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).
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Publication number: 20230355821Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: October 12, 2021Publication date: November 9, 2023Inventors: Timothy J. Hebrink, John A. Wheatley, Bharat R. Acharya
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Patent number: 11811139Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 4, 2019Date of Patent: November 7, 2023Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANYInventors: Jaewon Kim, Stephen J. Etzkorn, Ronald D. Jesme, Dipankar Ghosh, Mohsen Salehi, Guanglei Du, John A. Wheatley
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Patent number: 11802795Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 1, 2020Date of Patent: October 31, 2023Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANYInventors: 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
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Patent number: 11802792Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: November 1, 2021Date of Patent: October 31, 2023Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANYInventors: John A Wheatley, Gilles J. Benoit, Guanglei Du, Rolf W. Biernath, Sara Suzanne Merritt, James Hillis, Owen M. Anderson, Timothy J. Nevitt
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Publication number: 20230341715Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: April 4, 2023Publication date: October 26, 2023Inventors: Stephen J. Etzkorn, Michael L. Steiner, Kevin W. Gotrik, Luke A. Schroeder, Nicholas A. Johnson, John A. Wheatley
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Publication number: 20230306222Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: April 4, 2023Publication date: September 28, 2023Inventors: 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
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Patent number: 11768145Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 24, 2020Date of Patent: September 26, 2023Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: 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
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Patent number: 11758235Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 2, 2019Date of Patent: September 12, 2023Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.Inventors: Brian Peterson, Vanessa Wickenkamp, David John Wheatley, Walter R. Klappert
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Patent number: 11749900Abstract: Radar standing wave dampening systems and components are described. In particular, systems and components including an absorber composite including at least one of ceramic filler, magnetic filler, or conductive filler materials are described. Such components can reduce the intensity of standing waves and may also be combined in systems with one or more gradient permittivity tapes or films.Type: GrantFiled: April 4, 2019Date of Patent: September 5, 2023Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANYInventors: Dipankar Ghosh, Jaewon Kim, Stephen J. Etzkorn, Ronald D. Jesme, Mohsen Salehi, Guanglei Du, John A. Wheatley
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Publication number: 20230273119Abstract: An optical well is configured to receive a test sample for examining an optical characteristic of the sample at a first wavelength in a predetermined wavelength range. The optical well includes a wall having a bottom wall portion and a sidewall portion defining a chamber for receiving the test sample, and an optical film formed into a shape so that a portion of the sidewall portion includes a first portion of the optical film, and a portion of the bottom wall portion includes a second portion of the optical film. For a normally incident light, the microlayers in each of the first and second portions have an average optical reflectance of greater than about 80% in the predetermined wavelength range. The forming results in the plurality of microlayers of the integral formed optical film having a thinnest portion and a thickest portion having a thickness difference of at least 30%.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 17, 2023Publication date: August 31, 2023Inventors: Bharat R. Acharya, Raj Rajagopal, Gregory W. Sitton, Benjamin G. Sonnek, Robert M. Biegler, Gilles J. Benoit, Timothy J. Lindquist, John A. Wheatley, Kristal L. Schutta, James A. Phipps
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Patent number: 11726243Abstract: A retroreflective article including a retroreflective layer including a structured surface that is opposite a major surface, a pressure sensitive adhesive that contacts at least a portion of the structured surface to form an optically inactive area that does not substantially retroreflect incident light and at least one low refractive index layer forming an optically active area that retroreflects incident light, wherein the optically active area comprises about 25% or less of the structured surface.Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 2018Date of Patent: August 15, 2023Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANYInventors: David J. Lamb, Guanglei Du, Scotty A. Kopp, Suman K. Patel, John A. Wheatley
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Patent number: 11708962Abstract: An optical system including a lighting component and a switchable diffuser in optical communication with the lighting component. The optical system may further include a low absorbing optical component. At least one outer surface of the switchable diffuser and/or the low absorbing optical component includes light redirecting structures. When the switchable diffuser is in a first state and the optical system produces a light output, the light redirecting structures are configured to increase the full width at half-maximum (FWHM) of the light output of the optical system in at least one direction by at least 5 degrees relative to that of an otherwise equivalent optical system that does not include the light redirecting structures.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2022Date of Patent: July 25, 2023Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANYInventors: John A. Wheatley, Guanglei Du, Kenneth A. Epstein
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Patent number: 11686891Abstract: A detector system is described that includes a detector that is sensitive to wavelengths in a detection wavelength range. The detector system further includes a light control film that is disposed on the detector and includes a plurality of alternating first and second regions. Each first region has a width W and a height H, where H/W?1. Each first region has a substantially low transmission in a first portion of the detection wavelength range and a substantially high transmission in the remaining portion of the detection wavelength range. Each second region has a substantially high transmission in the detection wavelength range.Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 2016Date of Patent: June 27, 2023Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANYInventors: John A. Wheatley, Gilles J. Benoit, Guanglei Du, Steven R. Anderson, Owen M. Anderson, David T. Yust, Rolf W. Biernath, Gary E. Gaides, Brian W. Lueck, Neeraj Sharma
