Patents by Inventor William Ward Merrill

William Ward Merrill 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).

  • Processes and apparatus for making transversely drawn films with substantially uniaxial character
    Patent number: 6939499
    Abstract: A process for stretching films is described. The process preferably stretches films in a uniaxial fashion. Preferably, optical films are stretched including multilayer optical films. Other aspects of the invention include a roll of stretched film and an apparatus for stretching films.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2005
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: William Ward Merrill, Jeffery N. Jackson, Andrew T. Ruff, John A. Wheatley, Dennis L. Krueger
  • Methods and devices for processing polymer films
    Patent number: 6936209
    Abstract: Stretched polymeric films can be used in a variety of applications, including optical applications. The stretching conditions and shape of the stretching tracks in a stretching apparatus can determine or influence film properties. Take-away systems can be used to receive the film after stretching. The configuration of the take-away system can, in at least some instances, influence final film properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2005
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Jeffery N. Jackson, William Ward Merrill, Andrew T. Ruff, Desiree L. Thompson
  • Processes and apparatus for making transversely drawn films with substantially uniaxial character
    Patent number: 6916440
    Abstract: A process for stretching films is described. The process preferably stretches films in a uniaxial fashion. Preferably, optical films are stretched including multilayer optical films. Other aspects of the invention include a roll of stretched film and an apparatus for stretching films.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2005
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Jeffery N. Jackson, William Ward Merrill, Andrew T. Ruff, Desiree L. Thompson, Dennis L. Krueger
  • Method for making coPEN/PMMA multilayer optical films
    Patent number: 6830713
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are provided for the manufacture of coextruded polymeric multilayer optical films. The multilayer optical films have an ordered arrangement of layers of two or more materials having particular layer thicknesses and a prescribed layer thickness gradient throughout the multilayer optical stack. The methods and apparatuses described allow improved control over individual layer thicknesses, layer thickness gradients, indices of refraction, interlayer adhesion, and surface characteristics of the optical films. The methods and apparatuses described are useful for making interference polarizers, mirrors, and colored films that are optically effective over diverse portions of the ultraviolet, visible, and infrared spectra.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Timothy J. Hebrink, Yaoqi J. Liu, William Ward Merrill, Bruce A. Nerad, John A. Wheatley
  • Methods and devices for processing polymer films
    Publication number: 20040099993
    Abstract: Stretched polymeric films can be used in a variety of applications, including optical applications. The stretching conditions and shape of the stretching tracks in a stretching apparatus can determine or influence film properties. Take-away systems can be used to receive the film after stretching. The configuration of the take-away system can, in at least some instances, influence final film properties.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2002
    Publication date: May 27, 2004
    Inventors: Jeffery N. Jackson, William Ward Merrill, Andrew T. Ruff, Desiree L. Thompson
  • Method for making optical devices from homopolymers
    Patent number: 6673275
    Abstract: An improved optical film having a continuous/disperse phase morphology and a method for making the same is provided. At least one of the continuous and disperse phases comprises a blend of homopolymers which are inter-reacted, as by transesterification. The resulting films exhibit a higher degree of birefringence for a given level of strain than analogous films in which the blend is replaced by a random copolymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Richard C. Allen, Susan L. Kent, Ronald J. Tabar, Elisa M. Cross, William Ward Merrill, Stephen A. Johnson, Peter D. Condo, Timothy J. Hebrink, Joseph A. Gangi
  • Optical device having continuous and disperse phases
    Patent number: 6654170
    Abstract: An improved optical film having a continuous/disperse phase morphology and a method for making the same is provided. At least one of the continuous and disperse phases comprises a blend of homopolymers which are inter-reacted, as by transesterification. The resulting films exhibit a higher degree of birefringence for a given level of strain than analogous films in which the blend is replaced by a random copolymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: William Ward Merrill, Susan L. Kent, Ronald J. Tabar, Richard C. Allen, Elisa M. Cross, Stephen A. Johnson, Peter D. Condo, Timothy J. Hebrink, Joseph A. Gangi
  • Optical device containing polymeric material domains having different degrees of randomness
    Patent number: 6627300
    Abstract: An improved optical film having a continuous/disperse phase morphology and a method for making the same is provided. At least one of the continuous and disperse phases comprises a blend of homopolymers which are inter-reacted, as by transesterification. The resulting films exhibit a higher degree of birefringence for a given level of strain than analogous films in which the blend is replaced by a random copolymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Susan L. Kent, Ronald J. Tabar, Richard C. Allen, Elisa M. Cross, William Ward Merrill, Stephen A. Johnson, Peter D. Condo, Timothy J. Hebrink, Joseph A. Gangi
  • Processes and apparatus for making transversely drawn films with substantially uniaxial character
    Publication number: 20020190406
    Abstract: A process for stretching films is described. The process preferably stretches films in a uniaxial fashion. Preferably, optical films are stretched including multilayer optical films. Other aspects of the invention include a roll of stretched film and an apparatus for stretching films.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2002
    Publication date: December 19, 2002
    Inventors: William Ward Merrill, Jeffery N. Jackson, Andrew T. Ruff, John A. Wheatley, Dennis L. Krueger
  • Processes and apparatus for making transversely drawn films with substantially uniaxial character
    Publication number: 20020180107
    Abstract: A process for stretching films is described. The process preferably stretches films in a uniaxial fashion. Preferably, optical films are stretched including multilayer optical films. Other aspects of the invention include a roll of stretched film and an apparatus for stretching films.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2002
    Publication date: December 5, 2002
    Inventors: Jeffery N. Jackson, William Ward Merrill, Andrew T. Ruff, Desiree L. Thompson, Dennis L. Krueger
  • Method for making copen/pmma multilayer optical films
    Publication number: 20010019182
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are provided for the manufacture of coextruded polymeric multilayer optical films. The multilayer optical films have an ordered arrangement of layers of two or more materials having particular layer thicknesses and a prescribed layer thickness gradient throughout the multilayer optical stack. The methods and apparatuses described allow improved control over individual layer thicknesses, layer thickness gradients, indices of refraction, interlayer adhesion, and surface characteristics of the optical films. The methods and apparatuses described are useful for making interference polarizers, mirrors, and colored films that are optically effective over diverse portions of the ultraviolet, visible, and infrared spectra.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2001
    Publication date: September 6, 2001
    Applicant: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Timothy J. Hebrink, Yaoqi J. Liu, William Ward Merrill, Bruce A. Nerad, John A. Wheatley