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).

  • SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR RECOMMENDING CONTENT
    Publication number: 20170264931
    Abstract: Systems and methods for recommending content to a user are described. A user equipment device may be equipped with a built-in or separately connected image capturing device which may be used to pinpoint the location of the remote control when it is activated, thereby defining the specific location of the remote and the user. The relative location of the user in the room where the television is located may be associated with that particular user and used to automatically log in and access their user profile. This information may be used to enhance the television experience for the user by, e.g., recommending content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2017
    Publication date: September 14, 2017
    Inventor: David John Wheatley
  • LIGHTING COMPONENT INCLUDING SWITCHABLE DIFFUSER
    Publication number: 20170241622
    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: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2015
    Publication date: August 24, 2017
    Inventors: Guanglei Du, John A. Wheatley, Robert L. Brott
  • ASYMMERTIC TURNING FILM WITH MULTIPLE LIGHT SOURCES
    Publication number: 20170175976
    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: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2015
    Publication date: June 22, 2017
    Applicant: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Nicholas A. Johnson, Gilles J. Benoit, John A. Wheatley, Kenneth A. Epstein, David Scott Thompson, Michael E. Lauters
  • OPTICAL SYSTEMS HAVING VARIABLE VIEWING ANGLES
    Publication number: 20170176652
    Abstract: Optical systems are described that include a lighting component, a switchable diffuser adjacent the lighting component, and a low-absorbing optical component disposed adjacent the switchable diffuser opposite the lighting component or disposed adjacent the lighting component opposite the switchable diffuser or disposed adjacent the lighting component opposite the display panel. The switchable diffuser is capable of being in either a substantially clear state or in a first hazy state. The low-absorbing optical component provides a collimating effect or a turning effect when the lighting component is illuminated and the switchable diffuser is in the substantially clear state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2015
    Publication date: June 22, 2017
    Inventors: John A. WHEATLEY, Guanglei DU, Robert L. BROTT
  • Systems and methods for temporal visualization of media asset content
    Patent number: 9672865
    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: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Fundament, Vanessa Wickenkamp, Brian Craig Peterson, David John Wheatley, Jason William Conness, Melissa Bradley
  • Systems and methods for recommending content
    Patent number: 9674563
    Abstract: Systems and methods for recommending content to a user are described. A user equipment device may be equipped with a built-in or separately connected image capturing device which may be used to pinpoint the location of the remote control when it is activated, thereby defining the specific location of the remote and the user. The relative location of the user in the room where the television is located may be associated with that particular user and used to automatically log in and access their user profile. This information may be used to enhance the television experience for the user by, e.g., recommending content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: ROVI GUIDES, INC.
    Inventor: David John Wheatley
  • VARIABLE VIEWING ANGLE OPTICAL SYSTEMS
    Publication number: 20170116937
    Abstract: Optical systems are described that include a switchable diffuser, a display panel, a lighting component and a diffuser controller. The diffuser controller is configured to switch the state of the switchable diffuser when the diffuser controller determines that the diffuser state is to be changed. The diffuser controller may be configured to vary an output level of the display panel in association with a change in state of the switchable diffuser. The optical system may also include a switching device which may be separable from the display panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2015
    Publication date: April 27, 2017
    Inventors: Guanglei Du, John A. Wheatley, Christopher R. Yungers, James M. Hillis
  • SOLID STATE LIGHTING DEVICE WITH VIRTUAL FILAMENT(S)
    Publication number: 20170059119
    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: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2014
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Applicant: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Robert Bennett, David Scott Thompson, John A. Wheatley, Gilles J. Benoit
  • Addressable switchable transparent display
    Patent number: 9575352
    Abstract: A display system includes a switchable display screen comprising a first transparent substrate, a first transparent conductive layer disposed upon the first transparent substrate, a second transparent substrate, and a second transparent conductive layer disposed upon the second transparent substrate. The display screen further includes a polymer-stabilized cholesteric texture layer and spacer elements disposed between and in contact with the first transparent conductive layer and the second conductive layer. The display screen comprises a plurality of addressable regions, each region capable of being switched from a transparent state to a diffuse state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Brian T. Weber, Qingbing Wang, Patrick M. Campbell, Glenn E. Casner, Guanglei Du, John A. Wheatley
  • BACK-LIT TRANSMISSIVE DISPLAY HAVING VARIABLE INDEX LIGHT EXTRACTION LAYER
    Publication number: 20170031078
    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: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2016
    Publication date: February 2, 2017
    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
  • Apodized broadband partial reflectors having differing optical packets
    Patent number: 9551818
