Patents Examined by Sow-Fun Hon
  • Patent number: 7297380
    Abstract: A light-diffusing film comprises about 90 wt. % to about 99.999 wt. % polycarbonate, wherein the polycarbonate comprises a yellowness index of about 0.8 to about 1.5 as measured in accordance with ASTM E313-73 (D1925); about 0.001 wt. % to about 3 wt. % light-diffusing particles; wherein weight percents are based on a total weight of the light-diffusing film; and wherein the light-diffusing film comprises a light transmission of about 45% to about 65% as measured in accordance with ASTM D1003-00, and a hiding power of 0 to about 0.5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Christopher A. Coenjarts, Jianbo Di, John Graf, Emine Elif Gurel, David L. Hartter, Grant Hay, Todd M. Loehr, Philip M. Peters, Joseph A. Riello, Jr., Shixiong Zhu
  • Patent number: 7294372
    Abstract: A conductive color filter includes a layer of carbon nanotubes covered by a colored polymeric resin binder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Ronald S. Cok
  • Patent number: 7294373
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal display cell including lamination of a lower polarizer, a first glass substrate having a metal oxide glass film formed on the side of the lower polarizer, a liquid crystal layer, a second glass substrate having a metal oxide glass film formed on the side opposite the liquid crystal layer, and an upper polarizer; and a backlight unit including a light guide plate, a diffusion plate, and light sources. The metal oxide glass films are a transparent film made of an organic/inorganic hybrid material. The films are formed by coating a solution of a metal alkoxide composition on individual outer surfaces of the first glass substrate and the second glass substrate, both of which have been roughened by a polishing process, and by hydrolyzing and curing the metal alkoxide composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignees: International Business Machines Corporation, CMO Japan Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Tsuboi, Hideo Ohkuma, Tomohito Johnai
  • Patent number: 7294303
    Abstract: A broad band cholesteric liquid crystal film of the present invention comprises a cholesteric liquid crystal film obtained by polymerizing a liquid crystal mixture containing a polymerizable mesogen compound (a), a polymerizable chiral agent (b) and a photopolymerization initiator (c) between two substrates with ultraviolet light, and has a reflection bandwidth of 200 nm or more. The broad band cholesteric liquid crystal film of the present invention has a broad reflection band and is excellent in durability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignee: Nitto Denko Corporation
    Inventors: Takahiro Fukuoka, Naoki Takahashi, Kazutaka Hara
  • Patent number: 7288296
    Abstract: A multilayer compensator includes one or more polymeric first layers and one or more polymeric second layers. The first layers comprise a polymer having an out-of-plane (?nth) birefringence not more negative than ?0.01 and not more positive than +0.01. The second layers comprise an amorphous polymer having an out-of-plane birefringence more negative than ?0.01 or more positive than +0.01. An overall in-plane retardation (Rin) of the multilayer compensator is greater than 20 nm and the out-of-plane retardation (Rth) of the multilayer compensator is more negative than ?20 nm or more positive than +20 nm. The in-plane retardation (Rin) of the one or more first layers is 30% or less of the overall in-plane retardation (Rin) of the multilayer compensator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: Nitto Denko Corporation
    Inventors: James F. Elman, William J. Gamble, Daniel F. Hurley
  • Patent number: 7285313
    Abstract: Provided is an acrylic pressure-sensitive adhesive composition for a polarizing film comprising an acrylic copolymer copolymerized from (meth)acrylic ester monomers having different glass transition temperatures. The acrylic pressure-sensitive adhesive composition of the present invention can minimize the problem of light leakage due to shrinkage or expansion of a polarizing film attached to a liquid crystal display panel because it has very superior stress relaxation ability while maintaining superior major properties such as adhesion durability, cuttability, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2007
    Assignee: LG Chem Ltd.
