Patents by Inventor Ian Sage
Ian Sage has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Publication number: 20230027830Abstract: An inductive cooktop system includes a top plate that has a top surface for supporting a cookware object. A display is disposed below the top plate, and induction coils are arranged in a matrix and disposed vertically below the display. The induction coils are each operable to generate a magnetic field that partially extends above the top surface of the top plate to couple with the cookware object. A control system receives an initial input indicating a position of the cookware object on the top surface of the top plate. Data processing hardware of the control system then determines the pixels of the display corresponding to the indicated position from the input. The control system then generates a graphic at the indicated position for the cookware object by illuminating the plurality of pixels of the display.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 7, 2021Publication date: January 26, 2023Inventors: Cort Corwin, Andrew Foley, Ian Sage, Dave Jerovsek
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Publication number: 20220369480Abstract: An appliance has an insulated compartment with a door that is movable between a closed position and an open position for accessing an interior cavity of the insulated compartment. A window panel is disposed at the door for viewing the interior cavity when the door in in the closed position. A display overlays at least a portion of the window panel, so as to display information that is visible at an exterior surface of the door. The display is also at least partially transparent for viewing the interior cavity through the window panel and the display. A transparent thermal insulator is disposed between the window panel and the display to prevent the interior cavity from heating or cooling the display outside of an operating temperature range.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 17, 2020Publication date: November 17, 2022Inventors: IAN SAGE, CORT C. CORWIN
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Patent number: 11124705Abstract: The invention relates to a light modulation element comprising a pair of substrates, one or more optical films located on the inner side of one of the substrates, an electrode structure capable of inducing an electric field substantially in parallel to the substrates main plane, and a homogenously aligned liquid crystalline medium which is obtainable from a photoalignment component A) and a liquid-crystalline component B). Furthermore, the invention relates process of production of the light modulation element, to the use of the light modulation element in an electro optical device and to an electro optical device comprising said light modulation element.Type: GrantFiled: April 17, 2018Date of Patent: September 21, 2021Assignee: MERCK PATENT GMBHInventors: Phil Baker, Rachel Tuffin, Joseph Sargent, Ian Sage
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Publication number: 20200312279Abstract: A system provides an elongated display that has a touchscreen with a multi-user interactive display area that is accessible simultaneously by at least two users. A sensor may monitor users at or near the interactive display area of the touchscreen, such as to transmit a sensor signal that identifies the presence of a user, which may be used to determine a location of the user relative to the elongated display. A characteristic of the user may also be identified with a sensor, where the characteristic may correspond with a user profile. The elongated display may display an image at a section of the interactive display area near the location of the user, where the image corresponds with a preselected setting of the user profile.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 27, 2020Publication date: October 1, 2020Inventors: Ian Sage, Cort C. Corwin, Esai Umenei, Josiah Bonewell, David W. Baarman, Richard W. Harris, Andrew Foley
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Publication number: 20200310550Abstract: A system provides an elongated display that has a touchscreen with a multi-user interactive display area that is accessible simultaneously by at least two users. A sensor may monitor users at or near the interactive display area of the touchscreen, such as to transmit a sensor signal that identifies the presence of a user, which may be used to determine a location of the user relative to the elongated display. A characteristic of the user may also be identified with a sensor, where the characteristic may correspond with a user profile. The elongated display may display an image at a section of the interactive display area near the location of the user, where the image corresponds with a preselected setting of the user profile.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 27, 2020Publication date: October 1, 2020Inventors: Ian Sage, Cort C. Corwin, Esai Umenei, Josiah Bonewell, David W. Baarman, Richard W. Harris, Andrew Foley
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Publication number: 20200299579Abstract: The invention relates to a liquid crystal medium comprising one or more dielectrically negative compounds and one or more dielectrically positive compounds, characterized in that the medium as a whole exhibits a dielectrically anisotropy (??) in the range from ?0.25 to +0.25. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method of production of such medium and to the use of such medium in a light modulation element utilizing flexoelectric switching. Moreover, the invention relates to a light modulation element utilizing flexoelectric switching comprising the described medium, to a method of production of such light modulation element, to the use of such light modulation element in electro-optical devices and to these electro-optical devices as such.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 19, 2018Publication date: September 24, 2020Applicant: MERCK PATENT GMBHInventors: Simon SIEMIANOWSKI, Rachel TUFFIN, Ian SAGE
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Publication number: 20200123446Abstract: The invention relates to a light modulation element comprising a pair of substrates, one or more optical films located on the inner side of one of the substrates, an electrode structure capable of inducing an electric field substantially in parallel to the substrates main plane, and a homogenously aligned liquid crystalline medium which is obtainable from a photoalignment component A) and a liquid-crystalline component B). Furthermore, the invention relates process of production of the light modulation element, to the use of the light modulation element in an electro optical device and to an electro optical device comprising said light modulation element.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 17, 2018Publication date: April 23, 2020Applicant: Merck Patent GmbHInventors: Phil BAKER, Rachel TUFFIN, Joseph SARGENT, Ian SAGE
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Patent number: 9103861Abstract: A multi-function sensor apparatus includes multiple sensing electrodes and a control circuit adapted to receive signals from each of the sensing electrodes and to deem whether the sensing electrodes are in a touched state or an untouched state. The control circuit also is adapted to selectively provide an output based on the sensor's states and the manner in which the sensors came to be in such states.Type: GrantFiled: October 11, 2013Date of Patent: August 11, 2015Assignee: METHODE ELECTRONICS, INC.Inventor: Ian Sage
