Patents by Inventor Marc D. Radcliffe
Marc D. Radcliffe 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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Patent number: 6084649Abstract: A tristable liquid crystal display device comprises (a) first and second opposed substrates, at least one bearing an alignment coating and each bearing at least one electrode so as to define one or a plurality of pixels; (b) a tilted smectic or induced tilted smectic liquid crystal composition disposed between the substrates; and (c) a pair of orthogonally disposed polarizers, each having a polarization axis, one polarization axis being aligned with the zero field optical axis of a tilted smectic or induced tilted smectic mesophase of the liquid crystal composition; wherein the substrates are disposed so as to provide an alignment of the liquid crystal composition, which comprises (i) at least one chiral liquid crystal compound; and (ii) at least one achiral liquid crystal compound that can be represented by the following formula:R--M--N--(P).sub.a --OCH.sub.2 R.sub.f (I)where R, M, N, P, a and R.sub.f are describe herein; wherein the liquid crystal composition exhibits tristable switching.Type: GrantFiled: August 10, 1998Date of Patent: July 4, 2000Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Takashi Amano, Michael P. Keyes, Steven J. Martin, Marc D. Radcliffe, Patricia M. Savu, Daniel C. Snustad
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Patent number: 6057007Abstract: A tristable liquid crystal display device comprises (a) first and second opposed substrates, at least one bearing an alignment coating and each bearing at least one electrode so as to define one or a plurality of pixels; (b) a tilted smectic or induced tilted smectic liquid crystal composition disposed between the substrates; and (c) a pair of orthogonally disposed polarizers, each having a polarization axis, one polarization axis being aligned with the zero field optical axis of a tilted smectic or induced tilted smectic mesophase of the liquid crystal composition; wherein the substrates are disposed so as to provide an alignment of the liquid crystal composition, the composition comprising at least one chiral liquid crystal compound that can be represented by the following formula:R--M--N--(P).sub.b --OCH.sub.2 C*HF--CH.sub.2 O(CH.sub.2).sub.a R.sub.Type: GrantFiled: August 10, 1998Date of Patent: May 2, 2000Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Takashi Amano, Michael P. Keyes, Steven J. Martin, Marc D. Radcliffe, Patricia M. Savu, Daniel C. Snustad
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Patent number: 6030547Abstract: Fluorine-containing, chiral liquid crystal compounds comprise (a) a chiral fluorochemical terminal portion comprising (i) at least one chiral center, which can optionally be heteroatom-substituted; (ii) a terminal fluoroalkyl, fluoroether, perfluoroalkyl, or perfluoroether group; and (iii) an alkylene or fluoroalkylene group optionally containing at least one caternary ether oxygen atom; (b) a chiral or achiral terminal portion consisting of a hydrocarbon or hydrocarbon ether group, and, when chiral, comprising at least one chiral center, which can optionally be heteroatom-substituted; and (c) a central core connecting the terminal portions; the alkylene or fluoroalkylene group of the chiral fluorochemical terminal portion having at least 3 in-chain atoms and being located between the chiral center of the chiral fluorochemical terminal portion and the central core. The compounds have smectic mesophases or latent smectic mesophases and are useful, for example, in liquid crystal display devices.Type: GrantFiled: December 24, 1997Date of Patent: February 29, 2000Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Masakazu Hasegawa, Michael P. Keyes, Marc D. Radcliffe, Patricia M. Savu, Daniel C. Snustad, Terence D. Spawn
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Patent number: 5972241Abstract: Fluorine-containing, chiral liquid crystal compounds comprise (a) a chiral fluorochemical terminal portion containing at least one methylene group and optionally containing at least one catenary ether oxygen atom; (b) a saturated, chiral or achiral, hydrocarbon terminal portion; and (c) a central core connecting the terminal portions. The compounds have smectic mesophases or latent smectic mesophases and are useful, for example, in liquid crystal display devices.Type: GrantFiled: November 6, 1997Date of Patent: October 26, 1999Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Gilbert C. Johnson, Marc D. Radcliffe, Patricia M. Savu, Daniel C. Snustad, Terence D. Spawn
