Patents by Inventor Tod Schneider
Tod Schneider 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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Publication number: 20130342488Abstract: A display device includes a cholesteric liquid crystal writing tablet and a piezoelectric transducer. The piezoelectric transducer is subjected to a mechanical force that generates a voltage that is applied to the writing tablet that erases writing on the writing tablet or a portion thereof. A further feature is a display device comprising a cholesteric liquid crystal display and a piezoelectric transducer. The piezoelectric transducer is subjected to a mechanical force that generates a voltage that is applied to the display that places the display or a portion thereof in at least one of a color reflective planar state, a substantially transparent focal conic state and a gray scale state. Also featured is a method of erasing a cholesteric liquid crystal writing tablet.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 26, 2013Publication date: December 26, 2013Inventors: Tod Schneider, Oleg Pishnyak, Andrew DeMiglio, Mark Lightfoot
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Publication number: 20130342432Abstract: A display device includes a cholesteric liquid crystal writing tablet and a piezoelectric transducer. The piezoelectric transducer is subjected to a mechanical force that generates a voltage that is applied to the writing tablet that erases writing on the writing tablet. A further feature is a display device comprising a cholesteric liquid crystal display and a piezoelectric transducer. The piezoelectric transducer is subjected to a mechanical force that generates a voltage that is applied to the display that places the display in at least one of a color reflective planar state, a substantially transparent focal conic state and a gray scale state. Also featured is a method of erasing a cholesteric liquid crystal writing tablet.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 13, 2013Publication date: December 26, 2013Applicant: Kent Displays IncorporatedInventors: Tod Schneider, Oleg Pishnyak, Andrew DeMiglio, Mark Lightfoot, Duane Marhefka
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Publication number: 20130278845Abstract: This disclosure features embedded electrooptical displays such as liquid crystal displays and methods of making the same. The displays are embedded in light curable material on one or both sides thereof. Processes for embedding the displays include injection molding and continuous roll-to-roll processing. The light curable material forms a protective covering over the display. Electrical interconnects connected to electrodes of the display can protrude from the protective layer. Once the display is embedded it can resist contact with moisture and mechanical damage. The protective layer can be clear or it can contain additives such as pigments or additives for UV protection. The embedded display with the protective layer may be molded into different shapes during the embedding process or thermoformed after the embedding process into different shapes.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 18, 2012Publication date: October 24, 2013Applicant: Kent Displays IncorporatedInventors: Oleg Pishnyak, Andrew DeMiglio, Tod Schneider, Donald Davis, Mathew Bowser, Erica Montbach
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Publication number: 20120127136Abstract: A display device includes a piezoelectric layer. First electrically conductive electrodes are disposed on both sides of the piezoelectric layer. A bistable liquid crystal layer is disposed adjacent the piezoelectric layer. Second electrically conductive electrodes are disposed on both sides of the liquid crystal layer. The liquid crystal layer can be addressed by electrically addressing the piezoelectric layer causing the piezoelectric layer to move into contact with the liquid crystal layer, changing the brightness of pixels of the liquid crystal layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 18, 2011Publication date: May 24, 2012Applicant: KENT DISPLAYS INCORPORATEDInventors: Tod SCHNEIDER, Erica MONTBACH, J. William Doane, Antal JAKLI, John HARDEN
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Patent number: 8176924Abstract: Electronic color changing artificial nails comprise a polymer layer in a general shape of a human natural nail, bistable electro-optic material and a ledge on which display electrodes are disposed located at a tip of the artificial nail. Once the artificial nail is attached to the natural nail, the artificial nail can be updated by simply plugging the tip into a separate electronic color changing device which is used to set the color of the nail to whatever the user desires.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 2010Date of Patent: May 15, 2012Assignee: Kent Displays IncorporatedInventors: Tod Schneider, Debra Chaney
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Patent number: 8020475Abstract: The production of liquid crystal displays (LCDS) on plastic substrates is desirable over glass substrates so that the finished product is thinner, lighter, and more robust. Plastic substrates can enable the use of new and different processing techniques which are not possible on glass such as roll-to-roll processing. This invention discusses an advancement which is laser cutting a plastic substrate and display layer. One aspect of the invention is laser cutting and welding together two or more plastic substrates and LCD layer therebetween from a larger sheet or roll of plastic LCDs.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 2007Date of Patent: September 20, 2011Assignee: Kent Displays IncorporatedInventors: Tod Schneider, Sean Franklin, Nithya Venkataraman, Donald Davis