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Patent number: 11676401Abstract: In some examples, a method may include receiving retroreflected light that indicates at least one retroreflective property of a retroreflective article, wherein retroreflected light is captured at a first distance. The method may include determining a first set of information based at least in part on the at least one retroreflective property of the retroreflective article. The method may include receiving, from the light capture device, an image that includes at least one object, wherein the image is captured at a second distance. The method may include determining, based at least in part on the spatially resolvable property, a second set of information that corresponds to the object in the image. The method may include performing, by a computing device, at least one operation based at least in part on the second set of information.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2019Date of Patent: June 13, 2023Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANYInventors: John A. Wheatley, Susannah C. Clear
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Patent number: 11651179Abstract: The present disclosure includes in one instance an optical article comprising a data rich plurality of retroreflective meats 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: GrantFiled: September 27, 2017Date of Patent: May 16, 2023Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: 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
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Patent number: 11640019Abstract: A retroreflective system is disclosed that includes a retroreflective sheet for retroreflecting light, and a light control film disposed on the retroreflective sheet. For a first wavelength, light incident on the light control film at each of a first and second angles of incidence is retroreflected. For a second wavelength, light incident on the light control film at the first, but not the second, angle of incidence is retroreflected.Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 2016Date of Patent: May 2, 2023Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANYInventors: John A. Wheatley, Gilles J. Benoit, Guanglei Du, Steven R. Anderson, Owen M. Anderson, David T. Yust, Rolf W. Biernath, Gary E. Gaides, Brian W. Lueck, Neeraj Sharma
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Patent number: 11619771Abstract: Systems including one or both of a light emitter or a light receiver or a detectable object; and an optical filter adjacent one or both of the light emitter or the light receiver, wherein the optical filter includes at least one wavelength transmission selective layer an absorber component, wherein the wavelength transmission selective layer at least partially reduces the transmission of wavelengths from 701 nm to 849 nm incident thereon.Type: GrantFiled: November 6, 2018Date of Patent: April 4, 2023Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANYInventors: Neeraj Sharma, Guanglei Du, John A. Wheatley, Matthew E. Sousa, Jeremy O. Swanson
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Publication number: 20230092755Abstract: A recycling optical cavity is defined at least by first and second optical films and is configured to receive a test material therein. The test material is configured to emit at least a second light having a second wavelength when irradiated with a first light having a first wavelength. For at least one of s- and p-polarized incident lights incident in an incident plane, and at the first and second wavelengths: at a first incident angle, the first optical film has respective optical transmittances T11(?1) and T12(?1), and the second optical film has respective optical transmittances T21(?1) and T22(?1), wherein T11(?1)>T12(?1), T21(?1), T22(?1); and at a second incident angle, the first optical film has respective optical transmittances T11(?2) and T12(?2), and the second optical film has respective optical transmittances T21(?2) and T22(?2), wherein T21(?2)>T11(?2), T12(?2), T22(?2).Type: ApplicationFiled: September 20, 2022Publication date: March 23, 2023Inventors: Bharat R. Acharya, Tonya D. Bonilla, Jessica E. DeMay, Stephen M. Kennedy, Aaron M. Marcella, Raj Rajagopal, Mark A. Roehrig, David A. Rosen, Jonah Shaver, Brett J. Sitter, Gregory W. Sitton, Michael L. Steiner, John A. Wheatley, Zhaohui Yang, Antonia E. Schaefer
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Publication number: 20230081992Abstract: An optical film includes a plurality of first layers disposed on a plurality of second layers. For each angle of incidence in an incident angle range of 0-50 degrees, an optical transmittance of each of the optical film and the plurality of second layers versus wavelength includes a band edge disposed in a transition wavelength range separating a visible wavelength range where the optical film and the plurality of second layers have respective average optical transmittances Tv and Tv2 from an infrared wavelength range where the optical film and the plurality of second layers have respective average optical transmittances Ti and Ti2. Each of Tv and Tv2 is greater than about 30%. An average value of Tv2 is greater than an average value of Tv by at least 5%. An average value of Ti is less than an average value of Ti2 by at least 20%.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 23, 2022Publication date: March 16, 2023Inventors: Zhaohui Yang, Raghunath Padiyath, John A. Wheatley, Ryan T. Fabick, Bryan V. Hunt
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Patent number: 11525949Abstract: An example article may include an optical filter and a multilayer stack adjacent the optical filter. The multilayer stack may include a plurality of layers. Each respective layer of the plurality layers may define a respective window edge of a plurality of window edges. The plurality of window edges may define an optical window configured to transmit light through the optical filter. At least a first respective window edge of the plurality of window edges may be stepped relative to at least a second respective window edge of the plurality of window edges.Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 2016Date of Patent: December 13, 2022Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANYInventors: Guanglei Du, John A. Wheatley, Yihang Lv, Zhiyong Xu, Jingfei Chen