Patents by Inventor Raymond J. Kenney
Raymond J. Kenney 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: 20240118463Abstract: A light control film comprises a light input surface and a light output surface opposite the light input surface. Alternating transmissive regions and absorptive regions are disposed between the light input surface and the light output surface. The absorptive regions have an aspect ratio of at least 30 and the alternating transmissive region and absorptive regions have a relative transmission at a viewing angle of 0 degrees of at least 75%.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 12, 2023Publication date: April 11, 2024Inventors: Daniel J. Schmidt, Caleb T. Nelson, Kevin W. Gotrik, Raymond J. Kenney, John A. Wheatley, Kenneth A. Epstein, Gary T. Boyd, Corey D. Balts
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Patent number: 11947135Abstract: A light control film is described comprising alternating transmissive regions and absorptive regions disposed between a light input surface and a light output surface. The absorptive regions have an aspect ratio of at least 30. In some embodiments, the alternating transmissive regions and absorptive regions have a transmission as measured with a spectrophotometer at a viewing angle of 0 degrees of at least 35, 40, 45, or 50% for a wavelength of the range 320-400 nm (UV) and/or at least 65, 70, 75, or 80% for a wavelength of the range 700-1400 nm (NIR). In another embodiment, the absorptive regions block light at the light input surface and light output surface and the maximum surface area that is blocked is less than 20% of the total alternating transmissive regions and absorptive regions. Also described are various optical communication systems comprising the light control films described herein and methods.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2018Date of Patent: April 2, 2024Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANYInventors: Daniel J. Schmidt, Caleb T. Nelson, Kevin W. Gotrik, Raymond J. Kenney, John A. Wheatley, Kenneth A. Epstein, Gary T. Boyd, Corey D. Balts
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Patent number: 11940689Abstract: A light control film comprises a light input surface and a light output surface opposite the light input surface; alternating transmissive regions and absorptive regions disposed between the light input surface and the light output surface, wherein the absorptive regions comprise a core having a first concentration, C1, of a light absorbing material sandwiched between cladding layers having a second concentration, C2, of the light absorbing material, wherein C2<C1, and wherein the cores have an aspect ratio of at least 20.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2022Date of Patent: March 26, 2024Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANYInventors: Daniel J. Schmidt, Kevin W. Gotrik, Nicholas A. Johnson, Raymond J. Kenney, Caleb T. Nelson, Kenneth A. Epstein
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Patent number: 11885989Abstract: A light control film, comprises a light input surface and alight output surface opposite the light input surface. Alternating transmissive regions and absorptive regions are disposed between the light input surface and the light output surface. The absorptive regions have an aspect ratio of at least 30 and the alternating transmissive region and absorptive regions have a relative transmission at a viewing angle of 0 degrees of at least 75%.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2018Date of Patent: January 30, 2024Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANYInventors: Daniel J. Schmidt, Caleb T. Nelson, Kevin W. Gotrik, Raymond J. Kenney, John A. Wheatley, Kenneth A. Epstein, Gary T. Boyd, Corey D. Balts
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Publication number: 20230393312Abstract: A light control film comprising a light input surface and a light output surface opposite the light input surface; alternating transmissive regions and absorptive regions disposed between the light input surface and the light output surface, wherein each absorptive region has an aspect ratio of at least 30, and wherein each transmissive region has a first refractive index; and a plurality of low index layers, wherein each low index layer is disposed between each transmissive region and an adjacent absorptive region, and wherein each low index layer has a second refractive index less than the first refractive index of each transmissive region.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 18, 2021Publication date: December 7, 2023Inventors: Raymond J. Kenney, Tao Liu, Kevin W. Gotrik, Caleb T. Nelson, Nicholas A. Johnson, Daniel J. Schmidt
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Publication number: 20230109003Abstract: A light control film comprises a light input surface and a light output surface opposite the light input surface; alternating transmissive regions and absorptive regions disposed between the light input surface and the light output surface, wherein the absorptive regions comprise a core having a first concentration, C1, of a light absorbing material sandwiched between cladding layers having a second concentration, C2, of the light absorbing material, wherein C2 < C1, and wherein the cores have an aspect ratio of at least 20.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 12, 2022Publication date: April 6, 2023Inventors: Daniel J. Schmidt, Kevin W. Gotrik, Nicholas A. Johnson, Raymond J. Kenney, Caleb T. Nelson, Kenneth A. Epstein
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Publication number: 20230024412Abstract: The present disclosure provides a light control film and a method of manufacturing the same. The method includes providing a microstructured film. The microstructured film includes a plurality of light transmissive regions alternated with channels. The microstructure film is defined by a top surface and a pair of side surfaces of each light transmissive region and a bottom surface of each channel. The method further includes coating the pair of side surfaces of each light transmissive region and the bottom surface of each channel with a coating. The coating includes light absorbing particles that are dispersed in a liquid. The method further includes drying the coating such that the light absorbing particles are selectively deposited on the pair of sides surfaces of each light transmissive region.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 17, 2020Publication date: January 26, 2023Inventors: James E. Lockridge, Kevin W. Gotrik, Raymond J. Kenney, Caleb T. Nelson, Daniel J. Schmidt, Riley J. Hillstrom
