Patents by Inventor Gilles J. Benoit

Gilles J. Benoit 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: 11983404
    Abstract: Method for active data storage management to optimize use of an electronic memory. The method includes providing signal injections for data storage. The signal injections can include various types of data and sizes of data files. Response signals corresponding with the signal injections are received, and a utility of those signals is measured. Based upon the utility of the response signals, parameters relating to storage of the data is modified to optimize use of long-term high latency passive data storage and short-term low latency active data storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Gilles J. Benoit, Nicholas A. Johnson
  • Publication number: 20240151586
    Abstract: An optical device for sensing a presence of an analyte in a person is provided. The optical device includes a light source, an optical stack, and a reader. The light source emits a first light having a first wavelength. The optical stack is placed on a skin of the person. The optical stack includes a sensor material and an optical filter. The sensor material emits a second light having a second wavelength when irradiated with the first light. An optical property of the second light is sensitive to the presence of the analyte. The optical filter is disposed on the sensor material and includes a plurality of microlayers numbering at least 10 in total. The optical filter has different first and second transmittances at the respective first and second wavelengths.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2022
    Publication date: May 9, 2024
    Inventors: John A. Wheatley, Dawn V. Muyres, Jason W. Bjork, Mark August Roehrig, Gilles J. Benoit, Theresa J. Gerten, Zhaohui Yang, Audrey A. Sherman, Bharat R. Acharya, Edward J. Kivel
  • Patent number: 11966204
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for determining causal models for controlling environments. One of the methods includes repeatedly selecting, by a control system for the environment, control settings for the environment based on internal parameters of the control system, wherein: at least some of the control settings for the environment are selected based on a causal model, and the internal parameters include a first set of internal parameters that define a number of previously received performance metric values that are used to generate the causal model for a particular controllable element; obtaining, for each selected control setting, a performance metric value; determining that generating the causal model for the particular controllable element would result in higher system performance; and adjusting, based on the determining, the first set of internal parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Gilles J. Benoit, Brian E. Brooks, Peter O. Olson, Tyler W. Olson, Himanshu Nayar, Frederick J. Arsenault, Nicholas A. Johnson
  • Patent number: 11960683
    Abstract: A display system for sensing a finger of a user applied to the display system includes a display panel; a sensor for sensing the finger; a sensing light source configured to emit a first light having a first wavelength W1; and a reflective polarizer disposed between the display panel and the sensor. For a substantially normally incident light, an optical transmittance of the reflective polarizer versus wavelength for a first polarization state has a band edge such that for a first wavelength range extending from a smaller wavelength L1 to a greater wavelength L2 and including W1, where 30 nm?L2?L1?50 nm and L1 is greater than and within about 20 nm of a wavelength L3 corresponding to an optical transmittance of about 50% along the band edge, the optical transmittance has an average of greater than about 75%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Bharat R. Acharya, Robert D. Taylor, Joseph P. Attard, Benjamin J. Forsythe, David T. Yust, Matthew E. Sousa, Jason S. Petaja, Anthony M. Renstrom, William Blake Kolb, Matthew S. Cole, Matthew S. Stay, Matthew R. D. Smith, Jeremy O. Swanson, Tri D. Pham, David A. Rosen, Qunyi Chen, Lisa A. DeNicola, Quinn D. Sanford, Carl A. Stover, Lin Zhao, Gilles J. Benoit
  • Publication number: 20240085868
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for determining causal models for controlling environments. One of the methods includes identifying a procedural instance; determining a temporal extent for the procedural instance based on temporal extent parameters for the one or more entities in the procedural instance; selecting control settings for the procedural instance; monitoring environment responses to the control settings that are received for the one or more entities; determining which of the environment responses to attribute to the procedural instance in a causal model; and adjusting, based at least in part on the environment responses that are attributed to the procedural instance, the temporal extent parameters for the one or more entities.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2023
    Publication date: March 14, 2024
    Inventors: Brian E. Brooks, Gilles J. Benoit, Peter O. Olson, Tyler W. Olson, Himanshu Nayar, Frederick J. Arsenault, Nicholas A. Johnson
  • Patent number: 11927768
