Patents Represented by Attorney Elizabeth A. Gallo
  • Patent number: 7731573
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to method, apparatus, and system for uniformly supporting flexible surface modifying articles during surface modification as well as enabling replacing and repositioning thereof for improving their useful service life as well as improving dust and debris control management.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Allen J. Rivard, Galen A. Fitzel
  • Patent number: 7724434
    Abstract: A reflective polarizer suitable for use in a display device is disclosed herein. The reflective polarizer comprises: a multilayer optical film comprising alternating layers of first and second polymeric layers that reflects light of a first polarization state and transmits light of a second polarization state, wherein for normally incident light of the second polarization state, the reflective polarizer has an internal percent transmission of at least 95% at 410 nm, and at most 25% at 380 nm. Also disclosed herein is a display device comprising the reflector polarizer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Elisa M. Cross, Eric W. Nelson, Wei Feng Zhang, Judith M. Invie
  • Patent number: 7669547
    Abstract: An apparatus for coating an article where the apparatus includes an applicator, a conveyor for sequentially transporting a plurality of articles to the roller and a metering bar positioned against the applicator to meter a predetermined amount of coating composition to the applicator for transfer to an article transported to said applicator by the conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: John R. Jacobson, Russell P. Hazard
  • Patent number: 7655486
    Abstract: A method of making an LED light emitting device is disclosed. The method includes forming a multilayer encapsulant in contact with an LED by contacting the LED with a first encapsulant that is a silicone gel, silicone gum, silicone fluid, organosiloxane, polysiloxane, polyimide, polyphosphazene, sol-gel composition, or a first photopolymerizable composition, and then contacting the first encapsulant with a second photopolymerizable composition. Each photopolymerizable composition includes a silicon-containing resin and a metal-containing catalyst, the silicon-containing resin comprising silicon-bonded hydrogen and aliphatic unsaturation. Actinic radiation having a wavelength of 700 nm or less is applied to initiate hydrosilylation within the silicon-containing resins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: D. Scott Thompson, Larry D. Boardman, Catherine A. Leatherdale
  • Patent number: 7655283
    Abstract: An optical article and method or forming an optical article are disclosed. The optical article includes a first rigid optical substrate, a second rigid optical substrates and a self-supporting optical adhesive disposed between the first rigid substrate and the second rigid substrate. The self-supporting optical adhesive includes a cross-linked silicone based polymer network and a silicone fluid disposed in the polymer network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Audrey A. Sherman, Scott M. Tapio, Wendi J. Winkler
  • Patent number: 7625509
    Abstract: Method of making an article, the method comprising coalescing a plurality of the glass particles. The article may comprise glass, glass-ceramic, and/or crystalline ceramic. Examples of articles include kitchenware (e.g., plates), dental brackets, and reinforcing fibers, cutting tool inserts, abrasives, and structural components of gas engines, (e.g., valves and bearings).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: Anatoly Z. Rosenflanz
  • Patent number: 7604381
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an optical article having a top layer with a structured surface that collimates light, a core layer secured to the top layer opposite the structured surface, and a bottom layer secured to the core layer opposite the top layer. Either the top layer or the core layer includes a first extrudable polymer having a flexural modulus of greater than 2.5 GPa, and the other layer includes a second extrudable polymer having a flexural modulus of 2.5 GPa or less, an impact strength of greater than about 40 J/m, and tensile elongation at break of greater than about 5%. The bottom layer includes a third extrudable polymer. The bottom layer of the optical article may be structured to diffuse light. One or two optical articles may be secured to an optical film such as a polarizer film. Methods and display devices are also disclosed herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Timothy J. Hebrink, James M. Jonza, Randy S. Bay, Graham M. Clarke, Raymond L. Lucking, Ta-Hua Yu, Terry O. Collier
  • Patent number: 7595515
