Robert A Nilsen

US Patent:

6356389, Mar 12, 2002

Filed:

Nov 12, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/438912

Inventors:

Robert B. Nilsen - Weatogue CT
Patrick W. Mullen - Winsted CT
Xiao-Jing Lu - Yorktown Heights NY

Assignee:

Reflexite Corporation - Avon CT

International Classification:

G02B 2710

US Classification:

359625, 359566, 359569, 359251, 362 30, 362 31, 362 97, 362331, 385133, 385146

Abstract:

A light collimating film has a sheeting having a first side and a second side, wherein the first side includes a series of prisms, and the second side includes a plurality of subwavelength optical microstructures. Another embodiment includes a back lighting display device having a lighting means, a display panel, and a sheeting having a first side and a second side, wherein the first side includes a series of prisms, and the second side includes a plurality of subwavelength optical microstructures. A preferred embodiment includes a back lighting display device having a first collimating film having a first surface with a subwavelength optical microstructure thereon and a second surface with linear prisms having an included angle of greater than about 95 degrees, and a second collimating film having a first surface with a subwavelength optical microstructure thereon and a second surface with linear prisms having an included angle of less than about 85 degrees.

US Patent:

6570710, May 27, 2003

Filed:

Oct 6, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/684455

Inventors:

Robert B. Nilsen - Weatogue CT
Patrick W. Mullen - Winsted CT
Xiao-Jing Lu - Avon CT

Assignee:

Reflexite Corporation - Avon CT

International Classification:

G02B 2710

US Classification:

359625, 359619, 359251, 359566, 359569, 359599, 359455, 362 30, 362 31, 362 32, 362331, 385133, 385146

Abstract:

A light collimating film has a sheeting having a first side and a second side, wherein the first side includes a series of linear optical elements having a primary axis running the length of the optical elements, and the second side includes a plurality of subwavelength optical microstructures being oriented at about 90 degrees relative to the primary axis of the linear optical elements. Another embodiment includes a back lighting display device having a lighting device, a display panel, and a sheeting having a first side and a second side, wherein the first side includes a series of linear prisms having peaks, and the second side includes a plurality of subwavelength optical microstructures being oriented at about 90 degrees relative to the peaks of the linear prisms. Yet another embodiment includes a light collimating structure having a first collimating film having a first surface with a plurality of subwavelength optical microstructures thereon and a second surface with first linear prisms having peaks, the subwavelength optical microstructures being oriented at about 90 degrees relative to the peaks of the first linear prisms, and a second collimating film having a first surface with a plurality of subwavelength optical microstructures thereon and a second surface with second linear prisms having peaks, the subwavelength optical microstructures being oriented at about 90 degrees relative to the peaks of the second linear prisms.

US Patent:

6891677, May 10, 2005

Filed:

May 23, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/445375

Inventors:

Robert B. Nilsen - Weatogue CT, US
Patrick W. Mullen - Barkhamsted CT, US
Xiao-Jing Lu - Bloomfield CT, US

Assignee:

Reflexite Corporation - Avon CT

International Classification:

G02B027/10
G02B005/18
G02B006/00

US Classification:

359625, 359569, 385133

Abstract:

A waveguide for use in a back lighting device includes a moth-eye structured surface. A back lighting system includes a lighting device, a display panel, and a waveguide for redirecting light generated by the light source toward the display panel. A first light-redirecting film, which can include a plurality of moth-eye structures, can be positioned between the waveguide and the display panel. The first light-redirecting film can also include a plurality of linear prisms. A second light-redirecting film is also provided that can include a plurality of moth-eye structures and a plurality of linear prisms. The second light-redirecting film can be positioned between the first light-redirecting film and the display panel. A diffuser can be positioned between the first light-redirecting film and the waveguide and/or between the second light-redirecting film and the display panel.

US Patent:

6967053, Nov 22, 2005

Filed:

Jan 20, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/488129

Inventors:

Patrick W. Mullen - Winsted CT, US
Gus Bernard - West Hartford CT, US
Robert B. Nilsen - Weatogue CT, US

Assignee:

Reflexite Corporation - Avon CT

International Classification:

B32B003/00
G02B005/122

US Classification:

428156, 428161, 428163, 428164, 359529, 359530

Abstract:

Retroreflective sheeting and a method for making the same includes a plurality of open-faced cube-corner surfaces formed from a substantially rigid material to keep the cube-corner surfaces from flexing. An optical coating is formed on the surfaces, and a fill layer is attached to at least a portion of the optical coating. A plurality of voids form the open-faced cube-corner surfaces.

