Timothy J Gardner

US Patent:

6357880, Mar 19, 2002

Filed:

Apr 12, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/834164

Inventors:

Kenneth A. Epstein - St. Paul MN
Robert J. Fleming - Lake Elmo MN
Timothy J Gardner - Inver Grove Heights MN
Christopher S. Lyons - St. Paul MN
Stephen P. Maki - North St. Paul MN
Mark D. Nachbor - Plymouth MN

Assignee:

3M Innovative Properties Company - St. Paul MN

International Classification:

G02B 508

US Classification:

359606, 359607, 359608, 359599, 359850, 359851, 359852

Abstract:

The present invention is a display apparatus that provides protection against damage for a metallic layer. The display apparatus includes a light modulating layer, a polarizer, and a light directing film. The light directing film includes a prismatic structure having two sides, where one side includes saw tooth formations having tilted surfaces and a metal layer on the side of the prismatic substrate having the saw-tooth formations. A tilt angle of the tilted surfaces offsets an optimal viewing angle for the display from a glare angle for the display. In a first embodiment of the invention, the light directing film of the display apparatus further includes an inorganic protective layer formed on the metal layer, wherein the inorganic protective layer inhibits molecular transfer to the metal layer and balances the color of reflected and transmitted light. The light directing film further includes a pressure sensitive adhesive layer between a polarizer and the inorganic protective layer. Alternatively, the light directing film of the display apparatus of the present invention includes a polymer protective layer formed over the metal layer to protect the metal layer from damage.

US Patent:

6508560, Jan 21, 2003

Filed:

Dec 20, 2001

Appl. No.:

10/028345

Inventors:

Kenneth A. Epstein - St. Paul MN
Timothy J. Gardner - Inver Grove Heights MN

Assignee:

3M Innovative Properties Company - St. Paul MN

International Classification:

G02B 508

US Classification:

359606, 359607, 359608, 359599, 359850

Abstract:

The present invention is a display apparatus that provides protection against damage for a metallic layer. The display apparatus includes a light modulating layer, a polarizer, and a light directing film. The light directing film includes a prismatic structure including saw tooth formations having tilted surfaces and a metal layer on the side of the prismatic substrate having the saw-tooth formations. A tilt angle of the tilted surfaces offsets an optimal viewing angle for the display from a glare angle for the display. The light directing film of the display apparatus of the present invention includes a polymer protective layer formed over the metal layer to protect the metal layer from damage. The light directing film also includes a diffuse adhesive layer formed over the polymer layer, attached to the polarizer. The polymer protective layer protects the metal layer from the adhesive layer.

US Patent:

6594418, Jul 15, 2003

Filed:

May 1, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/138163

Inventors:

Jeffrey P. Treptau - Lakeville MN
Thomas J. Schmitt - Apple Valley MN
Ronald E. Gerber - Richfield MN
Timothy S. Gardner - Eden Prairie MN
Edward C. Gage - Apple Valley MN
Kevin D. Batko - Bloomington MN

Assignee:

ADC Telecommunications, Inc. - Eden Prairie MN

International Classification:

G02B 632

US Classification:

385 33, 385 31, 385 35, 385 74, 385 77, 385 78, 385 79, 385 80

Abstract:

Two sub-assemblies in a fiber optic device are fitted to respective end faces of a central section, along a longitudinal axis. The end faces of the central section are non-parallel. Butting the sub-assemblies to respective ends of the central section permits relative adjustment of the two sub-assemblies in substantially decoupled degrees of freedom. This results in a simpler adjustment procedure for aligning the two sub-assemblies. Furthermore, the mounting of the sub-assemblies using angled faces permits the use of relatively thin layers of adhesive that reduce misalignment problems arising from mismatched thermal expansion when the temperature changes.

US Patent:

6839485, Jan 4, 2005

Filed:

Aug 29, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/207564

Inventors:

Timothy S. Gardner - Eden Prairie MN, US
Ronald E. Gerber - Richfield MN, US
Jeffrey P. Treptau - Lakeville MN, US

Assignee:

ADC Telecommunications, Inc. - Eden Prairie MN

International Classification:

G02B 632

US Classification:

385 33, 372 6, 385 31

Abstract:

A particular focusing arrangement in a dual fiber collimator improves the transmission efficiency and ease of alignment of the collimator. In particular, the collimator includes two optical fibers mounted in a dual-fiber ferrule. The fiber end-faces are co-planar with the angle-polished end-face of the ferrule and displaced along the optical axis of the ferrule. The collimator unit also includes a first focusing element centered along the optical axis of the ferrule and positioned such that its back front focal point is between the two end faces of the fibers. An advantage provided by this arrangement is that by changing the fiber polish angle and polish azimuth, relative to a line connecting the fiber centers, superior coupling from one fiber to the other can be achieved, even with different working distances and at various wavelengths.

