Patents by Inventor Tom Cloots

Tom Cloots 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).

  • Patent number: 7214405
    Abstract: A method of making a liquid crystal alignment layer comprising the steps of: (i) providing a layer on a substrate, the layer comprising a polythiophene according to formula (I): wherein R1 and R2 each independently represent hydrogen or a C1–C4 alkyl group or together represent a C1–C4 alkylene group or a cycloalkylene group; and (ii) mechanically rendering the layer liquid crystal aligning; a liquid crystal alignment layer obtainable by the above-mentioned method; a liquid crystal device incorporating the above-mentioned liquid crystal alignment layer; a liquid crystal display comprising the above-mentioned liquid crystal alignment layer or the above-mentioned liquid crystal device; and the use of the polythiophene according to formula (I) for aligning liquid crystals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2007
    Assignee: Agfa-Gevaert, N.V.
    Inventors: Jean-Pierre Tahon, Tom Cloots, Roger Bäuerle
  • Publication number: 20070026135
    Abstract: A method of making a liquid crystal alignment layer comprising the steps of: (i) providing a layer on a substrate, the layer comprising a polythiophene according to formula (I): wherein R1 and R2 each independently represent hydrogen or a C1-C4 alkyl group or together represent a C1-C4 alkylene group or a cycloalkylene group; and (ii) mechanically rendering the layer liquid crystal aligning; a liquid crystal alignment layer obtainable by the above-mentioned method; a liquid crystal device incorporating the above-mentioned liquid crystal alignment layer; a liquid crystal display comprising the above-mentioned liquid crystal alignment layer or the above-mentioned liquid crystal device; and the use of the polythiophene according to formula (I) for aligning liquid crystals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Publication date: February 1, 2007
    Applicant: Agfa-Gevaert
    Inventors: Jean-Pierre Tahon, Tom Cloots, Roger Bauerle
  • Patent number: 7026079
    Abstract: A process for preparing a substantially transparent conductive layer configuration on a support, the layer configuration comprising in any order at least a first layer containing an intrinsically conductive polymer optionally containing structural units represented by formula (I): wherein n is larger than 1 and each of R1 and R2 independently represents hydrogen or an optionally substituted C1-4 alkyl group or together represent an optionally substituted C1-4 alkylene group or an optionally substituted cycloalkylene group, preferably an ethylene group, an optionally alkyl-substituted methylene group, an optionally C1-12 alkyl- or phenyl-substituted ethylene group, a 1,3-propylene group or a 1,2-cyclohexylene group; and a second layer consisting of a non-continuous layer of conductive silver, the process comprising the step of: preparing the second layer by a photographic process; and light emitting diodes, photovoltaic devices, transistors and electroluminescent devices comprising a layer configuration pr
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: AGFA Gevaert
    Inventors: Frank Louwet, Tom Cloots, Hieronymus Andriessen
  • Patent number: 6916553
    Abstract: An electroluminescent device comprising a transparent or translucent support, a transparent or translucent first electrode, a second conductive electrode and an electroluminescent phosphor layer sandwiched between the transparent or translucent first electrode and the second conductive electrode, wherein the first and second electrodes each comprises a polymer or copolymer of a 3,4-dialkoxythiophene, which may be the same or different, in which the two alkoxy groups may be the same or different or together represent an optionally substituted oxy-alkylene-oxy bridge; a display comprising the above-mentioned electroluminescent device; a lamp comprising the above-mentioned electroluminescent device; manufacturing processes for the above-mentioned electroluminescent devices; and the use of such devices for the integrated backlighting of static and dynamic posters and signage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2005
    Assignee: AGFA-Gevaert
    Inventors: Peter Willaert, Tom Cloots, Roger Van den Bogaert
  • Patent number: 6887556
