Patents by Inventor Kenneth Burrows

Kenneth Burrows 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).

  • Patent number: 8727550
    Abstract: A hybrid electroluminescent assembly is described wherein the assembly includes one or more electroluminescent structures and a plurality of discontinuous retroreflective segments. Discontinuous retroreflective segments are disposed at least partially in the light path of the one or more electroluminescent structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignees: Oryon Technologies, LLC, 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Kenneth Burrows, Rodney K. Hehenberger
  • Publication number: 20130105013
    Abstract: An even-flow tee arrangement for use with a septic system consists of a tee connector having top and bottom section cemented together. The bottom section includes a splitter plate extending from the tee-shaped exit end to two pairs of directional vanes proximate the entrance end of the tee connector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2011
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Inventor: Kenneth Burrows
  • Patent number: 8110765
    Abstract: An combined monolithic electroluminescent lamp and membrane switch is manufactured by continuous printing. Graphic indicia is imprinted on deformable substrate. An electroluminescent lamp is imprinted on the graphic indicia layer and a membrane switch is formed on the lamp. The monolithic switch has a layer for sensing switch actuation by means including resistance change, capacitance change, or magnetic field change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Oryon Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: M. Richard Marcus, Kenneth Burrows, Thomas L. Brown
  • Publication number: 20100232143
    Abstract: A hybrid electroluminescent assembly is described wherein the assembly includes one or more electroluminescent structures and a plurality of discontinuous retroreflective segments. Discontinuous retroreflective segments are disposed at least partially in the light path of the one or more electroluminescent structures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2009
    Publication date: September 16, 2010
    Inventors: Kenneth Burrows, Rodney K. Hehenberger
  • Publication number: 20060278509
    Abstract: An combined monolithic electroluminescent lamp and membrane switch is manufactured by continuous printing. Graphic indicia is imprinted on deformable substrate. An electroluminescent lamp is imprinted on the graphic indicia layer and a membrane switch is formed on the lamp. The monolithic switch has a layer for sensing switch actuation by means including resistance change, capacitance change, or magnetic field change.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2006
    Publication date: December 14, 2006
    Inventors: M. Marcus, Kenneth Burrows, Thomas Brown
  • Patent number: 7021336
    Abstract: An even-flow tee arrangement for use with a septic system consists of a tee connector having top and bottom section cemented together. The bottom section includes a splitter plate extending from the tee-shaped exit end to two pairs of directional vanes proximate the entrance end of the tee connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Inventors: Kenneth Burrows, Mysore G. Satish
  • Publication number: 20050257845
    Abstract: An even-flow tee arrangement for use with a septic system consists of a tee connector having top and bottom section cemented together. The bottom section includes a splitter plate extending from the tee-shaped exit end to two pairs of directional vanes proximate the entrance end of the tee connector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2004
    Publication date: November 24, 2005
    Inventors: Kenneth Burrows, Mysore Satish
  • Patent number: 6936335
    Abstract: An addressable receptor in laminate form, and advantageously in PTF laminate form, comprising a front conductive layer including a plurality of substantially parallel front electrode strips and a rear conductive layer also including a plurality of substantially parallel rear electrode strips. The conductive layers are orientated with respect to each other so that an array of electrode regions of intersection is formed corresponding to the regions at which the front electrode strips cross over the rear electrode strips. The first and second conductive layers are separated by a reactive layer comprising a plurality of defined reactive regions. The reactive regions are deployed in a reactive array substantially in register with the array of electrode regions of intersection, so that the reactive regions are electrically addressable by coordinate pairs of first and second electrode strips. The front electrode strips are partially transparent to radiation in a selected waveband.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2005
    Assignee: OryonTechnologies, LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth Burrows, Klaus C. Wiemer
  • Publication number: 20040145089
