Patents by Inventor Terence D. Spawn
Terence D. Spawn 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: 7068344Abstract: The method of making an optical body includes coating a mixture that includes a plurality of cholesteric liquid crystal compositions, and a solvent on a substrate. Each cholesteric liquid crystal composition is different. A plurality of layers is formed on the substrate. Each layer includes a majority of one of the cholesteric liquid crystal compositions.Type: GrantFiled: February 24, 2003Date of Patent: June 27, 2006Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Richard J. Pokorny, Marc D. Radcliffe, Steven D. Solomonson, Terence D. Spawn
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Patent number: 7029729Abstract: The invention provides a cholesteric liquid crystal composition that includes at least one cholesteric liquid crystal precursor, and at least one non-liquid crystalline additive that is a non-liquid crystalline compound of formula I The invention also provides cholesteric liquid crystal films and optical bodies formed from cholesteric liquid crystal compositions of the invention. The invention further provides an optical display that includes a display medium, and a reflective polarizer including a cholesteric liquid crystal composition in accordance with the invention.Type: GrantFiled: February 24, 2003Date of Patent: April 18, 2006Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Terence D. Spawn, Marc D. Radcliffe, Richard J. Pokorny
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Publication number: 20040165140Abstract: The method of making an optical body includes coating a mixture that includes a plurality of cholesteric liquid crystal compositions, and a solvent on a substrate. Each cholesteric liquid crystal composition is different. A plurality of layers is formed on the substrate. Each layer includes a majority of one of the cholesteric liquid crystal compositions.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 24, 2003Publication date: August 26, 2004Applicant: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Richard J. Pokorny, Marc D. Radcliffe, Steven D. Solomonson, Terence D. Spawn
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Publication number: 20040164275Abstract: The invention provides a cholesteric liquid crystal composition that includes at least one cholesteric liquid crystal precursor, and at least one non-liquid crystalline additive that is a non-liquid crystalline compound of formula I 1Type: ApplicationFiled: February 24, 2003Publication date: August 26, 2004Applicant: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Terence D. Spawn, Marc D. Radcliffe, Richard J. Pokorny
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Publication number: 20030224205Abstract: Light emitting polymers can include a plurality of arylene monomeric units and a plurality of soft segment units independently selected from soft segment end caps; soft segment side chains coupled to a portion, but not all, of the arylene monomeric units; internal soft segment monomeric units; and combinations thereof. These light emitting polymers can be used in forming electroluminescent devices or other articles.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 31, 2002Publication date: December 4, 2003Applicant: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Yingbo Li, John P. Baetzold, Terence D. Spawn, Ralph R. Roberts, James G. Bentsen, John S. Staral
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Patent number: 6309561Abstract: Fluorine-containing, chiral liquid crystal compounds comprise (a) a chiral fluorochemical terminal portion comprising (i) at least one chiral center, which can optionally be heteroatom-substituted; (ii) a terminal fluoroalkyl, fluoroether, perfluoroalkyl, or perfluoroether group; and (iii) an alkylene or fluoroalkylene group optionally containing at least one catenary ether oxygen atom; (b) a chiral or achiral terminal portion consisting of a hydrocarbon or hydrocarbon ether group, and, when chiral, comprising at least one chiral center, which can optionally be heteroatom-substituted; and (c) a central core connecting the terminal portions; the alkylene or fluoroalkylene group of the chiral fluorochemical terminal portion having at least 3 in-chain atoms and being located between the chiral center of the chiral fluorochemical terminal portion and the central core. The compounds have smectic mesophases or latent smectic mesophases and are useful, for example, in liquid crystal display devices.Type: GrantFiled: December 24, 1997Date of Patent: October 30, 2001Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Masakazu Hasegawa, Michael P. Keyes, Marc D. Radcliffe, Patricia M. Savu, Daniel C. Snustad, Terence D. Spawn
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Patent number: 6030547Abstract: Fluorine-containing, chiral liquid crystal compounds comprise (a) a chiral fluorochemical terminal portion comprising (i) at least one chiral center, which can optionally be heteroatom-substituted; (ii) a terminal fluoroalkyl, fluoroether, perfluoroalkyl, or perfluoroether group; and (iii) an alkylene or fluoroalkylene group optionally containing at least one caternary ether oxygen atom; (b) a chiral or achiral terminal portion consisting of a hydrocarbon or hydrocarbon ether group, and, when chiral, comprising at least one chiral center, which can optionally be heteroatom-substituted; and (c) a central core connecting the terminal portions; the alkylene or fluoroalkylene group of the chiral fluorochemical terminal portion having at least 3 in-chain atoms and being located between the chiral center of the chiral fluorochemical terminal portion and the central core. The compounds have smectic mesophases or latent smectic mesophases and are useful, for example, in liquid crystal display devices.Type: GrantFiled: December 24, 1997Date of Patent: February 29, 2000Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Masakazu Hasegawa, Michael P. Keyes, Marc D. Radcliffe, Patricia M. Savu, Daniel C. Snustad, Terence D. Spawn
