from a lightguide and retroreflects other light, the retroreflected light having incidence angles not emitted by the lightguide.

Recycling backlight including structured reflector

The present disclosure describes an optical stack that includes an asymmetric diffuser. As described herein, use of an asymmetric diffuser in an optical stack reduces undesirable defects in a display while maintaining optical gain and/or contrast of the display. The asymmetric diffuser is less diffusive along a first direction that is parallel with linearly extending structures of an associated light directing film.

Optical stack with asymmetric diffuser

An optical device has a first film () that has a first side and a second side. When illuminated by light () at the first side, the first film is characterized by a first fraction of broadly diffused transmitted light () and a second fraction of narrowly diffused transmitted light (). A second film () is disposed to the second side of the first film. The second film has at least one free surface that diverts light. In some embodiments, the first film has a diffuse scattering optical density between 0.5 and 3. The device finds use in spreading and making light uniform in a backlight in a display such as a liquid crystal display.

Brightness enhancing film and film based diffuser for improved illumination uniformity of displays

An optical assembly includes a light diffusing layer attached to a reflective polarizing layer. An intermediate region between the light diffusing layer and the reflective polarizing layer includes an intermediate structure that defines voids between the light diffusing layer and the reflective polarizing layer.

Growing community of inventors

Woodbury, MN, United States of America

Stephen J Etzkorn