    Abstract: A polymer Thick Film (“PTF”) laminate, in which selected (and advantageously all) of the layers are deployed using UV-curable inks. In one embodiment of the invention, the UV-curable PTF layers are deployed in an exemplary monolithic and membranous EL structure, in which UV-cured urethane envelope layers encapsulate UV-cured urethane electroluminescent layers. When deployed in layer form during manufacture and subsequently exposed to UV radiation, the inventive inks cure in a few seconds without any appreciable layer height shrinkage. Manufacturing cycle time is significantly optimized over traditional heat curing processes. Flexible circuitry is also disclosed herein. The flexible circuitry may be embodied using the UV-curable urethane inks disclosed herein, although the flexible circuitry is not limited to UV-curable or urethane embodiments. Successive insulating layers are deployed. The insulating layers have conductive pathways deployed thereon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2003
    Publication date: July 29, 2004
    Inventor: Kenneth Burrows
  • Publication number: 20040067393
    Abstract: An addressable receptor in laminate form, and advantageously in PTF laminate form, comprising a front conductive layer including a plurality of substantially parallel front electrode strips and a rear conductive layer also including a plurality of substantially parallel rear electrode strips. The conductive layers are orientated with respect to each other so that an array of electrode regions of intersection is formed corresponding to the regions at which the front electrode strips cross over the rear electrode strips. The first and second conductive layers are separated by a reactive layer comprising a plurality of defined reactive regions. The reactive regions are deployed in a reactive array substantially in register with the array of electrode regions of intersection, so that the reactive regions are electrically addressable by coordinate pairs of first and second electrode strips. The front electrode strips are partially transparent to radiation in a selected waveband.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2003
    Publication date: April 8, 2004
    Inventors: Kenneth Burrows, Klaus C Weimer
  • Patent number: 6717361
    Abstract: A membranous electroluminescent structure including membranous envelope layers encapsulating electroluminescent layers. The envelope layers comprise a UV-curable ink, such as a urethane acrylate/acrylate monomer. When deployed in layer form and exposed to UV radiation, the ink cures in a few seconds without any appreciable layer height shrinkage. Manufacturing cycle time is significantly optimized over traditional heat curing processes. The resulting membranous UV-cured EL structure nonetheless has all the advantages of membranous EL structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: MRM Acquisitions, LLC
    Inventor: Kenneth Burrows
  • Patent number: 6696786
    Abstract: A membranous electroluminescent structure with selected layers suspended, prior to deployment, in a carrier comprising (1) a vinyl resin in gel form and (2) a polymeric hexamethylene diisocyanate catalyst. During curing, the catalyst facilitates transformation of the vinyl resin carrier into a urethane. Once cured, the transformed urethane carrier compound enables electroluminescent layers to bond in a monolithic structure also comprising other contiguous urethane layers, such as envelope layers. As a result, membranous electroluminescent structures made in accordance with the present invention are even more rugged than their predecessors. A high degree of crosslinking also becomes available between neighboring urethane layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: MRM Acquisitions LLC
    Inventor: Kenneth Burrows
  • Patent number: 6606399
    Abstract: A polymer thick film (PTF) electroluminescent device generating images described by contact, in which the contact itself closes an open circuit to generate radiation in a pattern in register with the contact. The resulting irradiated image corresponds directly to the contact pattern energizing the radiation. In a preferred embodiment enabled by an electroluminescent system without a back electrode, a fingerprint is disposed to close the open circuit by making contact and thereby serving as a “temporary” back electrode. The electroluminescent then energizes in a pattern in register with the contact (i.e. the fingerprint) to emit a high-resolution image of visible light with high fidelity to the contact. This visible light image may then be directed on to a photosensitive array standard in the art suitable for pixelation and conversion into an electrical signal representative of the image. This signal is available for computerized storage, analysis, processing and comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2003
    Assignee: MRM Acquisitions, LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth Burrows, Stuart J. Ford
  • Patent number: 6551726
    Abstract: An electroluminescent system in which neighboring layers are suspended, prior to application, in advantageously a unitary carrier compound, so that after curing, the layers form active strata within a monolithic mass. The carrier compound in a preferred embodiment is a vinyl resin in gel form. The invention enables several manufacturing advantages, including the ability to screen print the entire electroluminescent system on a variety of porous or fibrous substrates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: E. L. Specialists, Inc.
