Patents by Inventor Richard John Pokorny

Richard John Pokorny 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).

  • Cholesteric liquid crystal optical bodies and methods of manufacture and use
    Patent number: 7298442
    Abstract: An optical body includes a) first particles comprising a first cholesteric liquid crystal material and b) a second cholesteric liquid crystal material. The first particles and the second cholesteric liquid crystal material form a structure where the first cholesteric liquid crystal material has a pitch that is different than the second cholesteric liquid crystal material. In one example, the second cholesteric liquid crystal material is in the form of second particles. In another example, the first particles are dispersed in a matrix of the second cholesteric liquid crystal material. In other examples, the optical body has more than one layer. In addition, one or more additional cholesteric liquid crystal materials can be used in the optical body. These optical bodies can be used as a reflective polarizer and can be used in a display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Christopher C. Bowley, Ikuko Ebihara, Gregory Edward Gilligan, Richard John Pokorny, Marc Dudley Radcliffe, Prabhakara Satyauolu Rao, Philip Edwin Watson
  • Optical bodies containing cholesteric liquid crystal material and methods of manufacture
    Patent number: 6917399
    Abstract: An optical body includes a substrate and a cholesteric liquid crystal layer disposed on the substrate. The cholesteric liquid crystal layer has a non-uniform pitch along a thickness direction of the layer and comprises a crosslinked polymer material that substantially fixes the cholesteric liquid crystal layer. The crosslinking hinders diffusion of cholesteric liquid crystal material within the cholesteric liquid crystal layer. In other methods of making an optical body, a reservoir of chiral material is provided during the process over a first cholesteric liquid crystal layer to diffuse into the layer and provide a non-uniform pitch. Alternatively, two coating compositions can be disposed on a substrate where the material of the first coating composition is not substantially soluble in the second coating composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2005
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Richard John Pokorny, Marc Dudley Radcliffe, Philip Edwin Watson, Christopher Chadwick Bowley, Ikuko Ebihara
  • Cholesteric liquid crystal optical bodies and methods of manufacture and use
    Patent number: 6876427
    Abstract: An optical body includes a) first particles comprising a first cholesteric liquid crystal material and b) a second cholesteric liquid crystal material. The first particles and the second cholesteric liquid crystal material form a structure where the first cholesteric liquid crystal material has a pitch that is different than the second cholesteric liquid crystal material. In one example, the second cholesteric liquid crystal material is in the form of second particles. In another example, the first particles are dispersed in a matrix of the second cholesteric liquid crystal material. In other examples, the optical body has more than one layer. In addition, one or more additional cholesteric liquid crystal materials can be used in the optical body. These optical bodies can be used as a reflective polarizer and can be used in a display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2005
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Christopher C. Bowley, Ikuko Ebihara, Gregory Edward Gilligan, Richard John Pokorny, Marc Dudley Radcliffe, Prabhakara Satyauolu Rao, Philip Edwin Watson
  • Cholesteric liquid crystal optical bodies and methods of manufacture and use
    Publication number: 20030063245
    Abstract: An optical body includes a) first particles comprising a first cholesteric liquid crystal material and b) a second cholesteric liquid crystal material. The first particles and the second cholesteric liquid crystal material form a structure where the first cholesteric liquid crystal material has a pitch that is different than the second cholesteric liquid crystal material. In one example, the second cholesteric liquid crystal material is in the form of second particles. In another example, the first particles are dispersed in a matrix of the second cholesteric liquid crystal material. In other examples, the optical body has more than one layer. In addition, one or more additional cholesteric liquid crystal materials can be used in the optical body. These optical bodies can be used as a reflective polarizer and can be used in a display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2001
    Publication date: April 3, 2003
    Inventors: Christopher C. Bowley, Ebihara Ikuko, Gregory Edward Gilligan, Richard John Pokorny, Marc Dudley Radcliffe, Prabhakara Satyauolu Rao, Philip Edwin Watson
  • Reflective particle display film and method of manufacture
    Patent number: 6521145
    Abstract: Generally, the present invention relates to a display film and a method of making same, where the display uses electrically responsive, reflective particles disposed within a polymer matrix. The invention includes a method of making a display film having one or more monolayers of the reflective particles. The invention is also directed to a display having particles selected from a production distribution of particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2003
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: David A. Engler, Brit G. Billingsley, William D. Miller, Richard John Pokorny
  • Optical bodies containing cholesteric liquid crystal material and methods of manufacture
    Publication number: 20020159019
    Abstract: An optical body includes a substrate and a cholesteric liquid crystal layer disposed on the substrate. The cholesteric liquid crystal layer has a non-uniform pitch along a thickness direction of the layer and comprises a crosslinked polymer material that substantially fixes the cholesteric liquid crystal layer. The crosslinking hinders diffusion of cholesteric liquid crystal material within the cholesteric liquid crystal layer. In other methods of making an optical body, a reservoir of chiral material is provided during the process over a first cholesteric liquid crystal layer to diffuse into the layer and provide a non-uniform pitch. Alternatively, two coating compositions can be disposed on a substrate where the material of the first coating composition is not substantially soluble in the second coating composition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2001
    Publication date: October 31, 2002
    Inventors: Richard John Pokorny, Marc Dudley Radcliffe, Philip Edwin Watson, Christopher Chadwick Bowley, Ikuko Ebihara
  • Reflective particle display film and method of manufacture
    Patent number: 6383619
    Abstract: Generally, the present invention relates to a display film and a method of making same, where the display uses electrically responsive, reflective particles disposed within a polymer matrix. The invention includes a method of making a display film having one or more monolayers of the reflective particles. The invention is also directed to a display having particles selected from a production distribution of particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: David A. Engler, Brit G. Billingsley, William D. Miller, Richard John Pokorny