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: 20160004124
    Abstract: An optical construction is described that includes a blue light source, a liquid crystal display panel, and a quantum dot film element optically between the blue light source and the liquid crystal display panel. In some embodiments, the blue light source can emit blue light that has a wavelength in a range from 440 to 460 nm and an FWHM of less than 25 nm. Also, in some embodiments, the quantum dot film element includes a plurality of quantum dots emitting a peak red wavelength in a range from 600 to 640 nm, an FWHM of less than 50 nm, a peak green wavelength in a range from 515 to 555 nm, and an FWHM of less than 40 nm. The quantum dot film element can be optically between the blue light source and the LCD panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2014
    Publication date: January 7, 2016
    Inventors: Gilles J. BENOIT, John A. WHEATLEY, James A. THIELEN
  • Publication number: 20160003998
    Abstract: An optical construction includes a quantum dot film element including a plurality of quantum dots, a first optical recycling element, and a first low refractive index element separating the quantum dot film element from the first optical recycling element. The first low refractive index element has a refractive index of 1.3 or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2014
    Publication date: January 7, 2016
    Inventors: Gilles J. BENOIT, John A. WHEATLEY, James A. THIELEN, David Scott THOMPSON
  • Patent number: 9229149
    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: December 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: John A. Wheatley, Tao Liu, Encai Hao
  • Publication number: 20150369433
    Abstract: A display device is provided that includes a photovoltaic cell, a dichroic reflector adjacent to the photovoltaic cell, and a low refractive index layer adjacent to the dichroic reflector. The low refractive index layer can have an index of refraction of from about 1.1 to about 1.4.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2014
    Publication date: December 24, 2015
    Inventors: Jingfei CHEN, Guanglei DU, John A. WHEATLEY, Andrew J. OUDERKIRK
  • Patent number: 9215510
    Abstract: Systems and methods for automatically tagging a media asset are provided. Verbal input is received from a user while the user is accessing the media asset. A request to adjust playback of the media asset is received from the user. Responsive to receiving the verbal input and the request, a combination of the verbal input and the request is cross-referenced with an attribute database to identify an attribute associated with the combination. The identified attribute is associated with the media asset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.
    Inventor: David John Wheatley
  • Publication number: 20150346955
    Abstract: Methods and systems described herein provide for visualizing content across different time segments of a media asset. Information about content within a particular time segment of a media asset is retrieved. This content information is generated by processing user-generated messages corresponding to the particular time segment. Content descriptors are generated based on the received content information corresponding to the particular time segment. A timeline is generated, independently of presenting a media asset, wherein the timeline visually associates content descriptors with their corresponding time segments of the media asset. When these content descriptors are selected by a user, the user-generated messages corresponding to the content descriptor at the corresponding time segment are displayed to the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2014
    Publication date: December 3, 2015
    Inventors: Andrew Fundament, Vanessa Wickenkamp, Brian Craig Peterson, David John Wheatley, Jason William Conness, Melissa Bradley
  • Patent number: 9200775
    Abstract: Light assembly (10) having reflector (16), light source (18), an outer light cover (12), and a curved transflective surface (15). 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. Vehicle comprising light assemblies include those where the light assembly is a vehicle tail light assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    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
  • Publication number: 20150330597
    Abstract: This application describes a front-lit reflective display assembly including a reflective display and an illumination article for front-lighting the display when the article is optically coupled to a light source. The illumination article includes a variable index light extraction layer optically coupled to a lightguide. The variable index light extraction layer has first and second regions, the first region comprising nanovoided polymeric material, the second region comprising the nanovoided polymeric material and an additional material, the first and second regions being disposed such that for light being transported at a supercritical angle in the lightguide, the variable index light extraction layer selectively extracts the light in a predetermined way based on the geometric arrangement of the first and second regions. Front-lit reflective display devices including the front-lit reflective display assembly optically coupled to a light source are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2012
    Publication date: November 19, 2015
    Applicant: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Kevin R. Schaffer, David Scott Thompson, Zhaohui Yang, Encai Hao, Audrey A. Sherman, Michael A. Meis, William J. Bryan, John A. Wheatley, Joseph W. Woody, V, Steven D. Solomonson, Matthew S. Stay, Mikhail L. Pekurovsky
  • Publication number: 20150272496
    Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed herein for a system configured to determine a position of a brain monitoring user device, and a brain state of a user. Based on the determined position and the determined brain state, the system provides access to a set of media guidance application operations corresponding to the determined brain state and to brain regions corresponding to the determined position of the brain monitoring user device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2014
    Publication date: October 1, 2015
    Applicant: UNITED VIDEO PROPERTIES, INC.
