Patents Assigned to 3M
  • Publication number: 20150339513
    Abstract: A method of identifying microbial colonies in a culture device is provided. The method comprises using an imaging device to produce a first image of a thin film culture device while providing illumination to a front side of the device and to produce a second image of the thin film culture device while providing illumination to a back side of the device. The method further comprises analyzing the first and second images to identify microorganism colonies in each image, analyzing the first and second images values of a size parameter for a colony at a particular location in the culture device, and comparing the values. The method can be used to differentiate and count at least two colony types.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2013
    Publication date: November 26, 2015
    Applicant: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventor: PHILLIP A. BOLEA
  • Publication number: 20150336718
    Abstract: A prefilter cover for a bidirectional-airflow respirator cartridge, the prefilter cover including front and rear clamshell portions that are flexibly connected by a flexible connecting member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2014
    Publication date: November 26, 2015
    Applicant: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Gary Edward Dwyer, Pierre Legare
  • Publication number: 20150335489
    Abstract: The present description provides an earplug. One exemplary earplug described herein includes a stem and a sound attenuating body attached to the stem. The sound attenuating body includes a leading end, a base end, a longitudinal axis extending between the leading end and the base end, and a flange extending at least partially over the stem and having an exterior flange surface and an interior flange surface having a plurality of one or both of protrusions or recesses. The earplug further includes a flange cavity including a continuous volume around a perimeter of the stem between the interior flange surface and the stem. A distance between the interior and exterior flange surfaces varies around a perimeter of the flange at a plane intersecting the flange transverse to the longitudinal axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2014
    Publication date: November 26, 2015
    Applicant: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Jeffrey L. Hamer, Kenneth F. Teeters, Ravi Thomas
  • Patent number: 9192960
    Abstract: A coating apparatus and method of use wherein at least one capillary tube is in contact with a moving substrate during coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Chris J. Tanley, Timothy J. Edman, Gary W. Maier, David S. Grinnell
  • Patent number: 9194124
    Abstract: A sound absorbing luminaire providing lighting for an interior space environment and managing the acoustics within the environment. The luminaire includes a frame holding an acoustic film and a lighting element, forming a resonant cavity between them. The acoustic film is used for absorbing sound within the resonant cavity, and the lighting element provides light from a light source, such as LEDs, through the acoustic film. An optical film can be mounted in the frame between the acoustic film and the lighting element for providing a desired distribution of light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Raymond P. Johnson, Michael A. Meis, Anthony J. Piekarczyk, Martin Kristoffersen, Stephanie B. Castiglione
  • Patent number: 9194065
    Abstract: Dimensionally stable nonwoven fibrous webs include a multiplicity of continuous fibers formed from one or more thermoplastic polyesters and polypropylene in an amount greater than 0% and no more than 10% by weight of the web. The webs have at least one dimension which decreases by no greater than 10% in the plane of the web when heated to a temperature above a glass transition temperature of the fibers. A spunbond process may be used to produce substantially continuous fibers that exhibit molecular orientation. A meltblown process may be used to produce discontinuous fibers that do not exhibit molecular orientation. The webs may be used as articles for filtration, sound absorption, thermal insulation, surface cleaning, cellular growth support, drug delivery, personal hygiene, medical apparel, or wound dressing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Eric M. Moore, John D. Stelter, Michael R. Berrigan, Francis E. Porbeni, Matthew T. Scholz, Sian F. Fennessey, Jay M. Jennen, Kevin D. Landgrebe, Korey W. Karis
  • Patent number: 9196397
    Abstract: A shielded electrical cable includes conductor sets extending along a length of the cable and spaced apart from each other along a width of the cable. First and second shielding films are disposed on opposite sides of the cable and include cover portions and pinched portions arranged such that, in transverse cross section, the cover portions of the films in combination substantially surround each conductor set. An adhesive layer bonds the shielding films together in the pinched portions of the cable. A transverse bending of the cable at a cable location of no more than 180 degrees over an inner radius of at most 2 mm causes a cable impedance of the selected insulated conductor proximate the cable location to vary by no more than 2 percent from an initial cable impedance measured at the cable location in an unbent configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: Douglas B. Gundel
