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: 20160327700
    Abstract: Reflective sheets are described. In particular, flat reflective sheets including reflectors and substrates are described. The reflective sheets may have at least one edge not parallel to any other edge. The reflective sheets may also include at least one tab. Other films may be attached or adhered to either the reflector or the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2016
    Publication date: November 10, 2016
    Inventors: John A. Wheatley, Glendon D. Kappel, Scott E. Simons, Andrew H. Tilstra
  • Patent number: 9482807
    Abstract: Optical constructions use a low index of refraction layer disposed between a low absorption layer and a high absorption layer to increase confinement of light to the low absorption region of the optical constructions. Low index layers can be used in optical constructions that have multi-tiered light confinement. In these constructions, a first tier of reflection is provided when light is reflected at the surface of a low index optical film which is disposed directly or indirectly on a light guide. A second tier of reflection occurs at the surface of a light redirecting film having appropriately oriented refractive structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: John A. Wheatley, Tao Liu, Encai Hao
  • Patent number: 9441809
    Abstract: A backlight (10) includes a front and back reflectors (12,14) forming a light recycling cavity (16) and one or more light source members (24a, 24b, 24c) disposed to emit light into the light recycling cavity. The front reflector (12) being partially reflective to provide an output illumination area. The front reflector (12) has a blue sloped transmission spectra, at normal incidence with a range among bin values from 15% to 100%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Timothy J. Nevitt, Michael F. Weber, John A. Wheatley, Matthew E. Sousa, Tao Liu
  • Publication number: 20160238761
    Abstract: A broadband partial reflector includes a multilayer polymeric optical film having a total number of optical repeating units that monotonically increases in thickness value from a first side to a second side of the multilayer polymeric optical film. A baseline optical repeating unit thickness profile is defined by a first plurality of optical repeating units and having a first average slope, and a first apodized thickness profile of the multilayer polymeric optical film is defined by a second plurality of optical repeating units having a second average slope being at least 5 times greater than the first average slope. The second plurality of optical repeating units define the first side of the multilayer polymeric optical film and join the first plurality of optical repeating units. The second plurality of optical repeating units are in a range from 3-15% of the total number of optical repeating units.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2016
    Publication date: August 18, 2016
    Inventors: Michael F. Weber, Timothy J. Nevitt, John A. Wheatley
  • Patent number: 9417376
    Abstract: Dual-sided optical films have extended prisms formed in one major surface, and extended lenslets formed in an opposite major surface. Some or all of the prisms are compound prisms, in which the two inclined surfaces of each compound prism each include a tip portion, a base portion, and an intermediate portion disposed between the tip portion and the base portion, the intermediate and tip portions forming a concave shape and the intermediate and base portions forming a convex shape, or vice versa. When obliquely incident light, e.g. from a light guide, is incident on the prism side of the film, an output beam emerges from the lenslet side of the film. The output beam has an intensity distribution with a sharp left beam edge and a sharp right beam edge, these beam edges having 10%-to-90% transition angles of no more than 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, or 2 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Michael J. Sykora, John A. Wheatley
  • Publication number: 20160229111
    Abstract: A roll of multilayer optical film is described. The roll includes a substantially uniaxially-oriented multilayer optical film, where at least one layer of the multilayer optical film has indices of refraction in a length direction and a thickness direction that are substantially the same, but substantially different from an index of refraction in a width direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2016
    Publication date: August 11, 2016
    Inventors: William W. Merrill, Jeffery N. Jackson, Andrew T. Ruff, John A. Wheatley, Dennis L. Krueger
  • Patent number: 9410677
    Abstract: Light sources are disclosed. A disclosed light source includes an optically reflective cavity that includes an input port for receiving light and an output port for transmitting light, a lamp that is disposed at the input port, and an optical stack that is disposed at the output port. The optical stack includes a forward scattering optical diffuser that is disposed at the output port and has an optical haze that is not less than about 20%, and an optical film that is disposed on the optical diffuser. The optical film enhance total internal reflection at the interface between the optical film and the optical diffuser. The optical film has an index of refraction that is not greater than about 1.3 and an optical haze that is not greater than about 5%. The optical stack also includes a reflective polarizer layer that is disposed on the optical film. Substantial portions of each two neighboring major surfaces in the optical stack are in physical contact with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: John A. Wheatley, Tao Liu, Encai Hao, William Blake Kolb, Michael Benton Free
  • Patent number: 9403300
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to patterned gradient polymer films and methods for making the same, and more particularly to patterned gradient optical films that have regions that include variations in optical properties such as refractive index, haze, transmission, clarity, or a combination thereof. The variation in optical properties can occur across a transverse plane of the film as well as through a thickness direction of the film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: William Blake Kolb, Michael Benton Free, Brant U. Kolb, Fei Lu, John A. Wheatley
  • Patent number: 9396192
    Abstract: Systems and methods for tagging a media asset are provided. A plurality of communications is received from a plurality of users. Each of the plurality of communications includes words spoken by a respective one of the users while accessing the media asset and is associated with a media asset play position during which the respective words were spoken. A subset of the plurality of communications is selected for which the associated media asset play position is within a range of play positions, the range of play positions being shorter than the duration of the media asset. A word that a threshold number of the selected communications have in common is identified. The word is cross-referenced with an attribute database to retrieve an attribute associated with the word. The retrieved attribute is assigned to the media asset within the range of play positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.