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Publication number: 20230028958Abstract: A light control film comprises a light input surface and a light output surface; alternating transmissive regions and absorptive regions disposed between the light input surface and the light output surface; and TIR cladding layers. The TIR cladding layer having a refractive index, nTIR. The transmissive regions alternate between high refractive index transmissive regions having a refractive index, n2, and low refractive index transmissive regions having a refractive index, n1. The absorptive regions comprise a core having a refractive index, ncore, adjacent an AR cladding layer; wherein n1<n2 and nTIR<n2. The TIR cladding layers are adjacent the high refractive index transmissive regions. The cores have an aspect ratio of at least 20. The high refractive index transmissive regions have a wall angle of 6 degrees or less.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 18, 2020Publication date: January 26, 2023Inventors: Tao Liu, Nicholas A. Johnson, Raymond J. Kenney, Caleb T. Nelson, Daniel J. Schmidt
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Patent number: 11550183Abstract: A light control film comprises a light input surface and a light output surface opposite the light input surface; alternating transmissive regions and absorptive regions disposed between the light input surface and the light output surface, wherein the absorptive regions comprise a core having a first concentration, C1, of a light absorbing material sandwiched between cladding layers having a second concentration, C2, of the light absorbing material, wherein C2<C1, and wherein the cores have an aspect ratio of at least 20.Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 2019Date of Patent: January 10, 2023Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Daniel J. Schmidt, Kevin W. Gotrik, Nicholas A. Johnson, Raymond J. Kenney, Caleb T. Nelson, Kenneth A. Epstein
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Publication number: 20220221624Abstract: Light control films comprise a light input surface and alight output surface opposite the light input surface and alternating transmissive regions and absorptive regions disposed between the light input surface and the light output surface. The absorptive regions have an aspect ratio of at least 30 and are canted in the same direction. The alternating transmissive regions and absorbing regions have a maximum relative transmission at a viewing angle other than 0 degrees.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 11, 2020Publication date: July 14, 2022Inventors: Raymond J. Kenney, Owen M. Anderson, Kevin W. Gotrik, Nicholas A. Johnson, Kenneth A. P. Meyer, Caleb T. Nelson, Daniel J. Schmidt
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Publication number: 20220178749Abstract: An optical device is disclosed and includes an optical sensor, a plurality of photosensitive pixels disposed on the optical sensor, a wavelength-selective optical filter in optical communication with the photosensitive pixels, and a plurality of spatially-variant written regions disposed in the optical filter, the written regions having a transmission spectrum and each of the written regions being larger than each of the pixels.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 19, 2020Publication date: June 9, 2022Inventors: John A. Wheatley, Mark A. Roehrig, Audrey A. Sherman, Del R. Lawson, Gilles J. Benoit, Daniel J. Schmidt, Jonah Shaver, Raymond J. Kenney, Zhaohui Yang
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Patent number: 11273593Abstract: Film articles with dual-sided structures are ones in which both of the major surfaces of the film have a structured surface. The structured film articles have a first major surface and second major surface, where each surface has a plurality of spaced apart protrusions forming a repeating pattern. Each repeating pattern has a major axis, where the major axis is one of the major axes in the translational direction of the repeating pattern. The major axis of the repeating pattern on the second major surface forms an oblique angle with the major axis on the first major surface, where the angle is in the range of 10-90% of the angle of rotational symmetry of the repeating pattern. The structured film is a unitary substrate. The structured film articles are prepared by providing a flowable material composition having two major surfaces and simultaneously contacting the major surfaces with a first microstructuring tool, and a second microstructuring tool.Type: GrantFiled: January 9, 2020Date of Patent: March 15, 2022Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANYInventors: Graham M. Clarke, Randy S. Bay, Raymond J. Kenney, Kurt J. Halverson, Brent R. Hansen, Michael R. Plumb
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Publication number: 20220019007Abstract: A light control film is described comprising alternating transmissive regions and absorptive regions disposed between the light input surface and the light output surface. The absorptive regions have an aspect ratio of at least 30. In some embodiments, an absorptive layer or reflective layer is disposed between the alternating transmissive regions and absorptive regions and the light input surface and/or light output surface. In another embodiment, the alternating transmissive regions comprise an absorptive material. The light control film can exhibit low transmission of visible light and high transmission of near infrared light. Also described is a light detection system comprising such light control films and a microstructured film.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 2, 2019Publication date: January 20, 2022Inventors: Daniel J. Schmidt, Caleb T. Nelson, Kevin W. Gotrik, Raymond J. Kenney, Kenneth A. Epstein, Gary T. Boyd, Corey D. Balts, Morgan A. Priolo, John A. Wheatley, Elisa M. Cross