    Abstract: A display system including an imager for forming an image, and a projection lens system for projecting the image formed by the imager is described. For each pixel in the plurality of pixels, the imager is configured to emit a cone of light having a central ray having a direction that varies with location of the pixel in the imager. The variation may increase a brightness of an image projected through the projection lens system by at least 30 percent. The display system may include a light guide having a light insertion portion adapted to receive light; a light transport portion disposed to receive light from the light insertion portion; and a light extraction portion disposed to receive light from the light transport portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Andrew J. Ouderkirk, Timothy L Wong, Erin A. McDowell, Zhisheng Yun, Gilles J. Benoit, Jo A. Etter
  • Patent number: 11927926
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for determining causal models for controlling environments. One of the methods includes repeatedly selecting control settings for the environment based on (i) a causal model that identifies causal relationships between possible settings for controllable elements in the environment and environment responses that reflect a performance of the control system in controlling the environment and (ii) current values of a set of internal parameters; and during the repeatedly selecting: monitoring environment responses to the selected control settings; determining, based on the environment responses, an indication that one or more properties of the environment have changed; and in response, modifying the current values of one or more of the internal parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Brian E. Brooks, Gilles J. Benoit, Peter O. Olson, Tyler W. Olson, Himanshu Nayar, Frederick J. Arsenault, Nicholas A. Johnson
  • Patent number: 11899230
    Abstract: An example optical filter may include an angle blocking layer having a first angular light blocking range ?AL relative to a normal axis, and an interference filter adjacent the angle blocking layer having a second angular light blocking range ?IF relative to the normal axis. ?IF and ?AL at least partially overlap. The example optical filter has a predetermined light transmission zone comprising angles from 0° to a maximum light transmission angle ?Tmax relative to a normal axis of the major surface. The example optical filter has a predetermined angular light blocking zone ?B, a union of ?IF and ?AL. An example optical filter may include an interference filter having an incidence angle-dependent reflection band and an absorbing layer having an absorption band. The incidence angle-dependent reflection band and the absorption band may overlap at at least one wavelength at at least one angle of incidence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: John A. Wheatley, Guanglei Du, Gilles J. Benoit, Rolf W. Biernath
  • Publication number: 20240045261
    Abstract: An optical stack for reflecting and transmitting light in a predetermined wavelength range includes stacked first and second optical films, the predetermined wavelength range defining a first wavelength range and a remaining wavelength range. For normally incident light and for each wavelength in a first wavelength range, the first optical film substantially reflects light having a first polarization state, and substantially transmits light having a second polarization state. For each of the first and second polarization states, for wavelengths in the first wavelength range, the second optical film has a maximum optical transmittance Tmax for light incident at a first incident angle, and an optical transmittance Tmax/2 for light incident at a second incident angle, where the second incident angle is greater than the first incident angle by less than about 50 degrees. For wavelengths in the remaining wavelength range, the second optical film reflects at least 80% of light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2023
    Publication date: February 8, 2024
    Inventors: Gilles J. Benoit, Carl A. Stover, Matthew B. Johnson, Ryan T. Fabick, Quinn D. Sanford
  • Publication number: 20240036235
    Abstract: An optical film (100) includes a plurality of polymeric layers (40) disposed between opposing first (11) and second (12) outer layers, a thinnest polymeric layer in the plurality of polymeric layers disposed closer to the first outer layer (11) and a thickest polymeric layer disposed closer to the second outer layer (12). A layer thickness gradient of the optical film (100) includes first (43) and second (45) portions joined by a step portion (20), a change in thickness across the step portion (20) at least 5 times greater than a change in thickness across each of the first (43) and second (45) portions, wherein the optical film (100) has a first average transmission percentage, TA1, in a first wavelength range, a peak transmission percentage, Tp, in a different, second wavelength range. The first wavelength range and the second wavelength range are separated by a third wavelength range with a third average transmission percentage, TA3, such that TA1>Tp>30(TA3).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2021
    Publication date: February 1, 2024
