Patents by Inventor Carl Towns

Carl Towns 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).

  • Publication number: 20060046092
    Abstract: Polymers for use in organic electroluminescent devices The invention relates to organic semiconductive polymers comprising a new backbone system, monomers for the preparation of such polymers, methods for the preparation of such polymers and the use of such polymers in organic optoelectronic devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2003
    Publication date: March 2, 2006
    Applicant: Covion Organic Semiconductors GmbH
    Inventors: Carl Towns, Ian Rees, Ilaria Grizzi, Mary McKiernan, Paul Wallace, Thomas Pounds, Clare Foden, Sophie Heidenhain
  • Publication number: 20050240011
    Abstract: The instant invention relates to a new method for the synthesis of monomers and their use inter alia in the manufacture of semiconductive polymers. Monomers, in particular, asymmetric monomers, such as asymmetric fluorene compounds, are valuable material in the manufacture of semiconductive polymers. The know methods for producing asymmetric monomers, such as asymmetric fluorene compounds, are expensive due to the formation of by-products. The method according to the present invention avoids the formation of such by-products and is described in more detail in claims 1 to 14.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2003
    Publication date: October 27, 2005
    Applicant: Covion Organic Semiconductors GmbH
    Inventors: Paul Wallace, Carl Towns, Thomas Pounds
  • Publication number: 20050209422
    Abstract: A polymer for use in an optical device comprising a first, optionally substituted, repeat unit of formula and a second, optionally substituted, repeat unit of formula wherein each Ar and Ar? is the same or different and comprises an optionally substituted aryl or heteroaryl group and optionally a third, optionally substituted, repeat unit in a molar ratio of no greater than 5%, the third repeat unit having a formula —Ar—N(Ar)—Ar— and having a single nitrogen atom in its backbone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2003
    Publication date: September 22, 2005
    Inventors: Richard O'Dell, Carl Towns, Brian Tieney, Stephen O'Connor, Ilaria Grizzi, Clare Foden, Nalinkumar Patel, Mark Leadbeater, Lorraine Murtagh
  • Patent number: 6887973
    Abstract: An organic polymer comprising a conjugated backbone for transporting negative charge carriers and having a first band gap and at least one side unit pendent from the backbone for transporting positive charge carriers and having a second band gap, wherein the structure of the organic polymer is selected so that the first and second band gaps are distinct from one another in the polymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2005
    Assignee: Cambridge Display Technology Limited
    Inventors: Carl Towns, Richard O'Dell, Valerie Grand
  • Publication number: 20050070710
    Abstract: Monomers having the formula X1—Ar1-[triarylamine]-Ar2—X2 wherein the triarylamine unit comprises at least one nitrogen atom in the backbone of the monomer and at least three substituted or unsubstituted aryl or heteroaryl groups and wherein X1 and X2 are the same or different polymerizable groups and wherein Ar1 and Ar2 are the same or different substituted or unsubstituted aryl or heteroaryl groups. Polymers and copolymers comprising such monomers are also described. The polymers have particular application in organic optoelectronic devices such as organic electroluminescent devices and organic photovoltaic devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2002
    Publication date: March 31, 2005
    Inventors: Richard O'Dell, Carl Towns, Mary McKiernan
  • Publication number: 20050064231
    Abstract: A soluble luminescent polymer comprising a first repeat unit [Ar1] and a second repeat unit comprising a unit of general formula (I) which is substituted or unsubstituted: wherein X is RC?CR, S, O or NR; Ar1, Ar2 and Ar3 are each independently an aromatic or heteroaromatic group; and each R independently is hydrogen or a substituent group.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2001
    Publication date: March 24, 2005
    Inventors: Carl Towns, Richard O'Dell, Andrea Lux
  • Patent number: 6858324
    Abstract: A copolymer for use in an electroluminescent device comprising a first repeat unit, a second repeat unit comprising a group having a general formula (I) and optionally, a third repeat unit comprising a group having a general formula (II) which may be substituted or unsubstituted where T is a trifluoromethyl substituted benzene; Ar, Ar? and Ar? each independently comprise a substituted or unsubstituted aryl or heteroaryl group and m is 1 or 2
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2005
    Assignee: Cambridge Display Technology Limited
    Inventors: Carl Towns, Richard O'Dell
  • Publication number: 20050037230
    Abstract: A process for preparing a conjugated polymer, which comprises polymerizing in a reaction mixture (a) an aromatic monomer having at least two boron derivative functional groups selected from the group consisting of boronic acid groups, boronic ester groups, and borane groups, and an aromatic monomer having at least two reactive halide functional groups, or (b) an aromatic monomer having one reactive halide functional group and one boron derivative functional group selected from the group consisting of boronic acid groups, boronic ester groups, and borane groups, an amount of a catalyst suitable for catalyzing the polymerization of the aromatic monomers, and a base in an amount sufficient to convert the boron derivative functional groups into boron anionic groups, characterized in that the reaction mixture further comprises a first solvent and a second solvent with which said first solvent is substantially immiscible and an emulsifier in an amount sufficient to form an emulsion of the reaction mixture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2002
    Publication date: February 17, 2005
    Inventors: Carl Towns, Paul Wallace
  • Publication number: 20050023961
    Abstract: An electroluminescent device which has an anode (4) and a cathode (10) and arranged between the anode (4) and the cathode (10) a light emissive layer (8). Also included between the light emissive layer and the anode is a dielectric layer, a carbon or amorphous silicon layer, or a layer of conductive oxide such as tin oxide, vanadium oxide, molybdenum oxide and nickel oxide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2003
    Publication date: February 3, 2005
    Inventors: Karl Pichler, Carl Towns
  • Publication number: 20050014926
