Erik William Aho

US Patent:

20120033443, Feb 9, 2012

Filed:

Aug 3, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/849531

Inventors:

Erik A. Aho - North Saint Paul MN, US
John C. Schultz - Afton MN, US

International Classification:

F21V 7/22

US Classification:

362606, 362613

Abstract:

A backlight includes a light guide and a first and second light source adapted for independent operation and arranged to inject a first and second light beam, respectively, into the light guide through different portions of the light injection surface. Each light source includes a lamp and a concave reflector to partially collimate light from the lamp. One major surface of the light guide includes prismatic structures that are parallel to a first axis. Another major surface of the light guide includes lenticular structures that are parallel to each other but perpendicular to the prismatic structures. The lenticular structures limit spatial spreading for light that remains in the light guide. Each light source cooperates with the light guide to provide light that is substantially laterally confined to a transverse band of the light guide, even though the light guide contains no gaps that define slats to accomplish such confinement.

US Patent:

20120154450, Jun 21, 2012

Filed:

Dec 16, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/969995

Inventors:

Erik A. Aho - North Saint Paul MN, US
Martin B. Wolk - Woodbury MN, US
Michael J. Sykora - New Richmond WI, US

International Classification:

G02F 1/13357
G09G 5/10
F21V 8/00

US Classification:

345690, 362613, 362 971

Abstract:

Stereoscopic displays and backlights include a light guide with individually addressable light sources disposed at opposite edges of the light guide, and a light redirecting film disposed in front of the light guide. Light from one light source is emitted from the backlight as a right eye elongated light beam, and light from the opposite light source is emitted as a left eye elongated light beam. Structured surface features, e.g. linear prismatic or linear lenticular features, on the light guide and/or the light redirecting film are oriented such that the elongated light beams are offset from an optical axis of the backlight. Moreover, each of the elongated light beams is oriented to intersect both a first observation plane and a second observation plane perpendicular to the first observation plane, the first observation plane defined by the optical axis and an in-plane axis along which the light sources are disposed.

US Patent:

20130170218, Jul 4, 2013

Filed:

Feb 9, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/577692

Inventors:

Martin B. Wolk - Woodbury MN, US
Michael J. Sykora - New Richmond WI, US
Robert L. Brott - Woodbury MN, US
William J. Bryan - Mahtomedi MN, US
Erik A. Aho - North Saint Paul MN, US
Martin Kristoffersen - Porsgrunn, NO
Michael A. Meis - Stillwater MN, US
Kevin R. Schaffer - Woodbury MN, US
Audrey A. Sherman - St. Paul MN, US
John C. Schultz - Afton MN, US
Mieczyslaw H. Mazurek - Roseville MN, US

Assignee:

3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY - St. Paul MN

International Classification:

F21V 8/00

US Classification:

36229601, 36231101, 977780, 977779

Abstract:

An illumination device, such as a backlight for electronic display devices, is disclosed. The illumination device includes a lightguide optically coupled to a light source, and a viscoelastic layer and a nanovoided polymeric layer are used in conjunction with the lightguide to manage light emitted by the light source. The viscoelastic layer may be a pressure sensitive adhesive.

US Patent:

20130314780, Nov 28, 2013

Filed:

May 25, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/480674

Inventors:

Charles A. Marttila - Shoreview MN, US
Manoj Nirmal - Saint Paul MN, US
Erik A. Aho - North Saint Paul MN, US
Eileen M Haus - Saint Paul MN, US

International Classification:

G02B 27/22

US Classification:

359463

Abstract:

Integral imaging 3D films for use with a display panel. The films include a flexible transmissive substrate having a first surface on a viewer side and a second surface for placement on the display panel. Convex lenses are located on the first surface. The second surface is planar for a plano-convex design or has concave lenses registered with the convex lenses for a convex-concave compound lens design. In the plano-convex design, the lens focus is in front of or behind the pixels. In the convex-concave design, the convex and concave lenses combined focus is in front of, at, or behind the pixels. In use the 3D films produce 3D images with motion parallax.