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Publication number: 20210333624Abstract: A light control film comprises a light input surface and a light output surface opposite the light input surface; alternating transmissive regions and absorptive regions disposed between the light input surface and the light output surface, wherein the absorptive regions comprise a core having a first concentration, C1, of a light absorbing material sandwiched between cladding layers having a second concentration, C2, of the light absorbing material, wherein C2<C1, and wherein the cores have an aspect ratio of at least 20.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 30, 2019Publication date: October 28, 2021Inventors: Daniel J. SCHMIDT, Kevin W. GOTRIK, Nicholas A. JOHNSON, Raymond J. KENNEY, Caleb T. NELSON, Kenneth A. EPSTEIN
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Patent number: 11148349Abstract: Film articles with dual-sided structures are ones in which both of the major surfaces of the film have a structured surface. The structured film articles have a first major surface and second major surface, where each surface has a plurality of spaced apart protrusions forming a repeating pattern. Each repeating pattern has a major axis, where the major axis is one of the major axes in the translational direction of the repeating pattern. The major axis of the repeating pattern on the second major surface forms an oblique angle with the major axis on the first major surface, where the angle is in the range of 10-90% of the angle of rotational symmetry of the repeating pattern. The structured film is a unitary substrate. The structured film articles are prepared by providing a flowable material composition having two major surfaces and simultaneously contacting the major surfaces with a first microstructuring tool, and a second microstructuring tool.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 2014Date of Patent: October 19, 2021Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANYInventors: Graham M. Clarke, Randy S. Bay, Raymond J. Kenney, Kurt J. Halverson, Brent R. Hansen, Michael R. Plumb
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Publication number: 20200400865Abstract: A light control film, comprises a light input surface and alight output surface opposite the light input surface. Alternating transmissive regions and absorptive regions are disposed between the light input surface and the light output surface. The absorptive regions have an aspect ratio of at least 30 and the alternating transmissive region and absorptive regions have a relative transmission at a viewing angle of 0 degrees of at least 75%.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 13, 2018Publication date: December 24, 2020Inventors: Daniel J. SCHMIDT, Caleb T. NELSON, Kevin W. GOTRIK, Raymond J. KENNEY, John A. WHEATLEY, Kenneth A. EPSTEIN, Gary T. BOYD, Corey D. BALTS
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Publication number: 20200386920Abstract: A light control sheet having opposing first and second major faces and an internal array of disruptive optical interfaces, wherein the light control sheet is light transmissive such that an image incident to one of the major faces is visible from the other major faces within a field of view which is perpendicular to the major faces but wherein the image is obscured outside the field of view.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 26, 2018Publication date: December 10, 2020Inventors: Tri P. Pham, Corey D. Balts, Raymond J. Kenney, Michael J. Wayne, Brian L. Oldfield
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Publication number: 20200341173Abstract: A light control film is described comprising alternating transmissive regions and absorptive regions disposed between a light input surface and a light output surface. The absorptive regions have an aspect ratio of at least 30. In some embodiments, the alternating transmissive regions and absorptive regions have a transmission as measured with a spectrophotometer at a viewing angle of 0 degrees of at least 35, 40, 45, or 50% for a wavelength of the range 320-400 nm (UV) and/or at least 65, 70, 75, or 80% for a wavelength of the range 700-1400 nm (NIR). In another embodiment, the absorptive regions block light at the light input surface and light output surface and the maximum surface area that is blocked is less than 20% of the total alternating transmissive regions and absorptive regions. Also described are various optical communication systems comprising the light control films described herein and methods.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 12, 2018Publication date: October 29, 2020Inventors: Daniel J. Schmidt, Caleb T. Nelson, Kevin W. Gotrik, Raymond J. Kenney, John A. Wheatley, Kenneth A. Epstein, Gary T. Boyd, Corey D. Balts
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Publication number: 20200139613Abstract: Film articles with dual-sided structures are ones in which both of the major surfaces of the film have a structured surface. The structured film articles have a first major surface and second major surface, where each surface has a plurality of spaced apart protrusions forming a repeating pattern. Each repeating pattern has a major axis, where the major axis is one of the major axes in the translational direction of the repeating pattern. The major axis of the repeating pattern on the second major surface forms an oblique angle with the major axis on the first major surface, where the angle is in the range of 10-90% of the angle of rotational symmetry of the repeating pattern. The structured film is a unitary substrate. The structured film articles are prepared by providing a flowable material composition having two major surfaces and simultaneously contacting the major surfaces with a first microstructuring tool, and a second microstructuring tool.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 9, 2020Publication date: May 7, 2020Inventors: Graham M. Clarke, Randy S. Bay, Raymond J. Kenney, Kurt J. Halverson, Brent R. Hansen, Michael R. Plumb
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Patent number: 9880102Abstract: The disclosure provides microstructured articles and methods useful for detecting an analyte in a sample. The articles include microwell arrays. The articles can be used with an optical system component in methods to detect or characterize an analyte.Type: GrantFiled: August 8, 2017Date of Patent: January 30, 2018Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Kurt J. Halverson, Raymond J. Kenney, Olester Benson, Jr., Raymond P. Johnston, Guoping Mao, Patrick R. Fleming, George Van Dyke Tiers, Naiyong Jing