Patents Assigned to 3M Innovative Properties Company
  • Laminator
    Patent number: 8267138
    Abstract: The present application generally relates to methods, materials, and equipment for manufacturing a signs. Some embodiments of the present application relate to methods of manufacturing a digitally printed, multi-panel sign. Some embodiments of the present application relate to a laminator for use in laminating optically active sheeting to a substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Jeffrey D. Janovec, Mark D. Zender
  • Telecommunications cable inlet device
    Patent number: 8270799
    Abstract: An inlet device is described for inserting a telecommunication cable into a telecommunications enclosure. The inlet device includes a housing compressible portion and a strength member securing section configured to fasten at least one strength member of the cable to the housing. The cable is centered in the housing when a protective sleeve is applied over a compressible portion of the housing. A method for preparing a cable assembly is also described. A telecommunications enclosure including an inlet device is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: Patrick Drouard
  • Optical web-based defect detection using intrasensor uniformity correction
    Patent number: 8270701
    Abstract: Techniques are described in which an image capture device captures image data from web material. The image data comprises pixel values for the cross-web field of view of the image capture device. An analysis computer includes a computer-readable medium that stores parameters for a plurality of different normalization algorithms to normalize a cross-web background signal for the image capture device to a common desired value. The computer-readable medium further stores coefficients specifying a weighting for each of the plurality of normalization algorithms. The analysis computer computes a normalized value for each of the pixels of the image data as a weighted summation of results from application of at least two of the pixel normalization algorithms using the stored parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Steven P. Floeder, Matthew V. Rundquist
  • Unipolar gray scale drive scheme for cholesteric liquid crystal displays
    Patent number: 8269801
    Abstract: A unipolar gray scale drive scheme for passive matrix displays, more specifically, cholesteric liquid crystal displays, capable of creating any number of desired levels of gray scale. The drive scheme is single stage and can use either an amplitude modulation or a pulse width modulation column voltage signal in combination with a selecting row voltage signal to drive a pixel receiving the two intersecting signals to a desired level of gray scale.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: Patrick M. Campbell
  • Orthodontic bracket with brazed archwire slot liner
    Patent number: 8267686
    Abstract: An orthodontic article and method of making the orthodontic article, where the orthodontic article includes a fine-grain ceramic bracket and a metal liner secured in an archwire slot of the bracket with a brazing alloy comprising silver, copper, and at least about 1.5% by weight titanium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: William E. Wyllie, II, John J. Palmer, Glenys A. Thorstenson, David S. Arney, John S. Kelly
  • Analytical device with lightguide illumination of capillary and microgroove arrays
    Patent number: 8268249
    Abstract: An analytical cell including a lightguide with a plurality of conduits filled with a migration medium. The medium, the lightguide and a surrounding medium have refractive indices selected such that light entering the lightguide is internally reflected within the lightguide to provide substantially uniform illumination of the conduits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignees: 3M Innovative Properties Company, Life Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Larry J. Carson, Joel R. Dufresne, Patrick R. Fleming, Michael C. Lea, Nicholas A. Lee, John Shigeura
  • METHOD OF MAKING A GRINDING DISK AND A GRINDING DISK
    Publication number: 20120231712
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of making a grinding disk, comprising the steps of: providing a cap; providing an abrasive part; placing the cap on the abrasive part to form an assembly; holding the assembly and injecting a molding material into a space between the cap and the abrasive part and into the abrasive part to bond the cap and the abrasive part. A grinding disk made by the method is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2010
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Applicant: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Yu-Lung Wu, Yang-Wen Lee, Ming-Tien Chang
  • Touch screen having reduced visibility transparent conductor pattern
    Patent number: 8264466
    Abstract: Disclosed is a transparent touch screen construction that includes a pattern of layer stacks disposed on a substrate. The layer stacks each include a transparent conductor layer and an intermediate layer positioned between the substrate and the transparent conductor layer. The intermediate layer has a refractive index that is lower than that of the transparent conductor layer and that of the substrate. The construction of the layer stacks reduces the difference in visible light transmission between the areas of the substrate covered by the stacks and the areas of the substrate left exposed by the stacks. Also disclosed are methods for reducing the visibility of a patterned transparent conductor in a touch screen by disposing an intermediate layer pattern between a substrate and a transparent conductor pattern, the intermediate layer pattern and transparent conductor pattern being coincident.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Jonathan P. Maag, Joseph C. Spang, Brian E. Aufderheide