US Patent:

7230764, Jun 12, 2007

Filed:

Dec 22, 2004

Appl. No.:

11/022559

Inventors:

Patrick W. Mullen - Barkhamsted CT, US
Robert B. Nilsen - Mystic CT, US
William P. Rowland - Plattsburgh NY, US

Assignee:

Reflexite Corporation - Avon CT

International Classification:

G02B 27/10

US Classification:

359619, 359628

Abstract:

A light-redirecting optical structure includes a first side and a second side, the first side including plurality of linear prisms having a visibly random shaped surface on the prisms and a plurality of cross-cut prisms on first side which are oriented at an angle such that it is greater than zero degrees but less than 180 degrees. A backlight wedge includes a stepped structure on a bottom side that decreases in size traversing the wedge away from a light source which is positioned at an end and having a visibly random shaped surface on said wedge.

US Patent:

7330315, Feb 12, 2008

Filed:

Apr 23, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/830701

Inventors:

Robert B. Nilsen - Mystic CT, US

Assignee:

Reflexite Corporation - Avon CT

International Classification:

G02B 27/10

US Classification:

359640, 359619, 359628, 362337, 362339, 362620

Abstract:

A plurality of microstructures is provided, with each microstructure having at least a first side and at least a second side terminating at a peak. At least some of the peaks can include an elevated portion to space the peaks away from adjacent optical sheets, surfaces, films, substrates, or other layers to minimize wet-out, Newton's rings, abrasions, moiré fringes, or other undesirable optical conditions. In other embodiments, an optical film is also provided that includes a first plurality of microstructures having a base, a first side, and a second side, and a second plurality of microstructures having a base, a first side, and a second side, the first side including a first planar surface, and the second side including a second planar surface and a third planar surface.

US Patent:

7364314, Apr 29, 2008

Filed:

Dec 9, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/731416

Inventors:

Robert B. Nilsen - Mystic CT, US
William P. Rowland - Southington CT, US

Assignee:

Reflexite Corporation - Avon CT

International Classification:

G02B 5/124

US Classification:

359530, 359831, 359900, 428323

Abstract:

Optical structures and methods for manufacturing the same includes, in one embodiment, a substrate and a plurality of two-sided optical components disposed along the substrate. Each component includes optical microstructures on each side. At least a portion of one side of at least some of the components is air-backed and the other side of the at least some of the components is substantially wetted-out by a material. Retroreflective optical structures, threads, or fibers and manufacturing methods for forming same are also provided. Optical structures are provided that include a plurality of microstructures enclosed within an outer layer that is formed from a single substrate. An apparatus and method are also provided for forming an optical structure comprising injecting a material into a mold to form the optical structure, forming the optical structure into a desired geometric shape, and sealing ends of the optical structure.

US Patent:

7506987, Mar 24, 2009

Filed:

Feb 29, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/040243

Inventors:

Robert B. Nilsen - Mystic CT, US

Assignee:

Technology Solutions & Invention LLC - Mystic CT

International Classification:

G02B 5/124

US Classification:

359530, 359529

Abstract:

In a retroreflective sheeting, and methods of formation thereof, the sheeting comprises a body of material, the body having a first surface and a second surface. A plurality of first full-square-sided corner-cube structures are on the first surface of the body, the first full-square-sided corner-cube structures each having three facets that lie along planes that are orthogonal to each other. A plurality of second full-square-sided corner-cube structures are on the second surface of the body, the second full-square-sided corner-cube structures each having three facets that lie along planes that are orthogonal to each other. The body is constructed and arranged to be transparent to incident electromagnetic energy at a range of wavelengths and to have a thickness so that an incident electromagnetic energy ray that is incident at one of the first and second surfaces enters the body, and is redirected by both the first surface and the second surface so that both the first surface and the second surface contribute to retroreflection of the incident electromagnetic energy ray, and exits from the one of the first and second surfaces at which the incident electromagnetic energy ray was incident to emit a retroreflected electromagnetic energy ray of the incident electromagnetic energy ray.