    Abstract: A material for making a conductive pattern, the material comprising a support and a heat-differentiable element, the heat-differentiable element comprising an outermost layer containing a polyanion and an intrinsically conductive polymer and optionally a second layer contiguous with the outermost layer, characterized in that the outermost layer and/or the optional second layer contains hydrophobic thermocoagulable latex particles in a weight ratio range with respect to the intrinsically conductive polymer in the range of 20:1 to 1:5, the hydrophobic thermocoagulable latex particles are capable upon heating of increasing the conductivity of the heated parts of the outermost layer relative to the unheated parts of the outermost layer and/or changing the removability of the heated parts of the outermost layer relative to the unheated parts of the outermost layer and the heat-differentiable element does not comprise a di- or polyhydroxy organic compound or an aprotic compound with a dielectric constant, ?, ?15; a
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2005
    Assignee: Agfa-Gevaert
    Inventors: Johan Lamotte, Frank Louwet, Tom Cloots, Huub Van Aert
  • Publication number: 20050042556
    Abstract: A process for preparing a substantially transparent conductive layer configuration on a support, the layer configuration comprising in any order at least a first layer containing an intrinsically conductive polymer optionally containing structural units represented by formula (I): wherein n is larger than 1 and each of R1 and R2 independently represents hydrogen or an optionally substituted C1-4 alkyl group or together represent an optionally substituted C1-4 alkylene group or an optionally substituted cycloalkylene group, preferably an ethylene group, an optionally alkyl-substituted methylene group, an optionally C1-12 alkyl- or phenyl-substituted ethylene group, a 1,3-propylene group or a 1,2-cyclohexylene group; and a second layer consisting of a non-continuous layer of conductive silver, the process comprising the step of: preparing the second layer by a photographic process; and light emitting diodes, photovoltaic devices, transistors and electroluminescent devices comprising a layer configuration p
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2003
    Publication date: February 24, 2005
    Applicant: AFGA-GEVAERT
    Inventors: Frank Louwet, Tom Cloots, Hieronymus Andriessen
  • Publication number: 20040096695
    Abstract: An electroluminescent device comprising a transparent or translucent support, a transparent or translucent first electrode, a second conductive electrode and an electroluminescent phosphor layer sandwiched between the transparent or translucent first electrode and the second conductive electrode, wherein the first and second electrodes each comprises a polymer or copolymer of a 3,4-dialkoxythiophene, which may be the same or different, in which the two alkoxy groups may be the same or different or together represent an optionally substituted oxy-alkylene-oxy bridge; a display comprising the above-mentioned electroluminescent device; a lamp comprising the above-mentioned electroluminescent device; manufacturing processes for the above-mentioned electroluminescent devices; and the use of such devices for the integrated backlighting of static and dynamic posters and signage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2003
    Publication date: May 20, 2004
    Applicant: AGFA-GEVAERT
    Inventors: Peter Willaert, Tom Cloots, Roger Van Den Bogaert
  • Publication number: 20040041969
    Abstract: A method of making a liquid crystal alignment layer comprising the steps of: (i) providing a layer on a substrate, the layer comprising a polythiophene according to formula (I): 1
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2003
    Publication date: March 4, 2004
    Applicant: Agfa-Gevaert
    Inventors: Jean-Pierre Tahon, Tom Cloots, Roger Bauerle
  • Publication number: 20040043162
    Abstract: A method of making a liquid crystal alignment layer comprising the steps of: (i) providing a layer on a substrate, the layer comprising a polythiophene according to formula (I): 1
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2003
    Publication date: March 4, 2004
    Applicant: Agfa-Gevaert
    Inventors: Jean-Pierre Tahon, Tom Cloots, Roger Bauerle
  • Patent number: 6635729
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preparing water-soluble &pgr;-conjugated polymers by polymerizing, in aqueous solution using an oxidant, monomeric thiophene derivatives of formula (I) wherein X and Y are identical or different and are O, S, or N—R′, Z is —(CH2)m—CR2R3—(CH2)n—, R1 is aryl, C1-C18-alkyl, or hydrogen, R2 is hydrogen or —CH2)s—O—(CH2)p—SO3−M+, R3 is —(CH2)s—O—(CH2)p—SO3−M+, M+ is a cation, m and n are identical or different and are an integer from 0 to 3, s is an integer from 0 to 10, and p is an integer from 1 to 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2003
    Assignees: Bayer Aktinegesellschaft, Agfa-Gevaert N.V.