    Inventor: Kenneth Burrows
  • Publication number: 20030017371
    Abstract: A method for treating a deployed conductive translucent layer that includes exposing the layer to ultra-violet (“UV”) radiation for the design purpose of increasing the conductivity of the layer. The layer advantageously includes a metal oxide dopant such as an indium-tin-oxide. The invention includes exposing the layer to UV radiation both during and/or after curing. The exposure to UV radiation has been shown to increase the conductivity of the layer without appreciably affecting the translucence. In one embodiment, the method includes confining the exposure to UV radiation to preselected zones on the layer so as to create pathways of increased conductivity on the layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2001
    Publication date: January 23, 2003
    Applicant: E.L. Specialists, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth Burrows, Stuart Ford
  • Publication number: 20020056812
    Abstract: A device generating images described by three dimensional contact (such as the grip of a human palm), in which the contact itself closes an open circuit to generate radiation in a pattern in register with the contact. The resulting irradiated image corresponds directly to the contact pattern energizing the radiation. In a preferred embodiment enabled by an electroluminescent system without a back electrode, the grip of a palm print is disposed to close the open circuit by making contact and thereby serving as a “temporary” back electrode. The electroluminescent then energizes in a pattern in register with the contact (i.e. the palm print) to emit a high-resolution image of visible light with high fidelity to the contact. This visible light image may then be directed on to a photosensitive array standard in the art suitable for pixelation and conversion into an electrical signal representative of the image. This signal is available for computerized storage, analysis, processing and comparison.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 1998
    Publication date: May 16, 2002
    Inventors: KENNETH BURROWS, STUART J. FORD
  • Publication number: 20020041153
    Abstract: A membranous electroluminescent structure including membranous envelope layers encapsulating electroluminescent layers. The envelope layers comprise a UV-curable ink, such as a urethane acrylate/acrylate monomer. When deployed in layer form and exposed to UV radiation, the ink cures in a few seconds without any appreciable layer height shrinkage. Manufacturing cycle time is significantly optimized over traditional heat curing processes. The resulting membranous UV-cured EL structure nonetheless has all the advantages of membranous EL structures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2001
    Publication date: April 11, 2002
    Inventor: Kenneth Burrows
  • Publication number: 20020041152
    Abstract: A membranous electroluminescent structure with selected layers suspended, prior to deployment, in a carrier comprising (1) a vinyl resin in gel form and (2) a polymeric hexamethylene diisocyanate catalyst. During curing, the catalyst facilitates transformation of the vinyl resin carrier into a urethane. Once cured, the transformed urethane carrier compound enables electroluminescent layers to bond in a monolithic structure also comprising other contiguous urethane layers, such as envelope layers. As a result, membranous electroluminescent structures made in accordance with the present invention are even more rugged than their predecessors. A high degree of crosslinking also becomes available between neighboring urethane layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2001
    Publication date: April 11, 2002
    Inventor: Kenneth Burrows
  • Publication number: 20010055412
    Abstract: A polymer thick film (PTF) electroluminescent device generating images described by contact, in which the contact itself closes an open circuit to generate radiation in a pattern in register with the contact. The resulting irradiated image corresponds directly to the contact pattern energizing the radiation. In a preferred embodiment enabled by an electroluminescent system without a back electrode, a fingerprint is disposed to close the open circuit by making contact and thereby serving as a “temporary” back electrode. The electroluminescent then energizes in a pattern in register with the contact (i.e. the fingerprint) to emit a high-resolution image of visible light with high fidelity to the contact. This visible light image may then be directed on to a photosensitive array standard in the art suitable for pixelation and conversion into an electrical signal representative of the image. This signal is available for computerized storage, analysis, processing and comparison.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2001
    Publication date: December 27, 2001
    Applicant: E.L. Specialists, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth Burrows, Stuart J. Ford
  • Patent number: 6309764
    Abstract: Apparel is disclosed, including an elastomeric electroluminescent (EL) lamp in which an electroluminescent system, advantageously monolithic, is provided in an elastomeric structure. As a result, the lamp is thin, pliable and membrane-like. A first envelope layer is applied advantageously by screen printing to transfer release paper. An EL system is then applied, again advantageously by screen printing to the first envelope layer, and then a second envelope layer is applied to seal the EL system within the envelope. Appropriate windows are cut or left open to allow electrical contact with the EL system. An optional adhesive layer then may be applied if the lamp is to be used in transfer form for later affixation to the apparel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2001
    Assignee: E.L. Specialists, Inc.
    Inventor: Kenneth Burrows