Patents by Inventor Catherine P. Tarnowski

Catherine P. Tarnowski has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9873276
    Abstract: A method includes providing an elastomeric stamp including a stamping surface with a first pattern element having a fill factor of 20 to 99 percent and including a continuous region and at least one discontinuous region, the discontinuous region including at least one of: (1) one or more elongated concavities, and (2) one or more interior voids. A second pattern element of the stamping surface has a fill factor of 0.25 to 10 percent, and includes traces with a width from 0.1 micrometers to 50 micrometers. The stamping surface is inked with an ink composition including a functionalizing molecule with a functional group selected to bind to a surface of the ink-receptive material. The inked stamping surface is contacted with an ink-receptive material selected from a sheet or a web for a contact time sufficient to bind the functional group with the surface of the ink-receptive material to form a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) of the functionalizing material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Catherine P. Tarnowski, David A. Johnson, Roger W. Barton, Larry L. Johnson, Jonathan J. O'Hare, Tyler J. Rattray, Daniel M. Lentz, Jeffrey H. Tokie, Matthew H. Frey, Mikhail L. Pekurovsky
  • Publication number: 20160250875
    Abstract: A method includes providing an elastomeric stamp including a stamping surface with a first pattern element having a fill factor of 20 to 99 percent and including a continuous region and at least one discontinuous region, the discontinuous region including at least one of: (1) one or more elongated concavities, and (2) one or more interior voids. A second pattern element of the stamping surface has a fill factor of 0.25 to 10 percent, and includes traces with a width from 0.1 micrometers to 50 micrometers. The stamping surface is inked with an ink composition including a functionalizing molecule with a functional group selected to bind to a surface of the ink-receptive material. The inked stamping surface is contacted with an ink-receptive material selected from a sheet or a web for a contact time sufficient to bind the functional group with the surface of the ink-receptive material to form a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) of the functionalizing material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2014
    Publication date: September 1, 2016
    Inventors: Catherine P. Tarnowski, David A. Johnson, Roger W. Barton, Larry L. Johnson, Jonathan J. O'Hare, Tyler J. Rattray, Daniel M. Lentz, Jeffrey H. Tokie, Matthew H. Frey, Mikhail L. Pekurovsky
  • Patent number: 9002072
    Abstract: A system is described for detecting the presence of non-uniformity patterns and providing output indicative of a severity of each type of non-uniformity pattern. The system includes a computerized rating tool that assists a user in efficiently and consistently assigning expert ratings (i.e., labels) to a large collection of training images representing samples of a given product. In addition, the rating software develops a model that allows a computerized inspection system to detect the presence of non-uniformity patterns in a manufactured web material in real time and provide output indicative of a severity level of each pattern on a continuous scale. The system also includes algorithmic and hardware approaches to significantly that increase the throughput of the inspection system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Catherine P. Tarnowski, Kenneth G. Brittain, David L. Hofeldt, Andrzej P. Jaworski, Gregory D. Kostuch, John A. Ramthun, Evan J. Ribnick, Esa H. Vilkama, Derek H. Justice, Guillermo Sapiro
  • Patent number: 8965116
    Abstract: A computerized rating tool is described that assists a user in efficiently and consistently assigning expert ratings (i.e., labels) to a large collection of training images representing samples of a given product. The rating tool provides mechanisms for visualizing the training images in an intuitive and configurable fashion, including clustering and ordering the training images. In some embodiments, the rating tool provides an easy-to-use interface for exploring multiple types of defects represented in the data and efficiently assigning expert ratings. In other embodiments, the computer automatically assigns ratings (i.e., labels) to the individual clusters containing the large collection of digital images representing the samples.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Evan J. Ribnick, Kenneth G. Brittain, Gregory D. Kostuch, Catherine P. Tarnowski, Derek H. Justice, Guillermo Sapiro, Sammuel D. Herbert, David L. Hofeldt
  • Publication number: 20140240720
    Abstract: A method includes passing an interrogating light beam through a Fourier transform lens and onto the surface of a material to form a Fraunhofer diffraction pattern of one or more surface features of the material. An image of the diffraction pattern is processed to determine the dimensions of the feature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Inventors: Yi Qiao, Michael W. Dolezal, David L. Hofeldt, Jack W. Lai, Catherine P. Tarnowski
