Patents by Inventor William E. Bird

William E. Bird 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).

  • Display unit and methods of displaying an image
    Patent number: 7791562
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of displaying an image on a display device having first and second sides, said image including an light restricting silhouette pattern having a plurality of first transparent or translucent areas, and at least one design layer having at least one color, said at least one design layer being visible from one side of said display device and substantially less visible from the other side, said image being substantially transparent or translucent as viewed from the other side, comprising the steps: 1) providing at least a definition of said design layer to a computer; 2) generating a computerized version of said design layer with the computer; 3) outputting the computerized version of said design layer to said display device, the computerized version of said design layer being modified to subdivide said design layer into a plurality of second discrete transparent or translucent areas and other areas, and 4) displaying said modified design layer and said silhouette pattern
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Bruno Mueller, William E. Bird
  • Display unit and methods of displaying an image
    Patent number: 7193631
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of displaying an image on a display device having first and second sides, said image including an light restricting silhouette pattern having a plurality of first transparent or translucent areas, and at least one design layer having at least one color, said at least one design layer being visible from one side of said display device and substantially less visible from the other side, said image being substantially transparent or translucent as viewed from the other side, comprising the steps: 1) providing at least a definition of said design layer to a computer; 2) generating a computerized version of said design layer with the computer; 3) outputting the computerized version of said design layer to said display device, the computerized version of said design layer being modified to subdivide said design layer into a plurality of second discrete transparent or translucent areas and other areas, and 4) displaying said modified design layer and said silhouette pattern
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Bruno Mueller, William E. Bird
  • Pixel structure with optimized subpixel sizes for emissive displays
    Patent number: 7176861
    Abstract: A method of designing a fixed format emissive display is described using a computing device having a processor and a memory, the display comprising an array of emissive pixel elements, each pixel element comprising at least two sub-pixel elements made of different materials. The method comprises selecting areas of the at least two sub-pixel elements so that each pixel element displays white at a predetermined white point within a certain tolerance over a lifetime of the pixel, and such that the lifetimes of the sub-pixel areas are within a predetermined tolerance of each other. A display having sub-pixel elements optimized so that each pixel element displays white at a predetermined white point within a certain tolerance over a lifetime of the pixel, and such that the lifetimes of the sub-pixel areas are within a predetermined tolerance of each other is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignee: Barco N.V.
    Inventors: Nele Dedene, Robbie Thielemans, Herbert Van Hille, William E. Bird
  • Pixel structrue with optimized subpixel sizes for emissive displays
    Publication number: 20040164935
    Abstract: A method of designing a fixed format emissive display is described using a computing device having a processor and a memory, the display comprising an array of emissive pixel elements, each pixel element comprising at least two sub-pixel elements made of different materials. The method comprises selecting areas of the at least two sub-pixel elements so that each pixel element displays white at a predetermined white point within a certain tolerance over a lifetime of the pixel, and such that the lifetimes of the sub-pixel areas are within a predetermined tolerance of each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2003
    Publication date: August 26, 2004
    Inventors: Nele Dedene, Robbie Thielemans, Herbert Van Hille, William E. Bird
  • Display unit and methods of displaying an image
    Publication number: 20030122844
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of displaying an image on a display device having first and second sides, said image including an light restricting silhouette pattern having a plurality of first transparent or translucent areas, and at least one design layer having at least one color, said at least one design layer being visible from one side of said display device and substantially less visible from the other side, said image being substantially transparent or translucent as viewed from the other side, comprising the steps:
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2002
    Publication date: July 3, 2003
    Applicant: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Bruno Mueller, William E. Bird
  • Display unit and method of displaying an image
    Patent number: 6507413
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of displaying an image on a display device having first and second sides, said image including a light restricting silhouette pattern having a plurality of first transparent or translucent areas, and at least one design layer having at least one color, said at least one design layer being visible from one side of said display device and substantially less visible from the other side, said image being substantially transparent or translucent as viewed from the other side, comprising the steps: 1) providing at least a definition of said design layer to a computer, 2) generating a computerized version of said design layer with,he computer, 3) outputting the computerized version of said design layer to said display device, the computerized version of said design layer being modified to subdivide said design layer into a plurality of second discrete transparent or translucent areas and other areas; and 4) displaying said modified design layer and said silhouette pattern with
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2003
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Bruno Mueller, William E. Bird