  • Patent number: 9196653
    Abstract: A pixelated light emitting diode (LED) and a method for pixelating an LED are described. The pixelated LED includes two or more monolithically integrated electroluminescent elements disposed adjacent each other on a substrate, wherein at least a portion of each electroluminescent element immediately adjacent the substrate includes an inverted truncated pyramidal shape. The method for pixelating an LED includes selectively removing material from the major surface of an LED to a depth below the emissive region, thereby forming an array of inverted truncated pyramid shapes. The efficiency of the pixelated LEDs can be improved by incorporating the truncated pyramidal shape. Additionally, the crosstalk between adjacent LED pixels can be reduced by incorporating the truncated pyramidal shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Catherine A. Leatherdale, Zhaohui Zy Yang
  • Patent number: 9196956
    Abstract: A hybrid network for in-building wireless (IBW) applications that provides a forward link path and a reverse link path, each on separate media. In particular, a hybrid cabling system for providing wireless coverage in a building comprises a forward link comprising at least one optical fiber to couple a first signal generated at an RF input bank with an RF antenna node, and a reverse link comprising coaxial cable, wherein a portion of the reverse link includes radiating coaxial cable configured to receive a second signal transmitted by a wireless user equipment in the building and pass the second signal to the RF input bank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Stephen C. King, Curtis L. Shoemaker, Stephen Paul LeBlanc
  • Publication number: 20150328086
    Abstract: Addition-fragmentation oligomers of the general formula Z—By-A-(B-A)x-B-A-By—Z, where the A monomers units are derived from a diester or diacid, the B monomer units are derived from a difunctional monomer having functional groups co-reactive and at least one of the A or B monomers comprise a 1-methylene-3,3-dimethylpropyl group.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2013
    Publication date: November 19, 2015
    Applicant: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Ann R. Fornof, William H. Moser, Larry R. Krepski, Guy D. Joly, Ahmed S. Abuelyaman, Afshin Falsafi, Babu N. Gaddam
  • Publication number: 20150330593
    Abstract: A taillight article (100) including a light guide (110) having an light emission front surface (112) and a rear surface (114) and a plurality of light extraction features (116) on or within the light guide (110), configured to direct light out through the emission surface (112), is described. A first light source (120) indicing a first signal function is configured to direct light in a first direction into a side surface (118) of the light guide. A second light source (130) indicating a second signal function is configured to direct light in a second direction into a second side surface (119) of the light guide, the second direction being different than the first direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2013
    Publication date: November 19, 2015
    Applicant: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Jeremy K. Larsen, David A. Ender, Jennifer J. Sahlin, Karl A. Vick, Michael E. Griffin, Scott M. Schnobrich, Bing Hao
  • Publication number: 20150330597
    Abstract: This application describes a front-lit reflective display assembly including a reflective display and an illumination article for front-lighting the display when the article is optically coupled to a light source. The illumination article includes a variable index light extraction layer optically coupled to a lightguide. The variable index light extraction layer has first and second regions, the first region comprising nanovoided polymeric material, the second region comprising the nanovoided polymeric material and an additional material, the first and second regions being disposed such that for light being transported at a supercritical angle in the lightguide, the variable index light extraction layer selectively extracts the light in a predetermined way based on the geometric arrangement of the first and second regions. Front-lit reflective display devices including the front-lit reflective display assembly optically coupled to a light source are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2012
    Publication date: November 19, 2015
    Applicant: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Kevin R. Schaffer, David Scott Thompson, Zhaohui Yang, Encai Hao, Audrey A. Sherman, Michael A. Meis, William J. Bryan, John A. Wheatley, Joseph W. Woody, V, Steven D. Solomonson, Matthew S. Stay, Mikhail L. Pekurovsky
  • Publication number: 20150332984
    Abstract: To provide a solid preapplication underfill material that has excellent workability, has a high degree of freedom for solder bonding processes, and enables the formation of a solder bond with high reliability. (Resolution Means) The underfill composition of the present disclosure contains a hardened epoxy resin and has a viscosity of 1000 Pa·s or more at 30° C. The hardening epoxy resin includes a crystalline epoxy resin at not less than 50 wt % relative to an entire resin composition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2013