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Publication number: 20110061670Abstract: Electronic color changing artificial nails comprise a polymer layer in a general shape of a human natural nail, bistable electro-optic material and a ledge on which display electrodes are disposed located at a tip of the artificial nail. Once the artificial nail is attached to the natural nail, the artificial nail can be updated by simply plugging the tip into a separate electronic color changing device which is used to set the color of the nail to whatever the user desires.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 11, 2010Publication date: March 17, 2011Applicant: KENT DISPLAYS INCORPORATEDInventors: Tod SCHNEIDER, Debra Chaney
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Patent number: 7351506Abstract: A liquid crystal polymer dispersion is formed where liquid crystal encapsulation is produced by a process in which a reactive additive formulation is mixed and photo-polymerized. The polymerizable additive formulation includes monofunctional, multifunctional and photoinitiator compounds in specific composition. The polymerizable additive formulation enhances the control of deformed globule or droplet size, structure integrity, electro-optical properties, and prohibits flow of the liquid crystal as it is encapsulated. A simple process and a controllable system for encapsulating cholesteric materials that provides rugged low-power flexible passively-driven displays. Such displays offer the possibility of lower cost roll-to-roll manufacturing in addition to lighter weight, more rugged and conformable displays.Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 2005Date of Patent: April 1, 2008Assignee: Kent Displays, IncorporatedInventors: Tod Schneider, Forrest Nicholson, Liang-Chy Chien
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Publication number: 20070277659Abstract: The production of liquid crystal displays (LCDS) on plastic substrates is desirable over glass substrates so that the finished product is thinner, lighter, and more robust. Plastic substrates can enable the use of new and different processing techniques which are not possible on glass such as roll-to-roll processing. This invention discusses an advancement which is laser cutting a plastic substrate and display layer. One aspect of the invention is laser cutting and welding together two or more plastic substrates and LCD layer therebetween from a larger sheet or roll of plastic LCDs.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 1, 2007Publication date: December 6, 2007Applicant: Kent Diplays IncorporatedInventors: Tod SCHNEIDER, Sean Franklin, Nithya Venkataraman, Donald Davis
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Patent number: 7294370Abstract: An aligned film comprises a dried mixture of a lyotropic chromonic liquid crystal material and a dopant selected from the group consisting of dyes having a molecular weight within one order of magnitude of the liquid crystal material and block co-polymers. An example of an aligned film may be transparent to visible light but not transparent to polarized light in the ultraviolet and/or infra-red portions of the electromagnetic spectrum. A method of making an aligned lyotropic chromonic liquid crystal-based film comprises providing a mixture of a lyotropic chromonic liquid crystal material and a dopant in a solvent for the liquid crystal material, applying the mixture to a substrate, and removing the solvent to produce an aligned lyotropic chromonic liquid crystal-based film.Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 2004Date of Patent: November 13, 2007Assignee: Kent State UniversityInventors: Oleg Lavrentovich, Tod Schneider, Andrii Golovin, Jong-Chan Lee
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Publication number: 20070026163Abstract: A liquid crystal polymer dispersion is formed where liquid crystal encapsulation is produced by a process in which a reactive additive formulation is mixed and photo-polymerized. The polymerizable additive formulation includes monofunctional, multifunctional and photoinitiator compounds in specific composition. The polymerizable additive formulation enhances the control of deformed globule or droplet size, structure integrity, electro-optical properties, and prohibits flow of the liquid crystal as it is encapsulated. A simple process and a controllable system for encapsulating cholesteric materials that provides rugged low-power flexible passively-driven displays. Such displays offer the possibility of lower cost roll-to-roll manufacturing in addition to lighter weight, more rugged and conformable displays.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 27, 2005Publication date: February 1, 2007Inventors: Tod Schneider, Forrest Nicholson, Liang-Chy Chien
