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: 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
  • Publication number: 20190298254
    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: June 20, 2019
    Publication date: October 3, 2019
    Inventors: Walter R. Klappert, Kanako Tomita, David John Wheatley
  • Patent number: 10429037
    Abstract: Optical devices are disclosed. In particular, optical devices including a collimated light source (140), at switchable diffuser (110), and at least one light deflecting element (120, 130) are disclosed. The electrically switchable diffuser (110), in combination with the at least light deflecting element (120, 130) can provide significant changes in the overall distribution of light at the electrically switchable diffuser (110) is switched between two or more states.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: John A. Wheatley, Guanglei Du
  • Publication number: 20190293486
    Abstract: In an example, an example article 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: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2017
    Publication date: September 26, 2019
    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: 20190293849
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2016
    Publication date: September 26, 2019
    Inventors: Guanglei Du, John A. Wheatley, Yihang Lv, Zhiyong Xu, Jingfei Chen
  • Publication number: 20190265395
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2016
    Publication date: August 29, 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
  • Patent number: 10368802
    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: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.
    Inventors: Walter R. Klappert, Kanako Tomita, David John Wheatley
  • Patent number: 10371350
    Abstract: Optical systems are disclosed. More particularly, optical systems including an asymmetric turning film (110) with at least a first (120) and second light source (130) are disclosed. Selection of geometries for the asymmetric turning film can enable different output viewing angles depending on the selective illumination of the first light source, the second light source, or both. The optical systems disclosed may be suitable in both luminaires and displays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Nicholas A. Johnson, Gilles J. Benoit, John A. Wheatley, Kenneth A. Epstein, David Scott Thompson, Michael E. Lauters
  • Patent number: 10331411
    Abstract: Systems and methods for generating random bits by using physical variations present in material samples are provided. Initial random bit streams are derived from measured material properties for the material samples. In some cases, secondary random bit streams are generated by applying a randomness extraction algorithm to the derived initial random bit streams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Jennifer F. Schumacher, Glenn E. Casner, Yanina Shkel, Andrew P. Bonifas, Anthony J. Sabelli, Brian J. Stankiewicz, John A. Wheatley, Ravishankar Sivalingam, Robert W. Shannon
  • Patent number: 10302823
    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: July 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: William Blake Kolb, Michael Benton Free, Brant U. Kolb, Fei Lu, John A. Wheatley
  • Patent number: 10295724
    Abstract: This application describes a back-lit transmissive display including a transmissive display and a variable index light extraction layer optically coupled to a lightguide. The variable index light extraction layer has first regions of nanovoided polymeric material and second regions of the nanovoided polymeric material and an additional material. The first and second regions are 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. The transmissive display may be a transmissive display panel or a polymeric film such as a graphic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: David Scott Thompson, Kevin R. Schaffer, Zhaohui Yang, Encai Hao, Audrey A. Sherman, Michael A. Meis, John A. Wheatley, Matthew S. Stay, Robert F. Kamrath, Mikhail L. Pekurovsky, Steven D. Solomonson
  • Patent number: 10288254
    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: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: 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, Steven D. Solomonson, Matthew S. Stay, Mikhail L. Pekurovsky
  • Publication number: 20190137669
    Abstract: An optical filter including a polarizer and a visible light blocking filter is described. The polarizer is configured to transmit at least 60 percent of light in a first infrared wavelength range that is incident on the polarizer at normal incidence in a first polarization state, to transmit less than 30 percent of light in a second infrared wavelength that is incident on the polarizer at normal incidence in a second polarization state orthogonal to the first polarization state, and to transmit less than 30 percent of light in a third infrared wavelength range that is incident on the polarizer with a 50 degree angle of incidence in the second polarization state. The visible light blocking filter configured to transmit at least 60 percent of light in the first infrared wavelength range at normal incidence in the first polarization state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2017
    Publication date: May 9, 2019
    Inventors: John A. Wheatley, Gilles J. Benoit, Todd A. Ballen, Kenneth L. Smith, Guanglei Du, Edward J. Kivel, Rolf W. Biernath, Jordan D. Whitney, Daniel J. Schmidt
  • Patent number: 10247872
