Patents by Inventor Charles M. Rankin, Jr.
Charles M. Rankin, Jr. 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: 20130141655Abstract: The present invention relates to a display comprising, in order, a support, a first patterned conductor, a first level of electrically modulated imaging material, a coextensive common electrode conductor, a second level of electrically modulated imaging material, and a second patterned conductor and a method of imaging the display.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 30, 2012Publication date: June 6, 2013Applicant: INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTEInventors: Mitchell S. Burberry, Charles M. Rankin, JR., Theodore K. Ricks
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Patent number: 8134581Abstract: The present invention relates to a bistable matrix-addressable display element comprising a substrate, a bistable electrically modulated imaging layer having a reflection maximum, at least one conductor, and at least one field-spreading layer between said bistable electrically modulated imaging layer and said at least one conductor, wherein said field-spreading layer has a sheet resistance (SER) of less than 109 Ohms per square and a method of imaging the display comprising identifying an area to be updated of said bistable matrix-addressable display element, wherein said area to be updated comprises rows of pixels; and applying a sequence of drive signals having a 4-phase approach to image said bistable matrix-addressable display element, which may be characterized as a planar reset, left-slope selection method.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2009Date of Patent: March 13, 2012Assignee: Industrial Technology Research InstituteInventors: Mitchell S. Burberry, David M. Johnson, Charles M. Rankin, Jr., Debasis Majumdar
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Patent number: 8047669Abstract: A uniform light source having a substrate for providing structural and functional support to the assembly. A bottom reflector provided on the substrate. A plurality of solid state light sources provided in an opening of the bottom reflector for providing a point light source. A plurality of light films and having light redirecting areas provided between the plurality of solid state light sources for redirecting and spreading the point light source to a uniform plane of light; a joining clip comprising a top capping portion and a bottom support portion, the bottom support portion being aligned perpendicular to the top capping portion and having a height sufficient to house the plurality of light films. A top diffuser for diffusing the uniform plane of light. The plurality of light films has a thickness between 0.1 mm to 1.0 mm. In addition, the joining clip further comprises a light diffusion means.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2009Date of Patent: November 1, 2011Assignee: SKC Haas Display Films Co., Ltd.Inventors: Robert P. Bourdelais, John C. Brewer, Qi Hong, Charles M. Rankin, Jr., Leonard S. Gates
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Patent number: 7999832Abstract: The present invention relates to a bistable matrix-addressable display element comprising a substrate, a bistable electrically modulated imaging layer having a reflection maximum, at least one conductor, and at least one field-spreading layer between said bistable electrically modulated imaging layer and said at least one conductor, wherein said field-spreading layer has a sheet resistance (SER) of less than 109 Ohms per square and a method of imaging the display comprising identifying an area to be updated of said bistable matrix-addressable display element, wherein said area to be updated comprises rows of pixels; and applying a sequence of drive signals having a 4-phase approach to image said bistable matrix-addressable display element, which may be characterized as a planar reset, left-slope selection method.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 2005Date of Patent: August 16, 2011Assignee: Industrial Technology Research InstituteInventors: Mitchell S. Burberry, David M. Johnson, Charles M. Rankin, Jr., Debasis Majumdar
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Publication number: 20110026274Abstract: A uniform light source having a substrate for providing structural and functional support to the assembly. A bottom reflector provided on the substrate. A plurality of solid state light sources provided in an opening of the bottom reflector for providing a point light source. A plurality of light films and having light redirecting areas provided between the plurality of solid state light sources for redirecting and spreading the point light source to a uniform plane of light; a joining clip comprising a top capping portion and a bottom support portion, the bottom support portion being aligned perpendicular to the top capping portion and having a height sufficient to house the plurality of light films. A top diffuser for diffusing the uniform plane of light. The plurality of light films has a thickness between 0.1 mm to 1.0 mm. In addition, the joining clip further comprises a light diffusion means.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 31, 2009Publication date: February 3, 2011Applicant: SKC Haas Display Films Co., Ltd.Inventors: Robert P. Bourdelais, John C. Brewer, Qi Hong, Charles M. Rankin, JR., Leonard S. Gates
