Patents Represented by Attorney Sanders Gwin
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Patent number: 5689600Abstract: An electronic circuit structure having a reduced size includes a circuit substrate, an aperture extending through the circuit substrate, and an electronic component suspended within the aperture. The suspension of the electronic component within the aperture significantly reduces the profile of the overall electronic circuit structure. The aperture further enables electronic components to be mounted in a partially overlapping fashion to reduce the surface area of the electronic circuit structure. The electronic circuit structure can make use of standard FR-4, G-10, or ceramic circuit substrates or multilayer flex circuits, as well as electronic components in the form of standard leaded integrated circuit packages. The mounting of the electronic component within the aperture of the circuit substrate provides an advantage of assisting in heat dissipation. The incorporation of mesh-like voltage and ground planes can further aid in heat dissipation and provide electrical isolation and capacitive filtering.Type: GrantFiled: August 28, 1996Date of Patent: November 18, 1997Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing CompanyInventor: Michael E. Griffin
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Patent number: 5686979Abstract: A device, comprising a switchable optical panel and means for switching the panel between a reflecting state and a transmitting state. The switchable optical panel includes a transparent optically active layer having a first and a second major surface, a first reflective polarizer disposed on the first major surface and a second reflective polarizer disposed on the second major surface. The optically active layer preferably comprises a liquid crystal device and the switching means preferably comprises a system of drying electronics for applying voltage across the liquid crystal device. The invention also includes a switchable window and a transflective optical display.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 1995Date of Patent: November 11, 1997Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing CompanyInventors: Michael F. Weber, Andrew J. Ouderkirk, David J. W. Aastuen
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Patent number: 5685939Abstract: A Z-axis adhesive is produced by dispersing electrically-conductive particles in an organic binder and then imagewise exposing the material to electromagnetic radiation, preferably from a laser or a flash lamp, under conditions sufficient to transfer the particles from the binder to a receptor in a patterned fashion such that the resulting adhesive is a Z-axis conductor in the patterned areas. The patterned adhesive can then be used to establish electrical interconnection between facing electrodes of a number of different structures including semiconductor chips and a flexible printed circuit board.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 1995Date of Patent: November 11, 1997Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing CompanyInventors: Martin B. Wolk, Thomas A. Isberg, Michael A. Kropp, William V. Dower, Joel A. Gerber
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Patent number: 5682451Abstract: The present invention is an optical fiber connector with an internal structure which allows the polarization axis of an optical element to be freely rotated and fixed with respect to an rotational orientation-indicating reference on an external surface of the connector. The reference then provides an external physical indication of the spatial direction of the birefringence axes of the optical element.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 1995Date of Patent: October 28, 1997Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing CompanyInventors: Nicholas A. Lee, Daniel V. Attanasio, Gordon D. Henson, Grieg A. Olson
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Patent number: 5672400Abstract: The present invention provides a microelectronic assembly wherein a semi-crystalline copolymer adhesive composition, preferably provided in the form of a film, is used to electrically interconnect a first circuit pattern on a first substrate to a second circuit pattern on a second substrate. The adhesive composition preferably includes a semi-crystalline copolymer comprising polyether and polyamide monomeric units, a tackifier, and conductive particles.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 1995Date of Patent: September 30, 1997Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing CompanyInventors: Dennis D. Hansen, Michael A. Kropp, Glen Connell
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Patent number: 5655923Abstract: An electrical connector having two correspondingly configured electrically conducting members includes a fail safe mechanism which enhances and maintains the interlocking engagement between the members. The fail safe mechanism includes a latching structures which apply horizontal forces to the connector. These horizontal forces are translated and resolved in a vertical direction such that member retention forces in the vertical direction are increased and electrical contacts among the correspondingly configured electrically conducting tapered elements of the members are increased.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 1995Date of Patent: August 12, 1997Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing CompanyInventor: Kenneth C. Thompson