    Inventors: David John Wheatley, Kenneth Murphy
  • Publication number: 20160161663
    Abstract: Dual-sided optical films have extended prisms formed in one major surface, and extended lenslets formed in an opposite major surface. Some or all of the prisms are compound prisms, in which the two inclined surfaces of each compound prism each include a tip portion, a base portion, and an intermediate portion disposed between the tip portion and the base portion, the intermediate and tip portions forming a concave shape and the intermediate and base portions forming a convex shape, or vice versa. When obliquely incident light, e.g. from a light guide, is incident on the prism side of the film, an output beam emerges from the lenslet side of the film. The output beam has an intensity distribution with a sharp left beam edge and a sharp right beam edge, these beam edges having 10%-to-90% transition angles of no more than 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, or 2 degrees.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2016
    Publication date: June 9, 2016
    Inventors: Michael J. Sykora, John A. Wheatley
  • Patent number: 9361005
    Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed herein for a media guidance application that adjusts modes based on actively determining an engagement level of a user. In such modes both the content presented and the interactions of a user that are recognized may be based on the level of engagement of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.
    Inventors: David John Wheatley, William J. Korbecki, Brian Craig Peterson
  • Publication number: 20160116664
    Abstract: Optical constructions use a low index of refraction layer disposed between a low absorption layer and a high absorption layer to increase confinement of light to the low absorption region of the optical constructions. Low index layers can be used in optical constructions that have multi-tiered light confinement. In these constructions, a first tier of reflection is provided when light is reflected at the surface of a low index optical film which is disposed directly or indirectly on a light guide. A second tier of reflection occurs at the surface of a light redirecting film having appropriately oriented refractive structures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2016
    Publication date: April 28, 2016
    Inventors: John A. Wheatley, Tao Liu, Encai Hao
  • Patent number: 9322967
    Abstract: A broadband partial reflector includes a multilayer polymeric optical film having a total number of optical repeating units that monotonically increases in thickness value from a first side to a second side of the multilayer polymeric optical film. A baseline optical repeating unit thickness profile is defined by a first plurality of optical repeating units and having a first average slope, and a first apodized thickness profile of the multilayer polymeric optical film is defined by a second plurality of optical repeating units having a second average slope being at least 5 times greater than the first average slope. The second plurality of optical repeating units define the first side of the multilayer polymeric optical film and join the first plurality of optical repeating units. The second plurality of optical repeating units are in a range from 3-15% of the total number of optical repeating units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Michael F. Weber, Timothy J. Nevitt, John A. Wheatley
  • Patent number: 9314961
    Abstract: A roll of multilayer optical film is described. The roll includes a substantially uniaxially-oriented multilayer optical film, where at least one layer of the multilayer optical film has indices of refraction in a length direction and a thickness direction that are substantially the same, but substantially different from an index of refraction in a width direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: William Ward Merrill, Jeffery N. Jackson, Andrew T. Ruff, John A. Wheatley, Dennis L. Krueger
  • Publication number: 20160094875
    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: September 30, 2014
    Publication date: March 31, 2016
    Inventors: Brian Peterson, Vanessa Wickenkamp, David John Wheatley, Walter R. Klappert
  • Publication number: 20160094888
    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: September 30, 2014
    Publication date: March 31, 2016
    Inventors: Brian Peterson, Vanessa Wickenkamp, David John Wheatley, Walter R. Klappert
  • Patent number: 9294816
    Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed herein for a media guidance application that predicts user preferences based on detected events. For example, in response to a trigger, the media guidance application may monitor data associated with a user. The media guidance application may then process the monitored data to determine if the monitored data indicates that a user profile of a user should be updated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.
    Inventor: David John Wheatley
  • Publication number: 20160047521
    Abstract: Light assembly having reflector, light source, an outer light cover, and a curved transflective surface. Embodiments of light assemblies described herein are useful, for example, as signs, backlights, displays, task lighting, luminaire, and vehicle (e.g., cars, trucks, airplanes, etc.) components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2015
    Publication date: February 18, 2016
    Inventors: Stephen K. Eckhardt, Barry S. Carpenter, David A. Ender, David J. Lundin, Mark E. Napierala, Jennifer J. Sahlin, David F. Slama, Karl A. Vick, John A. Wheatley
  • Patent number: 9261641
    Abstract: Dual-sided optical films have extended prisms formed in one major surface, and extended lenslets formed in an opposite major surface. Some or all of the prisms are compound prisms, in which the two inclined surfaces of each compound prism each include a tip portion, a base portion, and an intermediate portion disposed between the tip portion and the base portion, the intermediate and tip portions forming a concave shape and the intermediate and base portions forming a convex shape, or vice versa. When obliquely incident light, e.g. from a light guide, is incident on the prism side of the film, an output beam emerges from the lenslet side of the film. The output beam has an intensity distribution with a sharp left beam edge and a sharp right beam edge, these beam edges having 10%-to-90% transition angles of no more than 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, or 2 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Michael J. Sykora, John A. Wheatley
  • Publication number: 20160018700
    Abstract: Optical constructions are disclosed. A disclosed optical construction includes a reflective polarizer layer, and an optical film that is disposed on the reflective polarizer layer. The optical film has an optical haze that is not less than about 50%. Substantial portions of each two neighboring major surfaces in the optical construction are in physical contact with each other. The optical construction has an axial luminance gain that is not less than about 1.2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Publication date: January 21, 2016
    Inventors: Encai HAO, Fei LU, William Blake KOLB, Brian W. OSTLIE, Adam D. HAAG, Michael Benton FREE, William D. COGGIO, Michael L. STEINER, Soemantri WIDAGDO, Kui CHEN-HO, Lan H. LIU, Robert F. KAMRATH, Scott M. TAPIO, John A. WHEATLEY, Charles D. HOYLE, Michael F. WEBER