Patents by Inventor David A. Lacey
David A. Lacey 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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Patent number: 5259987Abstract: Liquid crystal polymers, which may be used for optical information storage, either alone or in mixture with other liquid crystals, are of the general formula ##STR1## wherein the mesogenic grouping M has a general structure ##STR2## wherein the rings P and Q are selected from phenyl, trans-cyclohexyl, pyridyl, pyrimidinyl, dioxanyl, and bicyclo (2.2.2) octyl. The rings P and/or Q may carry lateral substituents, preferably Me or F. The general structure of Formula (I) may represent a homopolymer or a copolymer.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 1991Date of Patent: November 9, 1993Assignee: The General Electric Company, p.l.c.Inventors: Ciaran B. McArdle, Gary Nestor, George W. Gray, David Lacey
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Patent number: 5252253Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 1991Date of Patent: October 12, 1993Assignee: The Secretary of State for Defence in Her Britannic Majesty's Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandInventors: George W. Gray, Kenneth J. Toyne, David Lacey, Michael Hird
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Patent number: 5232625Abstract: Compounds suitable for use as constituents of ferroelectric smectic liquid crystal compositions, which are esters of formula (I), where R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 together represent the residue of an alicyclic hydrocarbon ring system where .degree.C. is an asymmetric carbon atom and X is a chain of up to three linked aromatic or alicyclic six-membered organic cyclic groups, laterally and/or terminally substituted. Preferred compounds have a formula (II), where R.sub.1 is alkyl or alkoxy, A, B, and D are phenyl, fluoro or chloro substituted phenyl or cyclohexyl, n is 0 or 1, Y is a bond or CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 if n is 0, or a bond CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 COO or COO if n is 1. Preferred groups C(CN)R.sub.2 R.sub.3 are formula (III) and (IV).Type: GrantFiled: May 1, 1992Date of Patent: August 3, 1993Assignee: The Secretary of State for Defence in her Britannic Majesty's Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandInventors: George W. Gray, Kenneth J. Toyne, David Lacey, David Holmes, Richard M. Scrowston
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Patent number: 5204019Abstract: 4-Q.sup.1 -4'-Q.sup.2 -2,3-Difluorobiphenyls whereinQ.sup.1 and Q.sup.2 independently of one another are each R or R-A.sup.1 -A.sup.2 -Z in whichR (sic) alkyl having 1-15 C atoms or alkenyl having 3-15 C atoms each of which is unsubstituted or monosubstituted by cyano or at least monosubstituted by fluorine or chlorine, and in which in each case one or two non-adjacent CH.sub.2 groups can also be replaced by --O--, --CO--, --O--CO, --CO--O-- or --O--COO--, (sic) --COO--, --O--CO--, --CH.sub.2 O, --O--CH.sub.2 --, --CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 -- or a single bond, andA.sup.1 and A.sup.2 independently of one another . . (sic) each 1,4-phenylene which is unsubstituted or substituted by one or two fluorine atoms, and in which one or two CH groups can also be replaced by N, or trans-1,4-cyclohexylene wherein one or two non-adjacent CH.sub.2 groups can also be replaced by --O--, and one of the two groups A.sup.1 and A.sup.2 can also be a single bond,subject to the proviso that Z is --CO--O, --O--CO--, --CH.sub.2 O--, --OCH.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 1989Date of Patent: April 20, 1993Assignee: Merck Patent Gesellschaft Mit Beschrankter HaftungInventors: Volker Reiffenrath, Joachim Krause, Andreas Wachtler, Georg Weber, Ulrich Finkenzeller, David Coates, Ian C. Sage, Simon Greenfield, George W. Gray, Michael Hird, David Lacey, Kenneth J. Toyne
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Patent number: 5167862Abstract: Compounds which may be used as a dopant or host in a ferroelectric chiral smectic liquid crystal mixture. The compounds are characterized in that they are derivates of an X-hydroxy carboxylic acid and contain the chiral unit (I), in which Ro may be alkyl, alkoxy, halogen, formula (II), where b may be 0 to 3 and the phenyl ring may be substituted, and a is 0 or 1. The chiral unit is combined with a range of mesogenic combinations of groups. Lactic acid derivatives are described in detail (i.e. Ro.dbd.methyl) together with various preparative routes, for example the compound formula (III), which has dopant properties in a range of hosts.Type: GrantFiled: June 8, 1989Date of Patent: December 1, 1992Inventors: Lawrence K. M. Chan, David Coates, Peter A. Gemmell, George W. Gray, David Lacey, Kenneth J. Toyne, Daniel J. S. Young