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Patent number: 5637199Abstract: Coated shields useful in a sputtering deposition chamber comprise a binder and particles of the same material as the target. Application of the coating material to interior surfaces and appliances of the sputtering chamber reduces contamination of the sputtered material.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 1992Date of Patent: June 10, 1997Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing CompanyInventors: Robert D. Lorentz, Joseph H. Sexton
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Patent number: 5633970Abstract: A device for use in the rotational alignment of non symmetrical articles, such as non-cylindrically symmetrical optical elements which transmit and/or emit polarized light. In one embodiment, the current invention provides an optical fiber connector assembly which utilizes internal asymmetrical alignment features to optimize the rotational alignment of the polarization axes of an optical fiber element with respect to a rotational orientation-indicating reference on the connector.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 1995Date of Patent: May 27, 1997Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing CompanyInventors: Grieg A. Olson, Daniel V. Attanasio, Nicholas A. Lee
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Patent number: 5631986Abstract: A ceramic optical fiber ferrule is constructed from CaTiO.sub.3 (calcium titanate) or CeO.sub.2 --ZrO.sub.2 (ceria-zirconia). The ferrule is PC-radiused and thus includes a first, convex end having a predetermined radius of curvature, a second end, and an axial bore which joins the first and second ends. An optical fiber can be fixedly positioned within the bore and a terminal end of the optical fiber can be created by standard polishing or grinding techniques which is coplanar with the first, convex end of the ferrule.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 1994Date of Patent: May 20, 1997Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Co.Inventors: Robert G. Frey, Timothy D. Fletcher
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Patent number: 5631807Abstract: An electronic circuit structure having a reduced size includes a circuit substrate, an aperture extending through the circuit substrate, and an electronic component suspended within the aperture. The suspension of the electronic component within the aperture significantly reduces the profile of the overall electronic circuit structure. The aperture further enables electronic components to be mounted in a partially overlapping fashion to reduce the surface area of the electronic circuit structure. The electronic circuit structure can make use of standard FR-4, G-10, or ceramic circuit substrates or multilayer flex circuits, as well as electronic components in the form of standard leaded integrated circuit packages. The mounting of the electronic component within the aperture of the circuit substrate provides an advantage of assisting in heat dissipation. The incorporation of mesh-like voltage and ground planes can further aid in heat dissipation and provide electrical isolation and capacitive filtering.Type: GrantFiled: January 20, 1995Date of Patent: May 20, 1997Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing CompanyInventor: Michael E. Griffin
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Patent number: 5611017Abstract: A fiber optic ribbon cable has release elements manufactured in line with the ribbon cable so as to provide access points to the optical fibers contained therein to allow for easy application of a connector in the field. A pair of adhesive tape layers is provided about the optical fibers to create a fiber optic ribbon cable. At least one release element is provided between the adhesive tape layers and the optical fibers at one or more access points along the ribbon cable to allow for subsequent connectorization of the fibers therein. When the ribbon cable needs to be equipped with a connector, the cable is cut near the midpoint of one of the access point. After the cable is cut the adhesive tape layers and the at least one release element may be easily peeled back exposing the optical fibers. A connector is then installed onto the exposed fibers. The at least one release element is removed from the tape layers and the tape is then secured to the connector with any excess tape being trimmed off.Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 1995Date of Patent: March 11, 1997Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Co.Inventors: Nicholas A. Lee, Barbara A. DeBaun, Gordon D. Henson, Scott A. Igl, Terry L. Smith
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Patent number: 5608550Abstract: A front-lit display, having a ridged transparent film thereon. The ridges on the film bend glancing light rays down into the display. The light rays are reflected by a reflector below the display, pass back through the display, and exit the film in a direction substantially normal to the display. Thus, the ridged film enhances the brightness of the display for a given light source.Type: GrantFiled: January 17, 1996Date of Patent: March 4, 1997Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing CompanyInventors: Kenneth A. Epstein, Robert P. Wenz
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Patent number: 5601678Abstract: A method of forming a multi-layer circuit board which includes electrical interconnections between adjacent circuit board layers of the multi-layer board. A via hole is provided through a circuit board layer. The via hole is filled with a via metal. The via metal is plated with a low melting point metal. An adhesive film is deposited over the circuit board layer. Adjacent layers of the multi-layer circuit board are stacked and aligned together. The layers are laminated under heat and pressure. The low melting point metal provides an electrical interconnection between adjacent layers.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 1995Date of Patent: February 11, 1997Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing CompanyInventors: Joel A. Gerber, Peter A. Gits
