Patents by Inventor William W. Merrill
William W. Merrill 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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Publication number: 20040156000Abstract: An optical stack includes a first liquid crystal layer and a j-retarder disposed on the liquid crystal layer. The j-retarder includes a simultaneous biaxally stretched polymeric film being substantially non-absorbing and non-scattering for at least one polarization state of visible light. The j-retarder has x, y, and z orthogonal indices of refraction where at least two of the orthogonal indices of refraction are not equal, an in-plane retardance being 100 nm or less and an out-of-plane retardance being 50 nm or greater.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 12, 2003Publication date: August 12, 2004Inventors: Fred J. Roska, Richard C. Allen, Matthew B. Johnson, Steven J. Rhyner, William W. Merrill, Joan M. Strobel, Kevin M. Hamer, Gregory E. Gilligan
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Publication number: 20040155372Abstract: A process for making an optical film includes stretching a polyolefin film in a first direction and stretching the polyolefin film in a second direction different than the first direction forming a biaxially stretched polyolefin film. At least a portion of the stretching of the polyolefin film in the second direction occurs simultaneous with the stretching of the polyolefin film in the first direction. The biaxially stretched polyolefin film has a length and a width and substantially non-absorbing and non-scattering for at least one polarization state of visible light. The biaxially stretched polyolefin film has x, y, and z orthogonal indices of refraction where at least two of the orthogonal indices of refraction are not equal, an in-plane retardance being 100 nm or less and an out-of-plane retardance being 50 nm or greater.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 12, 2003Publication date: August 12, 2004Inventors: Richard C. Allen, Matthew B. Johnson, Fred J. Roska, Steven J. Rhyner, William W. Merrill, Joan M. Strobel, Kevin M. Hamer, John M. Klaeser, Sebastian F. Zehentmaier
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Publication number: 20040156106Abstract: An optical film includes a layer of simultaneous biaxially stretched polyolefin film that is substantially non-absorbing and non-scattering for at least one polarization state of visible light. The layer has x, y, and z orthogonal indices of refraction where at least two of the orthogonal indices of refraction are not equal. The layer has an in-plane retardance of 100 nm or less and an out-of-plane retardance of 50 nm or greater.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 12, 2003Publication date: August 12, 2004Inventors: Richard C. Allen, Matthew B. Johnson, Fred J. Roska, Steven J. Rhyner, William W. Merrill, Joan M. Strobel, Kevin M. Hamer
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Patent number: 6749427Abstract: Dental articles including at least one optical surface formed of a multilayer optical film including layers of at least one strain-induced birefringent material are disclosed. The multilayer optical films included in the dental articles is preferably post-formed into desired non-planar shapes in manners that result in some deformation of the optical stack of the multilayer optical films. A variety of dental implements can be constructed with multilayer optical film including dental mirrors, light guides for use in connection with photo-curing dental materials, and matrix bands for use in molding photo-curing dental restoratives.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 1998Date of Patent: June 15, 2004Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Kathryn R. Bretscher, Sumita B. Mitra, Olester Benson, Jr., James M. Jonza, William W. Merrill, Andrew J. Ouderkirk, Michael F. Weber, Janis R. Gust
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Publication number: 20040099992Abstract: Stretched polymeric films can be used in a variety of applications, including optical applications. The stretching conditions and shape of the stretching tracks in a stretching apparatus can determine or influence film properties. Methods and stretching apparatuses can include adjustable or zone-defined stretching regions.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 27, 2002Publication date: May 27, 2004Inventors: William W. Merrill, Jeffrey N. Jackson, Andrew T. Ruff, Desiree L. Thompson, John A. Wheatley, Jeffrey D. Amundson, Curtis A. Harvey
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Publication number: 20040086690Abstract: A multilayered polymer film includes a first set of optical layers and a second set of optical layers. The first set of optical layers is made from a polyester which is often birefringent. The polyesters of the first set of optical layers typically have a composition in which 70-100 mol % of the carboxylate subunits are first carboxylate subunits and 0-30 mol % are comonomer carboxylate subunits and 70 to 100 mol % of the glycol subunits are first glycol subunits and 0 to 30 mol % of the glycol subunits are comonomer glycol subunits, where at least 0.5 mol % of the combined carboxylate and glycol subunits are comonomer carboxylate or comonomer glycol subunits. The multilayered polymer film may be used to form, for example, a reflective polarizer or a mirror.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 1, 2003Publication date: May 6, 2004Applicant: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Timothy J. Hebrink, William W. Merrill, Carl A. Stover
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Patent number: 6667095Abstract: Multilayer polymeric films and other optical bodies are provided. The films, which have at least three layers of different composition in the optical repeating unit, reflect light in a first portion of the spectrum while transmitting light in a second portion of the spectrum, exhibit improved reflectivities at oblique angles, and can be designed to suppress one or more higher order harmonics of the main reflection band.Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 2001Date of Patent: December 23, 2003Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: John A. Wheatley, Timothy J. Nevitt, William W. Merrill, Michael F. Weber