  • Publication number: 20130322733
    Abstract: A system is described for detecting the presence of non-uniformity patterns and providing output indicative of a severity of each type of non-uniformity pattern. The system includes a computerized rating tool that assists a user in efficiently and consistently assigning expert ratings (i.e., labels) to a large collection of training images representing samples of a given product. In addition, the rating software develops a model that allows a computerized inspection system to detect the presence of non-uniformity patterns in a manufactured web material in real time and provide output indicative of a severity level of each pattern on a continuous scale. The system also includes algorithmic and hardware approaches to significantly that increase the throughput of the inspection system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2012
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Catherine P. Tarnowski, Kenneth G. Brittain, David L. Hofeldt, Andrzej P. Jaworski, Gregory D. Kostuch, John A. Ramthun, Evan J. Ribnick, Esa H. Vilkama, Derek H. Justice, Guillermo Sapiro
  • Publication number: 20130202200
    Abstract: A computerized rating tool is described that assists a user in efficiently and consistently assigning expert ratings (i.e., labels) to a large collection of training images representing samples of a given product. The rating tool provides mechanisms for visualizing the training images in an intuitive and configurable fashion, including clustering and ordering the training images. In some embodiments, the rating tool provides an easy-to-use interface for exploring multiple types of defects represented in the data and efficiently assigning expert ratings. In other embodiments, the computer automatically assigns ratings (i.e., labels) to the individual clusters containing the large collection of digital images representing the samples.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2011
    Publication date: August 8, 2013
    Applicant: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Evan J. Ribnick, Kenneth G. Brittain, Gregory D. Kostuch, Catherine P. Tarnowski, Derek H. Justice, Guillermo Sapiro, Sammuel D. Herbert, David L. Hofeldt
  • Publication number: 20130113919
    Abstract: An inspection device comprises a camera assembly including an objective lens that captures and collimates light associated with an object being inspected, an image forming lens that forms an image of the object based on the collimated light, and a camera that renders the image. The camera assembly defines a focal point distance from the objective lens that defines a focal point of the camera assembly. The inspection device comprises an optical sensor positioned to detect an actual distance between the objective lens and the object, an actuator that controls positioning of the objective lens to control the actual distance between the objective lens and the object, and a control unit that receives signals from the optical sensor indicative of the actual distance. Control signals from the control unit can control the actuator to adjust the actual distance such that the actual distance substantially equals the focal point distance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2011
    Publication date: May 9, 2013
    Applicant: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Yi Qiao, Jack W. Lai, Jeffrey J. Fontaine, Steven C. Reed, Catherine P. Tarnowski, David L. Hofeldt
  • Patent number: 7957000
    Abstract: Systems and methods for calibrating a web inspection system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: David L. Hofeldt, Derek H. Justice, John A. Ramthun, Catherine P. Tarnowski, Wenyuan Xu
  • Publication number: 20100231897
    Abstract: Systems and methods for calibrating a web inspection system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2010
    Publication date: September 16, 2010
    Inventors: David L. HOFELDT, Derek H. Justice, John A. Ramthun, Catherine P. Tarnowski, Wenyuan Xu
  • Patent number: 7773226
    Abstract: Systems and methods for calibrating a web inspection system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: David L. Hofeldt, Derek H. Justice, John A. Ramthun, Catherine P. Tarnowski, Wenyuan Xu
  • Publication number: 20090303484
    Abstract: Systems and methods for calibrating a web inspection system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2008
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Inventors: David L. HOFELDT, Derek H. Justice, John A. Ramthun, Catherine P. Tarnowski, Wenyuan Xu
  • Publication number: 20040139555
    Abstract: The invention relates to a non-aqueous washing machine, methods of using the machine, methods of washing, and recycling and in particular provides novel filtering, reclamation and recycling methods and apparati.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2003
    Publication date: July 22, 2004
    Inventors: Daniel C. Conrad, Vicki Lyn Wyatt-Smith, Karl D. McAllister, Hank Robert Reinhoudt, Machiel Goedhart, Catherine P. Tarnowski, Brooke Lindsay-Steel Lau, David Stankiewicz, Cinnamon S. Brown-Green, Holli Krumbein, Kenyata Joi Maki, Tremitchell Wright, Joel A. Luckman, Brian W. May, Kurt Estes, Mark B. Kovich