Patents by Inventor Owain Llyr Parri
Owain Llyr Parri 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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Patent number: 6723395Abstract: The invention relates to chiral compounds of formula I, to liquid crystal mixtures comprising at least one chiral compound of formula I, to chiral linear or crosslinked liquid crystal polymers obtainable by polymerizing a polymerizable mixture comprising at least one chiral compound of formula I, to the use of chiral compound of formula I and mixtures and polymers obtained thereof in liquid crystal displays, active and passive optical elements, adhesives, synthetic resins with anisotropic mechanical properties, cosmetic and pharmaceutical compositions, diagnostics, liquid crystal pigments, for decorative and security applications, nonlinear optics, optical information storage or as chiral dopants, and to a liquid crystal display comprising a mixture comprising at least one chiral compound of formula I.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 2002Date of Patent: April 20, 2004Assignee: Merck Patent GmbHInventors: Alison Linda May, Simon Greenfield, Mark John Goulding, Owain Llyr Parri
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Patent number: 6682661Abstract: To improve switching times, especially at low temperatures, one or more reactive liquid crystalline compounds is added to a liquid crystal mixture used in an electroptical system. The electroptical system comprises a PDLC film comprising a liquid crystal mixture forming micro-droplets in an optically isotropic, transparent polymer matrix between 2 electrode layers. The liquid crystal mixture comprises one or more compounds of the formula I wherein R, A1, A2, Z1, Z2, X1, X2, Q, Y and n are as defined herein.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2002Date of Patent: January 27, 2004Assignee: Merck Patent GesellschaftInventors: David Coates, Owain Llyr Parri, Simon Greenfield, Martin David Tillin, Mark John Goulding, Patrick Nolan
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Patent number: 6669865Abstract: A liquid crystal display device containing a liquid crystal cell and at least one reflective polarizer or a polarizer combination having at least one reflective polarizer as a means to generate circular polarized light. The reflective polarizer includes an optically active layer of an anisotropic polymer material with a helically twisted planar molecular orientation. The material is oriented so that the axis of the molecular helix extends transversely to the layer, and the pitch of the molecular helix is varied in such a manner that the difference between the maximum pitch and the minimum pitch is at least 100 nm.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 2000Date of Patent: December 30, 2003Assignee: Merck Patent Gesellschaft mit beschrankter HaftungInventors: David Coates, Simon Greenfield, Mark Goulding, James Hanmer, Shirley Marden, Owain Llyr Parri
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Patent number: 6596193Abstract: To improve switching times, especially at low temperatures, one or more reactive liquid crystalline compounds is added to a liquid crystal mixture used in an electrooptical system. The electrooptical system comprises a PDLC film comprising a liquid crystal mixture forming micro- droplets in an optically isotropic, transparent polymer matrix between 2 electrode layers. The reactive liquid crystalline compounds are of formula II, R′—G′—R″, wherein R′, G′ and R″ are as defined herein. The liquid crystal mixture comprises one or more compounds of the formula I wherein R, A1, A2, Z1, Z2, X1, X2, Q, Y and n are as defined herein.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 2002Date of Patent: July 22, 2003Assignee: Merck Patent GmbHInventors: David Coates, Owain Llyr Parri, Simon Greenfield, Martin David Tillin, Mark John Goulding, Patrick Nolan
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Patent number: 6565769Abstract: To improve switching times, especially at low temperatures, one or more reactive liquid crystalline compounds is added to a liquid crystal mixture used in an electrooptical system. The electrooptical system comprises a PDLC film comprising a liquid crystal mixture forming micro- droplets in an optically isotropic, transparent polymer matrix between 2 electrode layers, one of the refractive indices of the liquid crystal mixture is matched to the refractive index of the polymer matrix, the PDLC film exhibits an electrically switching transparency essentially independent of the polarization of the incident light, the precursor of the PDLC film comprises one or more monomers, oligomers and/or prepolymers and a photoinitiator, and is cured photoradically, the liquid crystal mixture comprises one or more compounds of the formula I wherein R, A1, A2, Z1, Z2, X1, X2, Q, Y and n are as defined herein.Type: GrantFiled: December 29, 2000Date of Patent: May 20, 2003Assignee: Merck Patent GmbHInventors: David Coates, Owain Llyr Parri, Simon Greenfield, Martin David Tillin, Mark John Goulding, Patrick Nolan