US Patent:

6860644, Mar 1, 2005

Filed:

Oct 31, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/999891

Inventors:

Edward C. Gage - Apple Valley MN, US
Timothy S. Gardner - Eden Prairie MN, US
Ronald E. Gerber - Richfield MN, US
John J. Taranto - Mercerville NJ, US

Assignee:

ADC Telecommunications, Inc. - Eden Prairie MN

International Classification:

G02B006/293
G02B006/34

US Classification:

385 74, 385 24, 385 33, 385 36, 385 16, 385 18

Abstract:

Generally, the present invention relates to a fiber optic device that is easier to align than conventional devices, and to a method for aligning such devices. An embodiment of the invention includes a first focusing element having an optical axis and a first focal length, and a first optical fiber optically coupled to a first side of the first focusing element. The first optical fiber is disposed at a first transverse distance from the optical axis so that light from the first optical fiber propagates on a second side of the first focusing element as a substantially collimated beam at a first angle to the optical axis. A wedged optical element is optically coupled to the second side of the first focusing element and deviates the substantially collimated beam so as to propagate in a direction substantially parallel to the optical axis.

US Patent:

6909827, Jun 21, 2005

Filed:

May 1, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/138168

Inventors:

Thomas J. Schmitt - Apple Valley MN, US
Jeffrey P. Treptau - Lakeville MN, US
Ronald E. Gerber - Richfield MN, US
Timothy S. Gardner - Eden Prairie MN, US
Edward C. Gage - Apple Valley MN, US
Kevin D. Batko - Bloomington MN, US

Assignee:

ADC Telecommunications, Inc. - Eden Prairie MN

International Classification:

G02B006/26

US Classification:

385 52, 385 92

Abstract:

Two sub-assemblies in a fiber optic device are fitted to mounting faces of a central section. The mounting faces are typically flat and mutually orthogonal, thus permitting the adjustment of the two sub-assemblies in decoupled degrees of freedom. This results in a simpler adjustment procedure for aligning the two sub-assemblies. Furthermore, the mounting of the sub-assemblies using the orthogonal mounting faces permits the use of relatively thin layers of adhesive that reduce misalignment problems arising from mismatched thermal expansion when the temperature changes.

US Patent:

6950574, Sep 27, 2005

Filed:

Jul 29, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/207573

Inventors:

Timothy S. Gardner - Eden Prairie MN, US
Ronald E. Gerber - Richfield MN, US
Edward C. Gage - Apple Valley MN, US

Assignee:

ADC Telecommunications, Inc. - Eden Prairie MN

International Classification:

G02B006/32

US Classification:

385 33, 385 31, 359642

Abstract:

The invention relates to an approach to angle tuning a thin film, interference filter device in which light is delivered to the filter from a fiber lying off-axis relative to the filter, and to a method of optically coupling such a device. The optical device comprises a lens unit having an optical axis and an adjustable effective focal length. The device also includes a first port disposed on a first side of the lens unit and on a first side of the optical axis, and an optical element disposed on the second side of the lens unit. The optical element has an optical characteristic that is dependent on the angle of incidence on the optical element. The lens unit has an adjustable focal length so light from the first port is incident on the optical element at a desired angle.

US Patent:

6999663, Feb 14, 2006

Filed:

Oct 31, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/999533

Inventors:

Edward C. Gage - Apple Valley MN, US
Steven C. Dohmeier - Apple Valley MN, US
Ronald E. Gerber - Richfield MN, US
Craig A. Parsons - Victoria MN, US
Thomas J. Schmitt - Apple Valley MN, US
Eric K. Lindmark - Shoreview MN, US
John C. Holman - Coon Rapids MN, US
Kevin D. Batko - Bloomington MN, US
Timothy S. Gardner - Eden Prairie MN, US

Assignee:

ADC Telecommunications, Inc. - Eden Prairie MN

International Classification:

G02B 6/26

US Classification:

385 48, 385 39

Abstract:

An improved fiber optic tap monitor has characteristics that are flatter over the wavelength range of interest. The polarization dependence of the characteristics of the tap monitor is reduced, and the package for the tap monitor is smaller. The tap monitor reduces the amount of light reflected back to the source. The tap monitor is also assembled in a manner to improve temperature stability, so that its characteristics over a range of temperatures are more nearly constant.