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of making a light emitting device comprising an LED and a molded silicon-containing encapsulant. The method includes contacting the LED with a photopolymerizable composition containing a silicon-containing resin having silicon-bonded hydrogen and aliphatic unsaturation and two metal-containing catalysts. One catalyst may be activated by actinic radiation, and the second by heat but not the actinic radiation. Polymerization of the photopolymerizable composition to form the encapsulant may be carried out by selectively activating the different catalysts. At some point before polymerization is complete, a mold is used to impart a predetermined shape to the encapsulant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2009
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: D. Scott Thompson, Catherine A. Leatherdale, Larry D. Boardman, Andrew J. Ouderkirk, Fedja Kecman
  • Patent number: 7586566
    Abstract: A brightness enhancing film suitable for use in a display device is disclosed herein. The film comprises: a first polymeric layer having a microstructured surface, wherein the microstructured surface comprises an array of prism elements, and a second polymeric layer disposed adjacent to the first polymeric layer on the opposite side of the microstructured surface, wherein at least one of the first and second polymeric layers comprises a UV absorber that absorbs UV light and transmits visible light, such that the brightness enhancing film has an internal percent transmission of at least 95% at 410 nm, and at most 25% at 380 nm. Also disclosed herein is a brightness enhancing film wherein the UV absorber is in a third layer disposed between the first and second layers. The brightness enhancing films disclosed herein may be used in display devices such as LCD-TVs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2009
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Eric W. Nelson, Wei Feng Zhang
  • Patent number: 7557989
    Abstract: A reflective polarizer suitable for use in a display device is disclosed herein. The reflective polarizer includes: a multilayer optical film including alternating layers of first and second polymeric layers that reflects light of a first polarization state and transmits light of a second polarization state, wherein for normally incident light of the second polarization state, the reflective polarizer has an internal percent transmission of at least 95% at 410 nm, and at most 25% at 380 nm. Also disclosed herein is a display device including the reflective polarizer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Elisa M. Cross, Eric W. Nelson, Wei Feng Zhang, Judith M. Invie
  • Patent number: 7427523
    Abstract: A method of making a light emitting device is disclosed. The method includes providing a light emitting diode and forming an encapsulant in contact with the light emitting diode; wherein forming the encapsulant includes contacting the light emitting diode with a photopolymerizable composition comprising a silicon-containing resin, a metal-containing catalyst, and surface treated particles, the silicon-containing resin comprises silicon-bonded hydrogen and aliphatic unsaturation, the surface treated particles comprising nonabsorbing metal oxide particles, semiconductor particles, or combinations thereof, and applying actinic radiation having a wavelength of 700 nm or less to initiate hydrosilylation within the silicon-containing resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2008
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Larry D. Boardman, D. Scott Thompson, Catherine A. Leatherdale
  • Patent number: 7423297
    Abstract: An LED extractor has an input surface adapted to optically couple to an emitting surface of an LED die, and is composed of a glass (including a glass-ceramic) material whose refractive index is at least 2, or at least 2.2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2008
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Catherine A. Leatherdale, Anatoly Z. Rosenflanz, Kenton D. Budd, Amy S. Barnes, Andrew J. Ouderkirk
  • Patent number: 7405001
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a nanoparticle containing at least one metal sulfide nanocrystal having a surface modified with a carboxylic acid, wherein the carboxylic acid has at least one aryl group. The present disclosure also describes a method of preparing the nanoparticle, the method consisting of: (a) providing a first solution having a first organic solvent, and a non-alkali metal salt and a carboxylic acid dissolved therein, wherein the carboxylic acid has at least one aryl group; (b) providing a sulfide material; and (c) combining the first solution and the sulfide material to form a reaction solution, thereby forming a nanoparticle containing at least one metal sulfide nanocrystal having a surface modified with the carboxylic acid, wherein the carboxylic acid has at least one aryl group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Igor Y. Denisyuk, Todd R. Williams
  • Patent number: 7391569
    Abstract: A projection system including an intrinsic polarizer is disclosed. The projection system includes a light source producing illumination light, an imager disposed to receive the illumination light, and a projection lens disposed to receive the illumination light from the imager. The imager includes an intrinsic polarizer. An intrinsic polarizer stack including a U.V. curable adhesive is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2008
