Patents by Inventor Frank W. Harris

Frank W. Harris 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: 20220267539
    Abstract: The present invention is directed toward transparent films prepared from soluble aromatic copolyamides with glass transition temperatures greater than 300° C. The copolyamides, which contain pendant carboxylic groups are solution cast into films using N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMAc), N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone (NMP), or other polar solvents. The films are thermally cured at temperatures near the copolymer glass transition temperature. After curing, the polymer films display transmittances >80% from 400 to 750 nm, have coefficients of thermal expansion of less than 20 ppm, and are solvent resistant. The films are useful as flexible substrates for microelectronic devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2021
    Publication date: August 25, 2022
    Inventors: Limin Sun, Frank W. Harris, Jiaokai Jing, Haci B. Erdem, John D. Harvey, Dong Zhang
  • Patent number: 11084906
    Abstract: A class of solvent resistant, flexible copolyimide substrates having high optical transparency (>80% from 400 to 750 nm) that is retained after brief exposure to 300° C., near-zero birefringence (<0.001) and a maximum CTE of approximately 60 ppm/° C. is disclosed. The copolyimides are prepared from alicyclic dianhydrides, aromatic cardo diamines, and aromatic diamines containing free carboxyl groups. The substrates are manufactured from solutions of the copolyimides containing multifunctional epoxides in the form of single layer films, multilayer laminates and glass fiber reinforced composite films. The substrates can be used in the construction of flexible optical displays, and other microelectronic and photovoltaic devices that require their unique combination of properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: Akron Polymer Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Limin Sun, Dong Zhang, Jiaokai Jing, Frank W. Harris
  • Patent number: 11059742
    Abstract: A flexible substrate with a high optical transparency (>80% from 400 to 750 nm) that is retained after exposure to 300° C., near-zero birefringence (<±0.001), and a relatively low CTE (<60 ppm/° C.) is disclosed. The substrate may be manufactured as single layer, polyimide films and as a multi-layer laminate comprising a polyimide layer and a thin glass layer. The polyimides may include alicyclic dianhydrides and aromatic, cardo diamines. The films formed of the polyimides can serve as flexible substrates for optical displays and other applications that require their unique combination of properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: Akron Polymer Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Limin Sun, Dong Zhang, Jiaokai Jing, Frank W. Harris, Zhikuan Lu, Xiaoliang Zheng
  • Patent number: 11046825
    Abstract: The present invention is directed toward transparent films prepared from soluble aromatic copolyamides with glass transition temperatures greater than 300 C. The copolyamides, which contain pendant carboxylic groups are solution cast into films using N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMAc), N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone (NMP), or other polar solvents. The films are thermally cured at temperatures near the copolymer glass transition temperature. After curing, the polymer films display transmittances >80% from 400 to 750 nm, have coefficients of thermal expansion of less than 20 ppm, and are solvent resistant. The films are useful as flexible substrates for microelectronic devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Inventors: Limin Sun, Frank W. Harris, Jiaokai Jing, Haci B. Erdem, John D. Harvey, Dong Zhang
  • Publication number: 20200399469
    Abstract: Films with optical transmittance of >80% between 400 and 750 nm and with coefficient of thermal expansion less than 20 ppm/° C. are prepared from aromatic polyamides that are soluble in polar organic solvents yet have glass transition temperatures>300° C. The films are cross-linked in the solid state by heating at elevated temperatures for short periods of time in the presence of multifunctional epoxides. Surprisingly, the optical and thermal properties of the films do not change significantly during the curing process. The temperature required for the crosslinking process to take place can be reduced by the presence of a few free, pendant carboxyl groups along the polyamide backbones. The films are useful as flexible substrates for electronic displays and photovoltaic devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2020
    Publication date: December 24, 2020
    Applicant: Akron Polymer Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Limin Sun, Dong Zhang, Frank W. Harris, Jiaokai Jing
  • Patent number: 10759940
    Abstract: Films with optical transmittance of >80% between 400 and 750 nm and with coefficient of thermal expansion less than 20 ppm/° C. are prepared from aromatic polyamides that are soluble in polar organic solvents yet have glass transition temperatures >300° C. The films are cross-linked in the solid state by heating at elevated temperatures for short periods of time in the presence of multifunctional epoxides. Surprisingly, the optical and thermal properties of the films do not change significantly during the curing process. The temperature required for the crosslinking process to take place can be reduced by the presence of a few free, pendant carboxyl groups along the polyamide backbones. The films are useful as flexible substrates for electronic displays and photovoltaic devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: Akon Polymer Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Limin Sun, Dong Zhang, Frank W. Harris, Jiaokai Jing
  • Patent number: 10088615
    Abstract: A polymer blend includes a combination of an acrylic polymer and a styrenic fluoropolymer. The polymer blend may be used to make polymer films having a single glass transition temperature, a polarizing plate, or a display device with enhanced optical properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: Akron Polymer Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Xiaoliang Zheng, Frank W. Harris, Thauming Kuo, Bin Wang, Ted Germroth, Dong Zhang, Douglas S. McWilliams, Peiyao Wang