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Publication number: 20110026273Abstract: A uniform light source having a substrate for providing structural and functional support to the assembly. A bottom reflector provided on the substrate. A plurality of solid state light sources provided in an opening of the bottom reflector for providing a point light source. A plurality of light films and having light redirecting areas provided between the plurality of solid state light sources for redirecting and spreading the point light source to a uniform plane of light; a joining clip comprising a top capping portion and a bottom support portion, the bottom support portion being aligned perpendicular to the top capping portion and having a height sufficient to house the plurality of light films. A top diffuser for diffusing the uniform plane of light. The plurality of light films has a thickness between 0.1 mm to 1.0 mm.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 31, 2009Publication date: February 3, 2011Applicant: SKC Haas Display Films Co., Ltd.Inventors: Robert P. Bourdelais, John C. Brewer, Qi Hong, Charles M. Rankin, JR., Leonard S. Gates
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Patent number: 7722790Abstract: An LC display comprises in order (a) a light source, (b) a transparent polymeric film bearing on the light exit surface of the film an array of close-packed convex microlenses having a distribution of sizes and oriented in one direction, whereby the light output is preferentially spread in a desired direction, and (c) an LC panel. A related process and film are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 2007Date of Patent: May 25, 2010Assignee: SKC Haas Display Films Co., Ltd.Inventors: Chari Krishnan, Charles W. Lander, Ronald J. Sudol, Jin-Shan Wang, Charles M. Rankin, Jr., Paul D. Yacobucci
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Patent number: 7685692Abstract: A process for skiving a substrate is described, wherein the substrate is skived with a roller or a device or apparatus including the roller. The roller provides a cleaner skive than previously known methods without damage to underlying materials.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 2004Date of Patent: March 30, 2010Assignee: Industrial Technology Research InstituteInventors: Charles M. Rankin, Jr., Theodore K. Ricks, Megan L. Weiner, John P. Macauley, Rusty J. Coleman
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Publication number: 20100013874Abstract: The present invention relates to a bistable matrix-addressable display element comprising a substrate, a bistable electrically modulated imaging layer having a reflection maximum, at least one conductor, and at least one field-spreading layer between said bistable electrically modulated imaging layer and said at least one conductor, wherein said field-spreading layer has a sheet resistance (SER) of less than 109 Ohms per square and a method of imaging the display comprising identifying an area to be updated of said bistable matrix-addressable display element, wherein said area to be updated comprises rows of pixels; and applying a sequence of drive signals having a 4-phase approach to image said bistable matrix-addressable display element, which may be characterized as a planar reset, left-slope selection method.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 29, 2009Publication date: January 21, 2010Applicant: INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTEInventors: Mitchell S. BURBERRY, David M. JOHNSON, Charles M. RANKIN, JR., Debasis MAJUMDAR
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Patent number: 7564528Abstract: The present invention relates to a display comprising a substrate, an electrically modulated imaging layer, at least one conductive layer, and a drive voltage-reducing layer between said conductive layer and said electrically modulated imaging layer, wherein said drive voltage-reducing layer has an SER greater than 109 ohms per square and a method for imaging the display.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 2005Date of Patent: July 21, 2009Assignee: Industrial Technology Research InstituteInventors: Mitchell S. Burberry, Charles M. Rankin, Jr., Megan L. Weiner
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Patent number: 7543974Abstract: A display comprises a light source and a light redirecting polymeric film containing a structured surface on at least one side of the film and bearing a polymeric coating over at least part of the structured surface wherein the coating exhibits a variable thickness.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 2007Date of Patent: June 9, 2009Assignee: SKC Haas Display Films Co., Ltd.Inventors: Robert P. Bourdelais, John C. Brewer, Charles M. Rankin, Jr., Esther M. Betancourt
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Patent number: 7530726Abstract: The invention relates to a display comprising a light source and a light redirecting polymeric film containing a structured surface on at least one side of the film and bearing a discontinuous population of adherent beads bonded to the structured surface.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 2007Date of Patent: May 12, 2009Assignee: SKC Haas Display Films Co., Ltd.Inventors: John C. Brewer, Charles M. Rankin, Jr., Robert P. Bourdelais, Esther M. Betancourt
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Patent number: 7507449Abstract: The present invention relates to a high contrast reflective display comprising a substrate, at least one electronically modulated imaging layer, wherein the electronically modulated imaging layer comprises a uniformly thick, close-packed, ordered monolayer of domains of electrically modulated material in a fixed polymer matrix, at least one barrier layer, wherein the barrier layer is conductive in a direction perpendicular to the substrate, and at least one electrically conductive layer. The invention also relates to a method of making the display with a barrier layer comprising anisotropic particles and orienting the anisotropic conductor to produce a barrier layer conductive in a direction perpendicular to the substrate.Type: GrantFiled: May 30, 2006Date of Patent: March 24, 2009Assignee: Industrial Technology Research InstituteInventors: Krishnan Chari, David M. Johnson, Charles M. Rankin, Jr., Glen C. Irvin, Jr.
