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).

  • Publication number: 20240118463
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2023
    Publication date: April 11, 2024
    Inventors: Daniel J. Schmidt, Caleb T. Nelson, Kevin W. Gotrik, Raymond J. Kenney, John A. Wheatley, Kenneth A. Epstein, Gary T. Boyd, Corey D. Balts
  • Patent number: 11947135
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Daniel J. Schmidt, Caleb T. Nelson, Kevin W. Gotrik, Raymond J. Kenney, John A. Wheatley, Kenneth A. Epstein, Gary T. Boyd, Corey D. Balts
  • Patent number: 11940689
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Daniel J. Schmidt, Kevin W. Gotrik, Nicholas A. Johnson, Raymond J. Kenney, Caleb T. Nelson, Kenneth A. Epstein
  • Patent number: 11885989
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Daniel J. Schmidt, Caleb T. Nelson, Kevin W. Gotrik, Raymond J. Kenney, John A. Wheatley, Kenneth A. Epstein, Gary T. Boyd, Corey D. Balts
  • Publication number: 20230393312
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2021
    Publication date: December 7, 2023
    Inventors: Raymond J. Kenney, Tao Liu, Kevin W. Gotrik, Caleb T. Nelson, Nicholas A. Johnson, Daniel J. Schmidt
  • Publication number: 20230109003
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2022
    Publication date: April 6, 2023
    Inventors: Daniel J. Schmidt, Kevin W. Gotrik, Nicholas A. Johnson, Raymond J. Kenney, Caleb T. Nelson, Kenneth A. Epstein
  • Publication number: 20230024412
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2020
    Publication date: January 26, 2023
    Inventors: James E. Lockridge, Kevin W. Gotrik, Raymond J. Kenney, Caleb T. Nelson, Daniel J. Schmidt, Riley J. Hillstrom
  • Publication number: 20230028958
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2020
    Publication date: January 26, 2023
    Inventors: Tao Liu, Nicholas A. Johnson, Raymond J. Kenney, Caleb T. Nelson, Daniel J. Schmidt
  • Patent number: 11550183
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Daniel J. Schmidt, Kevin W. Gotrik, Nicholas A. Johnson, Raymond J. Kenney, Caleb T. Nelson, Kenneth A. Epstein
  • Publication number: 20220221624
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2020
    Publication date: July 14, 2022
    Inventors: Raymond J. Kenney, Owen M. Anderson, Kevin W. Gotrik, Nicholas A. Johnson, Kenneth A. P. Meyer, Caleb T. Nelson, Daniel J. Schmidt
  • Publication number: 20220178749
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2020
    Publication date: June 9, 2022
    Inventors: 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
  • Patent number: 11273593
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Graham M. Clarke, Randy S. Bay, Raymond J. Kenney, Kurt J. Halverson, Brent R. Hansen, Michael R. Plumb
  • Publication number: 20220019007
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2019
    Publication date: January 20, 2022
    Inventors: 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
  • Publication number: 20210333624
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2019
    Publication date: October 28, 2021
    Inventors: Daniel J. SCHMIDT, Kevin W. GOTRIK, Nicholas A. JOHNSON, Raymond J. KENNEY, Caleb T. NELSON, Kenneth A. EPSTEIN
  • Patent number: 11148349
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Graham M. Clarke, Randy S. Bay, Raymond J. Kenney, Kurt J. Halverson, Brent R. Hansen, Michael R. Plumb
  • Publication number: 20200400865
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2018
    Publication date: December 24, 2020
    Inventors: Daniel J. SCHMIDT, Caleb T. NELSON, Kevin W. GOTRIK, Raymond J. KENNEY, John A. WHEATLEY, Kenneth A. EPSTEIN, Gary T. BOYD, Corey D. BALTS
  • Publication number: 20200386920
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2018
    Publication date: December 10, 2020
    Inventors: Tri P. Pham, Corey D. Balts, Raymond J. Kenney, Michael J. Wayne, Brian L. Oldfield
  • Publication number: 20200341173
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2018
    Publication date: October 29, 2020
    Inventors: Daniel J. Schmidt, Caleb T. Nelson, Kevin W. Gotrik, Raymond J. Kenney, John A. Wheatley, Kenneth A. Epstein, Gary T. Boyd, Corey D. Balts
  • Publication number: 20200139613
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2020
    Publication date: May 7, 2020
    Inventors: Graham M. Clarke, Randy S. Bay, Raymond J. Kenney, Kurt J. Halverson, Brent R. Hansen, Michael R. Plumb
  • Patent number: 9880102
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Kurt J. Halverson, Raymond J. Kenney, Olester Benson, Jr., Raymond P. Johnston, Guoping Mao, Patrick R. Fleming, George Van Dyke Tiers, Naiyong Jing