  • Dental compositions with natural tooth fluorescence
    Patent number: 8263681
    Abstract: The invention features a dental composition containing a polycyclic aromatic compound, such as 2-ethyl 9,10-dimethoxy anthracene (EDMOA), in an amount that provides the composition with fluorescence mimicking that of natural teeth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Bradley D. Craig, Gregory A. Kobussen
  • Method of free radically polymerizing vinyl monomers
    Patent number: 8263718
    Abstract: A method for the polymerization of free radically polymerizable vinyl monomers involves polymerizing free radically (co)polymerizable vinyl monomers in a batch reaction under essentially adiabatic conditions, and utilizing scavenger monomer to reduce undesirable residual monomer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: Mark F. Ellis
  • Retroreflective sheeting including cube corner elements
    Patent number: 8262237
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to lamina(e) comprising cube corner elements, a tool comprising an assembly of laminae and replicas thereof. The disclosure further relates to retroreflective sheeting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: Kenneth L. Smith
  • Optical film comprising birefringent naphthalate copolyester having branched or cyclic C4-C10 alkyl units
    Patent number: 8263731
    Abstract: The present invention relates to multilayer optical films and birefringent copolyester films. The birefringent copolyester optical layer or birefringent copolyester film comprises a major amount of naphthalate units, ethylene units, and a minor amount of branched or cyclic C4 to C10 alkyl units. Also described are certain copolyester polymeric materials further comprising subunits of a phthalate ionomer such as dimethyl sulfosodium isophthalate ionomer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Yufeng R. Liu, David T. Yust, Stephen A. Johnson, Kristopher J. Derks
  • Method for making hollow microspheres
    Patent number: 8261577
    Abstract: There is provided a method for making hollow microspheres including heating a feed under conditions sufficient to convert at least a portion of the feed into hollow microspheres, where the heating is conducted under a vacuum. There is also provided hollow microspheres made using this method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: Gang Qi
  • Aryloxy and arylalkyleneoxy substituted imidazoquinolines
    Patent number: 8263594
    Abstract: Imidazoquinoline compounds with an aryloxy or arylalkyleneoxy substituent at the 6, 7, 8, or 9-position, pharmaceutical compositions containing the compounds, intermediates, and methods of use of these compounds as immunomodulators, for modulating cytokine biosynthesis in animals and in the treatment of diseases including viral and neoplastic diseases, are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Kyle J. Lindstrom, Hugues M. H. Martin, Bryon A. Merrill, Michael J. Rice, Joshua R. Wurst, Chad A. Haraldson, Philip D. Heppner, Shri Niwas, Matthew R. Radmer
  • Methods of using hydrofluoroethers as heat transfer fluids
    Patent number: 8261560
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided that includes a device and a mechanism for heat transfer. The mechanism includes a hydrofluoroether heat-transfer fluid wherein the heat transfer fluid is represented by the following structure: Y—Rf—CH2OCH2Rf—Y wherein Rf may be the same or different and is, independently, selected from the group consisting of perfluorinated alkylene groups which may be linear, cyclic, or branched having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms, partially fluorinated alkylene groups having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms, and derivatives thereof wherein one or more carbon atoms are replaced by catenated nitrogen or oxygen heteroatoms, wherein each Rf contains at most one hydrogen atom, wherein Y represents H, F, or an RfCH2OCH2— group, and wherein the total number of carbon atoms in the molecule is at least 6.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Richard M. Flynn, Michael G. Costello, Michael J. Bulinski
  • Attachment system and dispensers used therewith
    Patent number: 8261937
    Abstract: A dispenser includes an upper member having a slot and a lower member attached to the upper member thereby forming a housing, the lower member having an outer surface; a stack of sheets assembled in a fan-fold configuration disposed in the housing; and a polymeric holding film having a first surface attached to the outer surface of the lower member. The holding film having a flexural modulus less than about 50 MPa, as measured according to ASTMD790 standard, and a roughness parameter, Ra of less than about 1 micrometer, as calculated according to ASME B46.1 standard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Douglas P. Bodziak, James E. Nash, Peter Newbould, Timothy J. O'Leary, David C. Windorski
  • Welding helmet
    Patent number: D667173
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Oskar Juhlin, Martin Birath, Björn Daniels
  • Head for a wheel rim polishing tool
    Patent number: D667470
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: Brian P. Dutkiewicz
  • Bond pattern on a personal respiratory protection mask
    Patent number: D667541
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Scott A. Spoo, Dean R. Duffy
  • Side portion of a welding helmet
    Patent number: D667591
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Oskar Juhlin, Martin Birath, Björn Daniels