Patents Assigned to 3M
  • Patent number: 11628541
    Abstract: A bonded abrasive wheel is disclosed comprising a plurality of abrasive particles disposed in a binder, a first grinding surface, a second surface opposing the first grinding surface, and an outer circumference. The wheel comprises a rotational axis extending through a central hub and a circuit configured as a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) unit coupled to the abrasive wheel. The circuit comprises an antenna configured to communicate with one or more external devices and comprising a first end and a second end, wherein antenna has a radius of curvature about an axis along at least a portion thereof such that the first end is disposed adjacent to but is spaced from the second end, and an integrated circuit (IC) operably coupled to the antenna and configured to store at least a first data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Joseph B. Eckel, Nicholas T. Gabriel, Ankit Mahajan, Mikhail L. Pekurovsky, Kara A. Meyers, Thomas J. Metzler, Saagar A. Shah
  • Patent number: 11630290
    Abstract: An optical system for displaying an image to a viewer includes a partial reflector, a reflective polarizer, and a first retarder layer. A light ray propagates along the optical axis and passes through the plurality of optical lenses, the partial reflector, the reflective polarizer, and the first retarder layer without being substantially refracted. For a cone of light incident on the optical system from an object comprising a spatial frequency of about 70, 60, 50, 40, or 30 line pairs per millimeter and filling the exit pupil with a chief ray of the cone of light passing through a center of the opening of the exit pupil of the optical system and making an angle of about 20 degrees with the optical axis, a modulation transfer function of the optical system is greater than about 0.2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Zhisheng Yun, Timothy L. Wong, Erin A. McDowell
  • Patent number: 11623324
    Abstract: Methods of making polymer bond abrasive articles and their precursors using powder bed jetting are disclosed. Polymer bond abrasive articles prepared by the method include abrasive articles having arcuate or tortuous cooling channels, unitary structured abrasive discs, abrasive segments, shaped abrasive particles, and abrasive wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Robert L. W. Smithson, Brian D. Goers, Brian A. Shukla, Michael C. Harper
  • Patent number: 11623894
    Abstract: A bonded abrasive article includes elongate shaped abrasive particles. The elongate shaped abrasive particles comprise an elongate shaped ceramic body having opposed first and second ends joined to each other by at least two longitudinal sidewalls. At least one of the at least two longitudinal sidewalls is concave along its length. At least one of the first and second ends is a fractured surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: Dwight D. Erickson
  • Patent number: 11618796
    Abstract: According to various embodiments of the present disclosure, a composition includes about 5 to about 40 parts by weight of a solute copolymer component. The solute component optionally has one Tg or Tm of at least 25° C. The composition further includes about 60 to about 95 parts by weight of a solvent monomer. The solvent monomer component includes (meth)acrylate monomers and a multifunctional acrylate. The sum of the solute copolymer component and the solvent monomer component is 100 parts by weight. The composition further includes about 5 to about 100 parts of a plasticizer, relative to the 100 parts. The plasticizer component comprises at least one plasticizer comprising an acid group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Ann R. Fornof, Carla S. Thomas, Tien Yi T. H. Whiting, Payam Khodaparast, Nathaniel K. Naismith, Brett J. Sitter, James A. Thielen
  • Patent number: 11620024
    Abstract: A touch screen sensor includes a visible light transparent substrate and an electrically conductive micropattern disposed on or in the visible light transparent substrate. The micropattern includes a first region micropattern within a touch sensing area and a second region micropattern. The first region micropattern has a first sheet resistance value in a first direction, is visible light transparent, and has at least 90% open area. The second region micropattern has a second sheet resistance value in the first direction. The first sheet resistance value is different from the second sheet resistance value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Matthew H. Frey, Michael J. Robrecht, George F. Jambor
  • Patent number: 11619823
