Patents by Inventor William M. Sanford

William M. Sanford 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: 11960683
    Abstract: A display system for sensing a finger of a user applied to the display system includes a display panel; a sensor for sensing the finger; a sensing light source configured to emit a first light having a first wavelength W1; and a reflective polarizer disposed between the display panel and the sensor. For a substantially normally incident light, an optical transmittance of the reflective polarizer versus wavelength for a first polarization state has a band edge such that for a first wavelength range extending from a smaller wavelength L1 to a greater wavelength L2 and including W1, where 30 nm?L2?L1?50 nm and L1 is greater than and within about 20 nm of a wavelength L3 corresponding to an optical transmittance of about 50% along the band edge, the optical transmittance has an average of greater than about 75%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Bharat R. Acharya, Robert D. Taylor, Joseph P. Attard, Benjamin J. Forsythe, David T. Yust, Matthew E. Sousa, Jason S. Petaja, Anthony M. Renstrom, William Blake Kolb, Matthew S. Cole, Matthew S. Stay, Matthew R. D. Smith, Jeremy O. Swanson, Tri D. Pham, David A. Rosen, Qunyi Chen, Lisa A. DeNicola, Quinn D. Sanford, Carl A. Stover, Lin Zhao, Gilles J. Benoit
  • Patent number: 11884824
    Abstract: A thermoplastic acrylonitrile containing copolymer/lignin blend, e.g., thermoplastic acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer/lignin blend, is provided, whereas the blend comprises (i) an amount of thermoplastic acrylonitrile containing copolymer (e.g., acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer); (ii) an amount of lignin; (iii) an amount of compatibilizing agent, such as phthalic anhydride, capable of imparting improved ductility and impact strength to the resultant blend and (iv) optionally an amount of at least one additive to impart specific properties including, but not limited, to resistance to ultraviolet radiation, resistance to oxidation, flame retardance, color, surface friction, or surface static charge accumulation. Methods of improving impact strength and/or ductility of, for example, a thermoplastic acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer/lignin blend and articles made therefrom are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Prisma Renewable Composites, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher D. Webb, Adam A. McCall, William M. Sanford, Deborah Burkwit, Darren Baker
  • Publication number: 20230374280
    Abstract: A thermoplastic acrylonitrile containing copolymer/lignin blend, e.g., thermoplastic acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer/lignin blend, is provided, whereas the blend comprises (i) an amount of thermoplastic acrylonitrile containing copolymer (e.g., acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer); (ii) an amount of lignin; (iii) an amount of compatibilizing agent, such as phthalic anhydride, capable of imparting improved ductility and impact strength to the resultant blend and (iv) optionally an amount of at least one additive to impart specific properties including, but not limited, to resistance to ultraviolet radiation, resistance to oxidation, flame retardance, color, surface friction, or surface static charge accumulation. Methods of improving impact strength and/or ductility of, for example, a thermoplastic acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer/lignin blend and articles made therefrom are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2023
    Publication date: November 23, 2023
    Inventors: Christopher D. Webb, Adam A. McCall, William M. Sanford
  • Patent number: 11708486
    Abstract: A thermoplastic acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer/lignin blend is provided, whereas the blend comprises (i) an amount of acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer; (ii) an amount of lignin; and (iii) an amount of compatibilizing agent capable of imparting improved ductility and impact strength to the resultant blend. Methods of improving impact strength and ductility of a thermoplastic acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer/lignin blend and articles made therefrom are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: Prisma Renewable Composites, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher D. Webb, William M. Sanford, Adam A. McCall
  • Publication number: 20200325311
    Abstract: A thermoplastic acrylonitrile containing copolymer/lignin blend, e.g., thermoplastic acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer/lignin blend, is provided, whereas the blend comprises (i) an amount of thermoplastic acrylonitrile containing copolymer (e.g., acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer); (ii) an amount of lignin; (iii) an amount of compatibilizing agent, such as phthalic anhydride, capable of imparting improved ductility and impact strength to the resultant blend and (iv) optionally an amount of at least one additive to impart specific properties including, but not limited, to resistance to ultraviolet radiation, resistance to oxidation, flame retardance, color, surface friction, or surface static charge accumulation. Methods of improving impact strength and/or ductility of, for example, a thermoplastic acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer/lignin blend and articles made therefrom are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2020
    Publication date: October 15, 2020
    Inventors: Christopher D. Webb, Adam A. McCall, William M. Sanford, Deborah Burkwit, Darren Baker
  • Publication number: 20200131359
    Abstract: A thermoplastic acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer/lignin blend is provided, whereas the blend comprises (i) an amount of acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer; (ii) an amount of lignin; and (iii) an amount of compatibilizing agent capable of imparting improved ductility and impact strength to the resultant blend. Methods of improving impact strength and ductility of a thermoplastic acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer/lignin blend and articles made therefrom are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2019
    Publication date: April 30, 2020
    Inventors: Christopher D. Webb, William M. Sanford, Adam A. McCall
  • Patent number: 5270118
    Abstract: Polymeric composite materials having a decreasing concentration gradient of polymer matrix from the material's surface to the material's interior and a process for making such materials, whereby polymer matrix is extracted from the interior of the material in such a manner that the matrix concentration at the material's surface increases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1993
    Assignee: E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: William M. Sanford, William C. Uy
  • Patent number: 5178812
    Abstract: Polymeric composite materials having a decreasing concentration gradient of polymer matrix from the material's surface to the material's interior. The composite is produced by a process whereby polymer matrix is extracted from the interior of the material in such a manner that the matrix concentration at the material's surface increases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1993
    Assignee: E. I. Du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: William M. Sanford, William C. Uy