    Inventors: Walter R. Klappert, Kanako Tomita, David John Wheatley
  • Publication number: 20150277850
    Abstract: Systems and methods for automatically adjusting volume of a media asset are provided. A display of a content navigation page is generated. The content navigation page is associated with a media asset. A navigation distance from a current position in the content navigation page to the media asset within the content navigation page is determined. The navigation distance is cross-referenced with a database of volume levels associated with navigation distances to identify a volume level that is associated with the navigation distance. Audio of the media asset is caused to be presented at the identified volume level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2014
    Publication date: October 1, 2015
    Inventor: David John Wheatley
  • Patent number: 9103684
    Abstract: A system for odometer calibration for a motor vehicle is provided. The system can include a first source of speed data that provides first speed data during operation of the motor vehicle, and a second source of speed data that provides second speed data during a portion of the operation. The system can also include a vehicle speed control module that computes overall average speed data based on the first speed data and a duration of operation. The system includes a speed control module that determines an average first speed for the portion of the operation in which the second source of speed data provides the second speed, and computes an average second speed. The system can include an odometer correction control module that computes corrected odometer data based on the overall average speed data and a ratio of the average second speed to the average first speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: Laird Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy John Wheatley
  • Patent number: 9091408
    Abstract: A recycling cavity such as used in a backlight or similar extended area source includes a front and back reflector, the front reflector being partially transmissive to provide an output illumination area. The recycling cavity also includes a component that provides the cavity with a balance of specular and diffuse characteristics so as to balance cavity efficiency and brightness uniformity over the output area. The component can be characterized by a transport ratio of greater than 15% for a 15 degree incidence angle, and less than 95% for a 45 degree incidence angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Michael F. Weber, Timothy J. Nevitt, John A. Wheatley, Rolf W. Biernath, David G. Freier, Gilles J. Benoit, Charles D. Hoyle, Andrew J. Ouderkirk, Zhaohui Yang
  • Publication number: 20150192728
    Abstract: Variable index light extraction layers that contain a first region with a first material and a second region including a second material are described, where the first region has a lower effective index of refraction than the second region. Optical films and stacks may use the variable index light extraction layers in front lit or back lit display devices and luminaires.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2013
    Publication date: July 9, 2015
    Inventors: David Scott Thompson, Shawn C. Dodds, Mikhail L. Pekurovsky, Kevin R. Schaffer, Matthew S. Stay, Steven D. Solomonson, John A. Wheatley, Zhaohui Yang, Joseph W. Woody, V
  • Publication number: 20150185993
    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: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2013
    Publication date: July 2, 2015
    Applicant: UNITED VIDEO PROPERTIES, INC.
    Inventors: David John Wheatley, William J. Korbecki, Brian Craig Peterson
  • Publication number: 20150189377
    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: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2013
    Publication date: July 2, 2015
    Applicant: UNITED VIDEO PROPERTIES, INC.
    Inventors: David John Wheatley, William J. Korbecki, Brian Craig Peterson
  • Publication number: 20150181289
    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: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Publication date: June 25, 2015
    Applicant: UNITED VIDEO PROPERTIES, INC.
    Inventor: David John Wheatley
  • Publication number: 20150181291
    Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed herein for providing ancillary content in media assets. Specifically, a media guidance application may alert a user to remove, or modify, portions of a media asset based on an emotional response profile associated with the media asset. The emotional response profile may indicate representative emotional responses of other users associated with one or more progression points of the media asset. Upon determining that a user currently consuming the media asset is approaching a portion of the media asset associated with undesirable emotional responses, the media guidance application may alert the user to remove, or modify, the undesirable portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Publication date: June 25, 2015
    Applicant: United Video Properties, Inc.
    Inventor: David John Wheatley
  • Patent number: 9057843
    Abstract: A film construction (610) includes a group of microlayers that reflect normally incident light polarized along a first axis more than normally incident light polarized along a second axis. The microlayers are arranged into optical repeat units (ORUs) that have a layer thickness distribution along a thickness axis perpendicular to the first and second axes that provides the group of microlayers with an intermediate reflectivity over an extended reflection band for a given incidence condition. The ORUs include thinner ORUs whose thicknesses are less than an average thickness, and thicker ORUs whose thicknesses are greater than the average thickness. The group of microlayers is optically immersed in a medium having a refractive index greater than air, such that “supercritical light” can propagate through the microlayers. The microlayers are oriented such that, on average, the thinner ORUs are closer than the thicker ORUs to an output surface of the construction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Michael F. Weber, Timothy J. Nevitt, Tao Liu, John A. Wheatley
  • Publication number: 20150163558
    Abstract: Systems and methods for automatically tagging a media asset are provided. Verbal input is received from a user while the user is accessing the media asset. A request to adjust playback of the media asset is received from the user. Responsive to receiving the verbal input and the request, a combination of the verbal input and the request is cross-referenced with an attribute database to identify an attribute associated with the combination. The identified attribute is associated with the media asset.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2013
    Publication date: June 11, 2015
    Applicant: United Video Properties, Inc.
    Inventor: David John Wheatley
  • Patent number: 9046637
    Abstract: Lighting systems include a light-transmissive tube and a light source assembly disposed to inject light into a cavity defined by the tube. The cavity extends along a longitudinal axis. At least a portion of the tube includes an inner structured surface facing the cavity, and an outer structured surface facing away from the cavity. The inner structured surface is configured to direct a first portion of the injected light towards the outer structured surface, and a second portion of the injected light back into the cavity. The inner structured surface includes elongated first features and the outer structured surface includes elongated second features. At least one of the elongated first features and the elongated second features are oriented obliquely relative to the longitudinal axis such that they form respective helixes along the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Robert Bennett, David Scott Thompson, Gilles Benoit, John Wheatley, Karl J. L. Geisler