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Patent number: 5972241Abstract: Fluorine-containing, chiral liquid crystal compounds comprise (a) a chiral fluorochemical terminal portion containing at least one methylene group and optionally containing at least one catenary ether oxygen atom; (b) a saturated, chiral or achiral, hydrocarbon terminal portion; and (c) a central core connecting the terminal portions. The compounds have smectic mesophases or latent smectic mesophases and are useful, for example, in liquid crystal display devices.Type: GrantFiled: November 6, 1997Date of Patent: October 26, 1999Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Gilbert C. Johnson, Marc D. Radcliffe, Patricia M. Savu, Daniel C. Snustad, Terence D. Spawn
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Patent number: 5855812Abstract: A process for controlling the cone tilt angle of a tilted smectic liquid crystal composition comprises the step of combining (a) at least one liquid crystal composition comprising at least one smectic or latent smectic liquid crystal compound comprising (i) an aliphatic fluorocarbon terminal portion comprising a terminal fluoroalkyl or fluoroether group and an alkylene group having at least two carbon atoms and containing at least one catenary ether oxygen atom, (ii) an aliphatic hydrocarbon terminal portion, and (iii) a central core connecting the terminal portions, wherein the alkylene group of the aliphatic fluorocarbon terminal portion is directly linked to the central core by a moiety selected from the group consisting of a covalent bond, --CH.dbd.CH--, and --C.tbd.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 1997Date of Patent: January 5, 1999Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing CompanyInventors: Marc D. Radcliffe, Patricia M. Savu, Daniel C. Snustad, Terence D. Spawn
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Patent number: 5702637Abstract: Fluorine-containing, chiral liquid crystal compounds comprise (a) a chiral fluorochemical terminal portion containing at least one methylene group and optionally containing at least one catenary ether oxygen atom; (b) a saturated, chiral or achiral, hydrocarbon terminal portion; and (c) a central core connecting the terminal portions. The compounds have smectic mesophases or latent smectic mesophases and are useful, for example, in liquid crystal display devices.Type: GrantFiled: April 19, 1995Date of Patent: December 30, 1997Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing CompanyInventors: Gilbert C. Johnson, Marc D. Radcliffe, Patricia M. Savu, Daniel C. Snustad, Terence D. Spawn
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Patent number: 5625062Abstract: The present invention provides a novel process for the production of organic solvent soluble squaraine dyes. More specifically, the invention describes how a difficult to prepare tetrahydroxy squaraine intermediate can be prepared in an organic solvent system in the presence of water. This intermediate can then be esterified in pyridine to form the soluble squaraine dye which can then be easily isolated from the reaction mixture. The invention also provides the dyes prepared according to this method.Type: GrantFiled: May 29, 1996Date of Patent: April 29, 1997Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing CompanyInventors: Roger A. Mader, William D. Ramsden, Terence D. Spawn, Daniel E. Saddoris
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Patent number: 5482650Abstract: Fluorine-containing liquid crystal compounds comprise a fluorocarbon terminal portion having at least one catenary ether oxygen and a hydrocarbon terminal portion, the terminal portions being connected by a central core. The compounds have smectic or latent smectic mesophases.Type: GrantFiled: November 14, 1994Date of Patent: January 9, 1996Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing CompanyInventors: Eugene P. Janulis, Gilbert C. Johnson, Marc D. Radcliffe, Patricia M. Savu, Daniel C. Snustad, Terence D. Spawn
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Patent number: 5474705Abstract: Fluorine-containing, chiral liquid crystal compounds comprise (a) an aliphatic fluorocarbon terminal portion containing at least two catenary ether oxygen atoms; (b) a chiral, aliphatic hydrocarbon terminal portion; and (c) a central core connecting the terminal portions. The compounds have smectic mesophases or latent smectic mesophases and are useful, for example, in liquid crystal display devices.Type: GrantFiled: November 14, 1994Date of Patent: December 12, 1995Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing CompanyInventors: Eugene P. Janulis, Gilbert C. Johnson, Marc D. Radcliffe, Patricia M. Savu, Daniel C. Snustad, Terence D. Spawn
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Patent number: 5437812Abstract: Fluorine-containing liquid crystal compounds are provided. The compounds comprise a fluorocarbon terminal portion having at least one catenary ether oxygen and a hydrocarbon terminal portion, the terminal portion being connected by a central core, the compounds having smectic mesophases or having latent smectic mesophases.Type: GrantFiled: April 16, 1993Date of Patent: August 1, 1995Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing CompanyInventors: Eugene P. Janulis, Gilbert C. Johnson, Patricia M. Savu, Terence D. Spawn, Marc D. Radcliffe