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Patent number: 6641900Abstract: A multilayered polymer film includes a first set of optical layers and a second set of optical layers. The first set of optical layers is made from a polyester which is often birefringent. The polyesters of the first set of optical layers typically have a composition in which 70-100 mol % of the carboxylate subunits are first carboxylate subunits and 0-30 mol % are comonomer carboxylate subunits and 70 to 100 mol % of the glycol subunits are first glycol subunits and 0 to 30 mol % of the glycol subunits are comonomer glycol subunits, where at least 0.5 mol % of the combined carboxylate and glycol subunits are comonomer carboxylate or comonomer glycol subunits. The multilayered polymer film may be used to form, for example, a reflective polarizer or a mirror.Type: GrantFiled: November 28, 2001Date of Patent: November 4, 2003Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Timothy J. Hebrink, William W. Merrill, Carl A. Stover
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Patent number: 6609795Abstract: The present invention provides a unique polarizing beam splitter (PBS) that is suitable for use in projection systems and displays. The PBS contains at least one prism having at least one major surface and having a refractive index of at least about 1.6 and a birefringent film disposed on the major surface of the prism. The birefringent film is a multi-layer film having layers of at least a first material and a second material. After uniaxial stretching, the film exhibits a refractive index difference of less than about 0.15 units in the stretched direction.Type: GrantFiled: June 11, 2001Date of Patent: August 26, 2003Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Michael F. Weber, Charles L. Bruzzone, Peter D. Condo, Kevin M. Hamer, Timothy J. Hebrink, William W. Merrill
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Patent number: 6610356Abstract: A dichroic polarizing film is made, for example, by, first combining polyvinyl alcohol and a second polymer, such as, polyvinyl pyrrolidone or a sulfonated polyester, in a solvent. The ratio of polyvinyl alcohol to second polymer is between about 5:1 to 100:1 by weight. The film is coated on a substrate, dried, and then stretched to orient at least a portion of the film. The film incorporates a dichroic dye material, such as iodine, to form a dichroic polarizer. This polarizer may be used in conjunction with a multilayer optical film, such as a reflective polarizer, to form an optical polarizer. The multilayer optical film may contain two or more sets of polyester films, where at least one of the sets is birefringent and orientable by stretching. The polyvinyl alcohol/second polymer film and the multilayer optical film may be simultaneously stretched to orient both polymer films.Type: GrantFiled: October 9, 2001Date of Patent: August 26, 2003Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: William L. Kausch, Brian H. Williams, William W. Merrill
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Patent number: 6574045Abstract: A optical body has at least two polymeric materials forming a reflective interface for at least one polarization of light. One optical body is a multilayer optical film that includes birefringent first optical layers and second optical layers interleaved with the first optical layers. Each first optical layer is formed using a polymer, such as a copolymer of polyethylene naphthalate. The second optical layers are formed so that they have a lower in-plane birefringence than the first optical layers for 632.8 nm light. Optical bodies can be used as, for example, polarizers and mirrors. The optical bodies can be formed using polymers that provide better index matching and are more easily protected from UV light without coloring the optical body.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2002Date of Patent: June 3, 2003Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Timothy J. Hebrink, Peter D. Condo, William W. Merrill
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Patent number: 6569515Abstract: A multilayered polymer film is formed with a stack of one or more first optical layers, one or more second optical layers, and one or more non-optical layers. These optical and non-optical layers are typically made using polymer materials, such as polyesters. In one embodiment, the non-optical layers are made from a polyester having a composition which corresponds to the average molar composition of the combination of all of the first and second optical layers. Using this formulation, scrap material from the manufacture of multilayered polymer films may be used to generate the non-optical layers in subsequent films. Alternatively, the non-optical layers of a multilayered polymer film are made using scrap material from prior-manufactured multilayered polymer films with the optional addition of other polymer material which may be either new or recycled.Type: GrantFiled: January 13, 1998Date of Patent: May 27, 2003Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Timothy J. Hebrink, Yaoqui Joe Liu, William W. Merrill, Bruce A. Nerad
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Patent number: 6531230Abstract: Multilayer polymeric films and other optical bodies are provided which is useful in making colored mirrors and polarizers. The films are characterized by a highly uniform change in color as a function of viewing angle.Type: GrantFiled: January 13, 1998Date of Patent: March 11, 2003Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Michael F. Weber, Timothy J. Nevitt, William W. Merrill, Kelly M. Roscoe, Andrew J. Ouderkirk, John A. Wheatley, Gary B. Hanson, James M. Jonza, Jeffrey A. Boettcher, Yaoqi J. Liu, Terence D. Neavin
