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).

  • Patent number: 10732344
    Abstract: A light guide includes a light input surface, a first major surface orthogonal to the light input surface, a second major surface opposing the first major, a plurality of discrete light extraction features disposed on the second major surface and a plurality of closely packed prisms disposed along the second major surface. The plurality of discrete light extraction features separate the plurality of closely packed prisms from the second major surface. Each of the closely packed prisms include a first prism surface forming a first angle with the second surface in a range from 80 to 100 degrees or in a range from 85 to 95 degrees or in a range from 87 to 93 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Kenneth A. Epstein, John A. Wheatley, Tao Liu
  • Publication number: 20200233268
    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: April 6, 2020
    Publication date: July 23, 2020
    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
  • Publication number: 20200233123
    Abstract: Retroreflecting articles are described. In particular, retroreflecting articles including retroreflecting layers and contrast reduction layers are described. The contrast reduction layer decreases the near infrared retroreflective efficiency of the retroreflecting substrate by more than 50%.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2018
    Publication date: July 23, 2020
    Inventor: John A. Wheatley
  • Publication number: 20200154174
    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: December 2, 2019
    Publication date: May 14, 2020
    Inventors: Brian Peterson, Vanessa Wickenkamp, David John Wheatley, Walter R. Klappert
  • Patent number: 10649274
    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: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    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
  • Patent number: 10598349
    Abstract: A lighting component including an optical volume and a switchable diffuser disposed at least partially within the optical volume is described. The optical volume includes a light injection region, at least one reflective or transflective outer major surface, and an output major surface. The at least one reflective or transflective outer major surface defines opposing boundaries of the optical volume. The output major surface is adjacent one or more distal edges of the at least one reflective or transflective outer major surface. The switchable diffuser has at least a first state and a second state. The switchable diffuser may have a surface normal that is not parallel to an optical axis of the optical volume. The at least one reflective or transflective outer major surface may have a spatially varying reflective property.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Guanglei Du, John A. Wheatley, Robert L. Brott
  • Publication number: 20200046040
    Abstract: In some examples, a system includes: at least one light capture device; an article of personal protective equipment (PPE) that includes a plurality of retroreflective elements embodied on a surface of the article of PPE in a spatially defined arrangement, each retroreflective element of the plurality of retroreflective elements having at least two different retroreflective properties; a computing device communicatively coupled to the at least one light capture device, wherein the computing device is configured to: receive, from the at least one light capture device, retroreflected light that indicates at least two different retroreflective properties of at least one retroreflective element of the plurality of retroreflective elements; determine, based at least in part on each of the at least two different retroreflective properties, a safety event; and perform at least one operation based at least in part on the safety event.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2018
    Publication date: February 13, 2020
    Inventors: Kiran S. Kanukurthy, Steven T. Awiszus, Caroline M. Ylitalo, John A. Wheatley
  • Patent number: 10551524
    Abstract: Systems and methods for authenticating material samples are provided. Characteristic features are measured for a batch of material samples that comprise substantially the same composition and are produced by substantially the same process. The measured characteristic features have respective variability that is analyzed to extract statistical parameters. In some cases, reference ranges are determined based on the extracted statistical parameters for the batch of material samples. The corresponding statistical parameters of a test material sample are compared to the reference ranges to verify whether the test material sample is authentic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTY COMPANIES
    Inventors: Anthony J. Sabelli, Jennifer F. Shumacher, Yanina Shkel, Brian J. Stankiewicz, Glenn E. Casner, John A. Wheatley, Andrew P. Bonifas, Ravishankar Sivalingam
  • Patent number: 10539722
    Abstract: Optical film is disclosed. The optical film includes a binder, a plurality of particles, and a plurality of interconnected voids. The volume fraction of the plurality of interconnected voids in the optical film is not less than about 20%. The weight ratio of the binder to the plurality of the particles is not less than about 1:2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Encai Hao, William Blake Kolb, Brant U. Kolb, Brian W. Ostlie, Naiyong Jing, Michael Benton Free, Hui Ren, Robert L. Brott, Fei Lu, Audrey A. Sherman, Scott M. Tapio, Charles David Hoyle, John A. Wheatley
  • Patent number: 10531159
    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: March 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: ROVI GUIDES, INC.