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Patent number: 5399291Abstract: Fluorine-containing, chiral and achiral liquid crystal compounds comprise (a) an aliphatic fluorocarbon terminal portion comprising a perfluorinated or partially-fluorinated alkylene group and a terminal hydrocarbon alkyl group, the groups optionally containing at least one catenary ether oxygen atom; (b) an aliphatic hydrocarbon terminal portion; and (c) a central core connecting the terminal portions. The compounds have smectic mesophases or latent smectic mesophases and are useful, for example, in liquid crystal display devices.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 1993Date of Patent: March 21, 1995Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing CompanyInventors: Eugene P. Janulis, Gilbert C. Johnson, Marc D. Radcliffe, Patricia M. Savu, Daniel C. Snustad, Terence D. Spawn
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Patent number: 5384237Abstract: A thermal-dye-bleach construction comprising a dye in association with a thermal dye-bleaching agent of general formula I: ##STR1## wherein: each of R.sup.a and R.sup.b are individually selected from: hydrogen, an alkyl group, an alkenyl group, a cycloalkyl group, an aralkyl group, an aryl group, and a heterocyclic group, and preferably, both R.sup.a and R.sup.b represent hydrogen;p is one or two, and when p is one, Z is a monovalent group selected from: an akyl group, a cycloalkyl group, an alkenyl group, an alkynyl group, an aralkyl group, an aryl group, and a heterocyclic group, and when p is two, Z is a divalent group selected from: an alkylene group, an arylene group, an alkenylene group, an alkynylene group, an aralkylene group, a cycloalkene group, and a heterocyclic group; and,M.sup.+ is a cation which will not react with a carbanion generated from the thermal-carbanion-generating agent in such manner as to render the carbanion ineffective as a bleaching agent for the dye.Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 1994Date of Patent: January 24, 1995Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing CompanyInventors: Dian E. Stevenson, Mark P. Kirk, Sylvia A. Farnum, William C. Frank, Randall H. Helland, Jonathan P., Kitchin, Roger A. Mader, Mark B. Mizen, Richard A. Newmark, William D. Ramsden, Kumars Sakizadeh, Terence D. Spawn, George V. Tiers
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Patent number: 5340712Abstract: Radiation sensitive thermally developable imaging elements comprise:(a) photosensitive silver halide,(b) light insensitive silver salt oxidizing agent,(c) reducing agent for silver ions, and(d) an antifoggant compound comprising s-triazines having at least one tribromomethyl substituent. The antifoggants are effective in reducing spurious background image densities.Type: GrantFiled: April 21, 1993Date of Patent: August 23, 1994Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing CompanyInventors: Susan H. Dunn, Mark P. Kirk, Roger A. Mader, Terence D. Spawn
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Patent number: 5324627Abstract: A thermal-dye-bleach construction comprising a dye in association with a thermal dye-bleaching agent of general formula I: ##STR1## wherein: each of R.sup.a and R.sup.b are individually selected from: hydrogen, an alkyl group, an alkenyl group, a cycloalkyl group, an aralkyl group, an aryl group, and a heterocyclic group, and preferably, both R.sup.a and R.sup.b represent hydrogen;p is one or two, and when p is one, Z is a monovalent group selected from: an alkyl group, a cycloalkyl group, an alkenyl group, an alkynyl group, an aralkyl group, an aryl group, and a heterocyclic group, and when p is two, Z is a divalent group selected from: an alkylene group, an arylene group, an alkenylene group, an alkynylene group, an aralkylene group, a cycloalkene group, and a heterocyclic group; and,M.sup.+ is cation which will not react with acarbanion generated from the thermal-carbanion-generating agent in such manner as to render the carbanion ineffective as a bleaching agent for the dye.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 1992Date of Patent: June 28, 1994Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing CompanyInventors: Dian E. Stevenson, Mark P. Kirk, Sylvia A. Farnum, William C. Frank, Randall H. Helland, Jonathan P. Kitchin, Roger A. Mader, Mark B. Mizen, Richard A. Newmark, William D. Ramsden, Kumars Sakizadeh, Terence D. Spawn, George V. Tiers
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Patent number: 5314795Abstract: A thermal-dye-bleach construction comprising a polymethine dye having a nucleus of general formula I: ##STR1## in association with a thermal-carbanion-generating agent having the general formula: ##STR2## wherein the substituents are as defined in the specification and claims.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 1992Date of Patent: May 24, 1994Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing CompanyInventors: Randall H. Helland, Sylvia A. Farnum, Mark P. Kirk, Jonathan P. Kitchin, Roger A. Mader, Mark B. Mizen, Richard A. Newmark, William D. Ramsden, Kumars Sakizadeh, Terence D. Spawn, Dian E. Stevenson, George V. Tiers
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Patent number: 5262082Abstract: Fluorine-containing liquid crystal compounds are provided. The compounds comprise a fluorocarbon terminal portion having at least one catenary ether oxygen and a hydrocarbon terminal portion, the terminal portion being connected by a central core, the compounds having smectic mesophases or having latent smectic mesophases.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 1992Date of Patent: November 16, 1993Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing CompanyInventors: Eugene P. Janulis, Gilbert C. Johnson, Patricia M. Savu, Terence D. Spawn