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Philip J. Ralli, Pradnya V. Nagarkar, James N. Gordon, Ikuko Ebihara, Charles L. Bruzzone, Giorgio B. Trapani
  • Patent number: 7364716
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a nanoparticle containing at least one metal sulfide nanocrystal having a surface modified with a carboxylic acid, wherein the carboxylic acid has at least one aryl group. The present disclosure also describes a method of preparing the nanoparticle, the method consisting of: (a) providing a first solution having a first organic solvent, and a non-alkali metal salt and a carboxylic acid dissolved therein, wherein the carboxylic acid has at least one aryl group; (b) providing a sulfide material; and (c) combining the first solution and the sulfide material to form a reaction solution, thereby forming a nanoparticle containing at least one metal sulfide nanocrystal having a surface modified with the carboxylic acid, wherein the carboxylic acid has at least one aryl group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Igor Y. Denisyuk, Todd R. Williams
  • Patent number: 7314770
    Abstract: A method of making a light emitting device is disclosed. The method includes the steps of providing a light emitting diode and forming an encapsulant in contact with the light emitting diode; wherein forming the encapsulant includes contacting the light emitting diode with a photopolymerizable composition consisting of a silicon-containing resin and a metal-containing catalyst, wherein the silicon-containing resin consists of silicon-bonded hydrogen and aliphatic unsaturation, and applying actinic radiation having a wavelength of 700 nm or less to initiate hydrosilylation within the silicon-containing resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2008
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Larry D. Boardman, D. Scott Thompson, Catherine A. Leatherdale, Andrew J. Ouderkirk
  • Patent number: 7297731
    Abstract: A cured coating for a siliceous material, preferably an optical fiber, comprises a thermally cured polyorganosilsesquioxane having an oxide powder dispersed therein. The oxide powder has a refractive index from about 1.2 to about 2.7 and includes particles having a particle size less than about 100 nanometers. The cured coating has adhesion to the siliceous material and is transparent to ultraviolet radiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Christopher B. Walker, Jr., D. Scott Thompson, Dora M. Paolucci, John T. Brady
  • Patent number: 7257303
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a coated optical fiber comprising: a siliceous optical fiber including a core inside a cladding; and a cured coating comprising: a thermally cured polyorganosilsesquioxane; and an oxide powder dispersed in said cured polyorganosilsesquioxane, wherein said oxide powder has a refractive index from about 1.2 to about 2.7 and includes a plurality of particles having a particle size less than about 100 nanometers, said cured coating having adhesion to said siliceous optical fiber and further having transparency to ultraviolet radiation. Also disclosed herein is a fiber optic device comprising the optical fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Christopher B. Walker, Jr., D. Scott Thompson, Dora M. Paolucci, John T. Brady
  • Patent number: 7192795
    Abstract: A method of making a light emitting device is disclosed. The method includes providing a light emitting diode and forming an encapsulant in contact with the light emitting diode; wherein forming the encapsulant includes contacting the light emitting diode with a photopolymerizable composition consisting of a silicon-containing resin and a metal-containing catalyst, wherein the silicon-containing resin consists of silicon-bonded hydrogen and aliphatic unsaturation, and applying actinic radiation having a wavelength of 700 nm or less to initiate hydrosilylation within the silicon-containing resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Larry D. Boardman, D. Scott Thompson, Catherine A. Leatherdale
  • Patent number: 7172811
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method of preparing a nanocomposite: (a) providing a first solution having a first organic solvent comprising a non-alkali metal salt, a carboxylic acid comprising at least one aryl group, and a polymer dissolved therein; (b) providing a sulfide material; (c) combining the first solution and the sulfide material; and (d) isolating the nanocomposite, wherein the nanocomposite comprises the polymer and a plurality of nanoparticles, wherein each nanoparticle comprises at least one metal sulfide nanocrystal having a surface modified with the carboxylic acid comprising at least one aryl group. The present disclosure also provides the nanocomposites and articles prepared therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Igor Y. Denisyuk, Todd R. Williams