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Patent number: 5600749Abstract: A connector for coaxial interconnection of optical fibers includes an elastically deformable housing having regions with differing geometries and elastic properties. The geometries and elastic properties in the housing regions are adapted to retain against a channeled mount optical fiber components with widely varying diameters and a wide range of tolerances.Type: GrantFiled: August 25, 1995Date of Patent: February 4, 1997Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Co.Inventors: Nicholas A. Lee, Jack P. Blomgren, Gordon D. Henson, Michael A. Meis
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Patent number: 5576092Abstract: A layer for preventing sticking of thermal image-forming materials to thermal printheads during thermal printing. The layer comprises polymeric material having a non-cyclic, substantially completely saturated hydrocarbon backbone, said backbone having substantially only hydrogen atoms and methyl groups attached to randomly positioned carbon atoms thereon, with no more than one methyl group attached to any one backbone carbon atom. Application of the anti-stick layer to the substrate is facilitated by the solubility of the polymeric material in commonly used organic solvents, thereby allowing very thin layers of the coating to be applied in the form of dilute solutions.Type: GrantFiled: June 21, 1991Date of Patent: November 19, 1996Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing CompanyInventors: Susan K. Jongewaard, Alan G. Miller
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Patent number: 5574817Abstract: A fiber optic ribbon cable assembly has optical connector assemblies manufactured in line with the ribbon cable assembly so as to provide a fixed, lateral spacing of the optical fibers relative to each other within the connector assembly and has the remaining portion of the fiber optic ribbon cable manufactured within an arbitrary lateral spacing of the optical fibers relative to each other. A pair of adhesive tape layers are sandwiched around the optical fibers and the in-line optical connector assemblies. By having the connector assemblies manufactured in line with the fiber optic ribbon cable, resulting ribbon cable assembly is easier to manufacture, has a higher alignment accuracy, and is more cost effective than existing techniques for manufacturing ribbon cable assemblies.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 1995Date of Patent: November 12, 1996Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing CompanyInventors: Gordon D. Henson, Barbara A. DeBaun, Scott A. Igl, Nicholas A. Lee, Terry L. Smith
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Patent number: 5573195Abstract: In a belt driven tape cartridge, tape tension is controlled by a yoke which articulates in a region between the tape packs. The yoke includes at least two rollers, one mounted adjacent each tape pack, for rotation on shafts constrained in the yoke. The cartridge belt is stretched around the drive roller and the yoked rollers to pull the yoke mechanism into firm engagement with the tape packs.Type: GrantFiled: February 24, 1995Date of Patent: November 12, 1996Assignee: Minnesota Mining & Manufacturing CompanyInventors: John F. Runyan, Jerry L. Alexander
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Patent number: 5566263Abstract: A system for tuning an integrated optical switch element utilizes a reflection from a light signal that is propagated into a first input port defined on one side of an interaction region of the optical switch element. The reflection occurs beyond an opposite side of the interaction region from the side on which the light signal is introduced. The reflection is detected at a second input port of the optical switch element on the same side of the interaction region as the side on which the light signals is introduced. The reflection is used to tune the optical switch element to a desired switch state by minimizing the reflection detected at the second input port. By minimizing the reflection detected at the second input port for a desired switch state, the strength of the optical signal through the wave guide channels intended to be used to propagate the light signal in the desired switch state is maximized.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 1995Date of Patent: October 15, 1996Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing CompanyInventors: Terry L. Smith, Daniel V. Attanasio, James E. Watson, George R. Hare
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Patent number: 5535190Abstract: The invention is a recording system for recording and playing back information stored on an updatable optical storage medium. In the optical storage medium digital data is permanently present in the form of replicated features, and an updatable capability is provided by including an additional layer of substantially transparent magnetic recording material, The invention further includes a method for recording and playing back the information from the optical storage medium.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 1995Date of Patent: July 9, 1996Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing CompanyInventors: Arthur R. Moore, Donald E. Gustafson
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Patent number: D381645Type: GrantFiled: January 27, 1995Date of Patent: July 29, 1997Assignee: Imation Corp.Inventor: Michael W. Johnson