US Patent:

20190146126, May 16, 2019

Filed:

May 12, 2017

Appl. No.:

16/190920

Inventors:

- St. Paul MN, US
Scott M. Tapio - Falcon Heights MN, US
Erik A. Aho - New Richmond WI, US
Bing Hao - Woodbury MN, US
John F. Reed - North Oaks MN, US

International Classification:

G02B 5/02
G02B 5/04

Abstract:

The present disclosure relates to articles and methods of making light redirecting film constructions comprising a microstructured optical film, such as a daylight redirecting film, bonded to another film. This type of assembly may serve various purposes. For example, the assembly may protect the structured film, provide additional functionality, such as diffusion or infrared reflection, and/or facilitate attachment of the microstructured optical film to a mounting surface, such as a glazing or window pane.

US Patent:

20190072532, Mar 7, 2019

Filed:

Sep 1, 2017

Appl. No.:

15/693725

Inventors:

- St. Paul MN, US
Ronald D. Jesme - Plymouth MN, US
Mohsen Salehi - Woodbury MN, US
Andrew P. Bonifas - Edmonton, CA
Erik A. Aho - New Richmond WI, US
Craig R. Schardt - Woodbury MN, US
Amy J. Hite - Cottage Grove MN, US
Patrick M. Campbell - St. Paul MN, US

International Classification:

G01N 33/00
G01N 33/22
G01M 3/18

Abstract:

A system for use in wirelessly monitoring a pipeline such as a natural gas pipe. The system includes a locator configured to wirelessly transmit power and a subsoil sensor marker located adjacent the pipe and configured to wirelessly communicate with the locator. The sensor marker includes a microcontroller, a memory module, a sensor configured to sense the presence of a gas, and a power module. The power module is configured to harvest a sufficient amount of the power wirelessly transmitted from the locator in order to operate the microcontroller to take a measurement via the sensor, save the measurement in the memory module, and wirelessly transmit the measurement to the locator.

US Patent:

20180188424, Jul 5, 2018

Filed:

Jun 29, 2016

Appl. No.:

15/740933

Inventors:

- St. Paul MN, US
John P. Baetzold - North Saint Paul MN, US
Erik A. Aho - New Richmond WI, US
Manoj Nirmal - Saint Paul MN, US
Mikhail L. Pekurovsky - Bloomington MN, US
Scott M. Tapio - Falcon Heights MN, US
Denis Terzic - Minnetonka MN, US

International Classification:

G02B 5/124
C09J 7/24
C09J 7/38

Abstract:

The disclosed light directing article comprises a structured layer, an adhesive sealing layer, and barrier elements. The structured layer comprises multiple microstructured elements that are opposite a major surface. The adhesive sealing layer has a first region and a second region. The second region is in contact with the structured layer. The barrier element are at the first region. The first region with the barrier element and second region have sufficiently different properties to form a low refractive index layer between the adhesive sealing layer and the structured layer. The barrier element comprises a crosslinked polymeric matrix having a modulus of elasticity less than 4.4 GPa.

US Patent:

20180095196, Apr 5, 2018

Filed:

Oct 11, 2017

Appl. No.:

15/730260

Inventors:

- SAINT PAUL MN, US
MANOJ NIRMAL - SAINT PAUL MN, US
CHARLES A. MARTTILA - SHOREVIEW MN, US
OWEN M. ANDERSON - MINNEAPOLIS MN, US
SCOTT M. TAPIO - FALCON HEIGHTS MN, US
ERIK A. AHO - NEW RICHMOND WI, US
RAGHUNATH PADIYATH - WOODBURY MN, US
JONATHAN F. MANSHEIM - WOODBURY MN, US
JOHN F. REED - NORTH OAKS MN, US

Assignee:

3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY - SAINT PAUL MN

International Classification:

G02B 5/02
F21S 11/00
E06B 9/24

Abstract:

The present disclosure relates generally to light management constructions comprising microstructured prismatic elements useful in the preparation of sun-facing light redirecting films having reduced glare.