Patents by Inventor Steven D Looman
Steven D Looman 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: 11906866Abstract: An electro-optic element includes a first electroactive film including a first electroactive component sequestered adjacent to a first electrically conductive layer and a second electroactive film including a second electroactive component sequestered adjacent to a second electrically conductive layer. At least one of the first electroactive film and the second electroactive film is capable of reversibly attenuating transmittance of light having a wavelength within a predetermined wavelength range. The first electroactive component can include a first oxidation state and at least a second oxidation state. An amount of the first electroactive component relative to the second electroactive component can be configured to limit formation of the second oxidation state of the first electroactive component.Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 2020Date of Patent: February 20, 2024Assignee: GENTEX CORPORATIONInventor: Steven D. Looman
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Patent number: 11709407Abstract: An electro-active device is disclosed that may comprise a buffer immobilized on one or more films. The electro-active device may comprise a first substrate, a second substrate, a first electrode, and a second electrode. The first and second substrates may be disposed in a spaced apart relationship. Further, the first electrode may be associated with the first substrate and the second electrode may be associated with the second substrate. Additionally, a cathodic film may be associated with one electrode and an anodic film may be associated with the other electrode. The anodic film may comprise an anodic compound immobilized thereon and the cathodic film likewise may comprise a cathodic compound immobilized thereon. Further, a buffer component may be immobilized on the cathodic film and/or the anodic film.Type: GrantFiled: February 11, 2021Date of Patent: July 25, 2023Assignee: GENTEX CORPORATIONInventors: Steven D. Looman, Kelvin L. Baumann, Sue F. Franz
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Patent number: 11231632Abstract: An electrochromic medium for use in an electro-optic device comprises a solvent comprising at least one low-volatile organic electrolyte solvent based on a cyclic carbonate ester; an anodic electroactive material; and a cathodic electroactive material; and at least one of the anodic and cathodic electroactive materials is electrochromic.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2018Date of Patent: January 25, 2022Assignee: GENTEX CORPORATIONInventors: Leroy J. Kloeppner, Zachary B. Erno, Steven D. Looman, Michael T. Stephenson, Michelle M. Carroll
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Publication number: 20210255517Abstract: An electro-active device is disclosed that may comprise a buffer immobilized on one or more films. The electro-active device may comprise a first substrate, a second substrate, a first electrode, and a second electrode. The first and second substrates may be disposed in a spaced apart relationship. Further, the first electrode may be associated with the first substrate and the second electrode may be associated with the second substrate. Additionally, a cathodic film may be associated with one electrode and an anodic film may be associated with the other electrode. The anodic film may comprise an anodic compound immobilized thereon and the cathodic film likewise may comprise a cathodic compound immobilized thereon. Further, a buffer component may be immobilized on the cathodic film and/or the anodic film.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 11, 2021Publication date: August 19, 2021Applicant: GENTEX CORPORATIONInventors: Steven D. Looman, Kelvin L. Baumann, Sue F. Franz
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Patent number: 11067867Abstract: The electrochromic device includes a first substantially transparent substrate coupled to a first transparent electrode, a second substrate coupled to a second electrode, and an electrochromic medium. The electrochromic medium includes at least one solvent and/or an electrolyte gel, at least one cathodic material, and at least one anodic material. The cathodic material can be a cathodic organic framework electroactive material and/or the anodic material can be an anodic organic framework electroactive material. At least one of the anodic and cathodic organic framework electroactive materials is electrochromic.Type: GrantFiled: May 4, 2018Date of Patent: July 20, 2021Assignee: GENTEX CORPORATIONInventors: Zachary B. Erno, Sue F. Franz, Leroy J. Kloeppner, Steven D. Looman
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Publication number: 20200409225Abstract: An electro-optic element includes a first electroactive film including a first electroactive component sequestered adjacent to a first electrically conductive layer and a second electroactive film including a second electroactive component sequestered adjacent to a second electrically conductive layer. At least one of the first electroactive film and the second electroactive film is capable of reversibly attenuating transmittance of light having a wavelength within a predetermined wavelength range. The first electroactive component can include a first oxidation state and at least a second oxidation state. An amount of the first electroactive component relative to the second electroactive component can be configured to limit formation of the second oxidation state of the first electroactive component.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 25, 2020Publication date: December 31, 2020Inventor: Steven D. Looman
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Publication number: 20200192173Abstract: An electrochromic medium for use in an electro-optic device comprises a solvent comprising at least one low-volatile organic electrolyte solvent based on a cyclic carbonate ester; an anodic electroactive material; and a cathodic electroactive material; and at least one of the anodic and cathodic electroactive materials is electrochromic.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 13, 2018Publication date: June 18, 2020Applicant: GENTEX CORPORATIONInventors: Leroy J. Kloeppner, Zachary B. Erno, Steven D. Looman, Michael T. Stephenson, Michelle M. Carroll