    Abstract: Dual-sided optical films have extended split spreading structures formed on one major surface, and extended prisms formed on an opposite major surface. One portion of each split spreading structure has a low light spreading characteristic, and another portion has a high light spreading characteristic. For each split spreading structure, the low light spreading portion may be disposed alongside the high light spreading portion. The split spreading structures may be arranged in a one-to-one correspondence with the prisms. Light that enters a given prism from one inclined surface thereof can be associated primarily with light transmitted through the low light spreading portion of the split spreading structure, and light that enters the given prism from the other inclined surface thereof can be associated primarily with light transmitted through the high light spreading portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Nicholas A. Johnson, Michael J. Sykora, Michael E. Lauters, John A. Wheatley
  • Publication number: 20190033502
    Abstract: A system may include one or both of a light emitter and a light receiver. The system may include an optical filter adjacent one or both of the light emitter or the light receiver. The optical filter includes a wavelength selective scattering layer. The wavelength selective scattering layer may have a near-infrared scattering ratio of less than about 0.9. The filter may have a visible reflective haze ratio of greater than about 0.5. A method may include disposing the wavelength selective scattering layer adjacent one or both of the light emitter and the light receiver. An article may include the optical filter. The wavelength selective scattering layer may have an average near-infrared scattering of less than 60%, an average visible scattering of greater than 10%, and a difference between the % total visible reflectance and the % diffuse visible reflectance of less than 20.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2017
    Publication date: January 31, 2019
    Applicant: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Guanglei DU, John A. WHEATLEY, William B. KOLB, John C. SCHULTZ, Daoyun SONG, Luke D. RIVENESS
  • Publication number: 20190025481
    Abstract: A system may include one or both of a light emitter (46) and a light receiver (40), and an optical filter (10). The optical filter (10) includes a wavelength selective scattering layer (14). The wavelength selective scattering layer (14) may have a near-infrared scattering ratio of less than about 0.9. The filter (10) may have a visible reflective haze ratio of greater than about 0.5. A method may include disposing the wavelength selective scattering layer (14) adjacent one or both of the light emitter (46) and the light receiver (40). The optical filter (10) may include a wavelength selective reflective layer (16). The optical filter (10) may include a wavelength selective absorbing layer (34). An article may include the optical filter (10).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2016
    Publication date: January 24, 2019
    Inventors: Guanglei DU, John A. WHEATLEY, Yi Hang LV, Anthony M. RENSTROM
  • Patent number: 10168460
    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: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Gilles J. Benoit, John A. Wheatley, James A. Thielen, David Scott Thompson
  • Patent number: 10162218
    Abstract: A backlight includes a front and back reflector forming a light recycling cavity and one or more light source members disposed to emit light into the light recycling cavity. The front reflector being partially reflective to provide an output illumination area. The front reflector has a blue sloped transmission spectra, at normal incidence with a range among bin values from 15% to 100%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Timothy J. Nevitt, Michael F. Weber, John A. Wheatley, Matthew E. Sousa, Tao Liu
  • Patent number: 10161593
    Abstract: Lighting systems and devices include a light-transmissive tube and a light source assembly. The light-transmissive tube defines a cavity that extends along a longitudinal axis, at least a portion of the tube having an inner structured surface facing the cavity, and an outer structured surface facing away from the cavity. The light source assembly is disposed to inject light into the cavity, and includes one or more discrete light sources such as LED sources. The inner and outer structured surfaces of the tube are configured to direct a first portion of the injected light out of the tube through the outer structured surface and to direct a second portion of the injected light back into the cavity, such that a virtual filament, or pattern of virtual filaments, appears in the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Robert Bennett, David Scott Thompson, John A. Wheatley, Gilles J. Benoit
  • Publication number: 20180364984
    Abstract: Systems and methods for generating random bits by using physical variations present in material samples are provided. Initial random bit streams are derived from measured material properties for the material samples. In some cases, secondary random bit streams are generated by applying a randomness extraction algorithm to the derived initial random bit streams.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2015
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Inventors: Jennifer F. Schumacher, Glenn E. Casner, Yanina Shkel, Andrew P. Bonifas, Anthony J. Sabelli, Brian J. Stankiewicz, John A. Wheatley, Ravishankar Sivalingam, Robert W. Shannon