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Patent number: 5156763Abstract: Laterally fluorinated 4-cyanophenyl and 4'-cyanobiphenyl benzoates are diosed of general formula I: ##STR1## in which R is R.sup.1 or R.sup.1 O, wherein R.sup.1 is C.sub.1 -C.sub.12 alkyl, m and n are 0 or 1 provided that (n+m) is 0 or 1, each of a, b, c and d are independently 0 or 1, provided (a+b+c+d) is not zero, but excluding the case where a and b are 0 and one of c and d is 0, being useful constituents of nematic liquid crystal materials.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 1990Date of Patent: October 20, 1992Assignee: The Secretary of State for for Defence in Her Britannic Majesty's Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandInventors: George W. Gray, David Lacey, Kenneth J. Toyne, Michael Hird, Damien G. McDonnell
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Patent number: 5147577Abstract: Compounds suitable for use as constituents of ferroelectric smectic liquid crystal compositions, which are ester of formula (I), where R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 together represent the residue of an alicyclic hydrocarbon ring system where *C is an asymmetric carbon atom and X is a chain of up to three linked aromatic or alicyclic six-membered organic cyclic groups, laterally and/or terminally substituted. Preferred compounds have a formula (II), where R.sub.1 is alkyl or alkoxy, A, B, and D are phenyl, fluoro or chloro substituted phenyl or cyclohexyl, n is 0 or 1, Y is a bond or CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 if n is 0, or a bond CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 COO or COO if n is 1. Preferred groups C(CN)R.sub.2 R.sub.3 are formula (III) and (IV).Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 1989Date of Patent: September 15, 1992Assignee: The Secretary of State for Defence in Her Britannic Majesty's Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandInventors: George W. Gray, Kenneth J. Toyne, David Lacey, David Holmes, Richard M. Scroston
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Patent number: 5037576Abstract: Compounds for use in ferroelectric smectic liquid crystal mixtures of general formula (I), where R.sub.1 is alkyl, Y is COO or OOC, m, n and p are 0 or 1 provided m+n is 2 or less and when Y is OOC, p is 0, X is a mesogenic group, especially 4.sup.1 -alkyl- or alkyl-biphenyl or bicyclohexyl. Methods for preparation of these compounds are given, and ferroelectric smectic liquid crystal mixtures containing them are described.Type: GrantFiled: May 3, 1989Date of Patent: August 6, 1991Assignee: The Secretary of State for Defence in Her Britannic Majesty's Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandInventors: George W. Gray, David Lacey, Kenneth J. Toyne, Richard M. Scrowston, Adam Jackson
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Patent number: 5002692Abstract: Amides having the following structure: ##STR1## used in ferroelectric smectic liquid crystal mixtures, especially as pitch compensators and liquid crystal compositions containing them.Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 1988Date of Patent: March 26, 1991Assignee: The Secretary of State for Defence in Her Britannic Majesty's Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandInventors: George W. Gray, David Lacey, Kenneth J. Toyne, Richard M. Scrowston, Lawrence K. M. Chan, Madeline J. Bradshaw, Victoria Brimmell
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Patent number: 4941992Abstract: Novel compounds suitable for use as chiral dopants in ferroelectric smectic liquid crystal materials comprising an optically active derivative of an .alpha.-amino acid of the formula ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 is selected from the group consisting of C.sub.1-20 alkyl or alkoxy, R is C.sub.1-20 n-alkyl and Y is C.sub.1-20 alkyl. A liquid crystal mixture and a device using these compounds are also described.Type: GrantFiled: July 17, 1987Date of Patent: July 17, 1990Assignee: The Secretary of State for Defence in Her Britannic Majesty's Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandInventors: Adam Jackson, Richard M. Scrowston, George W. Gray, David Lacey, Kenneth J. Toyne