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Publication number: 20030080321Abstract: The invention relates to compounds of formula I 1Type: ApplicationFiled: April 5, 2002Publication date: May 1, 2003Applicant: MERCK KGAAInventors: Louise Diane Farrand, Christopher Peter Worrall, Owain Llyr Parri, Ian Victor Edward Hassal, Julian Frederick Samuel Vaughan-Spickers
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Publication number: 20030064173Abstract: To improve switching times, especially at low temperatures, one or more reactive liquid crystalline compounds is added to a liquid crystal mixture used in an electrooptical system. The electrooptical system comprises a PDLC film comprising a liquid crystal mixture forming micro-droplets in an optically isotropic, transparent polymer matrix between 2 electrode layers. The reactive liquid crystalline compounds are of formula II, R′—G′—R″, wherein R′, G′ and R″ are as defined herein.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 8, 2002Publication date: April 3, 2003Applicant: Merck Patent GmbHInventors: David Coates, Owain Llyr Parri, Simon Greenfield, Martin David Tillin, Mark John Goulding, Patrick Nolan
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Publication number: 20030026922Abstract: The invention relates to chiral compounds of formula I, 1Type: ApplicationFiled: July 1, 2002Publication date: February 6, 2003Applicant: Merck Patent GmbHInventors: Alison Linda May, Simon Greenfield, Mark John Goulding, Owain Llyr Parri
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Publication number: 20020187282Abstract: The invention relates to photoisomerizable compounds of formula I 1Type: ApplicationFiled: April 5, 2002Publication date: December 12, 2002Inventors: Louise Diane Farrand, Christopher Worrall, Owain Llyr Parri
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Patent number: 6491990Abstract: The invention relates to monoreactive mesogenic compounds of formula I wherein P, Sp, X, n, Y1, Y2, r1, r2, r3, Z1 and Z2 are defined herein.Type: GrantFiled: July 3, 2000Date of Patent: December 10, 2002Assignee: Merck Patent Gesellschaft mit beschraenkter HaftungInventors: Owain Llyr Parri, Ian Victor Edward Hassall, Tara Louise Cutler
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Publication number: 20010016238Abstract: To improve switching times, especially at low temperatures, one or more reactive liquid crystalline compounds is added to a liquid crystal mixture used in an electroptical system.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 29, 2000Publication date: August 23, 2001Applicant: Merck Patent GmbHInventors: David Coates, Owain Llyr Parri, Simon Greenfield, Martin David Tillin, Mark John Goulding, Patrick Nolan
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Patent number: 6217955Abstract: A liquid crystal display device containing a liquid crystal cell and at least one reflective polarizer or a polarizer combination having at least one reflective polarizer as a means to generate circular polarized light. The reflective polarizer includes an optically active layer of an anisotropic polymer material with a helically twisted planar molecular orientation. The material is oriented so that the axis of the molecular helix extends transversely to the layer, and the pitch of the molecular helix is varied in such a manner that the difference between the maximum pitch and the minimum pitch is at least 100 nm.Type: GrantFiled: August 4, 1998Date of Patent: April 17, 2001Assignee: Merck Patent Gesellschaft mit beschrankter HaftungInventors: David Coates, Simon Greenfield, Mark Goulding, James Hanmer, Shirley Marden, Owain Llyr Parri
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Patent number: 6187222Abstract: An electroptical system which between 2 electrode layers contains a PDLC film comprising a liquid crystal mixture forming micro-droplets in an optically isotropic, transparent polymer matrix, in which one of the refractive indices of the liquid crystal mixture is matched to the refractive index of the polymer matrix, which exhibits an electrically switchable transparency essentially independent of the polarization of the incident light, the precursor of the PDLC film of which comprises one or more monomers, oligomers and/or prepolymers and a photoinitiator, and is cured photoradically, the liquid crystal mixture of which comprises one or more compounds of the formula I in which the substituents are defined herein characterized in that the liquid crystal mixture additionally contains one or more reactive liquid crystalline compounds in order to obtain improved switching times especially at low temperatures.Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 2000Date of Patent: February 13, 2001Assignee: Merck Patent GmbHInventors: David Coates, Owain Llyr Parri, Simon Greenfield, Martin David Tillin, Mark John Goulding, Patrick Nolan