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Patent number: 7170481Abstract: The present invention relates to a display film that may be transferred by lamination or otherwise onto a substrate. The display film is formed of a stack of layers that can include different types, arrangements, and functionality within the stack depending upon factors including the characteristics of the substrate (e.g., upper or lower, transparent or opaque, substrates) and addressing of the display (e.g., active or passive matrix, electrical or optical addressing). The layers of the stacked display film include one or more electrode layers and one or more liquid crystal layers and, in addition, may include various combinations of an adhesive layer, preparation layer, casting layer, light absorbing layer, insulation layers, and protective layers. The liquid crystal layer can include cholesteric or other liquid crystal material. The liquid crystal layer can be a dispersion of liquid crystal in a polymer matrix formed by a variety of techniques.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 2005Date of Patent: January 30, 2007Assignee: Kent Displays IncorporatedInventors: Joseph W. Doane, Asad A. Khan, Irina Shiyanovskaya, Tod Schneider, Oleg Pishnyak, Seth E. Green, Forrest N. Nicholson, Liang-Chy Chien
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Publication number: 20060040069Abstract: An aligned film comprises a dried mixture of a lyotropic chromonic liquid crystal material and a dopant selected from the group consisting of dyes having a molecular weight within one order of magnitude of the liquid crystal material and block co-polymers. An example of an aligned film may be transparent to visible light but not transparent to polarized light in the ultraviolet and/or infra-red portions of the electromagnetic spectrum. A method of making an aligned lyotropic chromonic liquid crystal-based film comprises providing a mixture of a lyotropic chromonic liquid crystal material and a dopant in a solvent for the liquid crystal material, applying the mixture to a substrate, and removing the solvent to produce an aligned lyotropic chromonic liquid crystal-based film.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 17, 2004Publication date: February 23, 2006Inventors: Oleg Lavretovich, Tod Schneider, Andrii Golovin, Jong-Chan Lee
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Publication number: 20050195354Abstract: The present invention relates to a display film that may be transferred by lamination or otherwise onto a substrate. The display film is formed of a stack of layers that can include different types, arrangements, and functionality within the stack depending upon factors including the characteristics of the substrate (e.g., upper or lower, transparent or opaque, substrates) and addressing of the display (e.g., active or passive matrix, electrical or optical addressing). The layers of the stacked display film include one or more electrode layers and one or more liquid crystal layers and, in addition, may include various combinations of an adhesive layer, preparation layer, casting layer, light absorbing layer, insulation layers, and protective layers. The liquid crystal layer can include cholesteric or other liquid crystal material. The liquid crystal layer can be a dispersion of liquid crystal in a polymer matrix formed by a variety of techniques.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 28, 2005Publication date: September 8, 2005Inventors: Joseph Doane, Asad Khan, Irina Shiyanovskaya, Tod Schneider, Oleg Pishnyak, Seth Green, Forrest Nicholson, Liang-Chy Chien
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Patent number: 6673398Abstract: A broad class of lyotropic liquid crystals of a non-surfactant nature, the so-called lyotropic chromonic liquid crystals (LCLCs), are alignable with the techniques, in particular, LCLCs can be aligned at a surface as one monomolecular layer as a stack of monomolecular layers. The method for monolayer alignment is based on alternate layer-by-layer adsorption of polyions and dyes from aqueous solutions that have liquid crystalline structure. Using this method, one is able to stack alternate monolayers of dye and polyion while controlling the long-range in-plane orientation of the dye molecules within the plane of each layer. The feature of controlling the alignment of LCLCs enables one to create practical devices from them. For example, alignment of multilayered stacks allows one to use the resulting dried LCLC films in optical devices, for example, as internal polarizers, color filters, optical compensators, band-gap filters, and the like.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 2001Date of Patent: January 6, 2004Assignee: Kent State UniversityInventors: Tod Schneider, Oleg D. Lavrentovich
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Publication number: 20020168511Abstract: A broad class of lyotropic liquid crystals of a non-surfactant nature, the so-called lyotropic chromonic liquid crystals (LCLCs), are alignable with the techniques, in particular, LCLCs can be aligned at a surface as one monomolecular layer as a stack of monomolecular layers. The method for monolayer alignment is based on alternate layer-by-layer adsorption of polyions and dyes from aqueous solutions that have liquid crystalline structure. Using this method, one is able to stack alternate monolayers of dye and polyion while controlling the long-range in-plane orientation of the dye molecules within the plane of each layer. The feature of controlling the alignment of LCLCs enables one to create practical devices from them. For example, alignment of multilayered stacks allows one to use the resulting dried LCLC films in optical devices, for example, as internal polarizers, color filters, optical compensators, band-gap filters, and the like.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 14, 2001Publication date: November 14, 2002Applicant: Kent State UniversityInventors: Tod Schneider, Oleg D. Lavrentovich