Patents by Inventor James E. Watson

James E. Watson 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).

  • Patent number: 10962806
    Abstract: Optical lenses are described and include a polymeric interference filter disposed on a curved polymeric substrate. The optical lens has an average light transmission of less than 2% across a band of blue light from 400 nm to at least 420 and up to 440 nm and substantially transmits blue light greater than 450 nm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Michael F. Weber, James E. Watson, Mark R. Strenger, Stephen A. Johnson, Chad R. Wold
  • Publication number: 20180113328
    Abstract: Optical lenses are described and include a polymeric interference filter disposed on a curved polymeric substrate. The optical lens has an average light transmission of less than 2% across a band of blue light from 400 nm to at least 420 and up to 440 nm and substantially transmits blue light greater than 450 nm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2017
    Publication date: April 26, 2018
    Inventors: Michael F. Weber, James E. Watson, Mark R. Strenger, Stephen A. Johnson, Chad R. Wold
  • Patent number: 9885885
    Abstract: Optical lenses are described and include a polymeric interference filter disposed on a curved polymeric substrate. The optical lens has an average light transmission of less than 2% across a band of blue light from 400 nm to at least 420 and up to 440 nm and substantially transmits blue light greater than 450 nm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Michael F. Weber, James E. Watson, Mark R. Strenger, Stephen A. Johnson, Chad R. Wold
  • Publication number: 20150146166
    Abstract: Optical lenses are described and include a polymeric interference filter disposed on a curved polymeric substrate. The optical lens has an average light transmission of less than 2% across a band of blue light from 400 nm to at least 420 and up to 440 nm and substantially transmits blue light greater than 450 nm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2013
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Applicant: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Michael F. Weber, James E. Watson, Mark R. Strenger, Stephen A. Johnson, Chad R. Wold
  • Patent number: 7497608
    Abstract: An illumination system including a light source, a light guide including an output surface, emissive material positioned between the light source and the output surface of the light guide, and an interference reflector positioned between the emissive material and the output surface of the light guide is disclosed. The light source emits light having a first optical characteristic. The emissive material emits light having a second optical characteristic when illuminated with light having the first optical characteristic. The interference reflector substantially transmits light having the second optical characteristic and substantially reflects light having the first optical characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: John A. Wheatley, Andrew J. Ouderkirk, Michael F. Weber, Kenneth A. Epstein, James E. Watson
  • Patent number: 7407313
    Abstract: An illumination system including a light source, light guides coupled to the light source, each including an input surface and an output surface, emissive material positioned to receive light from at least one light guide, and a first interference reflector positioned between the emissive material and the output surfaces of the light guides is disclosed. The light source emits light having a first optical characteristic. The emissive material emits light having a second optical characteristic when illuminated with light having the first optical characteristic. The first interference reflector substantially transmits light having the first optical characteristic and substantially reflects light having the second optical characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Craig R. Schardt, John C. Schultz, Andrew J. Ouderkirk, John A. Wheatley, Michael F. Weber, Kenneth A. Epstein, James E. Watson
  • Patent number: 7377679
    Abstract: An illumination system including a light source, light guides coupled to the light source, each including an input surface and an output surface, emissive material positioned to receive light from at least one light guide, and an interference reflector positioned such that the emissive material is between the output surfaces of the light guides and the interference reflector is disclosed. The light source emits light having a first optical characteristic. The emissive material emits light having a second optical characteristic when illuminated with light having the first optical characteristic. The interference reflector substantially transmits light having the second optical characteristic and substantially reflects light having the first optical characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: John C. Schultz, Andrew J. Ouderkirk, Craig R. Schardt, John A. Wheatley, Michael F. Weber, Kenneth A. Epstein, James E. Watson
  • Patent number: 7357555
    Abstract: An illumination system including a light source, a light guide including an output surface, emissive material positioned to receive light from the output surface of the light guide, and a first interference reflector positioned between the output surface of the light guide and the emissive material is disclosed. The light source emits light having a first optical characteristic. The emissive material emits light having a second optical characteristic when illuminated with light having the first optical characteristic. The first interference reflector substantially transmits light having the first optical characteristic and substantially reflects light having the second optical characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Andrew J. Ouderkirk, Michael F. Weber, John A. Wheatley, Kenneth A. Epstein, James E. Watson
