Patents Examined by Nancy Rosenberg
  • Patent number: 10040094
    Abstract: In one example, article comprising a substrate defining an outer surface; a plurality of joint conduits formed in the outer surface of the substrate, wherein each conduit of the plurality of joint conduits exhibits an undercut configuration; and a coating formed on the outer surface of the substrate, wherein the coating substantially fills the plurality of joint conduits formed in the surface of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew Joseph Lazur, Kang N. Lee, Adam Lee Chamberlain
  • Patent number: 8790766
    Abstract: The present invention can provide a polymer film having an Ra (arithmetic average roughness) of 0.5 ?m to 2.5 ?m, an Ry (maximum height) of 3 ?m to 11 ?m, an Rz (ten-point average height) of 3 ?m to 8 ?m, and a light transmittance of 85% or higher. A preferable embodiment of the present invention can provide, at the same time, an optical diffusion function, an improved luminance, a transmittance and the like which are of a sufficient level not realized conventionally. In a still preferable embodiment, Sm (average concave-concave/convex-convex interval) of 90 ?m to 160 ?m and the average inter-local peak interval (S) is 5 ?m to 15 ?m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignees: MGC Filsheet Co., Ltd., Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Company Inc.
    Inventors: Kenji Kato, Katsushige Hayashi, Jun Yokoyama, Mitsuo Miura, Tsutomu Nara
  • Patent number: 8747991
    Abstract: An optical device is provided and includes a substrate having a three-dimensionally random concave-convex shape on the surface thereof, and a hard coat layer formed on the substrate, wherein a projection height with the maximum frequency on the substrate surface falls within the range of 1.5 ?m or more and not more than 10 ?m. Projections larger than the projection height with the maximum frequency on the substrate surface have a height falling within +3 ?m from a central value of the projection height with the maximum frequency. A length RSm in a lateral direction of concaves and convexes on the substrate surface is 55 ?m or more and not more than 500 ?m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Eiki Ohyanagi, Hitoshi Watanabe, Mikihisa Mizuno, Masanori Nishiyama
  • Patent number: 8734929
    Abstract: Hydrophobic composites, as well as methods for making a hydrophobic composite, are provided. A hydrophobic composite may include a plurality of nanostructures elongated from one or more supports and having a configuration characterized by a first hydrophobicity, and at least one substance characterized by a second hydrophobicity and configured to at least partially cover one or more portions of the plurality of nanostructures such that the overall hydrophobicity of the hydrophobic composite is greater than the first hydrophobicity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: SNU R&DB Foundation
    Inventors: Yong Hyup Kim, Seung Min Lee
  • Patent number: 8685523
    Abstract: There are provided an optical surface protection film capable of permitting even a visual inspection of a coated body having a fine roughness, such as a prism sheet, to be performed under the condition that the protection film is attached to the coated body and excelling in adhesion reliability without an optical adverse effect on the coated body, and an optical film with the surface protection film. The optical surface protection film (1) has a base material layer (10) and an adhesive layer (12) stacked on one surface of the base material layer. The surface of the base material layer (10) on the side of the adhesive layer (12) has an arithmetic surface average roughness (Ra2) of 0.65 ?m or less. The other surface of the base material layer (10) has an arithmetic surface average roughness (Ra1) of 0.6 ?m or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Nitto Denko Corporation
    Inventors: Takumi Yutou, Shinichi Takada, Mitsushi Yamamoto, Kazuhito Okumura
  • Patent number: 8652610
    Abstract: Fibrous products are disclosed containing an additive composition. The additive composition, for instance, comprises a water-soluble film forming component, a first water-soluble modifier component and a hydrophobic polymer component. In some aspects, the additive composition further comprises an additional water-soluble modifier component. The additive composition may be incorporated into the fibrous web by being combined with the fibers that are used to form the web. Alternatively, the additive composition may be topically applied to the web after the web has been formed. In one aspect, the additive composition may be applied to the web as a creping adhesive during a creping operation. The additive composition may improve the perceived softness of the web without substantially affecting the absorbency of the web in an adverse manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Dave Allen Soerens, Frank Gerald Druecke, Cathleen M. Uttecht
  • Patent number: 8597767
