Patents by Inventor Michael Benton Free
Michael Benton Free 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).
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Publication number: 20200157878Abstract: The present disclosure provides lamination transfer films and use of the lamination transfer films, particular in the fabrication of architectural glass elements, such as those used in Insulated Glass Units (IGUs). The lamination transfer films may be used to transfer functional layers and structures. The lamination transfer films may include a support film that can be removed during the transfer process, and the transferred materials are primarily inorganic. The resulting transferred structures on glass generally have high photo- and thermal-stability, and therefore can successfully be applied to the glass surfaces that are interior to the cavity within an IGU. The lamination transfer films can also be patterned such that macroscopic patterns of microoptical elements can be applied on a glass surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 23, 2020Publication date: May 21, 2020Inventors: Michael Benton Free, Martin B. Wolk, Olester Benson, JR., Bing Hao, Charles A. Marttila, Craig R. Schardt, Mieczyslaw H. Mazurek, Justin P. Meyer, Manoj Nirmal
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Patent number: 10656312Abstract: Microoptical layers, glazing units including the microoptical layers, and transfer tapes that may be used to provide the microoptical layers are provided. The transfer tape includes a removable template layer having a structured surface, a backfill layer having a first surface disposed on at least a portion of the structured surface of the template layer, and a microstructured surface opposite the structured surface. The microstructured surface together with a layer disposed on the microstructured surface is an anisotropic diffuser.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2016Date of Patent: May 19, 2020Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANYInventors: Justin P. Meyer, Martin B. Wolk, Thomas R. Hoffend, Jr., Steven J. McMan, Daniel W. Hennen, Evan L. Schwartz, Michael Benton Free, Manoj Nirmal, Bing Hao, John F. Reed, Charles A. Marttila
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Patent number: 10649274Abstract: Optical constructions are disclosed. A disclosed optical construction includes a reflective polarizer layer, and an optical film that is disposed on the reflective polarizer layer. The optical film has an optical haze that is not less than about 50%. Substantial portions of each two neighboring major surfaces in the optical construction are in physical contact with each other. The optical construction has an axial luminance gain that is not less than about 1.2.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2015Date of Patent: May 12, 2020Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANYInventors: Encai Hao, Fei Lu, William Blake Kolb, Brian W. Ostlie, Adam D. Haag, Michael Benton Free, William D. Coggio, Michael L. Steiner, Soemantri Widagdo, Kui Chen-Ho, Lan H. Liu, Robert F. Kamrath, Scott M. Tapio, John A. Wheatley, Charles D. Hoyle, Michael F. Weber
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Publication number: 20200087981Abstract: The present disclosure provides lamination transfer films and use of the lamination transfer films, particular in the fabrication of architectural glass elements, such as those used in Insulated Glass Units (IGUs). The lamination transfer films may be used to transfer functional layers and structures. The lamination transfer films may include a support film that can be removed during the transfer process, and the transferred materials are primarily inorganic. The resulting transferred structures on glass generally have high photo- and thermal-stability, and therefore can successfully be applied to the glass surfaces that are interior to the cavity within an IGU. The lamination transfer films can also be patterned such that macroscopic patterns of microoptical elements can be applied on a glass surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 14, 2019Publication date: March 19, 2020Inventors: Michael Benton Free, Martin B. Wolk, Olester Benson, JR., Bing Hao, Charles A. Marttila, Craig R. Schardt, Mieczyslaw H. Mazurek, Justin P. Meyer, Manoj Nirmal
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Patent number: 10590697Abstract: The present disclosure provides lamination transfer films and use of the lamination transfer films, particular in the fabrication of architectural glass elements, such as those used in Insulated Glass Units (IGUs). The lamination transfer films may be used to transfer functional layers and structures. The lamination transfer films may include a support film that can be removed during the transfer process, and the transferred materials are primarily inorganic. The resulting transferred structures on glass generally have high photo- and thermal-stability, and therefore can successfully be applied to the glass surfaces that are interior to the cavity within an IGU. The lamination transfer films can also be patterned such that macroscopic patterns of microoptical elements can be applied on a glass surface.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 2015Date of Patent: March 17, 2020Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANYInventors: Michael Benton Free, Martin B. Wolk, Olester Benson, Jr., Bing Hao, Charles A. Marttila, Craig R. Schardt, Mieczyslaw H. Mazurek, Justin P. Meyer, Manoj Nirmal
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Patent number: 10557976Abstract: This disclosure generally relates to retroreflective articles and methods of making such articles.Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 2018Date of Patent: February 11, 2020Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANYInventors: Kenneth L. Smith, Michael Benton Free, Bimal V. Thakkar, Raymond C. Chiu
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Patent number: 10539722Abstract: Optical film is disclosed. The optical film includes a binder, a plurality of particles, and a plurality of interconnected voids. The volume fraction of the plurality of interconnected voids in the optical film is not less than about 20%. The weight ratio of the binder to the plurality of the particles is not less than about 1:2.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 2010Date of Patent: January 21, 2020Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANYInventors: Encai Hao, William Blake Kolb, Brant U. Kolb, Brian W. Ostlie, Naiyong Jing, Michael Benton Free, Hui Ren, Robert L. Brott, Fei Lu, Audrey A. Sherman, Scott M. Tapio, Charles David Hoyle, John A. Wheatley