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Patent number: 7485191Abstract: A nozzle tip having two faces and methods of using the nozzle tip are described. The nozzle tip has a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis extending from the proximal end to the distal end. The proximal end has an opening defined by a first face including a first edge, and a second face including a second edge, wherein the first face is at an angle of from about 20 degrees to about 120 degrees relative to the axis, and the second face is at an angle of from about 15 degrees to about 70 degrees relative to the axis. The nozzle tip can be incorporated into a device or assembly for skiving.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 2004Date of Patent: February 3, 2009Assignee: Industrial Technology Research InstituteInventors: Douglas H. Axtell, John P. Macauley, Charles M. Rankin, Jr., Megan L. Weiner
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Publication number: 20090009873Abstract: A voided semi-crystalline polymeric integrated optical diffuser film is provided with surface beads. The film is useful when incorporated into a display device such as an LC display.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 21, 2008Publication date: January 8, 2009Applicant: Rohm and Haas Denmark Finance A/SInventors: Thomas M. Laney, Peter T. Aylward, Charles M. Rankin, JR.
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Publication number: 20080285304Abstract: A backlight comprises in order a lightguide plate with a sidelit light source and bonded thereto a light extraction unit containing in order from the lightguide plate, a first polymeric layer, an adhesive layer, a second polymeric layer bearing features at least partly embedded in the adhesive layer wherein the materials of the first polymeric layer, the adhesive layer, and the second polymeric layer differ by less than 0.05 in refractive index, the interstitial regions between the non-embedded portions of the features containing a material having a refractive index at least 0.1 lower than that of the material comprising the features.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 18, 2007Publication date: November 20, 2008Inventors: Charles M. Rankin, JR., Peter T. Aylward, Leonard S. Gates, Ronald J. Sudol
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Patent number: 7452120Abstract: An illumination apparatus comprises: (a) at least one light source; (b) a light guide for accepting light from the at least one light source and for guiding the light using total internal reflection, the light guide having a top surface; (c) a light extracting film having an input surface optically coupled with the top surface and an output surface for providing light, wherein the input surface comprises a plurality of features which are optically coupled to the top surface of the light guide, such features having: (i) a first side comprising two or more planar segments; and (ii) a second side comprising two or more planar segments, and wherein either the length of at least some of the features is less than the width of the film or the first and second sides intersect at an apex.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 2007Date of Patent: November 18, 2008Assignee: Rohm and Haas Denmark Finance A/SInventors: Junwon Lee, Randall H. Wilson, Charles M. Rankin, Jr., Stephen C. Meissner
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Publication number: 20080278663Abstract: An LC display comprises in order (a) a light source, (b) a transparent polymeric film bearing on the light exit surface of the film an array of close-packed convex microlenses having a distribution of sizes and oriented in one direction, whereby the light output is preferentially spread in a desired direction, and (c) an LC panel. A related process and film are also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 14, 2007Publication date: November 13, 2008Inventors: Chari Krishnan, Charles W. Lander, Ronald J. Sudol, Jin-Shan Wang, Charles M. Rankin, JR., Paul D. Yacobucci
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Patent number: 7416684Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of generating a second peak wavelength of reflected light from a cholesteric liquid crystal having a first peak wavelength of reflected light comprising by exposing or conditioning the cholesteric liquid crystal to a high temperature or a high humidity. The invention also relates to an electrically modulated imaging layer and a display containing a liquid crystal material that has conditioned and unconditioned forms, wherein the unconditioned form of liquid crystal material reflects a first wavelength of light and wherein the conditioned form of liquid crystal material reflects a second wavelength of light.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2004Date of Patent: August 26, 2008Assignee: Industrial Technology Research InstituteInventors: Charles M. Rankin, Jr., Xiang-Dong Mi
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Patent number: 7387858Abstract: The present invention relates to a high contrast reflective display comprising at least one substrate, at least one electrically conductive layer and at least one close-packed, ordered monolayer of domains of electrically modulated material in a fixed, preferably crosslinked, polymer matrix and a method of making the same.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2005Date of Patent: June 17, 2008Assignee: Industrial Technology Research InstituteInventors: Krishnan Chari, John C. Kowalczyk, Charles M. Rankin, Jr., Erica N. Montbach