Patents by Inventor William R. Benoit

William R. Benoit 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: 11960683
    Abstract: A display system for sensing a finger of a user applied to the display system includes a display panel; a sensor for sensing the finger; a sensing light source configured to emit a first light having a first wavelength W1; and a reflective polarizer disposed between the display panel and the sensor. For a substantially normally incident light, an optical transmittance of the reflective polarizer versus wavelength for a first polarization state has a band edge such that for a first wavelength range extending from a smaller wavelength L1 to a greater wavelength L2 and including W1, where 30 nm?L2?L1?50 nm and L1 is greater than and within about 20 nm of a wavelength L3 corresponding to an optical transmittance of about 50% along the band edge, the optical transmittance has an average of greater than about 75%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Bharat R. Acharya, Robert D. Taylor, Joseph P. Attard, Benjamin J. Forsythe, David T. Yust, Matthew E. Sousa, Jason S. Petaja, Anthony M. Renstrom, William Blake Kolb, Matthew S. Cole, Matthew S. Stay, Matthew R. D. Smith, Jeremy O. Swanson, Tri D. Pham, David A. Rosen, Qunyi Chen, Lisa A. DeNicola, Quinn D. Sanford, Carl A. Stover, Lin Zhao, Gilles J. Benoit
  • Patent number: 4674324
    Abstract: An improved golf club swing weighting method allowing a golf club maker to optimize the design of a set of golf clubs by considering a golfer's preferences relative to moment of inertia and radius of gyration, as well as allowing the center of percussion of each club to be positioned in the clubhead if desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1984
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1987
    Inventor: William R. Benoit
  • Patent number: 4674746
    Abstract: An improved golf club providing means for positioning the center of percussion in the head of each golf club so as to optimize the energy transfer between the club head and the golf ball and so as to optimize the feel of the golf shot for the golfer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1984
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1987
    Inventor: William R. Benoit
  • Patent number: 4450364
    Abstract: A lighter-than-air (LTA) wind energy conversion system (WECS) wherein the LTA envelope carries a main rotor and electrical generator to take advantage of high wind speeds available at high altitudes. The LTA envelope is adapted to rotate with the main rotor and is tethered to a ground based mooring system designed to provide self-orientation for the LTA envelope. In a preferred embodiment, a hollow bladed main rotor is provided at the midpoint of the rotating envelope. The rotor drives an induction turbine positioned within a substantially linear duct which is, in turn, preferably located along the longitudinal axis of the rotating LTA envelope. The output of the induction turbine is coupled to an electrical generator. In another embodiment, small wind-driven generators are positioned on the tips of the blades of the main rotor. The outputs of both embodiments are transmitted to the ground via the tethering system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1982
    Date of Patent: May 22, 1984
    Inventor: William R. Benoit
  • Patent number: 4350897
    Abstract: A lighter-than-air (LTA) wind energy conversion system (WECS) wherein the LTA envelope carries a main rotor and electrical generator to take advantage of high wind speeds available at high altitudes. The LTA envelope is tethered to a ground based mooring system designed to provide self-orientation for the LTA envelope. In a preferred embodiment, heavy mechanical transmissions are eliminated by providing a hollow bladed main rotor which drives an induction turbine positioned within a substantially linear duct which is, in turn, preferably located along the longitudinal axis of the LTA envelope. The output of the induction turbine is coupled to an electrical generator whose output is, in turn, transmitted to the ground via the tethering system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1980
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1982
    Inventor: William R. Benoit
  • Patent number: 4350899
    Abstract: A lighter-than-air (LTA) wind energy conversion system (WECS) wherein a gas-filled LTA envelope carries a main rotor and electrical generator to take advantage of high wind speeds available at high altitudes. The LTA envelope is tethered to a ground based mooring system designed to provide self-orientation for the LTA envelope. In a preferred embodiment, heavy mechanical transmissions are eliminated by providing a radial disk diffuser within the rear portion of the frustrum-shaped LTA envelope. The diffuser is rotated through the drive shaft of a wind-driven external rotor. A linear duct is positioned within the envelope and has its rear outlet in fluid communiation with the gas inlet to the diffuser. Rotation of the rotor-diffuser drives an induction turbine positioned within the gas inlet of the duct at the fore portion of the envelope. The lifting gas for the envelope also serves as the working fluid for the turbine and is circulated by the diffuser-turbine action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1980
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1982
    Inventor: William R. Benoit
  • Patent number: 4350898
    Abstract: A lighter-than-air (LTA) wind energy conversion system (WECS) wherein the LTA envelope carries a main rotor and electrical generator to take advantage of high wind speeds available at high altitudes. The LTA envelope is tethered to a ground based mooring system designed to provide self-orientation for the LTA envelope. In a preferred embodiment, heavy mechanical transmissions are eliminated by providing a radial disk diffuser coupled to a main rotor which, upon rotation, drives an induction turbine positioned within a substantially linear duct which is, in turn, preferably located along the longitudinal axis of the LTA envelope. The output of the induction turbine is coupled to an electrical generator whose output is, in turn, transmitted to the ground via the tethering system. In an alternate embodiment, the main rotor may itself be ducted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1980
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1982
    Inventor: William R. Benoit
  • Patent number: 4350896
    Abstract: A lighter-than-air (LTA) wind energy conversion system (WECS) wherein the gas-filled LTA envelope carries a main rotor and electrical generator to take advantage of high wind speeds available at high altitudes. The LTA envelope is tethered to a ground based mooring system designed to provide self-orientation for the LTA envelope. In a preferred embodiment, heavy mechanical transmissions are eliminated by providing a radial disk diffuser within the LTA envelope coupled through a drive shaft to a wind-driven external rotor. Rotation of the rotor-diffuser drives an induction turbine positioned within the gas inlet to the diffuser, the lifting gas for the envelope also serving as the working fluid for the turbine. The output of the induction turbine is coupled to an electrical generator whose output is, in turn, transmitted to the ground via the tethering system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1980
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1982
    Inventor: William R. Benoit