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Patent number: 10513881Abstract: The present disclosure provides lamination transfer films and use of the lamination transfer films, particular in the fabrication of architectural glass elements, such as those used in Insulated Glass Units (IGUs). The lamination transfer films may be used to transfer functional layers and structures. The lamination transfer films may include a support film that can be removed during the transfer process, and the transferred materials are primarily inorganic. The resulting transferred structures on glass generally have high photo- and thermal-stability, and therefore can successfully be applied to the glass surfaces that are interior to the cavity within an IGU. The lamination transfer films can also be patterned such that macroscopic patterns of microoptical elements can be applied on a glass surface.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 2015Date of Patent: December 24, 2019Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANYInventors: Michael Benton Free, Martin B. Wolk, Olester Benson, Jr., Bing Hao, Charles A. Marttila, Craig R. Schardt, Mieczyslaw H. Mazurek, Justin P. Meyer, Manoj Nirmal
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Patent number: 10495801Abstract: A multilayer optical film has a packet of microlayers that selectively reflect light by constructive or destructive interference to provide a first reflective characteristic. At least some of the microlayers are birefringent. A stabilizing layer attaches to and covers the microlayer packet proximate an outer exposed surface of the film. Heating element(s) can physically contact the film to deliver heat to the packet through the stabilizing layer by thermal conduction, at altered region(s) of the film, such that the first reflective characteristic changes to an altered reflective characteristic in the altered region(s) to pattern the film. The stabilizing layer provides sufficient heat conduction to allow heat from the heating elements to change (e.g.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2019Date of Patent: December 3, 2019Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANYInventors: Michael Benton Free, Martin B. Wolk, Rolf W. Biernath, Stephen A. Johnson, William W. Merrill, William F. Edmonds, Claire A. Jalbert
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Publication number: 20190358947Abstract: Transfer films, articles made therewith, and methods of making and using transfer films to form an electrical stack are disclosed. The transfer films may include a plurality of co-extensive electrical protolayers forming an electrical protolayer stack, at least selected or each electrical protolayer independently comprising at least 25 wt % sacrificial material and a thermally stable material and having a uniform thickness of less than 25 micrometers. The transfer films may include a plurality of co-extensive electrical protolayers forming an electrical protolayer stack, at least selected or each protolayer independently exhibiting a complex viscosity of between 103 and 104 Poise at a shear rate of 100/s when heated to a temperature between its Tg and Tdec.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 6, 2019Publication date: November 28, 2019Inventors: Martin B. Wolk, Michael Benton Free, Daniel J. Schmidt, Justin P. Meyer, Mark J. Pellerite, Stephen A. Johnson, Terry O. Collier, Xiaohua Ma
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Patent number: 10475858Abstract: The present disclosure describes nanostructured light extraction color filter laminates, and articles and methods of using nanostructured light extraction color filter laminates for the fabrication of an OLED including a nanostructure, using lamination techniques. Nanostructured OLED devices can exhibit enhanced light extraction efficiency. The methods involve transfer and/or replication of a film, layer, or coating in order to form a nanostructured surface that is in optical contact with the emitting surface of an OLED in, for example, a top emitting or a bottom emitting active matrix OLED (TE-AMOLED or BE-AMOLED) device. The articles having enhanced light extraction efficiency can be of particular use in color-by-white (CBW) OLED displays, which use white-light spectrum OLEDs with a color filter array.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2018Date of Patent: November 12, 2019Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANYInventors: Martin B. Wolk, Seong Taek Lee, Michael Benton Free, Nicholas C. Erickson
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Patent number: 10436946Abstract: Transfer films, articles made therewith, and methods of making and using transfer films that include antireflective structures are disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: April 21, 2017Date of Patent: October 8, 2019Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANYInventors: Michael Benton Free, Justin P. Meyer, Olester Benson, Jr., Terry O. Collier, Mieczyslaw H. Mazurek, Martin B. Wolk, Moses M. David
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Patent number: 10414145Abstract: Transfer films, articles made therewith, and methods of making and using transfer films to form an electrical stack are disclosed. The transfer films (100) may include a plurality of co-extensive electrical protolayers (22, 23, 24) forming an electrical protolayer stack (20), at least selected or each electrical protolayer independently comprising at least 25 wt % sacrificial material and a thermally stable material and having a uniform thickness of less than 25 micrometers. The transfer films may include a plurality of co-extensive electrical protolayers forming an electrical protolayer stack, at least selected or each protolayer independently exhibiting a complex viscosity of between 103 and 104 Poise at a shear rate of 100/s when heated to a temperature between its Tg and Tdec.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 2015Date of Patent: September 17, 2019Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANYInventors: Martin B. Wolk, Michael Benton Free, Daniel J. Schmidt, Justin P. Meyer, Mark J. Pellerite, Stephen A. Johnson, Terry O. Collier, Xiaohua Ma
