Patents Assigned to 3M
  • Patent number: 10677977
    Abstract: Various embodiments of lightguides and illumination systems that include lightguides are disclosed. In one or more embodiments, a lightguide can include first and second light extractors (330,340) that extract light that would otherwise be confined and propagate within the lightguide along the length of the lightguide primarily by total internal reflection. The first and second light extractors can form respective first and second patterns along a length of the lightguide. Light extracted by the first light extractors can exit the lightguide primarily along a first direction (306). Light extracted by the second light extractors can exit the lightguide primarily along a second direction (308) different from the first direction. A brightness of the total light extracted by the first light extractors can be larger than a brightness of the total light extracted by the second light extractors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Tao Liu, Mark E. Napierala
  • Patent number: 10675452
    Abstract: A micro-needle device for delivering a dental local anesthetic that includes a micro-needle array and a hollow spheroid shaped container. The micro-needle array has a base and two or more elongate micro-needles. The elongate micro-needles have an interior surface defining an opening through the elongate micro-needle and the base has a first major surface and a second major surface through which the opening of the elongate micro-needle passes to provide a passage across the base. The hollow spheroid shaped container includes an inside surface, where the first major surface of the base and the inside surface of the hollow spheroid shaped container define a volume that is in fluid connection with each opening of the two or more of the elongate micro-needle. This allows the dental local anesthetic to flow from the volume of the micro-needle device through the opening of the two or more of the elongate micro-needle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Andreas Syrek, Marc Peuker, Mathias Bertl, Martin Preininger, Emir Jelovac, Ryan P. Simmers
  • Patent number: 10681756
    Abstract: A headset communication device includes at least one processor configured to transmit, via a dedicated virtual communication channel of a wireless communication protocol, local beacon data to one or more remote headset communication devices within a work environment, to discover a remote headset communication device included in the one or more remote headset communication devices by receiving, via the dedicated virtual communication channel of the wireless communication protocol, remote beacon data that is transmitted by the remote headset communication device, to automatically synchronize, based on the remote beacon data, the headset communication device with the remote headset communication device, and, to transmit, via one or more additional virtual communication channels of the wireless communication protocol, local audio communication data to the one or more remote headset communication devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Roger Kihlberg, Marcus J. Ekblad
  • Patent number: 10679738
    Abstract: This disclosure describes systems, devices, and techniques for identifying sections of medical documents that are suitable for automated medical coding. In one example, a computer-implemented method includes receiving, by one or more processors, the medical document, wherein the medical document comprises a plurality of sections. The method also may include determining, by the one or more processors and via application of a classification model to each section of the plurality of sections, codability indicia for each section of the plurality of sections, wherein the codability indicia represents whether the respective section is suitable for automated medical coding. The method may include outputting, by the one or more processors, the respective codability indicia for each section of the plurality of sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Kavita A. Ganesan, Brian J. Stankiewicz, David E. Yarowsky, Anna N. Rafferty, Michael A. Nossal, Anthony R. Davis
  • Patent number: 10675734
    Abstract: A coated abrasive article maker apparatus is disclosed comprising a first web path comprising a production tool and a second web path configured for a resin coated backing. The second web path is configured to guide the resin coated backing through the coated abrasive article maker apparatus with the resin layer positioned facing the dispensing surface. An abrasive particle feeder is positioned along the first web path and is configured to dispense abrasive particles onto the dispensing surface such that abrasive particles are removably disposed within cavities of the production tool. Abrasive particles are transferred from the plurality of cavities to the resin layer of the resin coated backing when the production tool is positioned adjacent the resin coated backing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Scott R. Culler, John T. Boden, Steven J. Keipert, Negus B. Adefris, Karan Jindal, Aaron K. Nienaber, David L. Morrison, Peter T. Benson, Pratik Pranay, Bradford B. Wright
  • Patent number: 10675794
    Abstract: A polyurethane foam backing suitable for making a coated abrasive article is disclosed. The polyurethane foam backing has a textured surface bearing an array of raised features and land areas. The array's geometry is designed such that a 90 degree peel force to remove a production tooling having a contacting surface bearing a plurality of microreplicated mold cavities from the textured surface is accept able.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Joseph B. Eckel, Steven J. Keipert, Ehrich J. Braunschweig
  • Patent number: 10676591
    Abstract: A composition of solid particles comprising substantially inorganic, electronically conductive particles and fluoropolymer particles, wherein the fluoropolymer is melt-processable and has a melting point between 100° C. and 325° C. and a melt flow index at 372° C. and at 5 kg load (MFI 372/5) of at least 0.1 and up to 100 g/10 min, and wherein the fluoropolymer particles have a particle size of less than 500 nm and wherein the particles comprising the substantially inorganic, electronically conductive material is present in the form of particles having a particle size of less than 15,000 ?m, and methods for producing such compositions and articles containing such compositions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Michael H. Mitchell, Tatsuo Fukushi, Muhammad Z. Nawaz, Michael C. Dadalas, Klaus Hintzer, Tilman C. Zipplies, Denis Duchesne
  • Patent number: 10675658
    Abstract: A method of making a treated article having a metal surface. The method includes treating the metal surface with a primer composition comprising a secondary or tertiary amino-functional compound having at least two independently selected silane groups to provide a primed metal surface and subsequently treating the primed metal surface with a treatment composition comprising a fluorinated compound represented by formula Rf{—X—[Si(Y)3?x(R)x]y}z. An article treated by such a method is also disclosed. The use of a secondary or tertiary amino-functional compound having at least two independently selected silane groups as a primer for a metal surface before treatment with the fluorinated silane and a method of treating a metal surface with a treatment composition including the secondary or tertiary amino-functional compound having at least two independently selected silane groups and certain fluorinated silanes are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: Frans A. Audenaert
