Patents Represented by Attorney Lance Vietzke
  • Patent number: 7607814
    Abstract: A backlight includes a visible light transmissive body having a light guide portion and a light input portion. The visible light transmissive body primarily propagates light by TIR and includes a light input surface and a light output surface. The light guide portion has a light reflection surface and a light emission surface. The light input portion has opposing side surfaces that are not parallel. A light source is disposed adjacent to the light input surface and emits light into the light input portion. A specularly reflective layer is disposed adjacent to but not in intimate contact with the opposing side surfaces and reflects more than 80% of visible light incident on the specularly reflective layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: Patrick R. Destain
  • Patent number: 7606424
    Abstract: Improved correlation techniques employ data from forward (template-to-reference) and reverse (reference-to-template) correlation to identify valid correlation peaks, enforce symmetry in correlation peaks, and/or combine forward and reverse correlation data. In embodiments, these techniques eliminate or reduce rms noise in a recovered signal peak location by enforcing correlation peak symmetry. The forward and reverse correlation methods described herein may be used for validation of correlation peaks, detection of outlier data points and improved interpolation, such as for higher accuracy localization of a peak center with sub-pixel resolution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: Janos Rohaly
  • Patent number: 7604916
    Abstract: Laser induced thermal imaging (LITI) donor films, and methods of preparing them, having a substrate, a light-to-heat conversion layer, and a pattern-directing layer. The pattern-directing layer can include patterns of self-assembled monolayer regions, hydrophilic and hydrophobic regions, positively or negatively charged regions, or a series of raised or recessed features. It can also be used to generate charge patterns and magnetic patterns. The pattern-directing layer causes patterning of a transfer layer applied to it, resulting in a templated transfer layer. When imaged, the LITI donor film transfers at least a portion of the templated transfer layer to a permanent receptor while maintaining the pattern substantially intact in the transferred portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Martin B. Wolk, John E. Potts, Yingbo Li, Khanh T. Huynh
  • Patent number: 7605817
    Abstract: Camera motion is determined in a three-dimensional image capture system using a combination of two-dimensional image data and three-dimensional point cloud data available from a stereoscopic, multi-aperture, or similar camera system. More specifically, a rigid transformation of point cloud data between two three-dimensional point clouds may be more efficiently parameterized using point correspondence established between two-dimensional pixels in source images for the three-dimensional point clouds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Tong Zhang, Janos Rohaly, Steven V. Weeks
  • Patent number: 7445825
    Abstract: In a method of making an organic electroluminescent device, a transfer layer is solution coated on a donor substrate. The transfer layer includes a polymerizable, amorphous matrix with a light emitting material disposed in the matrix. The transfer layer is then selectively patterned on a receptor. The polymerizable, amorphous matrix is then polymerized. Examples of patterning methods include laser thermal transfer or thermal head transfer. The method and associated materials can be used to form, for example, organic electroluminescent devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Martin B. Wolk, Erika Bellmann, Yingbo Li, Ralph R. Roberts, James G. Bentsen
  • Patent number: 7445409
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a cutting tool assembly that include multiple diamonds to define multiple cutting tips. A first diamond is positioned in the cutting tool assembly to create a first groove in a microreplication tool and a second diamond is positioned in the cutting tool assembly to create a second groove the microreplication tool, wherein the first and second grooves define integer pitch spacing of a microreplication structure to be created using the microreplication tool. In addition, a third diamond is positioned in the cutting tool assembly between the first and second diamonds to create a land feature in the microreplication tool between the first and second grooves. The invention can improve land feature creation by using a third diamond tip, rather than leaving the land features untooled and defined by the original untooled surface of micro-replication tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Jennifer L. Trice, Charles N. Devore
  • Patent number: 7442421
    Abstract: Light emitting polymers can include a plurality of arylene monomeric units and a plurality of soft segment units independently selected from soft segment end caps; soft segment side chains coupled to a portion, but not all, of the arylene monomeric units; internal soft segment monomeric units; and combinations thereof. These light emitting polymers can be used in forming electroluminescent devices or other articles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Yingbo Li, John P. Baetzold, Terence D. Spawn, Ralph R. Roberts, James G. Bentsen, John S. Staral
  • Patent number: 7419757
    Abstract: A laser induced thermal imaging (LITI) donor film having a substrate, a light-to-heat conversion layer overlaying the substrate, and a transfer layer overlaying the light-to-heat conversion layer. A surface of the transfer layer includes microstructured or nanostructured features, in a continuous or discontinuous pattern, embossed or otherwise imparted in the transfer layer. The features provide break points to assist in release and transfer of portions of the transfer layer to a permanent receptor in a pattern defined by the features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: John E. Potts, Martin B. Wolk
  • Patent number: 7418202
    Abstract: An optical low pass filter or blur filter, and method of making the filters, using an article having a birefringent surface for refracting incoming light when used with an image sensor. The birefringent surface of the article, such as a film, is structured or tilted such that, when the blur filter is placed within an optical path between a lens and the image sensor, the birefringent surface causes refraction of a light signal in the optical path into multiple light signals each being incident upon different sub-pixels within the pixels in the image sensor to prevent or reduce artifacts, such as undesirable color moiré effects, in the resulting digital image. The structures on the surface have a variable pitch or angles. The variable pitch can include a periodic, aperiodic, or quasi-aperiodic pitch, to reduce diffractive artifacts in the resulting image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2008
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Rolf W. Biernath, Robert L. Brott, William Ward Merrill, John S. Huizinga, William B. Black
  • Patent number: 7398715
    Abstract: A cutting tool assembly having a tool post capable of lateral movement along a work piece to be cut and an actuator with a tool tip. The actuator provides for variable control of a rotation of the tool tip about an axis parallel to a y-direction transversely across the work piece for use in making microstructures in the work piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2008
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Dale L. Ehnes, Alan B. Campbell, Daniel S. Wertz
  • Patent number: 7395741
    Abstract: A cutting tool assembly having a tool post capable of lateral movement along a work piece to be cut and an actuator with a tool tip. The actuator provides for independent and variable control of the movement of the tool tip in an x-direction into the work piece and in a z-direction laterally along the work piece for use in making microstructures in the work piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Alan B. Campbell, Dale L. Ehnes, Daniel S. Wertz
  • Patent number: 7396632
    Abstract: Substrate films, thermal mass transfer donor elements, and methods of making and using the same are provided. In some embodiments, such substrate films and donor elements include at least two dyads, wherein each dyad includes an absorbing first layer and an essentially non-absorbing second layer. Also provided are methods of making a donor element that includes an essentially non-absorbing substrate, an absorbing first layer, and a non-absorbing second layer, wherein the composition of the essentially non-absorbing substrate is essentially the same as the composition of the essentially non-absorbing second layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Martin B. Wolk, Thomas R. Hoffend, Jr., Stephen A. Johnson, John P. Baetzold, Richard J. Thompson, Terence D. Neavin, Michael A. Haase, Sergey A. Lamansky
  • Patent number: 7395742
    Abstract: A cutting tool assembly having a tool post capable of lateral movement along a work piece to be cut and an actuator with a tool tip. The actuator provides for variable control of the movement of the tool tip in a z-direction laterally along the work piece, while maintaining the tool tip at a substantially constant position in an x-direction into the work piece, for use in making microstructures in the work piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Dale L. Ehnes, Alan B. Campbell, Daniel S. Wertz