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Patent number: 5928562Abstract: A process for controlling the cone tilt angle of a tilted smectic liquid crystal composition comprises the step of combining (a) at least one liquid crystal composition comprising at least one smectic or latent smectic liquid crystal compound comprising (i) an aliphatic fluorocarbon terminal portion comprising a terminal fluoroalkyl or fluoroether group and an alkylene group having at least two carbon atoms and containing at least one catenary ether oxygen atom, (ii) an aliphatic hydrocarbon terminal portion, and (iii) a central core connecting the terminal portions; and (b) at least one liquid crystal composition comprising at least one smectic or latent smectic liquid crystal compound; with the provisos that at least one of the compositions (a) and (b) comprises at least one chiral liquid crystal compound and that the combining of compositions (a) and (b) provides an optically active, tilted chiral smectic liquid crystal composition.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 1997Date of Patent: July 27, 1999Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing CompanyInventors: John F. Kistner, Marc D. Radcliffe, Patricia M. Savu, Daniel C. Snustad
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Patent number: 5855812Abstract: A process for controlling the cone tilt angle of a tilted smectic liquid crystal composition comprises the step of combining (a) at least one liquid crystal composition comprising at least one smectic or latent smectic liquid crystal compound comprising (i) an aliphatic fluorocarbon terminal portion comprising a terminal fluoroalkyl or fluoroether group and an alkylene group having at least two carbon atoms and containing at least one catenary ether oxygen atom, (ii) an aliphatic hydrocarbon terminal portion, and (iii) a central core connecting the terminal portions, wherein the alkylene group of the aliphatic fluorocarbon terminal portion is directly linked to the central core by a moiety selected from the group consisting of a covalent bond, --CH.dbd.CH--, and --C.tbd.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 1997Date of Patent: January 5, 1999Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing CompanyInventors: Marc D. Radcliffe, Patricia M. Savu, Daniel C. Snustad, Terence D. Spawn
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Patent number: 5783115Abstract: The invention relates to optically transmissive, silica-containing compositions which exhibit a small change of refractive index with respect to temperature changes (dn.sub.g /dT). The compositions are derived from silica sols dispersed in liquid organic polymers. The invention relates to optical systems comprising a plurality of elements that are optically interconnected by means of the inventive composition. An especially preferred embodiment of the invention is the use of the composition within a connector to simultaneously align and join optical fibers.Type: GrantFiled: September 2, 1997Date of Patent: July 21, 1998Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing CompanyInventors: Zayn Bilkadi, Marc D. Radcliffe, James C. Novack
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Patent number: 5702637Abstract: Fluorine-containing, chiral liquid crystal compounds comprise (a) a chiral fluorochemical terminal portion containing at least one methylene group and optionally containing at least one catenary ether oxygen atom; (b) a saturated, chiral or achiral, hydrocarbon terminal portion; and (c) a central core connecting the terminal portions. The compounds have smectic mesophases or latent smectic mesophases and are useful, for example, in liquid crystal display devices.Type: GrantFiled: April 19, 1995Date of Patent: December 30, 1997Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing CompanyInventors: Gilbert C. Johnson, Marc D. Radcliffe, Patricia M. Savu, Daniel C. Snustad, Terence D. Spawn
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Patent number: 5658491Abstract: A process for controlling the cone tilt angle of a tilted smectic liquid crystal composition comprises the step of combining (a) at least one liquid crystal composition comprising at least one smectic or latent smectic liquid crystal compound comprising (i) an aliphatic fluorocarbon terminal portion comprising a terminal fluoroalkyl or fluoroether group and an alkylene group having at least two carbon atoms and containing at least one catenary ether oxygen atom, (ii) an aliphatic hydrocarbon terminal portion, and (iii) a central core connecting the terminal portions; and (b) at least one liquid crystal composition comprising at least one smectic or latent smectic liquid crystal compound; with the provisos that at least one of the compositions (a) and (b) comprises at least one chiral liquid crystal compound and that the combining of compositions (a) and (b) provides an optically active, tilted chiral smectic liquid crystal composition.Type: GrantFiled: October 12, 1995Date of Patent: August 19, 1997Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing CompanyInventors: John F. Kistner, Marc D. Radcliffe, Patricia M. Savu, Daniel C. Snustad
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Patent number: 5482650Abstract: Fluorine-containing liquid crystal compounds comprise a fluorocarbon terminal portion having at least one catenary ether oxygen and a hydrocarbon terminal portion, the terminal portions being connected by a central core. The compounds have smectic or latent smectic mesophases.Type: GrantFiled: November 14, 1994Date of Patent: January 9, 1996Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing CompanyInventors: Eugene P. Janulis, Gilbert C. Johnson, Marc D. Radcliffe, Patricia M. Savu, Daniel C. Snustad, Terence D. Spawn