  • Patent number: 10670873
    Abstract: Projection subsystems are described. More, particularly, projection subsystems that include a light source and a polarizing beam splitter are described. The polarizing beam splitters of the presently described projection subsystems are capable of avoiding performance degradation even after exposure to large doses of incident light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Stephen J. Willett, Craig R. Schardt, David J. W. Aastuen
  • Patent number: 10669211
    Abstract: Articles and methods of making and using the articles are provided. The articles include inorganic agglomerates having an average dimension in a range from about 50 microns to about 2 mm. The porous agglomerates each include a network of carbon or silica, and metal oxide particles embedded in the network. Some agglomerates are capable of lowering a resonant frequency of an acoustic device when the resonant frequency is in a range from about 50 Hz to about 1500 Hz.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPNAY
    Inventors: Fabian Stolzenburg, Qin Lin, Noah O. Shanti, Marc D. Radcliffe, Ronald W. Gerdes
  • Patent number: 10667782
    Abstract: A stethoscope includes a flexible chest piece including a top surface, a bottom surface, a side surface defining a slope between the top surface and the bottom surface, and a groove extending along an inner circumference of the chest piece. A diaphragm is positioned within the groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Joseph P. Keller, Robert S. Kody, Daniel J. Rogers, Raymond L. Watrous
  • Patent number: 10669460
    Abstract: In one aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a sealant precursor, comprising a first part (A) comprising (a1) an epoxy curing agent having an amine equivalent weight of at least 150 grams per mole of amine equivalents; (b1) a first epoxy curative; a second part (B) comprising (a2) a blend of epoxy resins comprising at least one bisphenol A epoxy resins and at least one bisphenol F epoxy resin; (b2) at least one silicone-based resin comprising epoxy functionalities; (c2) optionally, a toughener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: Mareike Bardts
  • Patent number: 10668597
    Abstract: A nonwoven abrasive wheel includes a nonwoven abrasive body having opposed first and second major surfaces and a moisture barrier layer arranged on at least one of the first and second major surfaces. Methods of making are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Laurie L. Poluha, Jacob S. Beveridge, Dean S. Holmes
  • Patent number: 10669481
    Abstract: A class of antioxidant compositions include benzotriazole phenolate salts with substituents either ortho to the phenol hydroxide group and/or para to the phenol hydroxide group can be prepared from substituted benzotriazole phenols. The ortho substituent group can be a simple hydrocarbon, alkoxy or amino group, or the ortho substituent group can be a linking group, linking the benzotriazole phenolate to another benzotriazole phenolate group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Nathan E. Schultz, Fuming B. Li, Kelly A. Volp, Mark McCormick
  • Patent number: 10667952
    Abstract: A welding helmet (100, 200, 300, 400, 500) having a filter arrangement is disclosed. The welding helmet is provided with a main filter (102, 202, 302, 402, 502) and at least one auxiliary filter (104, 204, 304, 404, 504) separate from and positioned next to the main filter. The at least one auxiliary filter comprises an electro-optic element (10, 20) adapted to attenuate the transmission of optical radiation incident on the auxiliary filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Kristina Magnusson, Kenneth Jarefors
  • Patent number: 10668701
    Abstract: A sound and heat insulating blanket is presented comprising: a) a first layer of fabric comprising first fibers; and b) a first sound barrier film comprising a first rubber; wherein the first layer of fabric and first sound barrier film are bound together through a first interpenetrated binding layer wherein the first rubber of the first sound barrier film is interpenetrated by the first fibers of the first layer of fabric; and optionally c) a second layer of fabric comprising second fibers; wherein the second layer of fabric and first sound barrier film are bound together through a second interpenetrated binding layer wherein the first cured composition of the first sound barrier film is interpenetrated by the second fibers of the second layer of fabric. Typically, the sound and heat insulating blanket comprises no adhesive binding the first and second layers of fabric and the sound barrier film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Pingfan Wu, Lianzhou Chen, Fredrick W. Vance, Edward E. Cole, Charles W. Hedley, Gregory L. Simon, Michael C. Martin
  • Patent number: 10673188
    Abstract: Electrical connectors are described. More particularly, electrical connectors including a plurality of contacts are described. Both connector plugs and sockets are described. Electrical connectors that are suitable for mounting on a printed circuit board and electrical connectors that include a printed circuit board are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: YunLong Qiao, Rao L. Vittapalli, Saujit Bandhu, Vincent Tan, Kok Hoe Lee, Chin Hua Lim
  • Patent number: 10669461
    Abstract: A method of making shaped abrasive particles including forming an abrasive flake comprising a plurality of precursor shaped abrasive particles and a frangible support joining the precursor shaped abrasive particles together; transporting the abrasive flake through a rotary kiln to sinter the abrasive flake; and breaking the sintered abrasive flake into individual shaped abrasive particles. The method is useful to make small shaped abrasive particles having insufficient mass to be efficiently individually sintered in a rotary kiln without joining two or more of the shaped abrasive particles together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventor: Dwight D. Erickson
  • Patent number: 10670867
    Abstract: An optical stack includes first and second lenses, a partial reflector, a reflective polarizer, and a retarder. The reflective polarizer is curved about two orthogonal axes and includes at least one layer that is substantially optically uniaxial at at least one location. An optical system includes the optical stack disposed between an image surface and an exit surface. The optical system is configured such that substantially any chief ray transmitted from the image surface to the exit surface is first incident on the reflective polarizer at an angle of incidence less than 30 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Zhisheng Yun, Andrew J. Ouderkirk, Timothy L. Wong, Erin A. McDowell, Gregg A. Ambur
  • Patent number: D886273
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: John S. Huberty, Michael J. Svendsen, Michael J. Thuente