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Publication number: 20180321565Abstract: The electrochromic device includes a first substantially transparent substrate coupled to a first transparent electrode, a second substrate coupled to a second electrode, and an electrochromic medium. The electrochromic medium includes at least one solvent and/or an electrolyte gel, at least one cathodic material, and at least one anodic material. The cathodic material can be a cathodic organic framework electroactive material and/or the anodic material can be an anodic organic framework electroactive material. At least one of the anodic and cathodic organic framework electroactive materials is electrochromic.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 4, 2018Publication date: November 8, 2018Applicant: Gentex CorporationInventors: Zachary B. Erno, Sue F. Franz, Leroy J. Kloeppner, Steven D. Looman
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Patent number: 8389075Abstract: The present invention is drawn to a media sheet, comprising a substrate and a porous ink-receiving layer deposited on the substrate. The porous ink-receiving layer can comprise inorganic metal or semi-metal oxide particulates bound by a polymeric binder, and the porous ink-receiving layer can further include an effective amount of a sulfur-containing compound that interacts with ozone upon exposure thereto.Type: GrantFiled: September 3, 2008Date of Patent: March 5, 2013Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.Inventors: Steven D Looman, Eric L Burch, John R Moffatt, Gary Allan Ungefug, Rolf Steiger, Pierre-Alain Brugger, Urs Fuerholz
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Publication number: 20090004411Abstract: The present invention is drawn to a media sheet, comprising a substrate and a porous ink-receiving layer deposited on the substrate. The porous ink-receiving layer can comprise inorganic metal or semi-metal oxide particulates bound by a polymeric binder, and the porous ink-receiving layer can further include an effective amount of a sulfur-containing compound that interacts with ozone upon exposure thereto.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 3, 2008Publication date: January 1, 2009Inventors: Steven D. Looman, Eric L. Burch, John R. Moffatt, Gary Allan Ungefug, Rolf Steiger, Pierre-Alain Brugger, Urs Fuerholz
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Patent number: 7435448Abstract: The present invention is drawn to a media sheet, comprising a substrate and a porous ink-receiving layer deposited on the substrate. The porous ink-receiving layer can comprise inorganic metal or semi-metal oxide particulates bound by a polymeric binder, and the porous ink-receiving layer can further include an effective amount of a sulfur-containing compound that interacts with ozone upon exposure thereto.Type: GrantFiled: February 6, 2004Date of Patent: October 14, 2008Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.Inventors: Steven D Looman, Eric L Burch, John R Moffatt, Gary Allan Ungefug, Rolf Steiger, Pierre-Alain Brugger, Urs Fuerholz
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Patent number: 7297201Abstract: Disclosed is an ink jet ink composition that forms indelible images on porous or semiporous substrates. The ink composition comprises a liquid carrier, a first colorant that is soluble in the carrier but insoluble or substantially insoluble in water, and a second colorant composition comprising a pigment, the second colorant composition being dispersible in the carrier. The second colorant composition is insoluble or substantially insoluble in the carrier. The images are difficult or impossible to remove or wash out by the use of aqueous and/or nonaqueous liquids.Type: GrantFiled: January 6, 2005Date of Patent: November 20, 2007Assignee: Videojet Technologies Inc.Inventors: Steven D. Looman, John P. Folkers
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Patent number: 7147801Abstract: Disclosed is an ink composition suitable for ink jet printing comprising a luminescent compound, a solvent, and an energy active compound, and optionally a non-luminescent colorant. The energy active compound, when exposed to energy, generates one or more active species that can react with the luminescent compound to alter one or more of the characteristics of the luminescent compound. The luminescent compound can be colored or colorless. Also disclosed is a method for marking substrates comprising providing a mark comprising a luminescent compound and an energy active compound. Further disclosed is a jet ink composition suitable for printing on substrates authentication or security marks which can be rendered unreadable. The luminescence of the mark is quenched and the visible color is changed when irradiated with a light.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2004Date of Patent: December 12, 2006Assignee: Videojet Technologies Inc.Inventors: Michael Kozee, Steven D. Looman, John P. Folkers
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Publication number: 20040220298Abstract: Disclosed is an ink composition suitable for ink jet printing comprising a luminescent compound, a solvent, and an energy active compound, and optionally a non-luminescent colorant. The energy active compound, when exposed to energy, generates one or more active species that can react with the luminescent compound to alter one or more of the characteristics of the luminescent compound. The luminescent compound can be colored or colorless. Also disclosed is a method for marking substrates comprising providing a mark comprising a luminescent compound and an energy active compound. Further disclosed is a jet ink composition suitable for printing on substrates authentication or security marks which can be rendered unreadable. The luminescence of the mark is quenched and the visible color is changed when irradiated with a light.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 12, 2004Publication date: November 4, 2004Applicant: Videojet Technologies Inc.Inventors: Michael Kozee, Steven D. Looman, John P. Folkers
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Patent number: 6354693Abstract: One or more reactive color inks are printed under and over black text and graphics areas. That is to say, one or more reactive color inks are first printed in a selected area in which black text and/or graphics are to be printed, then the black text and/or graphics are printed, and finally one or more reactive color inks are then printed over the black text and/or graphics. The use of under- and over-printing of black text and/or graphics by reactive color inks improves several important characteristics of inkjet printing. Specifically, the following improvements are obtained: dry-time, finger smudge, media independence/print quality, waterfastness, strikethrough, less noticeable missing/misdirected nozzles, and no dedicated pens are required. Alternatively, either underprinting alone or overprinting alone may be used.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 2000Date of Patent: March 12, 2002Assignee: Hewlett-Packard CompanyInventors: Steven D Looman, Mark H. Kowalski, George C Ross, Michel A. Riou, Paul David Gast, Brooke E Smith, Keshava A Prasad, Robert B McMaster
