Patents by Inventor William Tolbert

William Tolbert 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).

  • Publication number: 20010003642
    Abstract: A thermal transfer donor element is provided which comprises a support, a light-to-heat conversion layer, an interlayer, and a thermal transfer layer. When the above donor element is brought into contact with a receptor and imagewise irradiated, an image is obtained which is free from contamination by the light-to-heat conversion layer. The construction and process of this invention is useful in making colored images including applications such as color proofs and color filter elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2000
    Publication date: June 14, 2001
    Applicant: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Jeffrey C. Chang, John S. Staral, William A. Tolbert, Martin B. Wolk, Claire A. Jalbert, Hsin-hsin Chou
  • Patent number: 6190826
    Abstract: A thermal transfer donor element is provided which comprises a support, a light-to-heat conversion layer, an interlayer, and a thermal transfer layer. When the above donor element is brought into contact with a receptor and imagewise irradiated, an image is obtained which is free from contamination by the light-to-heat conversion layer. The construction and process of this invention is useful in making colored images including applications such as color proofs and color filter elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2001
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Jeffrey C. Chang, John S. Staral, William A. Tolbert, Martin B. Wolk, Claire A. Jalbert, Hsin-hsin Chou
  • Patent number: 6157546
    Abstract: Electromagnetic shielding devices are provided that can be easily modified in shape and configuration to facilitate electronic device development. An electronic substrate includes a surface and a ground trace extending along the surface to define a perimeter of an area of the electronic substrate to be shielded. A plurality of electrically conductive block members are electrically secured to the ground trace in adjacent relationship. An electrically conductive cover is electrically secured to a top face of each of the block members to overlie the area of the electronic surface to be shielded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2000
    Assignee: Ericsson Inc.
    Inventors: John S. Petty, William Tolbert, Robert Ray Horton, Randy Morse Villeneuve
  • Patent number: 6099994
    Abstract: A thermal transfer donor element is provided which comprises a support, a light-to-heat conversion layer, an interlayer, and a thermal transfer layer. When the above donor element is brought into contact with a receptor and imagewise irradiated, an image is obtained which is free from contamination by the light-to-heat conversion layer. The construction and process of this invention is useful in making colored images including applications such as color proofs and color filter elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2000
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Jeffrey C. Chang, John S. Staral, William A. Tolbert, Martin B. Wolk, Claire A. Jalbert, Hsin-hsin Chou
  • Patent number: 5998085
    Abstract: A process is described for forming an emissive or phosphor screen. The process comprises the steps of:a) providing a thermal mass donor element comprising a substrate with a front side and a back side, with a coating of emissive material or phosphor adhered to said front side of said substrate,b) placing said coating of emissive material or phosphor adjacent to a support layer,c) addressing said mass donor element with coherent radiation to heat at least a portion of said coating of emissive material or phosphor to locally transfer at least some of said emissive material or phosphor to said support layer,d) repeating step c) a sufficient number of times to provide a coating of transferred emissive material or phosphor on said support layer in an area of at least 1 square centimeter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties
    Inventors: Thomas A. Isberg, Claire A. Jalbert, John S. Staral, William A. Tolbert, Martin B. Wolk
  • Patent number: 5981136
    Abstract: A thermal transfer donor element is provided which comprises a support, a light-to-heat conversion layer, an interlayer, and a thermal transfer layer. When the above donor element is brought into contact with a receptor and imagewise irradiated, an image is obtained which is free from contamination by the light-to-heat conversion layer. The construction and process of this invention is useful in making colored images including applications such as color proofs and color filter elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Jeffrey C. Chang, John S. Staral, William A. Tolbert, Martin B. Wolk, Claire A. Jalbert, Hsin-hsin Chou
  • Patent number: 5976698
    Abstract: Process and materials are described for selectively placing uniform spacers on a receptor. Spacer elements are placed on a receptor by selectively irradiating a thermal transfer donor sheet comprising a transferable spacer layer. The transferable spacer layer may include particles or fibers to form a composite. The particles may have a spacing dimension either greater than or less than the thickness of the transferable layer. When the spacing dimension of the particle is greater than the thickness of the transferable layer, then the spacing dimension of the particles control the spacing distance. The process and materials are useful in the manufacture of flat panel displays, particularly, liquid crystal display devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: John S. Staral, Claire A. Jalbert, William A. Tolbert, Martin B. Wolk, Allan R. Martens, Thomas A. Isberg
  • Patent number: 5725989
    Abstract: A thermal transfer donor element is provided which comprises a support, a light-to-heat conversion layer, an interlayer, and a thermal transfer layer. When the above donor element is brought into contact with a receptor and imagewise irradiated, an image is obtained which is free from contamination by the light-to-heat conversion layer. The construction and process of this invention is useful in making colored images including applications such as color proofs and color filter elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1998
    Inventors: Jeffrey C. Chang, John S. Staral, William A. Tolbert, Martin B. Wolk, Claire A. Jalbert, Hsin-hsin Chou
  • Patent number: 5710097
    Abstract: Process and materials are described for selectively placing uniform spacers on a receptor. Spacer elements are placed on a receptor by selectively irradiating a thermal transfer donor sheet comprising a transferable spacer layer. The transferable spacer layer may include particles or fibers to form a composite. The particles may have a spacing dimension either greater than or less than the thickness of the transferable layer. When the spacing dimension of the particle is greater than the thickness of the transferable layer, then the spacing dimension of the particles control the spacing distance. The process and materials are useful in the manufacture of flat panel displays, particularly, liquid crystal display devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 20, 1998
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: John S. Staral, Claire A. Jalbert, William A. Tolbert, Martin B. Wolk, Allan R. Martens, Thomas A. Isberg
  • Patent number: 5693446
    Abstract: A method of transferring a high resolution polarizing image from a mass transfer donor element to a receptor element. The transfer can be induced by thermal energy or electromagnetic (optical) energy. In either case, the transferred image will be a high resolution image that exhibits optically anisotropic properties. The polarizing mass transfer donor element comprises a substrate having a polarizing mass transfer layer coated thereon. Optionally, the polarizing mass transfer donor element further comprises a light absorbing material, preferably in the form of a light to heat conversion layer. The polarizing mass transfer donor element can further comprise an adhesive to facilitate transfer of the polarizing mass transfer layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 2, 1997
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: John S. Staral, William A. Tolbert, Hsin Hsin Chou, Wu Shyong Li