Abstract: The present invention provides metal/polymer composites including a plastic substrate having longitudinally extending conductive members, adapted to make bonded electrical connections to an array of closely spaced conductive terminal pads. In general terms, the metal/polymer composites include a thin, flexible sheet-like plastic substrate having a plurality of longitudinally extending, regularly spaced, metal pathways or members on one major surface thereof.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
February 23, 1995
Date of Patent:
June 25, 1996
Assignee:
Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
Abstract: A corner roller tape tension enhancer assembly for use with a corner roller in a belt driven magnetic tape cartridge. The assembly comprises a cylindrical corner roller having an outer wall for contact with a drive belt and an inner wall suitable for mounting the corner roller on an axial mounting structure. The assembly also comprises a fatigue resistant metal spring positioned against a portion of the corner roller for controlling magnetic tape tension and to produce a uniform tape tension with respect to drive force over a wide speed range.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 28, 1994
Date of Patent:
May 14, 1996
Assignee:
Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
Inventors:
Sten R. Gerfast, Daniel C. Egan, Frank H. Phillips, Clarence W. Schultz, Ronald D. Stimpson
Abstract: A polarization-independent electro-optically switched directional coupler utilizing reverse differential propagation constant control comprises an electro-optic material having at least a pair of wave guide channels within an interaction region and at least a pair of electrodes for selectively producing an electric field across the wave guide channels which electro-optically alters an optical propagation constant of the wave guide channels so as to vary the effects of an optical coupling between the wave guide channels.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 22, 1995
Date of Patent:
February 27, 1996
Assignee:
Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
Inventors:
Terry L. Smith, Daniel V. Attanasio, James E. Watson
Abstract: The present invention provides a method for providing an array of metal microbeads on a substrate, preferably in a regular pattern of very fine, uniform size microspheres or microbeads at precise spacing or scale previously unachievable. The method of the present invention comprises the steps of providing a metal layer on a substrate that is partitioned into metal regions; heating the metal layer to a temperature sufficient to melt the metal and to permit beading of the layer into discrete microbeads.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
August 19, 1994
Date of Patent:
January 23, 1996
Assignee:
Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
Abstract: The present invention provides metal/polymer composites including a plastic substrate having longitudinally extending conductive members, adapted to make bonded electrical connections to an array of closely spaced conductive terminal pads. In general terms, the metal/polymer composites include a thin, flexible sheet-like plastic substrate having a plurality of longitudinally extending, regularly spaced, metal pathways or members on one major surface thereof.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
September 30, 1993
Date of Patent:
May 9, 1995
Assignee:
Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
Abstract: An electromagnetic radiation absorbing material comprises doubly layered core particles dispersed in a dielectric binder material. The first layer dissipates radiation; the second layer is an insulating material which helps prevent the particles from conductively contacting each other, and prevents degradation of the first layer. The absorber may be applied to an electrically conductive material, and an impedance matching material may be used.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
September 8, 1992
Date of Patent:
February 14, 1995
Assignee:
Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
Inventors:
Craig S. Chamberlain, Glen Connell, William C. Tait
Abstract: The present invention provides a method for providing an array of metal microbeads on a substrate, preferably in a regular pattern of very fine, uniform size microspheres or microbeads at precise spacing or scale previously unachievable. The method of the present invention comprises the steps of providing a metal layer on a substrate that is partitioned into metal regions; heating the metal layer to a temperature sufficient to melt the metal and to permit beading of the layer into discrete microbeads.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
September 30, 1993
Date of Patent:
November 22, 1994
Assignee:
Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company