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Patent number: 6244687Abstract: A black printhead is installed in a scanning carriage with at least one primary color printhead on both sides of the black printhead. To reduce the drying time of a printed black ink pattern and to achieve other benefits, a first one of the primary color inks underprints the black ink in a first scan direction, and a second one of the primary color inks underprints the black ink in an opposite second scan direction. To minimize hue shifts due to the different underprinted colors, the black ink is overprinted, during the same scan that printed the underprinted ink and black ink, by a color ink that is different from the underprinted ink, so that the resulting black image printed in both scan directions will contain the same three color components. In one embodiment, the order of print cartridges in the scanning carriage, as viewed from the front of the printer, is cyan, black, magenta, and yellow. Other orders may also be used, and additional colors may be used.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 1999Date of Patent: June 12, 2001Assignee: Hewlett-Packard CompanyInventors: Paul David Gast, Keshava A Prasad, Brooke E Smith, Michel A. Riou, Steven D Looman
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Patent number: 5679143Abstract: A pH adjusting organic compound having both at least one acid functional group and at least one basic functional group is employed along with an organic acid having no basic functional groups in a first ink-jet ink composition to reduce the pH differential required to render insoluble the pH-sensitive colorant of a second encroaching ink-jet ink composition. By inducing the precipitation of the pH-sensitive colorant, migration of the colorant is inhibited, thereby substantially reducing bleed between the pH-sensitive ink and the ink containing the organic acid (the "target" ink). By employing an organic acid in the practice of the invention, a pH differential on the order of only 3 to 5 units may be required. Aside from increasing the pH of the ink to desirable levels, the pH adjusting organic compound enhances bleed control by increasing the concentration of acid functional groups beyond the amount provided by the organic acid component.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 1996Date of Patent: October 21, 1997Assignee: Hewlett-Packard CompanyInventor: Steven D. Looman
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Patent number: 5611966Abstract: The present invention relates to electrochromic solutions and devices manufactured therefrom. More precisely, the invention relates to electrochemichromic solutions, and those devices manufactured with the same, that demonstrate superior responsiveness to those solutions known heretofore when an applied potential is introduced thereto. That is, the responsiveness observed in terms of solution coloring is of a greater rapidity, intensity and uniformity than those electrochemichromic solutions of the prior art. Preparation of these solutions involve the novel process of pre-treating at least one of the electrochemichromic compounds with a redox agent prior to placing it in contact with the other electrochemichromic compound. Moreover, the present invention relates to methods of preparing such novel solutions and processes for using these solutions to provide devices that exhibit and benefit from the aforementioned superior characteristics.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 1995Date of Patent: March 18, 1997Assignee: Donnelly CorporationInventors: Desaraju V. Varaprasad, Steven D. Looman, Mingtang Zhao, Hamid R. Habibi, Niall R. Lynam
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Patent number: 5500760Abstract: The present invention relates to electrochromic solutions and devices manufactured therefrom. More precisely, the present invention relates to electrochemichromic compounds and processes for preparing the same. The present invention also relates to electrochemichromic solutions of such compounds, and those devices manufactured with the same, that demonstrate superior responsiveness to those solutions known heretofore when an applied potential is introduced thereto. And, these solutions, when contained within electrochemichromic devices, demonstrate ultraviolet stability, thermal stability and cycle stability. The responsiveness observed in terms of solution coloring with respect to the solutions, and devices containing the same, of the present invention is of a greater rapidity, intensity and uniformity than those electrochemichromic solutions of the prior art.Type: GrantFiled: August 27, 1992Date of Patent: March 19, 1996Assignee: Donnelly CorporationInventors: Desaraju V. Varaprasad, Steven D. Looman, Mingtang Zhao, Hamid R. Habibi, Niall R. Lynam
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Patent number: 5239405Abstract: The present invention relates to electrochromic solutions and devices manufactured therefrom. More precisely, the invention relates to electrochemichromic solutions, and those devices manufactured with the same, that demonstrate superior responsiveness to those solutions known heretofore when an applied potential is introduced thereto. That is, the responsiveness observed in terms of solution coloring is of a greater rapidity, intensity and uniformity than those electrochemichromic solutions of the prior art. Preparation of these solutions involve the novel process of pre-treating at least one of the electrochemichromic compounds with a redox agent prior to placing it in contact with the other electrochemichromic compound. Moreover, the present invention relates to methods of preparing such novel solutions and processes for using these solutions to provide devices that exhibit and benefit from the aforementioned superior characteristics.Type: GrantFiled: September 6, 1991Date of Patent: August 24, 1993Assignee: Donnelly CorporationInventors: Desaraju V. Varaprasad, Steven D. Looman, Mingtang Zhao, Hamid R. Habibi, Niall R. Lynam