Patents Represented by Attorney Carolyn A. Fischer
  • Patent number: 7575847
    Abstract: Antireflective films and low refractive index compositions are described. The low refractive index layer comprises the reaction product of a composition comprising at least one free-radically polymerizable material having a high fluorine content, and at least one free-radically polymerizable fluoropolyether urethane material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2009
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Naiyong Jing, Thomas P. Klun, Chuntao Cao, William D. Coggio, Zai-Ming Qiu
  • Patent number: 7547476
    Abstract: Polymerizable compositions comprising nanopartilces particularly useful for brightness enhancing films.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2009
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Clinton L. Jones, David B. Olson, Emily S. Goenner, Brant U. Kolb, John T. Brady
  • Patent number: 7547467
    Abstract: Presently described are (e.g. brightness enhancing film) optical articles comprising the reaction product of a polymerizable resin and surface modified inorganic nanoparticles, methods of surface modifying inorganic nanoparticles, and surface modified inorganic nanoparticles. The surface treatment comprises at least one monocarboxylic acid having a refractive index of at least 1.50 and/or at least one monocarboxylic acid having a Mn of at least 200 g/mole and an ethylenically unsaturated group and/or at least one dicarboxylic acid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2009
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: David B. Olson, Clinton L. Jones, Brant U. Kolb, Emily S. Goenner, Mark J. Hendrickson, Taun L. McKenzie
  • Patent number: 7537828
    Abstract: Antireflective films and low refractive index compositions are described. The low refractive index layer comprises the reaction product of a composition comprising at least one free-radically polymerizable material having a high fluorine content, and at least one free-radically polymerizable fluoropolyether urethane material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2009
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: William D. Coggio, Thomas P. Klun, Chuntao Cao
  • Patent number: 7524543
    Abstract: A durable optical film or element includes a polymerized structure having a microstructured surface and a plurality of surface modified colloidal nanoparticles of silica, zirconia, or mixtures thereof. Display devices including the durable microstructured film are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Clinton L. Jones, Brant U. Kolb, Emily S. Goenner, John T. Brady, Christopher A. Haak
  • Patent number: 7524779
    Abstract: The present invention relates to microspheres (i.e., beads) having a high index of refraction. The invention also relates to retroreflective articles, and in particular pavement markings, comprising such microspheres.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Matthew H. Frey, Billy J. Frederick, Jr., Terrance L. Bescup
  • Patent number: 7491441
    Abstract: The development of new compositions and new aromatic sulfur acrylate monomers results in improved hardcoat films, and improved optical films that contain the hard coat films. The films provide improved display systems when incorporated thereon. The combination of functionalized zirconia nanoparticles with multifunctional acrylate crosslinkers and high index of refraction aromatic sulfur acrylates, about 1.58 or greater, produces abrasion resistant hard coats that have relatively high refractive indices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Richard J. Pokorny, Roger A. Mader, David B. Olson, Brant U. Kolb
  • Patent number: 7478791
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of making a flexible mold from a polymerizable resin composition, the flexible mold, the polymerizable resin composition, as well as methods of using the flexible mold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2009
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Yorinobu Takamatsu, Akira Yoda
  • Patent number: 7473462
    Abstract: A low refractive index composition that forms a low refractive index layer on an optical display is formed having a co-crosslinked interpenetrating polymer network of a fluoropolymer phase and an acrylate phase. The fluoropolymer phase is preferably formed from fluoropolymers based on THV or FKM and having either a degree of unsaturation and/or containing a reactive cure site monomer in its polymer backbone. The acrylate phase includes a multifunctional acrylate crosslinker, and more preferably includes a perfluoropolyether acrylate crosslinker. The formed low refractive index layer has improved interfacial adhesion to other layers or substrates contained in the optical display. Further, the mechanical strength and scratch resistance of the either of above low refractive index compositions can be further enhanced through the incorporation of surface functionalized inorganic particle into the formed layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2009
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: William D. Coggio, Thomas P. Klun, George G. I. Moore, Naiyong Jing, Chuntao Cao, Sharon Wang, Patricia M. Savu, Lan H. Liu, Joan M. Noyola
  • Patent number: 7459204
