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.

Date of Patent:
Mar. 20, 2018

Filed:

May. 27, 2015
Applicant:

3m Innovative Properties Company, St. Paul, MN (US);

Inventors:

John A. Wheatley, Lake Elmo, MN (US);

Guanglei Du, Woodbury, MN (US);

Robert L. Brott, Woodbury, MN (US);

Assignee:
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
G02B 5/02 (2006.01); F21V 8/00 (2006.01); G02F 1/1333 (2006.01); G02F 1/137 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
G02B 5/02 (2013.01); G02B 6/0051 (2013.01); G02F 1/137 (2013.01); G02F 1/13781 (2013.01); G02F 1/133362 (2013.01); G02F 2001/13756 (2013.01);
Abstract

Optical systems are described that include a lighting component, a switchable diffuser adjacent the lighting component, and a low-absorbing optical component disposed adjacent the switchable diffuser opposite the lighting component or disposed adjacent the lighting component opposite the switchable diffuser or disposed adjacent the lighting component opposite the display panel. The switchable diffuser is capable of being in either a substantially clear state or in a first hazy state. The low-absorbing optical component provides a collimating effect or a turning effect when the lighting component is illuminated and the switchable diffuser is in the substantially clear state.


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