    Abstract: An optical system for displaying a magnified virtual image of an image emitted by a display to a viewer. The optical system includes first and second lenses facing each other and spaced apart by an air gap to define an optical cavity therebetween. The optical cavity includes a reflective polarizer disposed on a major surface of the first lens, and an optical stack disposed on a major surface of the second lens. The optical stack includes an absorbing polarizer, a first retarder layer, a partial reflector, and a second retarder layer disposed between the absorbing polarizer and the partial reflector. The first and/or second lenses is/are birefringent lens provided outside the optical cavity to control polarization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: John D. Le, Zhisheng Yun
  • Patent number: 11618237
    Abstract: This disclosure describes co-extruded multilayer articles including at least one continuous layer and one discontinuous layer, as well as systems and techniques for the manufacture of co-extruded multilayer articles. For example, a co-extruded multilayer article is described that includes a body having a plurality of layers, where a first layer of the plurality of layers is formed from a first material and is continuous along a longitudinal axis of the body, and a second layer of the plurality of layers is formed from a second material and is discontinuously co-extruded along the longitudinal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Robert M. Biegler, Mark A. Hoisington, Craig R. Hoff, Anton F. Jachim, Jeffrey M. Maki, Derek W. Patzman, Thomas J. Blong, Jay M. Jennen, Erik A. Aho, David V. Mahoney
  • Patent number: 11619771
    Abstract: Systems including one or both of a light emitter or a light receiver or a detectable object; and an optical filter adjacent one or both of the light emitter or the light receiver, wherein the optical filter includes at least one wavelength transmission selective layer an absorber component, wherein the wavelength transmission selective layer at least partially reduces the transmission of wavelengths from 701 nm to 849 nm incident thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Neeraj Sharma, Guanglei Du, John A. Wheatley, Matthew E. Sousa, Jeremy O. Swanson
  • Patent number: 11617980
    Abstract: An air filter includes filter media, a sensor, and circuitry coupled to the sensor, the circuitry configured to receive data from the sensor representative of the condition of the filter media and wirelessly transmit such data. The data may be received by a device with a display to use the information to present an indication of the filter media condition to a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Jonathan B. Arthur, Karl W. Bloedorn, Jayant Chakravarty, Gene B. Portelli, Dennis M. Glass, Michael A. Meis, Lyle L. Luppes, Daniel W. Hennen, Douglas D. Fletcher, Eric O. Hemberg, Oscar M. Hemberg
  • Patent number: 11618712
    Abstract: A wall compound for use in all applications and particularly well-suited for joining adjacent wallboards. The compound includes a latex resin, a thickener, fibers, and a filler material. In some embodiments, the repair compound is configured to exhibit at least one of yield stress and pseudoplastic-type behavior. In some embodiments, the compound includes hydrophobic and hydrophilic fibers of different morphologies. In some embodiments, the wall compound includes one or more associative thickeners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: DanLi Wang
  • Patent number: 11616268
    Abstract: An adapter for use with a battery compartment of an electronic device is provided. The adapter includes a first section adapted to receive a first portion of at least one first battery. The adapter also includes a second section disposed adjacent to the first section. The second section is adapted to receive a second portion of the at least one first battery. The adapter further includes an articulating joint disposed between the first section and the second section. The articulating joint is adapted to selectively articulate the first section relative to the second section to move the adapter between a first position and a second position. In the first position, the adapter is adapted to be aligned in the battery compartment. In the second position, the adapter is adapted to be removably secured in the battery compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: Mark A. Yoder
  • Patent number: 11612548
    Abstract: The invention relates to a radiation-curable radiopaque dental composition comprising a resin matrix comprising cross-linkable component(s) as Component A, ethylenically unsaturated component(s) with acidic moiety as Component B, an initiator system comprising photoinitiator(s) as Component C, reducing agent(s) as Component D, Component A containing at least two (meth)acrylate moieties and a brominated aromatic moiety selected from brominated resorcinol, catechol, tyrosol, benzoic acid, or phenol moieties. The composition can be used for producing an x-ray visible dental adhesive composition, restoration primer or dental sealant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Christoph H. Thalacker, Adrian S. Eckert, Henry Loll, Karsten Dede