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Patent number: 5474705Abstract: Fluorine-containing, chiral liquid crystal compounds comprise (a) an aliphatic fluorocarbon terminal portion containing at least two catenary ether oxygen atoms; (b) a chiral, aliphatic hydrocarbon terminal portion; and (c) a central core connecting the terminal portions. The compounds have smectic mesophases or latent smectic mesophases and are useful, for example, in liquid crystal display devices.Type: GrantFiled: November 14, 1994Date of Patent: December 12, 1995Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing CompanyInventors: Eugene P. Janulis, Gilbert C. Johnson, Marc D. Radcliffe, Patricia M. Savu, Daniel C. Snustad, Terence D. Spawn
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Patent number: 5437812Abstract: Fluorine-containing liquid crystal compounds are provided. The compounds comprise a fluorocarbon terminal portion having at least one catenary ether oxygen and a hydrocarbon terminal portion, the terminal portion being connected by a central core, the compounds having smectic mesophases or having latent smectic mesophases.Type: GrantFiled: April 16, 1993Date of Patent: August 1, 1995Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing CompanyInventors: Eugene P. Janulis, Gilbert C. Johnson, Patricia M. Savu, Terence D. Spawn, Marc D. Radcliffe
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Patent number: 5417883Abstract: A process for controlling layer spacing in mixtures of smectic liquid crystal compounds comprises the step of combining a liquid crystal composition having a net negative thermal layer expansion in at least one tilted (or latent tilted) smectic mesophase and a liquid crystal composition having a net positive thermal layer expansion in at least one tilted (or latent tilted) smectic mesophase, each of the compositions comprising at least one smectic or latent smectic liquid crystal compound. The process enables control of layer spacing in the tilted smectic mesophase(s) and thereby control or suppression of chevron layer geometry.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 1994Date of Patent: May 23, 1995Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing CompanyInventors: Kenneth A. Epstein, Michael P. Keyes, Marc D. Radcliffe, Daniel C. Snustad
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Patent number: 5399291Abstract: Fluorine-containing, chiral and achiral liquid crystal compounds comprise (a) an aliphatic fluorocarbon terminal portion comprising a perfluorinated or partially-fluorinated alkylene group and a terminal hydrocarbon alkyl group, the groups optionally containing at least one catenary ether oxygen atom; (b) an aliphatic hydrocarbon terminal portion; and (c) a central core connecting the terminal portions. The compounds have smectic mesophases or latent smectic mesophases and are useful, for example, in liquid crystal display devices.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 1993Date of Patent: March 21, 1995Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing CompanyInventors: Eugene P. Janulis, Gilbert C. Johnson, Marc D. Radcliffe, Patricia M. Savu, Daniel C. Snustad, Terence D. Spawn
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Patent number: 5377033Abstract: A bistable ferroelectric liquid crystal display device is provided. The device comprises a first substrate, a second substrate opposed to said first substrate, said substrates disposed to provide a non-helicoidal alignment of the ferroelectric liquid crystal material and electrodes on said substrates to define one or a plurality of pixels, said electrode bearing first substrate having an aliphatic polyamide or polyester alignment coating thereon and said electrode bearing second substrate having an organosilsesquioxane polymer coating thereon, and a ferroelectric liquid crystal mixture comprising compounds having fluorinated tail portions with multiple CF.sub.2 groups disposed between said substrates with the proviso that at least one of said substrates is transparent. Also provided is a method for providing an aligned ferroelectric liquid crystal display device.Type: GrantFiled: January 13, 1994Date of Patent: December 27, 1994Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing CompanyInventor: Marc D. Radcliffe
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Patent number: 5307438Abstract: The invention relates to optically transmissive, silica-containing compositions which exhibit a small change of refractive index with respect to temperature changes (dn.sub.g /dT). The compositions are derived from silica sols dispersed in liquid organic polymers. The invention relates to optical systems comprising a plurality of elements that are optically interconnected by means of the inventive composition. An especially preferred embodiment of the invention is the use of the composition within a connector to simultaneously align and join optical fibers.Type: GrantFiled: August 13, 1992Date of Patent: April 26, 1994Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing CompanyInventors: Zayn Bilkadi, Marc D. Radcliffe, Novack James C.