    Abstract: A multilayered polymer film includes a first set of optical layers and a second set of optical layers. The first set of optical layers is made from a polyester which is often birefringent. The polyesters of the first set of optical layers typically have a composition in which 70-100 mol % of the carboxylate subunits are first carboxylate subunits and 0-30 mol % are comonomer carboxylate subunits and 70 to 100 mol % of the glycol subunits are first glycol subunits and 0 to 30 mol % of the glycol subunits are comonomer glycol subunits, where at least 0.5 mol % of the combined carboxylate and glycol subunits are comonomer carboxylate or comonomer glycol subunits. The multilayered polymer film may be used to form, for example, a reflective polarizer or a mirror.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Timothy J. Hebrink, William W. Merrill, Carl A. Stover
  • Patent number: 7432124
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of making an organic electronic device and articles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Raghunath Padiyath, Jon E. Ottman, David A. Engler, Fred B. McCormick, Donald J. McClure, Brian J. Gates
  • Patent number: 7429345
    Abstract: A microstructured assembly including a barrier portions and land portions is described. The microstructures have alternating barrier portions and land portions that have barrier surfaces and land surfaces, respectively. Each barrier surface and land surface is connected by curved surface, which is part of a curved portion. The curved surface and the land surface are substantially continuous.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2008
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: Raymond Chi-Hing Chiu
  • Patent number: 7427438
    Abstract: Presently described are microstructured articles such as a brightness enhancing film or optical turning film. The microstructured articles comprise a brightness enhancing polymerized structure comprising the reaction product of a composition comprising an organic component having at least one oligomeric urethane (meth)acrylate and surface modified silica nanoparticles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2008
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Clinton L. Jones, Brant U. Kolb, David B. Olson, Emily S. Goenner
  • Patent number: 7413316
    Abstract: The present invention relates to retroreflective elements and retroreflective articles such as pavement markings comprising retroreflective elements, methods of making retroreflective elements, and laminates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Rebecca A. Shipman, Craig S. Chamberlain, James D. Heininger, Thomas P. Hedblom, Douglas E. Weiss, Gerald S. Deeb
  • Patent number: 7410604
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of making retroreflective sheeting and other articles prepared from casting a fluid synthetic resin onto a tool having a microstructured surface with a slot die apparatus. The invention further relates to a slot die apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2008
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Stanley C. Erickson, James C. Breister, Gregory H. Van Erem, David W. Meitz, Stephen W. Mohn, Paul DeRoussel
  • Patent number: 7407709
    Abstract: Pressure sensitive adhesive compositions comprising an unreactive mixture of polydiorganosiloxane polyurea copolymer, diluent, and silicate tackifying resin. The compositions are useful for articles such as medical devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Zhiming Zhou, Audrey A. Sherman, Wayne K. Dunshee, Wendi J. Winkler
  • Patent number: 7404919
    Abstract: To provide a flexible mold (10) useful for manufacturing a PDP rib having a lattice pattern and other microstructures, and capable of highly precisely manufacturing the microstructures without involving defects such as occurrence of bubbles and pattern deformation. A flexible mold (10) comprises a base layer (2) made of a first curable material having a viscosity of 3,000 to 100,000 cps at 10 to 80° C. and a coating layer (3) coating a surface of the base layer (2) and made of a second curable material having a viscosity of 200 cps or below at 10 to 80° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Chikafumi Yokoyama, Akira Yoda, Hiroshi Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 7401396
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of making microstructured laminae for replication and apparatus. In a preferred embodiment, the invention relates to machining V-shaped grooves on individual lamina forming cube-corner microstructures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Lars A. Smeenk, Conrad V. Anderson, Nelson D. Sewall, Kenneth L. Smith
  • Patent number: 7400445
    Abstract: Optical filters comprising a small concentration of visible light absorbing components optionally in combination with small concentrations of ultraviolet and infared absorbing components suitable for use in an illuminator for an accelerated weathering device and methods of accelerated weathering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2008
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Richard M. Fischer, Jr., Warren D. Ketola
  • Patent number: RE40729
    Abstract: A pavement marking composition, methods of applying, and pavement markings produced therefrom. The composition is a two-part coating composition having an amine component including one or more aspartic ester amines and optionally one or more amine-functional coreactants, an isocyanate component including one or more polyisocyanates, and material selected from the group of fillers, extenders, pigments, and combinations thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Mark D. Purgett, David C. May, Mark D. Zender, Daniel J. Willie, Tom R. Borden