    Abstract: To provide an optical element having excellent adhesion to a lamination film, a roller nanoimprint apparatus, and a production method of a mold roller are disclosed. In at least one embodiment of the present invention, an optical element includes a nanostructure film including recesses and protrusions in nanometer size formed continuously on a surface of the nanostructure film and a lamination film laminated on the nanostructure film. The nanostructure film includes a nanostructure-free region free from the recesses and protrusions in nanometer size in both ends along a longitudinal direction of the nanostructure film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Nobuaki Yamada, Akiyoshi Fujii, Tokio Taguchi, Hidekazu Hayashi
  • Patent number: 8568869
    Abstract: Optical bodies are disclosed that include an optical film and at least one rough strippable skin layer. The at least one rough strippable skin layer can include a continuous phase and a disperse phase. In some embodiments, the at least one rough strippable skin layer can include a first polymer, a second polymer different from the first polymer and an additional material that is substantially immiscible in at least one of the first and second polymers. In some exemplary embodiments, a surface of the at least one rough strippable skin layer adjacent to the optical film comprises a plurality of protrusions and the adjacent surface of the optical film comprises a plurality of asymmetric depressions substantially corresponding to said plurality of protrusions. Methods of making such exemplary optical bodies are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Timothy J. Hebrink, Carl A. Stover, Martin E. Denker, Jeffery N. Jackson, Kristopher J. Derks, Michael F. Weber, Anna A. Kobilansky, Joan M. Strobel, Barry S. Rosell, John P. Purcell, Kevin M. Hamer, Robert D. Taylor, William B. Black, Richard J. Thompson, Gregory L. Bluem
  • Patent number: 8372505
    Abstract: An anti-glare member prevents reflection of external light by surfaces of displays or screens without causing reduction of contrast and glare of displayed images. The anti-glare member has an anti-glare layer comprising microparticles and a transparent binder wherein the microparticles are black microparticles having a value (n), obtained by dividing absolute value of complex index of refraction of the black microparticles by index of refraction of the transparent binder, of 0.95 to 1.05. The arithmetical mean roughness (Ra) according to JIS B0601:2001 of surface of the anti-glare layer is 0.3 to 1.0 ?m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Kimoto Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideki Etori, Takayuki Aikawa, Takehiro Sasaki
  • Patent number: 8309202
    Abstract: There is provided a hard-coated film that includes a thermoplastic film and a hard coat layer placed thereon, has high surface hardness, is prevented from forming interference iris patterns, does not reduce image sharpness when used for antireflection films, and is prevented from causing screen glittering, external light reflection, or coloration irregularity of reflected light. The hard-coated film includes a polyester film and a hard coat layer placed on at least one side of the polyester film, wherein the hard coat layer has a surface with irregularities, an interface between the polyester film and the hard coat layer has irregularities, and the surface of the hard coat layer has 3D surface roughness parameters including an arithmetical mean deviation of surface Sa of from 15 nm to less than 150 nm and a kurtosis of surface height distribution Sku of from 1.5 to 5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Toray Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Satoshi Kojima, Takashi Mimura, Yu Abe
  • Patent number: 8268435
    Abstract: Retroreflective sheeting (10) comprising a retroreflecting layer (12), which has an array of retroreflective elements (34) formed thereon, and a divergence-enhancing layer (14) which is positioned in front of the retroreflecting layer (12). The divergence-enhancing layer (14) has localized aberration regions (42) which change the divergence of light traveling therethrough. The placement of the localized aberration regions (42) relative to the retroreflective elements (34) broadens the divergence range of the sheeting (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Avery Dennison Corporation
    Inventor: Kejian (Kevin) Huang
  • Patent number: 8182898
    Abstract: A touch panel of the invention comprises a first panel having a first film base with transparency and a first transparent conductive thin film provided on one surface of the first film base; and a second panel having a second film base with transparency and a second transparent conductive thin film provided on one surface of the second film base, wherein the first panel and the second panel are arranged so as to face each other with a spacer therebetween, in such a manner that the first conductive thin film and the second conductive thin film face each other, wherein the surface of the first conductive thin film has a hardness of 1 GPa or more and a modulus of elasticity of 5 GPa or more, the surface of the second conductive thin film has a center line average roughness (Ra) of 0.3 nm to 1.0 nm, and that of the center line average roughness (Ra) of the surface of the second conductive thin film is smaller than that of the surface of the first conductive thin film. The touch panel has good durability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Nitto Denko Corporation