    Inventors: Lambertus Groenendaal, Friedrich Jonas, Tom Cloots, Frank Louwet
  • Publication number: 20030170454
    Abstract: A material for making a conductive pattern, the material comprising a support and a heat-differentiable element, the heat-differentiable element comprising an outermost layer containing a polyanion and an intrinsically conductive polymer and optionally a second layer contiguous with the outermost layer, characterized in that the outermost layer and/or the optional second layer contains hydrophobic thermocoagulable latex particles in a weight ratio range with respect to the intrinsically conductive polymer in the range of 20:1 to 1:5, the hydrophobic thermocoagulable latex particles are capable upon heating of increasing the conductivity of the heated parts of the outermost layer relative to the unheated parts of the outermost layer and/or changing the removability of the heated parts of the outermost layer relative to the unheated parts of the outermost layer and the heat-differentiable element does not comprise a di- or polyhydroxy organic compound or an aprotic compound with a dielectric constant, &egr;, &g
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2002
    Publication date: September 11, 2003
    Applicant: AGFA-GEVAERT
    Inventors: Johan Lamotte, Frank Louwet, Tom Cloots, Huub Van Aert
  • Publication number: 20030057403
    Abstract: An electroluminescent device comprising a transparent or translucent support, a transparent or translucent first electrode, a second conductive electrode and an electroluminescent phosphor layer sandwiched between the transparent or translucent first electrode and the second conductive electrode, wherein the first and second electrodes each comprises a polymer or copolymer of a 3,4-dialkoxythiophene, which may be the same or different, in which the two alkoxy groups may be the same or different or together represent an optionally substituted oxy-alkylene-oxy bridge; a display comprising the above-mentioned electroluminescent device; a lamp comprising the.above-mentioned electroluminescent device; manufacturing processes for the above-mentioned electroluminescent devices; and the use of such devices for the integrated backlighting of static and dynamic posters and signage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2002
    Publication date: March 27, 2003
    Applicant: AGFA-GEVAERT
    Inventors: Peter Willaert, Tom Cloots, Roger Van den Bogaert
  • Patent number: 6444400
    Abstract: A method of making an electroconductive pattern on a support is disclosed. The support is provided with a polymer layer containing a polythiophene, a polyanion and a di- or polyhydroxy organic compound. Said layer is characterized by an initial surface resistivity (SRi) having a value which is higher than 104 &OHgr;/□, or more preferably higher than 106 &OHgr;/□. By heating selected areas of the polymer layer, the surface resistivity of these areas is reduced to SRi/&Dgr; wherein &Dgr; is at least 10, preferably at least 103 and more preferable at least 105. The electroconductive pattern thus obtained can be used as an electronic circuit for making an electric or semiconductor device such as a printed circuit board, an integrated circuit, a display, an electroluminescent device or a photovoltaic cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Assignee: Agfa-Gevaert
    Inventors: Tom Cloots, Frank Louwet, Ronn Andriessen, Etienne Van Thillo
  • Patent number: 6340496
    Abstract: A method for producing electrode pattern in a conductive polymer on a substrate comprising the steps of applying a layer containing between 10 and 5000 mg/m2 of a conductive polymer, so as to prepare a conductive layer and printing an electrode pattern on said layer using a printing solution containing of an oxidant selected from the group consisting of ClO−, BrO−, MnO4−, Cr2O7−−, S2O8−− and H2O2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2002
    Assignee: Agfa-Gevaert
    Inventors: Tom Cloots, Roger Van den Bogaert, Jean-Pierre Tahon, Frank Louwet
  • Patent number: 6333145
    Abstract: A method for producing a polymeric conductive layer on an object comprising the steps of: providing an aqueous composition containing a polythiophene, a polyanion compound and an aprotic compound with a dielectric constant, &egr;, ≧15, applying said composition to said object forming a layer and drying said layer to form a conductive polymeric layer on said object, characterised in that during said production said object and said layer are kept at a temperature below 100° C. and said conductive polymeric layer has a resistivity of at most 2 k&OHgr;/square.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignee: Agfa-Gevaert
    Inventors: Tom Cloots, Johan Loccufier, Frank Louwet, Hieronymus Andriessen
  • Patent number: 6197418
    Abstract: A material is disclosed which comprises a substrate and an organic electroconductive layer provided on said substrate, characterised in that the substrate is a laminate comprising a glass layer and a support. The glass layer is preferably a flexible glass layer having a thickness from 10 to 500 &mgr;m. The material can be used as an electrode in electric or semiconductor devices thereby providing an improved lifetime, e.g. displays, photovoltaic cells or light-emitting diodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Agfa-Gevaert, N.V.
    Inventors: Tom Cloots, Frank Louwet, Hieronymus Andriessen, Bart Verlinden, Jean-Pierre Tahon, Leo Vermeulen, Luc Leenders, Rudi Goedeweeck
  • Patent number: 4355188
    Abstract: Polyetherpolyols containing residues of catalysts of the double metal cyanide complex class are treated with a strong base and ion exchanged or neutralized and filtered to provide a stable polyol with reduced tendency to form allophanates with diisocyanates. Further, the addition of ethylene oxide to the polyol while in contact with the strong base serves to end cap the polyol to provide it with primary hydroxyl groups.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1981
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1982
    Assignee: The General Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: Robert J. Herold, Robert E. Bingham