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Patent number: 10379271Abstract: This disclosure generally relates to retroreflective articles and methods of making such articles.Type: GrantFiled: February 2, 2018Date of Patent: August 13, 2019Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANYInventors: Michael Benton Free, Bimal V. Thakkar, Mieczyslaw H. Mazurek, Kenneth L. Smith, Suman K. Patel, William D. Coggio, Mikhail L. Pekurovsky
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Publication number: 20190204493Abstract: A multilayer optical film has a packet of microlayers that selectively reflect light by constructive or destructive interference to provide a first reflective characteristic. At least some of the microlayers are birefringent. A stabilizing layer attaches to and covers the microlayer packet proximate an outer exposed surface of the film. Heating element(s) can physically contact the film to deliver heat to the packet through the stabilizing layer by thermal conduction, at altered region(s) of the film, such that the first reflective characteristic changes to an altered reflective characteristic in the altered region(s) to pattern the film. The stabilizing layer provides sufficient heat conduction to allow heat from the heating elements to change (e.g.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 8, 2019Publication date: July 4, 2019Inventors: Michael Benton Free, Martin B. Wolk, Rolf W. Biernath, Stephen A. Johnson, William W. Merrill, William F. Edmonds, Claire A. Jalbert
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Patent number: 10316226Abstract: Methods of forming laminating adhesive articles include providing a multi-layer article, and a tool with a structured surface. The multi-layer articles include a substrate, an adhesive layer, and a liner or may just include an adhesive layer and a liner. The multi-layer article is placed between the structured surface of the tool and a support surface and the tool is embossed against the liner by applying pressure or a combination of pressure and heat. The embossing causes the structures on the surface of the tool to distort the liner and the adhesive layer but does not distort the substrate. The distortion in the liner is retained upon release of the applied pressure. Upon removal of the liner from the adhesive layer, the structures on the adhesive layer are unstable, but do not immediately collapse.Type: GrantFiled: June 2, 2014Date of Patent: June 11, 2019Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Michael Benton Free, Audrey A. Sherman, Daniel W. Hennen, Brent R. Hansen
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Patent number: 10308004Abstract: Methods of forming laminating adhesive articles include providing a multi-layer article, an embossing tool with a structured surface, and a support surface tool. The multi-layer articles include a substrate, an adhesive layer, and a liner or may just include an adhesive layer and a liner. The multi-layer article is placed between the structured surface of the embossing tool and the support surface tool. The embossing tool is pressed against the liner and the support surface tool is simultaneously pressed against the substrate by applying pressure or a combination of pressure and heat. The pressing causes the structures on the surface of the embossing tool to distort the liner and the adhesive layer and the support surface tool modifies the surface of the substrate. The distortion in the liner is retained upon release of the applied pressure. Upon removal of the liner from the adhesive layer, the structures on the adhesive layer are unstable, but do not immediately collapse.Type: GrantFiled: June 2, 2014Date of Patent: June 4, 2019Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Frank T. Sher, Michael Benton Free
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Patent number: 10302823Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to patterned gradient polymer films and methods for making the same, and more particularly to patterned gradient optical films that have regions that include variations in optical properties such as refractive index, haze, transmission, clarity, or a combination thereof. The variation in optical properties can occur across a transverse plane of the film as well as through a thickness direction of the film.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2016Date of Patent: May 28, 2019Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANYInventors: William Blake Kolb, Michael Benton Free, Brant U. Kolb, Fei Lu, John A. Wheatley
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Patent number: 10294394Abstract: Multilayer adhesive tapes including at least one microstructured elastomeric layer and at least one layer of a pressure sensitive adhesive disposed on the microstructured elastomeric layer, and articles that include such multilayer adhesive tapes.Type: GrantFiled: May 1, 2015Date of Patent: May 21, 2019Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Carlos A. Barrios, Michael Benton Free, Jason D. Clapper, Robert M. Jennings
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Patent number: 10293370Abstract: A process and apparatus for producing a gradient nanovoided article, a gradient nanovoided coating, and a gradient low refractive index coating is described. The process includes providing a first solution of a polymerizable material in a solvent, and providing a first environment proximate a first region of the coating and a different second environment proximate an adjacent region of the coating. The process further includes at least partially polymerizing the polymerizable material to form a composition that includes an insoluble polymer matrix and a second solution. The insoluble polymer matrix includes a plurality of nanovoids that are filled with the second solution, and a major portion of the solvent from the second solution is removed. A first volume fraction of the plurality of nanovoids proximate the first region of the coating is less than a second volume fraction of the plurality of nanovoids proximate an adjacent of the coating.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 2010Date of Patent: May 21, 2019Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Adam D. Haag, William F. Edmonds, Jason S. Petaja, Eric W. Nelson, William Blake Kolb, Encai Hao, Fei Lu, Michael Benton Free