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Publication number: 20030016334Abstract: The present invention provides a unique polarizing beam splitter (PBS) that is suitable for use in projection systems and displays. The PBS contains at least one prism having at least one major surface and having a refractive index of at least about 1.6 and a birefringent film disposed on the major surface of the prism. The birefringent film is a multi-layer film having at layers of at least a first material and a second material. After uniaxial stretching, the film exhibits a refractive index difference of less than about 0.15 units in the stretched direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 11, 2001Publication date: January 23, 2003Inventors: Michael F. Weber, Charles L. Bruzzone, Peter D. Condo, Kevin M, Hamer, Timothy J. Hebrink, William W. Merrill
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Publication number: 20020154406Abstract: Articles including post-formed multilayer optical films with layers of at least one strain-induced birefringent material, methods of manufacturing such articles by post-forming multilayer optical films, and multilayer optical films that are particularly well-suited to post-forming operations are disclosed. The articles, methods and multilayer optical films of the present invention allow for post-forming of multilayer optical films including strain-induced index of refraction differentials while retaining the desired optical properties of the multilayer optical films.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 3, 2002Publication date: October 24, 2002Applicant: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: William W. Merrill, James M. Jonza, Olester Benson, Andrew J. Ouderkirk, Michael F. Weber, Janet T. Keller, Roger J. Stumo
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Patent number: 6459514Abstract: A multilayer optical film comprising: (a) an optical stack comprising alternating layers of at least a first polymer and a second polymer; and (b) a holographic image.Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 1999Date of Patent: October 1, 2002Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Laurence R. Gilbert, James M. Jonza, Andrew J. Ouderkirk, Carl A. Stover, Michael F. Weber, William W. Merrill
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Patent number: 6449093Abstract: A optical body has at least two polymeric materials forming a reflective interface for at least one polarization of light. One optical body is a multilayer optical film that includes birefringent first optical layers and second optical layers interleaved with the first optical layers. Each first optical layer is formed using a polymer, such as a copolymer of polyethylene naphthalate. The second optical layers are formed so that they have a lower in-plane birefringence than the first optical layers for 632.8 nm light. Optical bodies can be used as, for example, polarizers and mirrors. The optical bodies can be formed using polymers that provide better index matching and are more easily protected from UV light without coloring the optical body.Type: GrantFiled: October 12, 1999Date of Patent: September 10, 2002Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Timothy J. Hebrink, Peter D. Condo, William W. Merrill
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Publication number: 20020122252Abstract: A optical body has at least two polymeric materials forming a reflective interface for at least one polarization of light. One optical body is a multilayer optical film that includes birefringent first optical layers and second optical layers interleaved with the first optical layers. Each first optical layer is formed using a polymer, such as a copolymer of polyethylene naphthalate. The second optical layers are formed so that they have a lower in-plane birefringence than the first optical layers for 632.8 nm light. Optical bodies can be used as, for example, polarizers and mirrors. The optical bodies can be formed using polymers that provide better index matching and are more easily protected from UV light without coloring the optical body.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 31, 2002Publication date: September 5, 2002Applicant: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Timothy J. Hebrink, Peter D. Condo, William W. Merrill
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Publication number: 20020098372Abstract: A method of biaxially stretching a polymeric film along an overbias stretch profile. The method comprises the steps of: ) imparting a sufficiently high temperature to the film to allow a significant amount of biaxial stretch; and b) biaxial tenter stretching the film to a final first direction stretch parameter and a final second direction stretch parameter, wherein at least 75% of the final first direction stretch parameter is attained before no more than 50% of the final second direction stretch parameter is attained, and wherein the final first direction stretch parameter is no greater than the final second direction stretch parameter.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 17, 2002Publication date: July 25, 2002Applicant: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Chiu Ping Wong, Thomas P. Hanschen, Anthony B. Ferguson, William W. Merrill, Fred J. Roska, Jeffery N. Jackson
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Publication number: 20020064671Abstract: A multilayered polymer film includes a first set of optical layers and a second set of optical layers. The first set of optical layers is made from a polyester which is often birefringent. The polyesters of the first set of optical layers typically have a composition in which 70-100 mol % of the carboxylate subunits are first carboxylate subunits and 0-30 mol % are comonomer carboxylate subunits and 70 to 100 mol % of the glycol subunits are first glycol subunits and 0 to 30 mol % of the glycol subunits are comonomer glycol subunits, where at least 0.5 mol % of the combined carboxylate and glycol subunits are comonomer carboxylate or comonomer glycol subunits. The multilayered polymer film may be used to form, for example, a reflective polarizer or a mirror.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 28, 2001Publication date: May 30, 2002Applicant: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Timothy J. Hebrink, William W. Merrill, Carl A. Stover