    Abstract: A broadband partial reflector includes a first multilayer polymeric optical film having a total number of optical repeating units from a first side to a second side of the first multilayer polymeric optical film and a second multilayer polymeric optical film having a total number of optical repeating units from a first side to a second side of the second multilayer polymeric optical film and an intermediate layer on the second side of the multilayer polymeric optical film separates the first multilayer polymeric optical film from the second multilayer polymeric optical film. The first multilayer polymeric optical film has a first baseline optical repeating unit thickness profile and a first apodized optical repeating unit thickness profile monotonically deviating from the first baseline optical repeating unit thickness profile and defining the second side of the first multilayer polymeric optical film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Michael F. Weber, Timothy J. Nevitt, John A. Wheatley
  • OPTICAL DEVICE INCLUDING REMOTE DOWNCONVERTER
    Publication number: 20170009944
    Abstract: Luminaires (100, 200, 300, 400, 500) are disclosed. More particularly, luminaires including one or more light sources (110, 210, 310, 410, 510) configured to generate light at substantially a first wavelength are disclosed. The luminaires may include a transflector (130, 230, 330, 430, 530) and a distributed area downconverter layer. The disclosed luminaires may appear substantially color neutral when viewed in ambient light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2015
    Publication date: January 12, 2017
    Inventors: John A. Wheatley, Gilles J. Benoit
  • Backlights having selected output light flux distributions and display systems using same
    Patent number: 9541698
    Abstract: A backlight that includes a front reflector (120) and a back reflector (130) that form a hollow light recycling cavity including an output surface (104) is disclosed. At least a portion of the back reflector is non-parallel to the front reflector. The backlight also includes at least one semi-specular element disposed within the hollow light recycling cavity, and one or more light sources (140) disposed to emit light into the hollow light recycling cavity, where the one or more light sources are configured to emit light into the hollow light recycling cavity over a limited angular range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: John A. Wheatley, Michael A. Meis, Rolf W. Biernath, Philip E. Watson, Tao Liu
  • Back-lit transmissive display having variable index light extraction layer
    Patent number: 9541701
    Abstract: This application describes a back-lit transmissive display including a transmissive display (620) and a variable index light extraction layer (640) optically coupled to a lightguide (630). The variable index light extraction layer has first regions (140) of nanovoided polymeric material and second regions (130) 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: May 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    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
  • OPTICAL FILMS WITH MICROSTRUCTURED LOW REFRACTIVE INDEX NANOVOIDED LAYERS AND METHODS THEREFOR
    Publication number: 20160368019
    Abstract: A microstructured article includes a nanovoided layer having opposing first and second major surfaces, the first major surface being microstructured to form prisms, lenses, or other features. The nanovoided layer includes a polymeric binder and a plurality of interconnected voids, and optionally a plurality of nanoparticles. A second layer, which may include a viscoelastic layer or a polymeric resin layer, is disposed on the first or second major surface. A related method includes disposing a coating solution onto a substrate. The coating solution includes a polymerizable material, a solvent, and optional nanoparticles. The method includes polymerizing the polymerizable material while the coating solution is in contact with a microreplication tool to form a microstructured layer. The method also includes removing solvent from the microstructured layer to form a nanovoided microstructured article.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2016
    Publication date: December 22, 2016
    Inventors: Martin B. Wolk, William Blake Kolb, Michael Benton Free, Audrey A. Sherman, John A. Wheatley, David S. Thompson, Matthew S. Stay, Encai Hao
  • ILLUMINATION SYSTEMS WITH SLOPED TRANSMISSION SPECTRUM FRONT REFLECTOR
    Publication number: 20160370653
    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: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2016
    Publication date: December 22, 2016
    Inventors: Timothy J. Nevitt, Michael F. Weber, John A. Wheatley, Matthew E. Sousa, Tao Liu
  • Patterned Gradient Polymer Film and Method
    Publication number: 20160334551
    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: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2016
    Publication date: November 17, 2016
    Inventors: William Blake KOLB, Michael Benton FREE, Brant U. KOLB, Fei LU, John A. WHEATLEY
  • Display with nonwoven diffuser
    Patent number: 9494817
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes a display system including a liquid crystal display panel and a light source emitting light capable of emitting light. A nonwoven diffuser element is disposed between the light source and the liquid crystal display panel. The polymeric nonwoven diffuser is non-orientated and has a fiber diameter of less than 50 micrometers, a fiber aspect ratio of length/diameter of greater than 5 and a basis weight in a range from 10 to 80 grams/meter2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Toyooka, Hiroki Matsuda, Masaki Yamamuro, James A. Thielen, Jayant Chakravarty, Eric W. Nelson, John A. Wheatley
  • LUMINAIRE ASSEMBLY
    Publication number: 20160327241
    Abstract: Luminaire assemblies are described. In particular, luminaire assemblies that include a dimensionally stable housing and a hollow waveguiding core having a length and capable of transporting light along the length removably nested within the housing are described. Luminaire systems including two or more luminaire assemblies are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2016
    Publication date: November 10, 2016
    Inventors: John A. Wheatley, Jon A. Kirschhoffer, Scott E. Simons, Karl Geisler, Glendon D. Kappel, Brett A. Howell, Andrew H. Tilstra, Jo A. Etter
  • REFLECTIVE SHEET
    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