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Patent number: 8859922Abstract: A multi-function switch includes a proximity sensor for detecting proximity to the switch-at-large and one or more touch sensors that can distinguish between a touch to a corresponding touch surface and a push to the touch surface.Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 2010Date of Patent: October 14, 2014Assignee: Method Electronics, Inc.Inventors: Ian Sage, Tim Green
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Publication number: 20140035600Abstract: A multi-function sensor apparatus includes multiple sensing electrodes and a control circuit adapted to receive signals from each of the sensing electrodes and to deem whether the sensing electrodes are in a touched state or an untouched state. The control circuit also is adapted to selectively provide an output based on the sensor's states and the manner in which the sensors came to be in such states.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 11, 2013Publication date: February 6, 2014Applicant: METHODE ELECTRONICS, INC.Inventor: Ian SAGE
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Patent number: 8558561Abstract: A multi-function sensor apparatus includes multiple sensing electrodes and a control circuit adapted to receive signals from each of the sensing electrodes and to deem whether the sensing electrodes are in a touched state or an untouched state. The control circuit also is adapted to selectively provide an output based on the sensor's states and the manner in which the sensors came to be in such states.Type: GrantFiled: April 19, 2011Date of Patent: October 15, 2013Assignee: Methode Electronics, Inc.Inventor: Ian Sage
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Publication number: 20110254570Abstract: A multi-function sensor apparatus includes multiple sensing electrodes and a control circuit adapted to receive signals from each of the sensing electrodes and to deem whether the sensing electrodes are in a touched state or an untouched state. The control circuit also is adapted to selectively provide an output based on the sensor's states and the manner in which the sensors came to be in such states.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 19, 2011Publication date: October 20, 2011Applicant: METHODE ELECTRONICS, INC.Inventor: Ian Sage
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Publication number: 20070134667Abstract: A molecular single electron transistor (MSET) detector device (14) is described that comprises at least one organic molecule (87) connecting a drain electrode (84) and a source electrode (82). In use, said at least one organic molecule (87) provides a quantum confinement region. At least one analyte receptor site (90, 92) is provided in the vicinity of said at least one organic molecule (87) that bind molecules of interest (analytes). A fluid analyser (2) is also described that includes the MSET detector, a pre-concentrator (4) and a fluid gating structure (6). The fluid gating structure (6) is arranged to selectively route fluid from the pre-concentrator (4) to either one of the detector (14) and an exhaust port (12). The pre-concentrator (4), fluid gating structure (6) and detector (14) are each formed as substantially planar layers and arranged in a stack or cube.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 5, 2004Publication date: June 14, 2007Applicant: QINETIO LIMITEDInventors: Timothy Ashley, Kevin Brunson, Philip Buckle, Timothy Cox, Norman Geddes, John Jefferson, Russell Noble, Ian Sage, David Combes
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Publication number: 20070129613Abstract: Flexible and conformal medical light sources and related diagnostic devices directed to monitoring blood characteristics (e.g. levels of CO, oxygen, or bilirubin) and photo-therapeutic devices for treatment of ailments such as psoriasis and some forms of cancer. The flexible light source preferably comprises one or more organic light emitting diodes on a flexible substrate. Light sources may also be used for purposes of treatment. The substrate can also form a integral strap for attachment of the device over or around the patient's body. Optionally, the device comprises a photo-detector arranged to detect and monitor emissions from the sources. Flexible and conformal medical light detectors and devices are also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 18, 2004Publication date: June 7, 2007Inventors: Katie Rochester, Ian Sage, Tej Kaushal
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Publication number: 20060176438Abstract: A bistable display device comprises two cell walls enclosing a sheet having a plurality of cavities each containing a rotatable bicoloured sphere within a liquid crystal material carrier (15), and electrodes for applying an electrical field. The spheres and cavities are provided with a surface alignment which imposes a substantially unidirectional director alignment on the liquid crystal material in contact with them. The elastic distortion free energy of the liquid crystal material in each cavity is arranged to be zero when the preferred direction of the suspended spheres coincides with that of the surrounding cavity, e.g. black upwards. It is also zero when the sphere is rotated through 180° to present its opposite hemisphere which has a contrasting optical appearance, e.g. black downwards. Between these two states, there is an energetic barrier determined by the elastic constants of the liquid crystal which provides both a threshold for switching and improved bistability.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 11, 2004Publication date: August 10, 2006Inventor: Ian Sage
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Patent number: 5312563Abstract: Fluorinated 4"-cyano substituted terphenyls of general formula (I), wherein R.sub.1 is selected from alkenyl, H, R, RO and RCO where R is alkyl or perfluoroalkyl containing up to 12 carbon atoms, n is 1, 2 or 3 and the lateral fluorosubstituent(s) may be in any of the available substitution positions are provided. These have liquid crystalline properties and may be used as components of liquid crystal materials.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 1993Date of Patent: May 17, 1994Assignee: The Secretary of State for Defence in her Britannic Majesty's Government of the U.K. of Great Britain and Northern IrelandInventors: David Coates, Ian Sage, Simon Greenfield, George W. Gray, David Lacey, Kenneth J. Toyne, Lawrence K. Chan, Michael Hird
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Patent number: 5198149Abstract: Chiral, tilted, smectic liquid-crystal phases containing at least two liquid-crystal components and at least one chiral doping agent, at least one liquid-crystal component being a compound having the structural unit 2,3-difluoro-1,4-phenylene, are distinguished by a very low viscosity and advantageous switching times.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 1989Date of Patent: March 30, 1993Assignee: Merck Patent Gesellschaft mit beschrankter HaftungInventors: Volker Reiffenrath, Joachim Krause, Andreas Wachtler, Thomas Geelhaar, David Coates, Ian Sage, Simon Greenfield