Patents by Inventor John A Wheatley

John A Wheatley 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: 20240088185
    Abstract: Fingerprint sensor assemblies using metasurface arrays. The sensor assemblies include an image sensor having a sensor pixel array and a metasurface array on the sensor pixel array. An optical filter such as an IR cutfilter or notch filter can be located on the metasurface array. The assemblies can also include a substrate, optical spacer, or optically clear adhesive between the sensor pixel array and the metasurface array. The fingerprint sensor assemblies can be incorporated into mobile devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2022
    Publication date: March 14, 2024
    Inventors: Martin B. Wolk, Craig R. Schardt, John A. Wheatley, Jonah Shaver, Robert L. Brott
  • Patent number: 11899230
    Abstract: An example optical filter may include an angle blocking layer having a first angular light blocking range ?AL relative to a normal axis, and an interference filter adjacent the angle blocking layer having a second angular light blocking range ?IF relative to the normal axis. ?IF and ?AL at least partially overlap. The example optical filter has a predetermined light transmission zone comprising angles from 0° to a maximum light transmission angle ?Tmax relative to a normal axis of the major surface. The example optical filter has a predetermined angular light blocking zone ?B, a union of ?IF and ?AL. An example optical filter may include an interference filter having an incidence angle-dependent reflection band and an absorbing layer having an absorption band. The incidence angle-dependent reflection band and the absorption band may overlap at at least one wavelength at at least one angle of incidence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: John A. Wheatley, Guanglei Du, Gilles J. Benoit, Rolf W. Biernath
  • Publication number: 20240036235
    Abstract: An optical film (100) includes a plurality of polymeric layers (40) disposed between opposing first (11) and second (12) outer layers, a thinnest polymeric layer in the plurality of polymeric layers disposed closer to the first outer layer (11) and a thickest polymeric layer disposed closer to the second outer layer (12). A layer thickness gradient of the optical film (100) includes first (43) and second (45) portions joined by a step portion (20), a change in thickness across the step portion (20) at least 5 times greater than a change in thickness across each of the first (43) and second (45) portions, wherein the optical film (100) has a first average transmission percentage, TA1, in a first wavelength range, a peak transmission percentage, Tp, in a different, second wavelength range. The first wavelength range and the second wavelength range are separated by a third wavelength range with a third average transmission percentage, TA3, such that TA1>Tp>30(TA3).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2021
    Publication date: February 1, 2024
    Inventors: John A. Wheatley, Gilles J. Benoit, Mark A. Roehrig, Bharat R. Acharya, Serena L. Schleusner, Zhaohui Yang
  • Patent number: 11885989
    Abstract: A light control film, comprises a light input surface and alight output surface opposite the light input surface. Alternating transmissive regions and absorptive regions are disposed between the light input surface and the light output surface. The absorptive regions have an aspect ratio of at least 30 and the alternating transmissive region and absorptive regions have a relative transmission at a viewing angle of 0 degrees of at least 75%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Daniel J. Schmidt, Caleb T. Nelson, Kevin W. Gotrik, Raymond J. Kenney, John A. Wheatley, Kenneth A. Epstein, Gary T. Boyd, Corey D. Balts
  • Publication number: 20240023905
    Abstract: A display system for sensing a user body portion, including a display panel configured to form an image for viewing by the user, an optical reflector having a plurality of polymeric layers, and at least one optical sensor for sensing a visible light having at least one visible wavelength and an infrared light having at least one infrared wavelength. The optical sensor senses the visible and infrared lights after the visible and infrared lights are transmitted by the optical reflector. The optical reflector has an average optical reflectance greater than 80% in the visible wavelength range, an optical transmittance greater than about 50% at the infrared wavelength, an optical transmittance of greater than about 2% and less than about 10% at the visible wavelength, and an optical transmittance versus wavelength with a bandpass segment having a full width at half maximum that includes the visible wavelength.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2021
    Publication date: January 25, 2024
    Inventors: Zhiping Liu, Fan Long, John A. Wheatley, Bharat R. Acharya, Ryan T. Fabick, Zhe Hu, Edward J. Kivel
  • Patent number: 11879779
    Abstract: An optical system (150) is disclosed and includes an optical sensor (154), a plurality of photosensitive pixels (178) disposed on the optical sensor, a wavelength-selective optical filter (158) in optical communication with the photosensitive pixels, the wavelength-selective optical filter being disposed remotely from the optical sensor, and a plurality of spatially-variant areas (220, 224, 228, 232) disposed in the optical filter, at least one area of the plurality of spatially-variant areas including a downconverter (400, 500).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: John A. Wheatley, Mark A. Roehrig
  • Publication number: 20240002703
    Abstract: Adhesive compositions include a pressure sensitive adhesive, and at least 2 light absorbing components dispersed within the pressure sensitive adhesive. The light absorbing components are dyes, nanopigments or a combination thereof. The light absorbing components absorb light in the wavelength range of 350-700 nanometers. A layer of the adhesive composition transmits no more than 10% of light in the wavelength range of 350-700 nanometers and transmits at least 75% of light in the wavelength range of 900-1200 nanometers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2023