    Inventors: Tomotake Nashiki, Hideo Sugawara
  • Patent number: 8168287
    Abstract: The present teachings provide a fuser member. The fuser member includes a substrate, a functional layer disposed on the substrate, and an outer layer disposed on the functional layer. The outer layer includes silicon having a texture, and a conformal oleophobic coating disposed on the silicon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Kock-Yee Law, Hong Zhao
  • Patent number: 8153233
    Abstract: A surface with superhydrophobic and hydrophilic or superhydrophilic regions can be made. The hydrophilic or superhydrophilic regions can selective collect water on the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Xiaoxia Sheng, Lei Zhai, Michael F. Rubner, Robert E. Cohen
  • Patent number: 8119222
    Abstract: A pre-coated metal sheet for slot-in drive cases which has a metal sheet; chemical conversion coatings formed on both sides of the metal sheet; and a coating film formed on one of the chemical conversion coatings and containing at least one base resin selected from a polyester-series resin, an epoxy-series resin and an acrylic-series resin, at least one resin beads selected from nylon-series resin beads, fluorine-series resin beads and urethane-series resin beads, and at least one lubricant a3 selected from carnauba wax, polyethylene wax and microcrystalline wax. The coating film has a surface having an arithmetical mean deviation of the assessed profile Ra of 0.3 to 4.5 ?m and a mean width of the profile elements, RSm, of 105 to 280 ?m, and the ratio of mean particle diameter of the resin beads to coating film layer thickness of the coating film is in the range of 2.0 to 3.0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Furukawa-sky Aluminum Corp.
    Inventors: Takehiro Ozawa, Masatsugu Saito
  • Patent number: 8110278
    Abstract: The subject invention relates to a scratch-resistant optical film, which comprises: (a) a transparent substrate having a first surface and a second surface; (b) a diffusion layer on the first surface of the substrate, which has a convex-concave structure and is comprised of a first hard coat layer comprising organic particles; (c) a scratch-resistant layer on the second surface of the substrate, which is comprised of a second hard coat layer; wherein the organic particles in the first hard coat layer are formed from a polyacrylate resin which comprises at least one multi-functional acrylate monomer as polymerization units, said multi-functional acrylate monomer being in an amount from 30 to 70 wt % based on the total weight of the monomer used, and wherein the organic particles have a single mean particle size and have a particle size distribution in the range within about ±5% of the mean particle size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Eternal Chemical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Lung-Lin Hsu, Shu-Hong Liu, Chun-Hung Chou
  • Patent number: 8097327
    Abstract: Anti highlight structure for a touch panel includes a touch film of a flexible transparent thin film, a substrate of a rigid transparent plate, and a touch sensing unit has two sheets of transparent conductive film arranged with a predetermined gap between the touch film and the substrate. It further includes an anti Newton-Ring layer of a transparent thin film having at least one uneven and rough surface thereof, and a light regulating layer of a transparent thin film. A plurality of transparent granular objects is bound in a transparent matrix of the light regulating layer. The transparent granular objects and the transparent matrix have different indexes of refraction. The transparent granular objects are made of at least one material. The lights will be corrected by the complex indexes of refraction within the light regulating layer so that the highlights causing an image distortion and deformation will be eliminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Inventor: Teh-Zheng Lin
  • Patent number: 8075980
    Abstract: A self-cleaning material is generally described that may include a substrate having a first surface and a second surface. A self cleaning layer may be disposed on the first surface of the substrate. A diffraction grating may be formed in an exposed surface of the self cleaning layer, where absorption of light by the self cleaning layer incident on the exposed surface may be enhanced by the diffraction grating in accordance with a blaze condition corresponding to the diffraction grating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Empire Technology Development LLC
    Inventors: Charles A. Eldering, Edward A. Ehrlacher
  • Patent number: 7998554
    Abstract: Hydrophobic surfaces with water contact angles greater than 120 degrees are created by the deposition of nano-particles. A process for the synthesis of suitable nano-particles is described as well as a process for the deposition of the particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventors: Xiaorong Wang, Hao Wang