  • Patent number: 7357554
    Abstract: An illumination system including a light source, a light guide including an output surface, emissive material positioned to receive light from the output surface of the light guide, and an interference reflector positioned such that the emissive material is between the output surface of the light guide and the interference reflector is disclosed. The light source emits light having a first optical characteristic. The emissive material emits light having a second optical characteristic when illuminated with light having the first optical characteristic. The interference reflector substantially transmits light having the second optical characteristic and substantially reflects light having the first optical characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Michael F. Weber, John A. Wheatley, Andrew J. Ouderkirk, Kenneth A. Epstein, James E. Watson
  • Patent number: 7350953
    Abstract: An illumination system including a light source, a light guide including an output surface, a first interference reflector positioned between the light source and the output surface of the light guide, and emissive material positioned between the first interference reflector and the output surface of the light guide is disclosed. The light source emits light having a first optical characteristic. The first interference reflector substantially transmits light having the first optical characteristic and substantially reflects light having a second optical characteristic. The emissive material emits light having the second optical characteristic when illuminated with light having the first optical characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: John A. Wheatley, Andrew J. Ouderkirk, Michael F. Weber, Kenneth A. Epstein, James E. Watson
  • Patent number: 7255469
    Abstract: An illumination system including a light source, a light guide including an output surface, emissive material positioned between the light source and the output surface of the light guide, and an interference reflector positioned between the emissive material and the output surface of the light guide is disclosed. The light source emits light having a first optical characteristic. The emissive material emits light having a second optical characteristic when illuminated with light having the first optical characteristic. The interference reflector substantially transmits light having the second optical characteristic and substantially reflects light having the first optical characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: John A. Wheatley, Andrew J. Ouderkirk, Michael F. Weber, Kenneth A. Epstein, James E. Watson
  • Patent number: 7213958
    Abstract: An illumination system including a light source, a light guide including an output surface, emissive material positioned to receive light from the output surface of the light guide, and a first interference reflector positioned between the output surface of the light guide and the emissive material is disclosed. The light source emits light having a first optical characteristic. The emissive material emits light having a second optical characteristic when illuminated with light having the first optical characteristic. The first interference reflector substantially transmits light having the first optical characteristic and substantially reflects light having the second optical characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2007
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Andrew J. Ouderkirk, Michael F. Weber, John A. Wheatley, Kenneth A. Epstein, James E. Watson
  • Patent number: 7204631
    Abstract: An illumination system including a light source, a light guide including an output surface, emissive material positioned to receive light from the output surface of the light guide, and an interference reflector positioned such that the emissive material is between the output surface of the light guide and the interference reflector is disclosed. The light source emits light having a first optical characteristic. The emissive material emits light having a second optical characteristic when illuminated with light having the first optical characteristic. The interference reflector substantially transmits light having the second optical characteristic and substantially reflects light having the first optical characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Michael F. Weber, John A. Wheatley, Andrew J. Ouderkirk, Kenneth A. Epstein, James E. Watson
  • Patent number: 7204630
    Abstract: An illumination system including a light source, light guides coupled to the light source, each including an input surface and an output surface, emissive material positioned to receive light from at least one light guide, and a first interference reflector positioned between the emissive material and the output surfaces of the light guides is disclosed. The light source emits light having a first optical characteristic. The emissive material emits light having a second optical characteristic when illuminated with light having the first optical characteristic. The first interference reflector substantially transmits light having the first optical characteristic and substantially reflects light having the second optical characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Craig R. Schardt, John C. Schultz, Andrew J. Ouderkirk, John A. Wheatley, Michael F. Weber, Kenneth A. Epstein, James E. Watson
  • Patent number: 7182498