  • Patent number: 9963548
    Abstract: Solvent resistant, transparent films prepared from solutions of aromatic polyamides and multi-functional carboxylic acids in polar aprotic solvents are described herein. Solvent resistance is achieved by heating the films for a short time above 300° C. near the polyamide Tg. The films have CTEs less than 40 ppm/° C. and are optically clear displaying transmittance above 75% between 400 and 750 nm. The films are useful as substrates for flexible electronic devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: Akron Polymer Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Limin Sun, Dong Zhang, Frank W. Harris, Jiaokai Jing
  • Publication number: 20180094135
    Abstract: Films with optical transmittance of >80% between 400 and 750 nm and with coefficient of thermal expansion less than 20 ppm/° C. are prepared from aromatic polyamides that are soluble in polar organic solvents yet have glass transition temperatures >300° C. The films are cross-linked in the solid state by heating at elevated temperatures for short periods of time in the presence of multifunctional epoxides. Surprisingly, the optical and thermal properties of the films do not change significantly during the curing process. The temperature required for the crosslinking process to take place can be reduced by the presence of a few free, pendant carboxyl groups along the polyamide backbones. The films are useful as flexible substrates for electronic displays and photovoltaic devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2017
    Publication date: April 5, 2018
    Applicant: Akron Polymer Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Limin Sun, Dong Zhang, Frank W. Harris, Jiaokai Jing
  • Patent number: 9873763
    Abstract: The present disclosure, in one aspect, relates to a polyamide solution including an aromatic polyamide and a solvent, wherein the aromatic polyamide includes at least two types of constitutional units, and a change rate of coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) of a cast film produced by casting the polyamide solution on a glass plate and CTE of the same cast film after being subjected to a heat treatment at temperature of 200° C. to 450° C. (=CTE after heat treatment/CTE before heat treatment) is 1.3 or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignees: AKRON POLYMER SYSTEMS, INC., SUMITOMO BAKELITE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Limin Sun, Dong Zhang, Jiaokai Jing, Frank W. Harris, Hideo Umeda, Ritsuya Kawasaki, Toshihiko Katayama, Yusuke Inoue, Jun Okada, Mizuho Inoue, Manabu Naito
  • Patent number: 9856376
    Abstract: Films with optical transmittance of >80% between 400 and 750 nm and with coefficient of thermal expansion less than 20 ppm/° C. are prepared from aromatic polyamides that are soluble in polar organic solvents yet have glass transition temperatures >300° C. The films are crosslinked in the solid state by heating at elevated temperatures for short periods of time in the presence of multifunctional epoxides. Surprisingly, the optical and thermal properties of the films do not change significantly during the curing process. The temperature required for the crosslinking process to take place can be reduced by the presence of a few free, pendant carboxyl groups along the polyamide backbones. The films are useful as flexible substrates for electronic displays and photovoltaic devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Akron Polymer Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Limin Sun, Dong Zhang, Frank W. Harris, Jiaokai Jing
  • Publication number: 20170298198
    Abstract: A process for manufacturing a display device, an optical device or an illuminating device includes casting a polyamide solution onto a base at temperature below 200° C. to obtain a film, heating the film on the base at temperature sufficient to make the film solvent resistant and obtain a polyamide film, forming on a surface of the polyamide film one of a display element, an optical element and an illumination element to form a display device, an optical device or an illumination device, and de-bonding the base from the display device, the optical device or the illuminating device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2017
    Publication date: October 19, 2017
    Applicants: SUMITOMO BAKELITE CO., LTD., AKRON POLYMER SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: FRANK W. HARRIS, DONG ZHANG, LIMIN SUN, JIAOKAI JING, HIDEO UMEDA, JUN OKADA
  • Patent number: 9785011
    Abstract: A multilayer optical retardation compensation film having at least one positive C-plate and at least one negative C-plate is used in an LCD device. The multilayer film may have a substantially flat wavelength dispersion curve, or the multilayer film combined with other layers in the LCD device may have a substantially flat wavelength dispersion curve. Polymer films for the positive C-plate may be identified according to their absorbance maxima at certain wavelength ranges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: AKRON POLYMER SYSTEMS
    Inventors: Frank W. Harris, Jiaokai Alexander Jing, Ted Calvin Germroth, Xiaoliang Joe Zheng, Brian Michael King, Dong Zhang, Thauming Kuo, Qifeng Zhou
  • Publication number: 20170022336
    Abstract: The present invention is directed toward transparent films prepared from soluble aromatic copolyamides with glass transition temperatures greater than 300 C. The copolyamides, which contain pendant carboxylic groups are solution cast into films using N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMAc), N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone (NMP), or other polar solvents. The films are thermally cured at temperatures near the copolymer glass transition temperature. After curing, the polymer films display transmittances >80% from 400 to 750 nm, have coefficients of thermal expansion of less than 20 ppm, and are solvent resistant. The films are useful as flexible substrates for microelectronic devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2016