    Publication date: January 4, 2024
    Inventors: Encai Hao, John Wheatley, Nicholas Untiedt
  • Publication number: 20230413653
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a display system. The display system includes a backlight configured to emit substantially collimated polarized light from an emission surface thereof. The emitted polarized light is polarized along a polarization direction. The display system further includes a display panel configured to receive an illumination light and form an image. The display system further includes a grating system substantially coextensive in length and width with the display panel and the emission surface. The grating system includes a plurality of substantially parallel elongated features extending along an in-plane first direction and arranged along an orthogonal in-plane second direction. The grating system is configured to receive and transmit an incident polarized light as a first transmitted light having different first and second polarization states in response to different respective first and second signals applied to the grating system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2023
    Publication date: December 21, 2023
    Inventors: Stephen J. Etzkorn, Michael L. Steiner, Kevin W. Gotrik, Luke A. Schroeder, Nicholas A. Johnson, John A. Wheatley
  • Publication number: 20230408394
    Abstract: An optical element includes a porous layer with a network of a plurality of interconnected voids. The porous layer is optically diffusive to at least one wavelength of light when the network of interconnected voids is substantially free of fluid. The porous layer of the optical element undergoes a detectable optical change upon fluid ingress into the network or egress from the network of interconnected voids.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2023
    Publication date: December 21, 2023
    Inventors: John A. Wheatley, William B. Kolb, Audrey A. Sherman, Mark A. Roehrig, Alan R. Dombrowski, Kurt J. Halverson, Steven P. Swanson, Del R. Lawson, Cory M. Arthur
  • Publication number: 20230393054
    Abstract: A measurement system is disclosed and includes a light source, a receiver, a measurement subject, and a reflector. The reflector is disposed on an opposite side of the measurement subject than are the light source and the receiver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2021
    Publication date: December 7, 2023
    Inventors: John A. Wheatley, William Gray, Bharat R. Acharya, Aaron M. Marcella, Stephen M. Kennedy, Brett J. Sitter, Micheal L. Steiner, Mark A. Roehrig, Jonah Shaver, Jessica E. DeMay
  • Publication number: 20230384507
    Abstract: An optical construction includes an optical film between first and second prismatic films, which each include pluralities of parallel, linear first and second prisms. Each of the first and second prisms have opposing first and second sides extending from first and second ends of a base of the prism and meeting at a peak. The first and second sides make first and second base angles with the base of the prism. The peaks of the prismatic films face away from each other and the optical film. For a collimated, normally incident light, for at least a first wavelength in a first wavelength range, and for each of first and second polarization states: the optical film has an optical transmission of less than about 1%, and the optical construction transmits at least 1% of the incident light at an oblique angle greater than 5 degrees with respect to the optical film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2023
    Publication date: November 30, 2023
    Inventors: Bharat R. Acharya, John A. Wheatley, Andrew J. Carlson
  • Publication number: 20230379549
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described herein for presenting user selected scenes. A media guidance application may generate for display a listing for a media asset, wherein a play length of the media asset includes a non-selectable play length portion and a selectable play length portion. The media guidance application may generate for display a first scene option corresponding to a first scene and a second scene option corresponding to a second scene. The media guidance application may receive a user selection of the first or second scene option and incorporate the selected scene into the selectable play length portion of the media asset. The media guidance application may generate for display the media asset with the selected scene incorporated into the selectable play length portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2023
    Publication date: November 23, 2023
    Inventors: Brian Peterson, Vanessa Wickenkamp, David John Wheatley, Walter R. Klappert
  • Publication number: 20230355821
    Abstract: Multilayer articles are provided, including an absorbent layer and an ultraviolet mirror containing at least a plurality of alternating first and second optical layers. The absorbent layer absorbs ultraviolet light having a wavelength between at least 230 nanometers (nm) and 400 nm. The ultraviolet mirror reflects ultraviolet light in a wavelength range from 190 nm to 240 nm. Systems are also provided including a broadband UVC light source and a multilayer article. Devices are provided including a chamber, a broadband UVC light source located within the chamber, an absorbent layer in the chamber, and an ultraviolet mirror between the light source and absorbent layer. Methods of disinfecting a material are further provided, including obtaining a system or device, directing UVC light at the ultraviolet mirror, and exposing the material to ultraviolet light in a wavelength range from 190 nm to 240 nm, reflected by the ultraviolet mirror towards the material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2021
    Publication date: November 9, 2023
    Inventors: Timothy J. Hebrink, John A. Wheatley, Bharat R. Acharya
  • Patent number: 11811139
