Resume
Nicholas K. Sheridon, Physicist
Areas of Expertise:
Display optics, Display physics, Electrophoresis, Electrostatics, Gaseous
discharge physics, Corona Discharge, Xerography, Conduction in dielectric
liquids, Amphiphilic chemistry, Vacuum metallization, Low gain
photoconductors, Ionographic printing, Pigment dispersion, 10 MHz
ultrasound, Holography, Failure analysis, Coherent optical processing,
Elastomer Physics, U.S. Patent applications.
Special Strengths:
Inventing and executing solutions to very difficult problems, Problem analysis,
Strong laboratory skills, Process development. Fast learner. Highly creative.
Recent Professional positions:
Director of Research, Gyricon LLC. January 2001 to January 2006
This was a spin-off from Xerox Palo Alto Research Center (PARC). Gyricon
LLC was an electronic paper company organized to market products based on
the Gyricon display, which I had invented.
Senior Research Fellow, Xerox Palo Alto Research Center (PARC). May 1988
to January 2001
In this position I was the highest ranked non-management scientist at PARC,
although I did manage research groups ranging in size from 2 to 10 people.
Research Fellow, Xerox Palo Alto Research Center. August1979 to May 1988.
Professional Background:
I have spent the past 33 years at PARC inventing and developing product-
intent technologies. I am fortunate in having spent this entire time working on
my own inventions. The highlights of this work:
Invented the Ruticon optical image storage device. I did the early research and
development work and helped form an internal spin-off of about 20 people to
exploit the copier pre-collation potential of the technology.
Invented and researched electrowetting (electrocapillarity) and patented
applications to displays.
Invented and did early research and development on the Corjet air-assisted
ionographic print head. I assumed a major engineering role in helping to turn
this technology into the first multi-function office machine (copier, input
scanner, fax and printer) manufactured (but not sold) by Xerox.
Invented, researched and managed the development of the Gyricon electronic
paper display. My patents are the earliest in the field of electronic paper. Co-
founded and served as Research Director of Gyricon LLC, a PARC spin-off.
This and other work is detailed in my patents (I currently hold 90 U.S. Patents)
and technical publications.
Degrees: BS and MS in Physics, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan
Technical Publications (Partial List)
Nicholas Sheridon, “Gyricon Materials for Flexible Displays”, Chapter 20 in
‘Flexible Flat Panel Displays’, Gregory Crawford, (editor), John Wiley and
Sons, 2005, pp393-407
Nicholas K. Sheridon, “Electronic Paper”, 2003 McGraw-Hill Yearbook of
Science and Technology, pp104-107
N .K. Sheridon, E. A. Richley, et al, “The Gyricon Rotating Ball Display”, Journal
of the Society for Information Display, 7/2, 1999, pp141-144
M. E. Howard, E. A. Richley, R. Sprague, N. K. Sheridon, “Gyricon Electronic
Paper”, Journal of the Society for Information Display 6/4, 1998. pp 215-217
N. K. Sheridon, et al, “The Gyricon Rotating Ball Display”, in the Conference
Record of the 1997 International Display Research Conference, Sept 15-19,
1977, Toronto, Canada pp L-82 to L-84
N. K. Sheridon, “Practical Air-Assisted Ionographic Printing”, Proceedings of
the 1990 SPIE Conference on Hard Copy and Printing Technology, 13-14 Feb.
1990, Santa Clara, CA, Vol.1252
N. K. Sheridon, “Air Assisted Ionographic Printing”, Conference Record of the
1988 International Display Research Conference, 4-6 October, 1988, San
Diego, CA
Nicholas K. Sheridon and Michael A. Berkovitz, “A Photoconductor Addressed
Electrophoretic Cell for Office Data Display”, Digest of Technical Papers for the
1982 SID International Symposium, Vol. XIII, pp 94,95
Nicholas K. Sheridon and Michael A. Berkovitz, “The Gyricon-A Twisting Ball
Display”, SID Digest of Technical Papers, 1977 International Symposium, April
1977, pp 114-115
Nicholas K. Sheridon and Michael A. Berkovitz, “Optical Processing with the
Ruticon” in ‘Optical Information Processing’, Proceedings of the Society of
Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers, San Diego, CA, Aug. 24-25, 1976
Nicholas K. Sheridon and Michael A. Berkovitz, “ A Twisting Ball Display”,
Proceedings of the Society for Information Display, Vol. 18, Nos.3&4, 1977,
pp289-293
N. K. Sheridon, “The Ruticon Family of Erasable Image Recording Devices”,
IEEE Transactions on Electron Devices, ED-19, Sept. `1972, pp1003-1010
N. K. Sheridon, “A New Optical Recording Device”, Record of the 1970 IEEE
International Electron Devices Meeting, Oct. 28-30, 1970, pp44
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