    Publication date: November 19, 2015
    Applicant: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventor: Kohichiro Kawate
  • Publication number: 20150330623
    Abstract: A catalytic burner includes a porous diffuser member and a porous distributor member. At least one seal extends between the porous diffuser member and the porous distributor member thereby defining an oxidation chamber. Catalyst media particles for catalyzing an oxidation reaction of a fuel stream to produce heat and an exhaust stream is disposed within the oxidation chamber. The catalyst media particles comprise carrier particles. The carrier particles comprise refractory material, and at least some of the carrier particles have thereon an outer coating comprising an oxidation catalyst. The catalyst media particles have a void fraction of at least 0.6.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2013
    Publication date: November 19, 2015
    Applicant: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Aaron R. Beaber, Thomas E. Wood, Adam C. Schendel, Badri Veeraraghavan, Evan Koon Lun Yuuji Hajime
  • Publication number: 20150334374
    Abstract: A 3D imaging apparatus with enhanced depth of field to obtain electronic images of an object for use in generating a 3D digital model of the object. The apparatus includes a housing having mirrors positioned to receive an image from an object external to the housing and provide the image to an image sensor. The optical path between the object and the image sensor includes an aperture element having apertures for providing the image along multiple optical channels with a lens positioned within each of the optical channels. The depth of field of the apparatus includes the housing, allowing placement of the housing directly on the object when obtaining images of it.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2014
    Publication date: November 19, 2015
    Applicant: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Zhisheng Yun, David B. Stegall, Shannon D. Scott, James L. Graham, II, Paul A. Sevcik
  • Publication number: 20150329958
    Abstract: A method of achieving precision registration in a roll to roll process by simultaneously depositing multiple inks onto a printing roll. One of these inks prints a pattern of fiducial marks onto a substrate while another ink prints a predetermined pattern on the same substrate such that the predetermined pattern bears a predictable spatial relationship to the pattern of fiducial marks. Consequently, even if the ink forming the predetermined pattern is invisible, or has such low contrast with the substrate that it is effectively invisible, or even has been dissolved away in a subsequent processing step, it is still possible to know where the predetermined pattern is by referring to the pattern of fiducial marks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2013
    Publication date: November 19, 2015
    Applicant: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Mikhail L. Pekurovsky, Ann M. Gilman, Daniel J. Theis
  • Patent number: 9188715
    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: March 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: Kenneth L. Smith
  • Patent number: 9187416
    Abstract: Described herein is a composition according to formula I or its precursor, formula II: CX1X3?CX2—(R1)p—CZ1 Z2-SO2M (I) wherein X1, X2, and X3 are independently selected from H, F, Cl, Br, I, CF3 and CH3, and wherein at least one of X1, X2, or X3 is a H; R1 is a linking group; Z1 and Z2 are independently selected from F, Cl, Br, I, CF3, and a perfluoroalkyl group; p is 0 or 1; and M is a cation; and CX4X1X3—CX5X2—(R1)p—CZ1Z2-SO2M (II) wherein X1, X2, and X3 are independently selected from H, F, Cl, Br, I, CF3 and CH3, wherein at least one of X1, X2, or X3 is a H, and X4 and X5 are independently selected from H, F, Cl, Br and I; R1 is a linking group; Z1 and Z2 are independently selected from F, Cl, Br, I, CF3, and a perfluoroalkyl group, p is 0 or 1; and M is selected from F, and a cation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Zai-Ming Qiu, Gregg D. Dahlke, Tatsuo Fukushi, Werner M. Grootaert, Miguel A. Guerra
  • Patent number: 9191648
    Abstract: In a system or method where three-dimensional data is acquired as a sequence of frames of data along a camera path, disparate sequences are related to one another through a number of geometric stitches obtained by direct registration of three-dimensional data between frames in the disparate sequences. These geometric stitches are then used in addition to or in place of other camera path relationships to form a single virtual stitch graph for the combined model, upon which an integrated global path optimization can be performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Ilya A. Kriveshko, Benjamin Frantzdale
  • Patent number: D744088
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: David M. Blomberg, Kent E. Lageson, William A. Mittelstadt, Carl W. Raines, III, Charlie Wood