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Patent number: 4923633Abstract: A compound suitable for use in a ferroelectric smectic liquid crystal composition having a structure which contains two chiral centers derived from alpha hydroxy carboxylic acid groups and having the formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 is n-alkoxy containing 1-12 carbo atoms and R.sub.2 is n-alkyl containing 1-12 carbon atoms. Methods of preparation and details of liquid crystal mixtures containing these compounds are described.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 1987Date of Patent: May 8, 1990Assignee: The Secretary of State for Defence in Her Britannic Majesty's Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandInventors: George W. Gray, David Lacey, Kenneth J. Toyne, David Coates, Adam Jackson, Richard M. Scrowston
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Patent number: 4913837Abstract: Heterocyclic compounds of the formula IR.sup.1 -A.sup.1 -Z.sup.1 -A.sup.2 -[Z.sup.2 -A.sup.3 ].sub.n -R.sup.2Iwherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2, A.sup.1, A.sup.2, A.sup.3, Z.sup.1, Z.sup.2 and n are defined in claim 1, can be used as components of liquid-crystalline phases.Type: GrantFiled: September 1, 1987Date of Patent: April 3, 1990Assignee: Merck Patent Gesellschaft mit beschrankter HaftungInventors: George W. Gray, Kenneth J. Toyne, David Lacey, Michael P. Burrow, Rudolf Eidenschink, Andreas Wachtler, Georg Weber
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Patent number: 4904066Abstract: Liquid crystal polymers of general formula ##STR1## wherein the ratio b : a is less than 3 and greater than O, X is a mesogenic group of formula ##STR2## where A and B are cyclic groups, preferably phenyl, which may carry lateral substituents, preferably methyl, R may be F, CH.sub.3, CN, R.sup.1 , OR.sup.1 or COOR.sup.1 where R.sup.1 is alkyl, Y is COO.sub.1 OOC, CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2, c is 0 or 1. A preferred group X is ##STR3## The polymers may be used for optical information storage either alone or in mixture with other liquid crystals for example with smectic materials of formula ##STR4## where R" is alkyl or alkoxy and r is 0 or 1.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 1987Date of Patent: February 27, 1990Assignee: The General Electric Company, p.l.c.Inventors: George W. Gray, Gary Nestor, David Lacey, Ciaran B. McArdle
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Patent number: 4852977Abstract: Novel lactic acid derivatives which may be used as a component of a ferroelectric smectic liquid crystal mixture, which derivatives have the general formula: ##STR1## in which R.sub.1 is alkyl or alkoxy and R.sub.2 is alkyl. Liquid crystalline compositions containing these compounds are also described.Type: GrantFiled: August 19, 1986Date of Patent: August 1, 1989Assignee: The Secretary of State for Defence in Her Britannic Majesty's Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandInventors: Lawrence K. M. Chan, David Coates, Peter A. Gemmell, George W. Gray, David Lacey, Kenneth J. Toyne, Daniel J. S. Young
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Patent number: 4824217Type: GrantFiled: August 19, 1986Date of Patent: April 25, 1989Assignee: The Secretary of State for Defence in Her Britannic Majesty's Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandInventors: Lawrence K. M. Chan, David Coates, Peter A. Gemmell, George W. Gray, David Lacey, Kenneth J. Toyne, Daniel J. S. Young, Matthew F. Bone, Adam Jackson, Richard M. Scrowston
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Patent number: 4784793Abstract: Novel derivatives of cyclic and acyclic terpenoid alcohols, having general formula (I) X--(CO).sub.n --O--T.sub.1, where n=O or l, T.sub.1 is a terpenoid group and X is a combination of cyclic groups, e.g. phenyl, cyclohexyl and pyrimidyl, X preferably contains up to three cyclic groups. Preferred derivatives are esters of cyclic terpenoid alcohols, e.g. menthol, borneol and isopineocampheol, e.g. formula (II) (-)-menthol. Ferroelectric smectic liquid crystal mixtures and devices containing these derivatives as chiral dopants in a tilted smectic host are also described. The properties of various other derivatives of terpenoid alcohols of formula (I) are also described, e.g. those of neomenthol, isolongifolol, fenchol, carveol, myrthenol, nopol, citronellol, perilla alcohol and dihydrocitronellol.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 1986Date of Patent: November 15, 1988Assignees: The Secretary of State for Defence in Her Britannic Majesty's Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, STC PLCInventors: David Coates, George W. Gray, David Lacey, Daniel J. S. Young, Kenneth J. Toyne, Matthew F. Bone