    Publication date: January 26, 2017
    Inventors: Limin Sun, Frank W. Harris, Jiaokai Jing, Haci B. Erdem, John D. Harvey, Dong Zhang
  • Patent number: 9457496
    Abstract: The present invention is directed toward transparent films prepared from soluble aromatic copolyamides with glass transition temperatures greater than 300 C. The copolyamides, which contain pendant carboxylic groups are solution cast into films using N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMAc), N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone (NMP), or other polar solvents. The films are thermally cured at temperatures near the copolymer glass transition temperature. After curing, the polymer films display transmittances >80% from 400 to 750 nm, have coefficients of thermal expansion of less than 20 ppm, and are solvent resistant. The films are useful as flexible substrates for microelectronic devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: Akron Polymer Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Limin Sun, Frank W. Harris, Jiaokai Jing, Haci B. Erdem, John D. Harvey, Dong Zhang
  • Publication number: 20160215132
    Abstract: A polymer blend includes a combination of an acrylic polymer and a styrenic fluoropolymer. The polymer blend may be used to make polymer films having a single glass transition temperature, a polarizing plate, or a display device with enhanced optical properties.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2016
    Publication date: July 28, 2016
    Applicant: Akron Polymer Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Xiaoliang Zheng, Frank W. Harris, Thauming Kuo, Bin Wang, Ted Germroth, Dong Zhang, Douglas S. McWilliams, Peiyao Wang
  • Publication number: 20160208096
    Abstract: In an aspect, the present disclosure relates to a polyamide solution comprising an aromatic polyamide and a solvent, wherein a Young's modulus of at least one direction of a cast film produced by casting the polyamide solution on a glass plate is 3.0 GPa or more, and a tensile strength of the cast film is 100 MPa or more and 250 MPa or less. In another aspect, the present disclosure relates to a polyamide solution comprising an aromatic polyamide and a solvent, wherein a Young's modulus of at least one direction of a cast film produced by casting the polyamide solution on a glass plate is 3.0 GPa or more, and an aromatic polyamide of the polyamide solution has a constitutional unit represented by following general formulae (I) and (II).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2016
    Publication date: July 21, 2016
    Applicants: AKRON POLYMER SYSTEMS, INC., SUMITOMO BAKELITE COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Limin Sun, Dong Zhang, Jiaokai Jing, Frank W. Harris, Takehiko Maetani, Ritsuya Kawasaki, Toshihiko Katayama, Hideo Umeda
  • Publication number: 20160096925
    Abstract: A cover member includes a base material having a film shape and containing an amorphous aromatic polyamide. Further, it is preferred that the aromatic polyamide contains a carboxyl group. Furthermore, it is preferred that the aromatic polyamide contains a rigid structure in an amount of 85 mol % or more. Moreover, it is preferred that a tensile elastic modulus of the base material is 4 GPa or more. This makes it possible to provide a cover member having a good flatness keeping property and excellent long-term durability, and an electronic device provided with such a cover member and having excellent reliability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2015
    Publication date: April 7, 2016
    Applicants: AKRON POLYMER SYSTEMS INC., SUMITOMO BAKELITE COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Limin Sun, Dong Zhang, Frank W. Harris, Jun Okada, Toshihiko Katayama, Ritsuya Kawasaki, Hideo Umeda, Daisuke Isobe
  • Publication number: 20160083538
    Abstract: A solvent resistant, transparent aromatic polyamide film with a high refractive index may be made by reacting at least one aromatic diacid chloride, a first aromatic diamine, and at least one crosslinking agent or a second aromatic diamine in an organic solvent to form an aromatic polyamide polymer in solution. In one embodiment, the at least one aromatic diacid chloride is selected from the group consisting of isophthaloyl dichloride, terephthaloyl dichloride, 2,6-naphthalene-dicarboxylic chloride, or combinations thereof and the first aromatic diamine is selected from the group consisting of 9,9-Bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)fluorine, 2,2?,5,5?-Tetrachlorobenzidine, or combinations thereof. The organic solvent is then evaporated from the aromatic polyamide polymer in solution to form a transparent aromatic polyamide precursor film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2015
    Publication date: March 24, 2016
    Inventors: Limin Sun, Dong Zhang, Jiaokai Jing, Frank W. Harris
  • Publication number: 20160075913
    Abstract: The present disclosure, in one aspect, relates to a polyamide solution which can suppress the yellowness. The present disclosure, in one or a plurality of embodiments, relates to a polyamide solution comprising an aromatic polyamide and a solvent, the aromatic polyamide comprising a constitutional unit having one or more free carboxyl groups and having an aromatic ring structure and an alicyclic structure in the main chain. Further, the present disclosure, in one aspect, relates to a laminated composite material, comprising a glass plate and a polyamide resin layer; the polyamide resin layer laminated onto one surface of the glass plate, the polyamide resin layer having yellowness (JIS K7373) of 2.4 or less; and the polyamide resin layer obtained by applying the solution onto the glass plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2015
    Publication date: March 17, 2016
    Applicants: AKRON POLYMER SYSTEMS, INC., SUMITOMO BAKELITE COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Limin Sun, Jiaokai Jing, Dong Zhang, Frank W. Harris, Ritsuya Kawasaki, Toshihiko Katayama, Jun Okada, Hideo Umeda