Charles A Rankin

US Patent:

6704073, Mar 9, 2004

Filed:

Mar 12, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/095379

Inventors:

Stanley W. Stephenson - Spencerport NY
Charles M. Rankin - Penfield NY

Assignee:

Eastman Kodak Company - Rochester NY

International Classification:

G02F 11333

US Classification:

349 86

Abstract:

A light modulating layer formed by providing an emulsion having electro-optical fluid in a gelatin solution, heating the emulsion to reduce the viscosity of the emulsion and coating the heated emulsion on a substrate, lowering the temperature of the coated emulsion to change the state of the coated emulsion from a liquid to a gel state, and drying the coating, while in the high viscosity state, to form a layer of polymer-dispersed domains of electro-optical material.

US Patent:

7229663, Jun 12, 2007

Filed:

Jul 14, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/619329

Inventors:

Stanley W. Stephenson - Spencerport NY, US
Charles M. Rankin - Penfield NY, US

Assignee:

Eastman Kodak Company - Rochester NY

International Classification:

B05D 5/06

US Classification:

427162, 4271633, 4271634, 4273722, 427 64

Abstract:

A method of making a liquid-crystal sheet material, useful for displays, having polymer-dispersed cholesteric liquid crystals, comprising the steps of providing a emulsion comprising dispersed cholesteric liquid crystal domain and a solution comprising gelatin and a hardening agent, coating said emulsion onto a substrate; and drying said emulsion to form polymer-dispersed liquid-crystal domains dispersed in a continuous matrix comprising hardened gelatin. The invention is also directed to a display having an imaging layer comprising domains of polymer-dispersed cholesteric liquid-crystal material dispersed in a continuous matrix comprising hardened gelatin, said imaging layer disposed between first and second conductors. The invention is advantageous in reducing sensitivity to temperature and/or high humidity, especially in thin displays or displays that are open to the environment.

US Patent:

20050110925, May 26, 2005

Filed:

Nov 21, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/718900

Inventors:

Krishnan Chari - Fairport NY, US
Charles Rankin - Penfield NY, US

International Classification:

G02F001/1335

US Classification:

349113000

Abstract:

A display sheet comprising a substrate carrying layers of material; including a polymer-dispersed chiral-nematic liquid-crystal layer having a first high reflection state within the visible light spectrum and a second less-reflective state in said spectrum, said states being changeable by an electric field, which states can be maintained in the absence of an electric field; a first transparent conductor disposed over said polymer-dispersed chiral-nematic liquid-crystal layer; and a second conductor, wherein said imaging layer is substantially a monolayer of said domains comprises a mixture of at least two differently reflecting liquid crystal materials, in which the λ maximums of the two materials are separated by 100 to 250 nm.

US Patent:

20050257811, Nov 24, 2005

Filed:

May 21, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/851560

Inventors:

Douglas Axtell - Rochester NY, US
John Macauley - Henrietta NY, US
Charles Rankin - Penfield NY, US
Megan Weiner - Rochester NY, US

International Classification:

B08B003/00
B05C005/00
B05B007/00

US Classification:

134034000, 239597000, 118300000, 427421100, 427424000

Abstract:

A nozzle tip having two faces and methods of using the nozzle tip are described. The nozzle tip has a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis extending from the proximal end to the distal end. The proximal end has an opening defined by a first face including a first edge, and a second face including a second edge, wherein the first face is at an angle of from about 20 degrees to about 120 degrees relative to the axis, and the second face is at an angle of from about 15 degrees to about 70 degrees relative to the axis. The nozzle tip can be incorporated into a device or assembly for skiving.

US Patent:

20050259196, Nov 24, 2005

Filed:

May 21, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/851727

Inventors:

Charles Rankin - Penfield NY, US
Erica Montbach - Pittsford NY, US

International Classification:

G02F001/133

US Classification:

349090000

Abstract:

The present invention relates to an electro-optical imaging layer, a display utilizing the imaging layer and a method for making the same comprising a binder having dispersed therein at least two electrically modulated material domains of different uniform sizes, wherein the ratio of smallest to largest domain size for each of the electrically modulated material domains of different uniform sizes varies by no more than 1:2.

US Patent:

20050259213, Nov 24, 2005

Filed:

May 21, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/851439

Inventors:

Charles Rankin - Penfield NY, US
Theodore Ricks - Rochester NY, US
Megan Weiner - Rochester NY, US
John Macauley - Henrietta NY, US
Rusty Coleman - Hilton NY, US

International Classification:

G02F001/13

US Classification:

349187000

Abstract:

A display including a light modulating layer and a substrate is manufactured using a roller, or a device or apparatus including the roller. The roller skives unwanted material during manufacture of the display, providing a clean skive without damage to underlying materials.

US Patent:

20050259215, Nov 24, 2005

Filed:

May 21, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/851590

Inventors:

Megan Weiner - Rochester NY, US
Charles Rankin - Penfield NY, US
John Macauley - Henrietta NY, US
Theodore Ricks - Rochester NY, US
Rusty Coleman - Hilton NY, US

International Classification:

G02F001/13

US Classification:

349187000

Abstract:

A display formed by skiving with a skiving device including at least one nozzle tip and at least one roller is described. The display has skives that are clean and neat, and has no damage to layers underlying the skived areas.

US Patent:

20050259300, Nov 24, 2005

Filed:

May 21, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/851566

Inventors:

Mitchell Burberry - Webster NY, US
Charles Rankin - Penfield NY, US

International Classification:

B32B005/16
B32B027/06

US Classification:

359013000, 428323000, 427212000

Abstract:

The present invention relates to a display and a method for making the display comprising a substrate, an electrically modulated imaging layer, a first transparent conductive layer, and a dark light absorbing layer comprising a binder and a blend of nonconductive colorants and conductive colorants, wherein the conductive colorant is present in an amount less than 25% by weight.