    Abstract: Gradient permittivity films are described. In particular, gradient permittivity films including a plurality of layers each having a thickness where at least one layer is perforated and has a different air volume fraction from another of the plurality of layers by at least 0.05. Such films may be useful in improving the signal to noise ratio for transmitting and receiving units operating between 20 GHz and 300 GHz behind a protective cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Jaewon Kim, Stephen J. Etzkorn, Ronald D. Jesme, Dipankar Ghosh, Mohsen Salehi, Guanglei Du, John A. Wheatley
  • Patent number: 11802795
    Abstract: An optical system is disclosed and includes an optical sensor, a plurality of photosensitive pixels disposed on the optical sensor, a wavelength-selective optical filter in optical communication with the photosensitive pixels, the wavelength-selective optical filter being disposed remotely from the optical sensor, an area disposed in the wavelength-selective optical filter, the area having a transmission spectrum different from a transmission spectrum of a portion of the wavelength-selective optical filter not in the area and a reflector, the wavelength-selective optical filter and a measurement subject each being disposed between the reflector and the optical sensor along an optical path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: John A. Wheatley, Mark A. Roehrig, Del R. Lawson, Tony J. Kaufman, James W. Howard, Kevin W. Gotrik, Claire R. Donoghue, Joshua M. Fishman, Jonah Shaver
  • Patent number: 11802792
    Abstract: A technique of determining the presence of a species in a sample may include passing light through an optical filter. In an example, the optical filter may include a spatially variant microreplicated layer optically coupled to a wavelength selective filter. The wavelength selective filter may have a light incidence angle-dependent optical band. The spatially variant microreplicated layer may be configured to transmit light to a first optical region of the wavelength selective filter at a first predetermined incidence angle and to a second optical region of the wavelength selective filter at a second predetermined incidence angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: John A Wheatley, Gilles J. Benoit, Guanglei Du, Rolf W. Biernath, Sara Suzanne Merritt, James Hillis, Owen M. Anderson, Timothy J. Nevitt
  • Publication number: 20230341715
    Abstract: A display system includes a display configured to emit an image for viewing by a viewer. The display system further includes one or more phase lens layers disposed on, and substantially co-extensive in length and width with the display. Each of the one or more phase lens layers is configured to have different first and second focal lengths for different respective first and second polarization states. The display system further includes a first polarization modifying layer disposed between the display and the one or more phase lens layers. The first polarization modifying layer is configured to receive the emitted image and transmit a transmitted image. The transmitted image has the first and second polarization states in response to different respective first and second signals applied to the first polarization modifying layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2023
    Publication date: October 26, 2023
    Inventors: Stephen J. Etzkorn, Michael L. Steiner, Kevin W. Gotrik, Luke A. Schroeder, Nicholas A. Johnson, John A. Wheatley
  • Publication number: 20230306222
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes in one instance an optical article comprising a data rich plurality of retroreflective elements that are configured in a spatially defined arrangement, where the plurality of retroreflective elements comprise retroreflective elements having at least two different retroreflective properties, and where data rich means information that is readily machine interpretable. The present disclosure also includes a system comprising the previously mentioned optical article, an optical system, and an inference engine for interpreting and classifying the plurality of retroreflective elements wherein the optical system feeds data to the inference engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2023
    Publication date: September 28, 2023
    Inventors: Michael A. McCoy, Glenn E. Casner, Anne C. Gold, Silvia Geciova-Borovova Guttmann, Charles A. Shaklee, Robert W. Shannon, Gautam Singh, Guruprasad Somasundaram, Andrew H. Tilstra, John A. Wheatley, Caroline M. Ylitalo, Arash Sangari, Alexandra R. Cunliffe, Jonathan D. Gandrud, Kui Chen-Ho, Travis L. Potts, Maja Giese, Andreas M. Geldmacher, Katja Hansen, Markus G.W. Lierse, Neeraj Sharma
  • Patent number: 11768145
    Abstract: An optical element includes a porous layer with a network of a plurality of interconnected voids. The porous layer is optically diffusive to at least one wavelength of light when the network of interconnected voids is substantially free of fluid. The porous layer of the optical element undergoes a detectable optical change upon fluid ingress into the network or egress from the network of interconnected voids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: John A. Wheatley, William B. Kolb, Audrey A. Sherman, Mark A Roehrig, Alan R. Dombrowski, Kurt J. Halverson, Steven P. Swanson, Del R. Lawson, Cory M. Arthur
  • Patent number: 11758235
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described herein for presenting user selected scenes. A media guidance application may generate for display a listing for a media asset, wherein a play length of the media asset includes a non-selectable play length portion and a selectable play length portion. The media guidance application may generate for display a first scene option corresponding to a first scene and a second scene option corresponding to a second scene. The media guidance application may receive a user selection of the first or second scene option and incorporate the selected scene into the selectable play length portion of the media asset. The media guidance application may generate for display the media asset with the selected scene incorporated into the selectable play length portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Peterson, Vanessa Wickenkamp, David John Wheatley, Walter R. Klappert