    Inventors: Se-Ra Kim, In-Cheon Han, Suk-ky Chang, Hye-Ran Seong
  • Patent number: 7279203
    Abstract: A liquid crystal panel is provided that has a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between a pair of substrates, wherein the liquid crystal layer comprises a liquid crystal and a cross-linked resin, the cross-linked resin comprises a cross-linked structural part adhered to a liquid crystal layer contacting surface and a terminal part rising from the liquid crystal layer contacting surface, and at least one of three conditions: the outer surface of at least one substrate is curved; a liquid crystal layer contacting surface is curved; and the thickness of one of the substrates is not more than ½ of the thickness of the other substrate, is satisfied. It is possible to obtain a liquid crystal panel having increased freedom in the appearance, device weight reduction, simplified structure, etc. by improving the outer and/or inner surfaces of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2007
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideaki Tsuda, Seiji Tanuma, Yoshio Koike
  • Patent number: 7276268
    Abstract: Poly-azo compound selected from the group consisting compounds of the formula (I) and compounds of the formula (II), (wherein, Me represents copper, nickel, zinc or iron, A represents a naphthyl group having 1 to 3 sulfonic groups and further optionally having an alkyl group or alkoxy group, R1 and R2 represent each independently a hydrogen atom, alkyl group or alkoxy group, and R3 represents an amino group or hydroxyl group.).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Sumitomo Chemical Company, Limited
    Inventors: Toru Ashida, Narutoshi Hayashi
  • Patent number: 7273640
    Abstract: A reflective optical film comprises a layer containing a polyester voided with inorganic particles such as barium sulfate in a size and an amount sufficient to provide a visible light reflectivity of at least 93%, a void volume of 40 to 70%, the film at least (1) having a thickness of less than 150 ?m, or (2) containing UV particles in amounts sufficient to provide a UV light reflectivity of less than 40%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: Rohm and Haas Denmark Finance A/S
    Inventors: Thomas M. Laney, Kenneth W. Best, Jr., Robert P. Bourdelais
  • Patent number: 7270858
    Abstract: An inclined optical compensation film formed from a non-liquid-crystal polymer, which is useful in a TN mode liquid crystal display. A substrate is coated with a non-liquid-crystal polymer to thereby form a coating film; the non-liquid-crystal polymer of the coating film is inclined and aligned; and the coating film is solidified, thereby forming an inclined optical compensation film. The non-liquid-crystal polymer can be inclined and aligned by, for example, applying external force, such as wind blowing, to the coating film. This inclined optical compensation film exhibits, for example, a birefringence (?n) ranging from 0.001 to 0.5 and thus is useful in a TN mode liquid crystal display, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Assignee: Nitto Denko Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Yamaoka, Nao Murakami, Hiroyuki Yoshimi
  • Patent number: 7270860
    Abstract: A multilayer heat-sealable chlorine-free odor barrier film having relatively low modulus, high interlaminar strength, and low noise upon flexing is provided. The film comprises an odor barrier layer of an amorphous polyamide resin blended with an anhydride-modified olefinic polymer or copolymer. The film also includes at least one heat-sealable skin layer, preferably two such skin layers on opposite sides of said odor barrier layer, composed of an ethylene polymer or copolymer. Pouches formed of such multilayer films are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Assignee: Hollister Incorporated
    Inventor: Claudio Giori
  • Patent number: 7264852
    Abstract: A liquid crystal panel having improved contrast ratio in an oblique direction and good display evenness without causing shift or unevenness in retardation values due to shrinkage stress of a polarizer or heat of backlight is provided. A liquid crystal panel according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a liquid crystal cell; a polarizer arranged on both sides of the liquid crystal cell; a first optical element arranged between one polarizer and the liquid crystal cell; and a second optical element arranged between the other polarizer and the liquid crystal cell, wherein: the first optical element comprises a retardation film containing a styrene-based resin and a polycarbonate-based resin and satisfying the following expressions (1) and (2); and the second optical element has substantially optical isotropy: 240 nm?Re[590]?350 nm??(1) 0.20?Rth[590]/Re[590]?0.80.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Assignee: Nitto Denko Corporation
    Inventors: Naoki Koishi, Shuuji Yano, Kenji Yoda, Masaki Hayashi
  • Patent number: 7264851
    Abstract: A bistable nematic liquid crystal display device comprises two cell walls enclosing a layer of nematic liquid crystal material having finely divided solid particles dispersed therein. At least one electrode on each cell wall applies an electric field across at least some of the liquid crystal material. Surface alignments on the inner surface of both cell walls induce adjacent molecules of the liquid crystal material to adopt desired orientations. The liquid crystal material adopts two different stable molecular configurations according to the polarity of applied electric field pulses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Assignee: Hewlett Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: David Sikharulidze