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Patent number: 6042745Abstract: The invention relates to an electroptical system which, between 2 electrode layers, contains a PDLC film comprising a liquid crystal mixture forming micro-droplets in an optically isotropic, transparent polymer matrix. The liquid crystal mixture comprises one or more compounds of the formula I ##STR1## wherein Z.sup.1, Z.sup.2, ##STR2## X.sup.1, X.sup.2, Q, Y, n and R are as defined herein. The liquid crystal mixture additionally contains one or more reactive liquid crystalline compounds in order to obtain improved switching times especially at low temperatures.Type: GrantFiled: January 16, 1998Date of Patent: March 28, 2000Assignee: Merck Patent GmbHInventors: David Coates, Owain Llyr Parri, Simon Greenfield, Martin David Tillin, Mark John Goulding, Patrick Nolan
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Patent number: 6013197Abstract: The invention relates to copolymers made from mono-reactive liquid and/or di-reactive liquid crystals which can be photopolymerized to form copolymers and to novel reactive liquid crystal compound having a nematic phase. Preferentially the reactive liquid crystal is polymerized while in the liquid crystal phase to produce an oriented birefringent polymer film. To do this, the reactive liquid crystal, in its nematic or smectic phase is aligned (by well known techniques such as rubbed polyimide, etc.) and the thin film containing a small amount of photoinitiator, is subjected to ultraviolet light whereupon it polymerizes into a thin, aligned polymer film.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 1997Date of Patent: January 11, 2000Assignee: Merck Patent Gesellschaft mit Beschrankter HaftungInventors: Owain Llyr Parri, Ian Bonny, Ian Victor E. Hassall, Mark John Goulding, Simon Greenfield, Emma Jane Brown, David Coates
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Patent number: 5871665Abstract: An electrooptical system is disclosed in which a PDLC film is positioned between 2 electrode layers. The PDLC film contains a liquid crystal mixture forming microdroplets in an optically isotropic, transparent polymer matrix. The liquid crystal mixture comprises one or more compounds of formula I ##STR1## wherein R, A.sup.1, A.sup.2, Z.sup.1, Z.sup.2, X.sup.1, X.sup.2, Q, Y and n as herein defined, and one or more reactive liquid crystalline compounds. The PDLC film exhibits improved switching times, especially at low temperatures.Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 1993Date of Patent: February 16, 1999Assignee: Merck Patent Gesellschaft mit Beschrankter HaftungInventors: David Coates, Owain Llyr Parri, Simon Greenfield, Martin David Tillin, Mark John Goulding, Patrick Nolan
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Patent number: 5746938Abstract: An electrooptical system is disclosed in which a PDLC film is positioned between 2 electrode layers. The PDLC film contains a liquid crystal mixture forming microdroplets in an optically isotropic, transparent polymer matrix. The liquid crystal mixture comprises one or more compounds of formula I ##STR1## wherein R, A.sup.1, A.sup.2, Z.sup.1, Z.sup.2, X.sup.1, X.sup.2, Q, Y and n are as herein defined, and one or more reactive liquid crystalline compounds. The PDLC film exhibits improved switching times, especially at low temperatures.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 1995Date of Patent: May 5, 1998Assignee: Merck Patent Gesellschaft Mit Beschrankter HaftungInventors: David Coates, Owain Llyr Parri, Simon Greenfield, Martin David Tillin, Mark John Goulding, Patrick Nolan
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Patent number: 5723066Abstract: An electrooptical system is disclosed in which a PDLC film is positioned between 2 electrode layers. The PDLC film contains a liquid crystal mixture forming microdroplets in an optically isotropic, transparent polymer matrix. The liquid crystal mixture comprises one or more compounds of formula I ##STR1## wherein R, A.sup.1, A.sup.2, Z.sup.1, Z.sup.2, X.sup.1, X.sup.2, Q, Y and n are as herein defined, and one or more reactive liquid crystalline compounds. The PDLC film exhibits improved switching times, especially at low temperatures.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 1995Date of Patent: March 3, 1998Assignee: Merck Patent Gesellschaft mit beschrankter HaftungInventors: David Coates, Owain Llyr Parri, Simon Greenfield, Martin David Tillin, Mark John Goulding, Patrick Nolan
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Patent number: 5720900Abstract: The invention relates to copolymers made from mono-reactive liquid and/or di-reactive liquid crystals which can be photopolymerized to form copolymers and to novel reactive liquid crystal compound having a nematic phase. Preferentially the reactive liquid crystal is polymerized while in the liquid crystal phase to produce an oriented birefringent polymer film. To do this, the reactive liquid crystal, in its nematic or smectic phase is aligned. (by well known techniques such as rubbed polyimide, etc.) and the thin film containing a small amount of photoinitiator, is subjected to ultraviolet light whereupon it polymerizes into a thin, aligned polymer film.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 1996Date of Patent: February 24, 1998Assignee: Merck Patent Gesellschaft mit beschrankter HaftungInventors: Owain Llyr Parri, Ian Bonny, Ian Victor E. Hassall, Mark John Goulding, Simon Greenfield, Emma Jane Brown, David Coates