The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 18, 2000
Filed:
Mar. 01, 1993
Sanford Cobb, Jr, Saint Mary's Point, MN (US);
John F Dreyer, North Oaks, MN (US);
3M Innovative Properties Company, St. Paul, MN (US);
Abstract
A backlight display includes a case having an optical window through which displayed information may be viewed. In addition it includes an electroluminescent panel for providing the backlight. It further includes a structured surface material between the electroluminescent panel and the optical window. The structured surface material has the property of reflecting light entering it while making an angle in a first predetermined group of angles with the axis of the display back to the electroluminescent panel. It further has the property of refracting light entering it while making an angle in a second predetermined group of angles to the axis of the display such that a majority of the light in the second group will exit in an output wedge that is smaller than the input wedge.