  • Patent number: 7261928
    Abstract: A package coating is processed by applying a plurality of aqueous mixtures over a substrate. The aqueous mixtures each include a combination of pigments and binders. A packaging article is also disclosed that is made from the package coating on a substrate. Additionally, a packaging system is included that contains commercial product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2007
    Assignee: Potlatch Corporation
    Inventors: Melvin Jokela, Cathy Kortesmaki, Ann Williams
  • Patent number: 7259803
    Abstract: A resin sheet that is unlikely to be affected by heat and allows prevention of the occurrence of a crack is provided. A glass fiber cloth-like material is dipped into an epoxy resin solution and subjected to curing, thereby obtaining an epoxy resin-based sheet including the glass fiber cloth-like material. The resin sheet has a haze value of 10% or lower, and preferably, has a light transmittance of 88% or higher, an in-plane retardation of not more than 2 nm, a retardation in a thickness direction of 40 nm, and a surface roughness of not more than 2 ?m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: Nitto Denko Corporation
    Inventors: Yuuzou Akada, Toshiyuki Umehara, Nobuyoshi Yagi, Tadaaki Harada, Yoshimasa Sakata, Hidetoshi Yoshitake
  • Patent number: 7258904
    Abstract: According to the present invention, a water absorbent material and materials to be sucked included in a water permeable bag type member form a water absorber. Thus, the water absorber is small both in weight and volume upon its transportation, and accordingly, the water absorber can be rapidly conveyed in large quantities without depending on a human power. The water absorber absorbs water upon its use to adequately satisfy a function of a form traceability for weight, volume and outline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Haruo Watanabe, Yasuhito Inagaki, Tsutomu Noguchi
  • Patent number: 7255903
    Abstract: A patch bag has a heat-shrinkable patch adhered to a heat-shrinkable bag. The patch comprises an ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymer having a density greater than about 0.915 g/cm3, this copolymer being present in the patch in an amount of at least about 5 percent, based on a total patch weight. The patch also comprises a heterogeneous ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymer having a density of less than about 0.915 g/cm3, which is also present in the patch in an amount of at least about 5 percent, based on total patch weight. In addition, the two ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymers make up at least 70 percent of the total patch weight. VLDPE is a preferred heterogeneous ethylene/alpha-olefin less than 0.915 g/cc, and LLDPE is a preferred ethylene/alpha-olefin greater than 0.915 g/cc. The patch film can be selected to exhibit a total free shrink and/or bone-puncture resistance which is higher than either VLDPE or LLDPE alone. The patch film can be selected to exhibit Standard Rib Drop Test results (i.e.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Cryovac, Inc.
    Inventors: Kimberly Ann Mudar, Ram Kumar Ramesh
  • Patent number: 7252864
    Abstract: Disclosed is an optical film that comprises certain radiation cured (meth)acrylate binders and, desirably, irregular semicrystalline asymmetric particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Mridula Nair, Tamara K. Jones, Bradley M. Houghtaling, Joseph S. Sedita, Gary A. Rakes
  • Patent number: 7252865
    Abstract: Polymer films comprising plasticizer compounds represented by Structure 1 as described in the specification are useful as protective films in polarizing plates for display applications. Methods of manufacturing such polymer films and polarizing plates are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Timothy C. Schunk, Donald R. Diehl, Daniel T. Linehan, Zora T. Marlowe, Deepak Shukla
  • Patent number: 7250201
    Abstract: A production method of cellulose film wherein cellulose film is produced by preparing a polymer solution through dissolving cellulose ester in a solvent containing a prescribed organic solvent as the main component, forming a filmy object from the prepared polymer solution, and evaporating the solvent in the filmy object; the residual amount of the organic solvent is reduced while the film quality is not degraded, and the production efficiency is degraded to a least possible extent; a poor solvent, highest in boiling point among the materials contained in the solvent, is added in the content ranging from 0.1 wt % to 1.0 wt %, taking the total amount of the solvent in the prepared polymer solution to be 100 wt %; and the solubility of cellulose ester in the poor solvent is inferior to the solubility of the cellulose ester in the organic solvent which is the main component of the solvent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2007
    Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation
    Inventors: Hidekazu Yamazaki, Toshikazu Nakamura, Hiroshi Miyachi