This inventor holds 1 USPTO granted patent and 1 published patent application. Top assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC. Active years: 2026.
Data source: USPTO (United States Patent and Trademark Office) public patent records. Weekly synchronization. How IDiyas builds this profile
Company Filing History:
Years Active: 2026
Title: William Minster Kunkel IV: Optical Data Storage Innovation
Introduction
William Minster Kunkel IV is an inventor associated with Cambridge, United Kingdom, and Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC. His patent work addresses methods for reading data stored in multilayer optical media.
Latest Patents
Kunkel is named on 1 patent: “Read Head and Methods for Reading Multilayer Optical Data Storage Media.” The invention describes a read head that captures images of voxel groups embedded at different depths within a transparent substrate. Its imaging system focuses at variable depths, while an autofocus system uses illumination and a detector to identify voxel depth positions. The patent also describes capturing images of sectors in a track while keeping the medium and imaging system at fixed lateral positions.
Career Highlights
Kunkel’s listed patent reflects work on optical data storage and the technical challenge of accurately reading information distributed across multiple layers. The disclosed approach combines depth-adjustable imaging with autofocus-based depth identification.
Collaborations
His listed coworkers include Hugh Williams and Serguei Anatolievitch Legtchenko. The patent information associates Kunkel with Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC.
Conclusion
William Minster Kunkel IV’s patent contribution focuses on reading multilayer optical storage media through variable-depth imaging and autofocus techniques.
Data source: USPTO (United States Patent and Trademark Office) public patent records. Weekly synchronization. How IDiyas builds this profile