  • Patent number: 11612195
    Abstract: The present disclosure is particularly adapted for determining whether the condition of personal protection equipment PPE articles satisfies at least one criterion. A method and system provide at least one predetermined criterion that governs use of the PPE article in a working environment; a PPE article is configured with a smart tag, and a sensing device is provided that is configured to sense data in a working environment related to the predetermined criterion. Acquired data from the sensing device and the smart tag are processed in a data processing system to determine whether the condition of the PPE article satisfies the at least one predetermined criterion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Thomas I. Insley, Lawrence J. Ptasienski, Neal A. Rakow, Cristina U. Thomas
  • Patent number: 11609202
    Abstract: A technique may include applying a first electrical signal to a first pair of drive electrodes, and, while applying the first electrical signal to the first pair of drive electrodes, determining a first measured voltage using a first measurement electrode. The technique further may include applying a second electrical signal to a second pair of drive electrodes, and, while applying the second electrical signal to the second pair of drive electrodes, determining a second measured voltage using a second, different measurement electrode. The first pair of drive electrodes, the second pair of drive electrodes, the first measurement electrode, and the second, different measurement electrode may from a set of N electrodes electrically coupled to the material. The technique also may include determining whether the material includes a crack or other defect based on a comparison between the first measured voltage and the second measured voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: David H. Redinger, Christopher R. Yungers, Eric M. Chinnock, Jennifer F. Schumacher
  • Patent number: 11607775
    Abstract: A coated abrasive disc includes a disc backing having an outer circumference. An abrasive layer is disposed on the disc backing. The abrasive layer comprises triangular abrasive platelets secured to a major surface of the disc backing by at least one binder material. The triangular abrasive platelets are outwardly disposed at regularly-spaced points along a spiral pattern extending outwardly toward the outer circumference. Each triangular abrasive platelet has respective top and bottom surfaces connected to each other, and separated by, three sidewalls. On a respective basis, one sidewall of at least 90 percent of the triangular abrasive platelets is disposed facing and proximate to the disc backing, and at least 70 percent of the triangular abrasive platelets are disposed in a recurring sequential orientation having an oscillating Z-axis rotational orientation of the first respective sidewall relative to the tangents to the spiral pattern at regularly-spaced points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Thomas P. Hanschen, Steven J. Keipert, Joseph B. Eckel, Aaron K. Nienaber, Erin D. Spring, Brant A. Moegenburg, Eric M. Moore, Thomas J. Nelson
  • Patent number: 11607776
    Abstract: An abrasive agglomerate particle includes fused aluminum oxide mineral bonded in a vitreous matrix. The fused aluminum oxide mineral is present in a range from 70 percent by weight to 95 percent by weight and the vitreous matrix is present at least at five percent by weight, based on the weight of the abrasive agglomerate particle. The fused aluminum oxide mineral has an average particle size of up to 300 micrometers, and the abrasive agglomerate particle has a frusto-pyramidal shape with side walls having a taper angle in a range from 2 to 15 degrees and a dimension of at least 400 micrometers. The abrasive agglomerate particles are useful in abrasive articles. The method includes contacting the workpiece with an abrasive article and moving the workpiece and the abrasive article relative to each other to abrade the workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Mark A. Lukowski, Brian D. Goers, Negus B. Adefris, Scott W. Peterson
  • Patent number: 11608287
    Abstract: Methods for making articles comprising crystalline material. Exemplary articles made by a method described herein include electronics enclosure (e.g., a watch case, cellular phone case, or a tablet case).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Anatoly Z. Rosenflanz, Jason D. Anderson, Noah O. Shanti, Fabian Stolzenburg, Jean A. Tangeman
  • Patent number: D982753
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: Christopher P. Henderson
  • Patent number: D983174
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: William P. Atwood, Yi-Chi Huang, Jeffrey L. Hamer, Paul D. Henry