    Inventors: John A. Wheatley, Gilles J. Benoit, Mark A. Roehrig, Bharat R. Acharya, Serena L. Schleusner, Zhaohui Yang
  • Patent number: 11885999
    Abstract: An optical construction includes a reflective polarizer and an optically diffusive film disposed on the reflective polarizer. The reflective polarizer includes an outer layer including a plurality of first particles partially protruding from a first major surface thereof to form a structured major surface. A first optically diffusive layer is conformably disposed on the structured major surface. The optically diffusive film includes a second optically diffusive layer including a plurality of nanoparticles dispersed therein, and a structured layer including a structured major surface. For a substantially normally incident light and a visible wavelength range from about 450 nm to about 650 nm and an infrared wavelength range from about 930 nm to about 970 nm, the second optically diffusive layer has an average specular transmittance Vs in the visible wavelength range and an average specular transmittance Is in the infrared wavelength range, where Is/Vs?2.5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATION PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Bharat R. Acharya, Robert D. Taylor, Joseph P. Attard, Benjamin J. Forsythe, David T. Yust, Matthew E. Sousa, Jason S. Petaja, Anthony M. Renstrom, William Blake Kolb, Matthew S. Cole, Matthew S. Stay, Matthew R.D. Smith, Jeremy O. Swanson, Tri D. Pham, David A. Rosen, Qunyi Chen, Lisa A. DeNicola, Quinn D. Sanford, Carl A. Stover, Lin Zhao, Gilles J. Benoit
  • Patent number: 11853018
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for determining causal models for controlling environments. One of the methods includes identifying a procedural instance; determining a temporal extent for the procedural instance based on temporal extent parameters for the one or more entities in the procedural instance; selecting control settings for the procedural instance; monitoring environment responses to the control settings that are received for the one or more entities; determining which of the environment responses to attribute to the procedural instance in a causal model; and adjusting, based at least in part on the environment responses that are attributed to the procedural instance, the temporal extent parameters for the one or more entities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Brian E. Brooks, Gilles J. Benoit, Peter O. Olson, Tyler W. Olson, Himanshu Nayar, Frederick J. Arsenault, Nicholas A. Johnson
  • Patent number: 11829024
    Abstract: An optical stack for reflecting and transmitting light in a predetermined wavelength range includes stacked first and second optical films, the predetermined wavelength range defining a first wavelength range and a remaining wavelength range. For normally incident light and for each wavelength in a first wavelength range, the first optical film substantially reflects light having a first polarization state, and substantially transmits light having a second polarization state. For each of the first and second polarization states, for wavelengths in the first wavelength range, the second optical film has a maximum optical transmittance Tmax for light incident at a first incident angle, and an optical transmittance Tmax/2 for light incident at a second incident angle, where the second incident angle is greater than the first incident angle by less than about 50 degrees. For wavelengths in the remaining wavelength range, the second optical film reflects at least 80% of light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Gilles J. Benoit, Carl A. Stover, Matthew B. Johnson, Ryan T. Fabick, Quinn D. Sanford
  • Patent number: 11802792
    Abstract: A technique of determining the presence of a species in a sample may include passing light through an optical filter. In an example, the optical filter may include a spatially variant microreplicated layer optically coupled to a wavelength selective filter. The wavelength selective filter may have a light incidence angle-dependent optical band. The spatially variant microreplicated layer may be configured to transmit light to a first optical region of the wavelength selective filter at a first predetermined incidence angle and to a second optical region of the wavelength selective filter at a second predetermined incidence angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: John A Wheatley, Gilles J. Benoit, Guanglei Du, Rolf W. Biernath, Sara Suzanne Merritt, James Hillis, Owen M. Anderson, Timothy J. Nevitt
  • Publication number: 20230341829
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for determining causal models for controlling environments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2023
    Publication date: October 26, 2023
    Inventors: Brian E. Brooks, Gilles J. Benoit, Peter O. Olson, Tyler W. Olson, Himanshu Nayar, Frederick J. Arsenault, Nicholas A. Johnson
  • Publication number: 20230341615