    Inventors: Brian Peterson, Vanessa Wickenkamp, David John Wheatley, Walter R. Klappert
  • Publication number: 20200003935
    Abstract: Retroreflecting articles are described. In particular, retroreflecting articles including a quarter wave retarder and a retroreflecting layer are described. The retarder is rotationally invariant and the retroreflecting layer is non-depolarizing. Such articles may be useful for sensor-detectable signs, labels, and garments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2017
    Publication date: January 2, 2020
    Inventors: John A. Wheatley, Michael A. McCoy, Tien Yi T.H. Whiting, Guanglei Du, Neeraj Sharma, Kui Chen-Ho, Kenneth A. Epstein
  • Publication number: 20190391307
    Abstract: An article includes an optical filter that comprises a wavelength selective reflective layer and at least one wavelength selective absorbing layer. The optical filter has visible transmittance between 400 nm-700 nm of less than about 30% and near infrared transmittance at 830 nm-900 nm greater than about 30%.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2017
    Publication date: December 26, 2019
    Inventors: John A. WHEATLEY, Guanglei DU, David T. YUST, Neeraj SHARMA, Gilles J. BENOIT, Ellison G. KAWAKAMI, Anthony M. RENSTROM
  • Publication number: 20190391304
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2017
    Publication date: December 26, 2019
    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
  • Publication number: 20190383469
    Abstract: Optical devices are disclosed. In particular, optical devices including a collimated light source, at switchable diffuser, and at least one light deflecting element are disclosed. The electrically switchable diffuser, in combination with the at least light deflecting element can provide significant changes in the overall distribution of light at the electrically switchable diffuser is switched between two or more states.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2019
    Publication date: December 19, 2019
    Inventors: John A. Wheatley, Guanglei Du
  • Publication number: 20190377114
    Abstract: An example optical filter may include an angle blocking layer Slaving 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 least one wavelength at least one angle of incidence.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2017
    Publication date: December 12, 2019
    Inventors: John A. Wheatley, Guanglei Du, Gilles J. Benoit, Rolf W. Biernath
  • Patent number: 10502869
    Abstract: An optical article includes an optical element, a low refractive index layer disposed on the optical element having an effective refractive index of 1.3 or less and a polymeric protective layer disposed on the low refractive index layer. The low refractive index layer includes a binder, a plurality of metal oxide particles dispersed in the binder, and a plurality of interconnected voids. The polymeric protective layer does not increase an effective refractive index of the optical article by greater than 10%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: William D. Coggio, Ramesh C. Kumar, John A. Wheatley, Michael L. Steiner, William F. Edmonds, Lan H. Liu, Encai Hao, Robert F. Kamrath, John J. Stradinger
  • Publication number: 20190346600
    Abstract: A light control film is disclosed that includes a plurality of spaced apart first regions. Each first region has a substantially low transmission in one or two of a first wavelength range from about 300 nm to about 400 nm, a second wavelength range from about 400 nm to about 700 nm, and a third wavelength range from about 700 nm to about 1200 nm, and a substantially high transmission in the remaining wavelength ranges.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2016
    Publication date: November 14, 2019
    Inventors: 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
  • Publication number: 20190339432
    Abstract: Example systems may include one or both of a light emitter and a light receiver, and an optical filter. The optical filter may include a wavelength selective scattering layer configured to scatter visible light. The optical filter may include a wavelength selective reflecting layer having a predetermined transmission band configured to compensate for a color deviation. The optical filter may include a broadband reflecting layer having a predetermined reflection band configured to compensate for a color deviation. The optical filter may include a low-index layer configured to reduce a color deviation in light emitted by the light emitter or received by the light receiver. The wavelength selective scattering layer may include nanoparticles dispersed in a binder, wherein the ratio of the nanoparticles to the binder by weight is at least 50%. Example articles may include example optical filters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2018
    Publication date: November 7, 2019
    Inventors: Guanglei DU, John A. WHEATLEY, Matthew E. SOUSA, Anthony M. RENSTROM, Neeraj SHARMA
  • Publication number: 20190339431
    Abstract: A detector system is disclosed 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: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2016
    Publication date: November 7, 2019
    Inventors: 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
  • Publication number: 20190331837
    Abstract: An optical stack including an oriented polymeric multilayer optical film and a non-birefringent optical filter is described. The oriented polymeric multilayer optical film has a first reflection band with a first band edge and the non-birefringent optical filter has a first blocking band. In some cases, the first blocking band contains the first band edge and the first blocking band provides a reduction in variation of a band edge of an overall blocking band of the optical stack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Publication date: October 31, 2019
    Inventors: John A. Wheatley, Guanglei Du, Gilles J. Benoit, Rolf W. Biernath, Christopher A. McLaughlin, Sherie A. Kristie