Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Alan Ball
  • Patent number: 6372992
    Abstract: A composite, useful as a flexible circuit, includes at least a portion of an electrical conductor having a first surface opposite a second surface. A first homogeneous polymeric film contacts the first surface of at least a portion of the electrical conductor. A second homogeneous polymeric film contacts at least a portion of the first film and the second surface of the at least a portion of the electrical conductor. The first and second films infuse to form a continuous phase surrounding the at least a portion of an electrical conductor. A process for producing a flexible circuit including hermetic sealing by providing at least one electrically conductive trace having a first surface opposite a second surface. At least a portion of the first surface is attached to a first homogeneous polymeric film. A second homogeneous polymeric film is contacted with at least a portion of the first film and at least a portion of the second surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2002
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: Rui Yang
  • Patent number: 6369179
    Abstract: 1H,lH-perfluorocyclohexylmethyl 2-fluoroacrylate, and homopolymers thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2002
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Nicholas A. Stacey, Alastair S. Dodds, Luke C. Williams
  • Patent number: 6346330
    Abstract: A non-silicone, form-in-place gasket produced using automated placement followed by curing of a pattern of an extrudable thixotropic material comprising a liquid polyolefin oligomer a reactive diluent a thixotropic filler and a curative. The form-in-place gasket, after curing, has a compression set of about 7% to about 20%, a level of outgassing components of about 10 &mgr;g/g to about 45 &mgr;g/g and a Shore A hardness from about 45 to about 65.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2002
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Mitchell Huang, William B. Stockton
  • Patent number: 6303685
    Abstract: A water dispersed primer composition comprising a solution of a halogenated hydrocarbon polymer in organic solvent; and a dispersing agent added to the solution to form a fluid primer to be dispersed in water to provide the water dispersed primer composition. The invention further includes a water based priming adhesive composition comprising an adhesive dispersion of a an adhesive polymer dispersed in water, and a primer mixed with the adhesive dispersion to form the priming adhesive. The primer comprises a solution of a halogenated hydrocarbon polymer in organic solvent and optionally a dispersing agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: James David Groves
  • Patent number: 6296931
    Abstract: The invention provides a recording sheet including an additive, referred to herein as a compatibilizer, to improve the quality of images formed by toner powder development of electrostatic charge patterns. Recording sheets, carrying images produced by toner powder transfer and fusion on a receptor surface, according to the present invention, exhibit improved light transmission and reduced light scattering. Specifically, a transparent sheet is provided having a toner-receptive coating containing about 4 wt. % to about 25 wt % of a compatibilizer on at least one surface, wherein the coating has a low density yellow Q factor value at least 2 less than an identical coating without the compatibilizer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2001
    Assignee: 3M Innovatice Properties Company
    Inventors: Jamshid Azizi, Joseph C. Carls, Shigeaki Dohgoshi, Koji Kamiyama, Andrew C. Lottes
  • Patent number: 6274221
    Abstract: A novel microprismatic retroreflective film or sheeting is provided which comprises a transparent semicrystalline polymer. The microprismatic retroreflective film or sheeting of the present invention offers superior retroreflective brightness at large angles of incidence and at large observational angles. Syndiotactic vinyl aromatic polymers, especially syndiotactic polystyrene and copolymers thereof, are preferred semicrystalline polymers, as they impart good dimensional stability and resistance to moisture, and can be made resistant to UV radiation. Signing materials comprising these microprismatic retroreflective films provide improved performance for off-angle illumination and viewing in traffic control and other signing applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2001
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Kenneth L. Smith, Jaime R. Ojeda, Ronald J. Tabar
  • Patent number: 6265460
    Abstract: A hot-melt adhesive composition, which has a high curing rate, requires no water for a curing reaction or no solvent for the formation of a film, has good storage stability, and is suitable for adhering electronic parts or producing integrated circuit (IC) packages is provided. Specifically, a thermosetting hot-melt adhesive composition comprising a polyethylene copolymer having epoxy groups in a molecule as an epoxy component, which further comprises a cationic polymerization catalyst, is provided herein. Also disclosed are heat-bonding film adhesives and adhering methods using the hot-melt adhesive composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2001
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Kohichiro Kawate, Shigeyoshi Ishii, Mario A. Perez
  • Patent number: 6174118
    Abstract: A threaded fastener retention device includes a housing having a retainer aperture formed therein and tab retainers adjacent the aperture. A resilient retainer is movably mounted in the aperture. The retainer includes a body having tabs for engaging the tab retainers and fastener gripping members for engaging the threads of the fastener and retaining the fastener in the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2001
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties
    Inventors: Kenneth D. Rebers, Franklin S. Sanders, Jr., George J. Knox, Lazlo Markos
  • Patent number: 6088228
    Abstract: A heat dissipating element, positioned inside a protective cover, removes heat from the vicinity of a multi-chip module comprising active semiconductor devices attached to a printed circuit board. Attachment of the protective cover to the printed circuit board uses a latching mechanism with minimum board space requirements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2000
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Kurt H. Petersen, David L. Harper