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:
Sep. 08, 2009
Filed:
Oct. 18, 2006
Roland Winston, Chicago, IL (US);
Robert L. Holman, Evanston, IL (US);
Benjamin A. Jacobson, Chicago, IL (US);
Robert M. Emmons, Woodbury, MN (US);
Philip Gleckman, Eindhoven, NL;
Roland Winston, Chicago, IL (US);
Robert L. Holman, Evanston, IL (US);
Benjamin A. Jacobson, Chicago, IL (US);
Robert M. Emmons, Woodbury, MN (US);
Philip Gleckman, Eindhoven, NL;
3M Innovative Properties Company, St. Paul, MN (US);
Abstract
An optical device for collecting light and selectively outputting or concentrating the light. A layer has an optical index of refraction n, and top, bottom and side surfaces defining an angel of inclination φ. A back surface spans the top, bottom and side surface. A first layer is coupled to the bottom surface of the layer and has an index of refraction n. The first layer index ncauses light input through the back surface of the layer to be preferentially output into the first layer. A second layer is coupled to the bottom of the first layer and selectively causes output of light into ambient. Additional layers, such as alight polarization layer, a polarization converting layer and a post LCD diffuser layer can be used to make preferential use of polarized light of diffuse light having passed through the LCD layer to enhance viewing of the output light.