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Patent number: 4696549Abstract: Novel terphenyls having a relatively high clearing point and which are suitable for use in liquid crystal materials or in the preparation of compounds for use in such material are characterized by a formula: ##STR1## wherein: R.sub.1 is selected from H, alkyl, alkoxy, alkylcarbonyl, alkylcarbonyloxy and alkoxycarbonyloxy;R.sub.2 is selected from H, alkyl, alkoxy;X.sub.1 is selected from H and fluorine;X.sub.2 is selected from H and fluorine; and ##STR2## provided that one of X.sub.1 and X.sub.2 is fluorine. Compounds wherein ##STR3## are generally useful as liquid crystal compounds.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 1985Date of Patent: September 29, 1987Assignee: The Secretary of State for Defence in Her Britannic Majesty's Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandInventors: Lawrence Kam Ming Chan, George W. Gray, Kenneth J. Toyne, David Lacey, Rudolf Eidenschink, Michael Romer
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Patent number: 4695131Abstract: A fluorinated compound having a formula: ##STR1## R.sub.1 is hydrogen or alkyl having up to 12 carbon atoms; R.sub.2 is selected from hydrogen, alkyl having up to 12 carbon atoms, alkoxy having up to 12 carbon atoms, ##STR2## wherein R.sub.3 is hydrogen or alkyl having up to 12 carbon atoms, and wherein R.sub.4 is hydrogen, alkyl having up to 12 carbon atoms or alkoxy having up to 12 carbon atoms; ##STR3## represents a cyclohexane ring which is in the trans configuration if 1, 4-disubstituted; ##STR4## represents a benzene ring; each of X, Y and Z independently represents hydrogen or fluorine in one or more of the lateral benzene ring positions, provided that at least one of X, Y and Z is present representing fluorine;n=0 or 1 provided that when n=0 ##STR5## and R.sub.1 is alkyl; with the proviso that in Formula I when n is 1 and ##STR6## where R.sub.1 is n-alkyl and R.sub.2 is n-alkyl or n-alkoxy the total number of carbon plus oxygen atoms in the two groups R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 is less than 10.Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 1984Date of Patent: September 22, 1987Inventors: Peter H. Balkwill, David I. Bishop, Andrew D. Pearson, Ian C. Sage, George W. Gray, David Lacey, Kenneth J. Toyne, Damien G. McDonnell
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Patent number: 4659502Abstract: Ethane derivatives of the formula IR.sup.1 --A.sup.1 --CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 --A.sup.2 --(A.sup.3).sub.n --R.sup.2 IwhereinR.sup.1 is H, an alkyl group with 1-12 C atoms, in which one or two non adjacent CH.sub.2 groups can also be replaced by O atoms and/or CO groups and/or --O--CO-- groups and/or --CO--O groups, F, Cl, Br or R.sup.3 --A.sup.4 --Z.sup.1 --,R.sup.2 is --CN or --Z.sup.2 --A.sup.4 --CN,A.sup.1 is --A--, --A--A.sup.5 -- or --A.sup.5 --A--,A.sup.2 is an 1,4-phenylene group which is unsubstituted or substituted by one or two F and/or Cl atoms and/or CH.sub.3 groups and/or CN groups and in which one or two CH groups can also be replaced by N atoms,A is a 1,4-cyclohexylene group, in which one or two non adjacent CH.sub.2 groups can also be replaced by O atoms, or is a 1,3-dithiane-2,5-diyl group or 1,4-bicyclo(2,2,2)-octylene group,A.sup.3, A.sub.4 are each a 1,4-cyclohexylene group, in which one or two non adjacent CH.sub.Type: GrantFiled: January 17, 1985Date of Patent: April 21, 1987Assignee: Merck Patent Gesellschaft mit Beschrankter HaftungInventors: Julie E. Fearon, Wendy E. Smith, George W. Gray, David Lacey, Kenneth J. Toyne, Georg Weber
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Patent number: 4594465Abstract: Novel terphenyls having a relatively high clearing point and which are suitable for use in liquid crystal materials or in the preparation of compounds for use in such material are characterised by a formula: ##STR1## wherein: R.sub.1 is selected from H, alkyl, alkoxy, alkylcarbonyl, alkylcarbonyloxy and alkoxycarbonyloxy;R.sub.2 is selected from H, alkyl, alkoxy;X.sub.1 is selected from H and fluorine;X.sub.2 is selected from H and fluorine; and ##STR2## is selected from ##STR3## and ##STR4## provided that one of X.sub.1 and X.sub.2 is fluroine. Compounds wherein ##STR5## is ##STR6## or ##STR7## are generally useful as liquid crystal compounds.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 1984Date of Patent: June 10, 1986Assignees: The Secretary of State for Defence in Her Britannic Majesty's Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Merck Patent Gesellschaft mit beschrankter HaftungInventors: Lawrence Kam Ming Chan, George W. Gray, Kenneth J. Toyne, David Lacey, Rudolf Eidensschink, Michael Romer