    Abstract: A process for preparing high molecular weight polymers or copolymers by Suzuki coupling. The catalyst used in the process comprises a source of palladium and a source of a phosphine characterized in that at least one substituent on the phosphine is an ortho substituted aryl group. The process is suitable for the preparation of polymers for use in electronic and optoelectronic applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2002
    Publication date: January 20, 2005
    Inventors: Carl Towns, Paul Wallace, Ian Allen, Thomwas Pounds, Lorraine Murtagh
  • Publication number: 20040254324
    Abstract: A method for making a polymer containing a first repeat unit having formula: —Ar—N(R)—Ar—(N(R′)—Ar)x— which may be substituted or unsubstituted where x is 0 or 1; each Ar is the same or different and independently is a substituted or unsubstituted aryl or heteroaryl group and R and R′ each is hydrogen or a substituent group and a second repeat unit that is the same or different from the first repeat unit and comprises a substituted or unsubstituted, aryl or heteroaryl group. The polymer is made by Suzuki polymerisation wherein the monomer from which repeat unit (1) is derived comprises one or two reactive boron groups.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2004
    Publication date: December 16, 2004
    Inventors: Richard O'Dell, Carl Towns
  • Publication number: 20040170839
    Abstract: A polymer for use in an optical device comprising: a hole transporting region, an electron transporting region, an emissive region, said polymer comprising an optionally substituted repeat unit of formula (I): wherein each Ar is the same or different and comprises an optionally substituted aryl group.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2004
    Publication date: September 2, 2004
    Inventors: Richard O'Dell, Carl Towns
  • Publication number: 20040158017
    Abstract: A polymer having a first repeat unit comprising a group having general formula (I) which is substituted or unsubstituted: 1
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2004
    Publication date: August 12, 2004
    Inventors: Richard O'Dell, Carl Towns
  • Publication number: 20040146743
    Abstract: A polymer comprising a first repeat unit comprising ArhX2 wherein Ar?h comprises a substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryl group and each X is the same or different and independently comprises a substituted or unsubstituted aryl or heteroaryl group and a second repeat unit that is adjacent to the first repeat unit wherein each X that is part of a main body of the polymer backbone is directly conjugated to the second repeat unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2004
    Publication date: July 29, 2004
    Inventors: Richard O'Dell, Carl Towns, Mary McKiernan
  • Publication number: 20040115473
    Abstract: A monomer having general Formula (I) which may be substituted or unsubstituted: where E and E are the same or different and are reactive groups capable of undergoing chain extension; X is O, S, NR5, R5C—CR6 or R5═CR6; Y is O, S, NR7, R7C—CR8 or R7C═CR8; R5, R6 R7 and R8 are the same or different and each is independently H or a substituent group; and each Ar is the same or different and is independently a substituted or unsubstituted aryl or heteroaryl group.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2003
    Publication date: June 17, 2004
    Inventors: Jeremy Burroughes, Carl Towns, Thomas Pounds, Jonathan Halls
  • Publication number: 20040077824
    Abstract: A polymer for use in an optical device comprising one or more regions, where the or each region comprises (i) a first structural unit having general formula I: where m=1 or 2 and which contains at least one substituent, and the at least one substituent is selected from the group consisting of an alkyl, alkoxy, aryl, aryloxy, heteroaryl and heteroaryloxy groups, each of which may be further substituted; and (ii) a second structural unit Ar selected from the group consisting of heteroaryl, triarylamine and/or 2,7-fluorenyl; such that where m=1 the or each region comprises a unit having general formula II: wherein, the at least one substituent has a molecular weight of less than 300.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2003
    Publication date: April 22, 2004
    Inventors: Richard O'Dell, Carl Towns, Mary Mckiernan
  • Publication number: 20030194577
    Abstract: A copolymer for use in an electroluminescent device comprising a first repeat unit, a second repeat unit comprising a group having a general formula (I) and optionally, a third repeat unit comprising a group having a general formula (II) which may be substituted or unsubstituted where T is a trifluoromethyl substituted benzene; Ar, Ar′ and Ar″ each independently comprise a substituted or unsubstituted aryl or heteroaryl group and m is 1 or 2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2002
    Publication date: October 16, 2003
    Inventors: Carl Towns, Richard O'Dell
  • Publication number: 20030186079
    Abstract: A luminescent polymer comprising a triarylene repeat unit which comprises a triarylene of general formula (I) which is substituted or unsubstituted and an arylene repeat unit -[-Ar-]- that is different from the triarylene repeat unit wherein X, Y and Z are each independently O, S, CR2, SiR2 or NR and each R is independently alkyl, aryl or H.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2002
    Publication date: October 2, 2003
    Inventors: Carl Towns, Richard O'Dell
  • Publication number: 20030153725
    Abstract: An organic polymer comprising a conjugated backbone for transporting negative charge carriers and having a first band gap and at least one side unit pendent from the backbone for transporting positive charge carriers and having a second band gap, wherein the structure of the organic polymer is selected so that the first and second band gaps are distinct from one another in the polymer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2002
    Publication date: August 14, 2003
    Inventors: Carl Towns, Richard O'Dell, Valerie Grand
  • Patent number: 6605823
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing an electroluminescent device which has an anode (4) and a cathode (10) and arranged between the anode (4) and the cathode (10) a light emissive layer (8), also includes an anode protection layer (6) which protects the anode (10) against the effects of converting a precursor polymer to a semiconductive conjugated polymer which constitutes the light emissive layer (8). This has been found to increase the brightness and half-life of devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2003
    Assignee: Cambridge Display Technology Ltd.
    Inventors: Karl Pichler, Carl Towns