    Abstract: An optical construction includes a reflective polarizer and an optically diffusive film disposed on the reflective polarizer. The reflective polarizer includes an outer layer including a plurality of first particles partially protruding from a first major surface thereof to form a structured major surface. A first optically diffusive layer is conformably disposed on the structured major surface. The optically diffusive film includes a second optically diffusive layer including a plurality of nanoparticles dispersed therein, and a structured layer including a structured major surface. For a substantially normally incident light and a visible wavelength range from about 450 nm to about 650 nm and an infrared wavelength range from about 930 nm to about 970 nm, the second optically diffusive layer has an average specular transmittance Vs in the visible wavelength range and an average specular transmittance Is in the infrared wavelength range, where Is/Vs?2.5.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2021
    Publication date: October 26, 2023
    Inventors: Bharat R. Acharya, Robert D. Taylor, Joseph P. Attard, Benjamin J. Forsythe, David T. Yust, Matthew E. Sousa, Jason S. Petaja, Anthony M. Renstrom, William Blake Kolb, Matthew S. Cole, Matthew S. Stay, Matthew R.D. Smith, Jeremy O. Swanson, Tri D. Pham, David A. Rosen, Qunyi Chen, Lisa A. DeNicola, Quinn D. Sanford, Carl A. Stover, Lin Zhao, Gilles J. Benoit
  • Publication number: 20230325077
    Abstract: Method for active data storage management to optimize use of an electronic memory. The method includes providing signal injections for data storage. The signal injections can include various types of data and sizes of data files. Response signals corresponding with the signal injections are received, and a utility of those signals is measured. Based upon the utility of the response signals, parameters relating to storage of the data is modified to optimize use of long-term high latency passive data storage and short-term low latency active data storage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2023
    Publication date: October 12, 2023
    Inventors: Gilles J. Benoit, Nicholas A. Johnson
  • Publication number: 20230273359
    Abstract: An optical film includes a plurality of polymeric layers arranged along at least a portion of a thickness of the optical film. Each polymeric layer has an average thickness less than about 300 nm. The plurality of polymeric layers includes a first polymeric layer having a largest average thickness among the plurality of polymeric layers, and a second polymeric layer disposed between a third polymeric layer and the first polymeric layer. The first and second polymeric layers are separated by N1 polymeric layers where 2 ?N1 ? 10. The second and third polymeric layers are separated by N2 polymeric layers where N2 ? 10. The first, second and third polymeric layers have respective average thicknesses t1, t2 and t3, where t1 is greater than t2 by at least 10%, and t2 is greater than t3 by at most 2%.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2021
    Publication date: August 31, 2023
    Inventors: Carl A. Stover, Lin Zhao, Gilles J. Benoit, Robert D. Taylor
  • Publication number: 20230273119
    Abstract: An optical well is configured to receive a test sample for examining an optical characteristic of the sample at a first wavelength in a predetermined wavelength range. The optical well includes a wall having a bottom wall portion and a sidewall portion defining a chamber for receiving the test sample, and an optical film formed into a shape so that a portion of the sidewall portion includes a first portion of the optical film, and a portion of the bottom wall portion includes a second portion of the optical film. For a normally incident light, the microlayers in each of the first and second portions have an average optical reflectance of greater than about 80% in the predetermined wavelength range. The forming results in the plurality of microlayers of the integral formed optical film having a thinnest portion and a thickest portion having a thickness difference of at least 30%.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2023
    Publication date: August 31, 2023
    Inventors: Bharat R. Acharya, Raj Rajagopal, Gregory W. Sitton, Benjamin G. Sonnek, Robert M. Biegler, Gilles J. Benoit, Timothy J. Lindquist, John A. Wheatley, Kristal L. Schutta, James A. Phipps
  • Publication number: 20230266515
    Abstract: A housing (185) for an electronic device (170) includes an optical film (100) having an optical transmittance for substantially normally incident light having a band edge separating first and second wavelength ranges, where the first wavelength range extends from about 400 nm to about 700 nm and the second wavelength range is at least about 100 nm wide and disposed between about 800 nm and about 1100 nm. For substantially normally incident light, an average optical reflectance of the optical film is greater than about 90% in the first wavelength range, and an average optical transmittance of the optical film is greater than about 80% in the second wavelength range. For at least one frequency in a range of about 0.1 GHz to about 90 GHz and for substantially normally incident radiation, the optical film transmits at least about 95% of the incident radiation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2020
    Publication date: August 24, 2023
    Inventors: Fan Long, Bharat R. Acharya, Jing Fei Chen, Huijie Xie, Zhe Hu, Bradley L. Givot, Carl A. Stover, Lin Zhao, Gilles J. Benoit, Robert D. Taylor