    Abstract: An illumination system including a light source, light guides coupled to the light source, each including an input surface and an output surface, emissive material positioned to receive light from at least one light guide, and an interference reflector positioned such that the emissive material is between the output surfaces of the light guides and the interference reflector is disclosed. The light source emits light having a first optical characteristic. The emissive material emits light having a second optical characteristic when illuminated with light having the first optical characteristic. The interference reflector substantially transmits light having the second optical characteristic and substantially reflects light having the first optical characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2007
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: John C. Schultz, Andrew J. Ouderkirk, Craig R. Schardt, John A. Wheatley, Michael F. Weber, Kenneth A. Epstein, James E. Watson
  • Patent number: 7157839
    Abstract: A LED package including an LED that emits excitation light at an excitation light wavelength and a layer of phosphor material positioned to receive the excitation light and having a first index of refraction at the excitation light wavelength. The phosphor material emits visible light at a visible light wavelength when illuminated with the excitation light. An interference reflector is positioned adjacent to the layer of phosphor material and a TIR promoting layer is in contact with the layer of phosphor material. The TIR promoting layer has a second index of refraction at the excitation light wavelength that is less than the first index of refraction at the excitation light wavelength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Andrew J. Ouderkirk, James E. Watson, Michael F. Weber
  • Publication number: 20040150991
    Abstract: A LED package including an LED that emits excitation light at an excitation light wavelength and a layer of phosphor material positioned to receive the excitation light and having a first index of refraction at the excitation light wavelength. The phosphor material emits visible light at a visible light wavelength when illuminated with the excitation light. An interference reflector is positioned adjacent to the layer of phosphor material and a TIR promoting layer is in contact with the layer of phosphor material. The TIR promoting layer has a second index of refraction at the excitation light wavelength that is less than the first index of refraction at the excitation light wavelength.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2004
    Publication date: August 5, 2004
    Applicant: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Andrew J. Ouderkirk, James E. Watson, Michael F. Weber
  • Patent number: 6677175
    Abstract: The invention provides a method for producing an optical waveguide that includes the steps of: (a) forming a core structure, the core structure including an at least partially cured core composition, on a master defining a waveguide pattern; (b) applying over the top of the core structure and the master a cladding layer including a liquid cladding composition; (c) curing the cladding layer to form a core/cladding combination; and removing the core/cladding combination from the master so as to expose at least a portion of the core structure, wherein the refractive index of the core material is at least about 0.05 percent higher than the refractive index of the cladding material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignees: Promerus, LLC, 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Xiao-Mei Zhao, Ramakrishna Ravikiran, Phillip S. Neal, Robert A. Shick, James E. Watson, Thomas M. Kafka, Davy Chum, Raymond P. Johnston
  • Publication number: 20020064896
    Abstract: The invention provides a method for producing an optical waveguide that includes the steps of: (a) forming a core structure, the core structure including an at least partially cured core composition, on a master defining a waveguide pattern; (b) applying over the top of the core structure and the master a cladding layer including a liquid cladding composition; (c) curing the cladding layer to form a core/cladding combination; and removing the core/cladding combination from the master so as to expose at least a portion of the core structure, wherein the refractive index of the core material is at least about 0.05 percent higher than the refractive index of the cladding material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2001
    Publication date: May 30, 2002
    Inventors: Xiao-Mei Zhao, Ramakrishna Ravikiran, Phillip S. Neal, Robert A. Shick, James E. Watson, Thomas M. Kafka, Davy Chum, Raymond P. Johnston
  • Patent number: 5867914
    Abstract: A multimedia enhancement for an amusement device includes a sound synthesizer for creating a user perceptible signal, such as an audio signal, in response to selective actuation of the controls of the amusement device. The amusement device includes a screen for displaying a viewer perceptible image and a pair of rotary control knobs operatively associated with rotary switches and a selectably actuable on-off switch to provide amusing sounds and feedback indicative of the operator's use of the control knobs. The sound synthesizer is programmed to also create one of a series of sounds from a plurality of families of sounds in a predetermined sequence in response to actuation of the control elements by the user or randomly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1999
    Assignee: The Ohio Art Company
    Inventors: James E. Watson, Ralph Beckman, Henry Sharpe, III, Brian R. Jones, Larry E. Miller, Stephen Schwartz