Patents by Inventor Brant U. Kolb

Brant U. Kolb has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8361599
    Abstract: A durable optical film or element includes a polymerized structure having a microstructured surface and a plurality of surface modified colloidal nanoparticles of silica, zirconia, or mixtures thereof. Display devices including the durable microstructured film are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Clinton L. Jones, Brant U. Kolb, Emily S. Goenner, John T. Brady, Christopher A. Haak
  • Patent number: 8354160
    Abstract: Method of forming a very hydrophobic, extremely hydrophobic or superhydrophobic surface comprising depositing a composition comprising hydrophobic microparticles, hydrophobic nanoparticles, or a mixture thereof and a binder in sufficient quantity to provide a hydrophobic or a superhydrophobic surface on a substrate having a micropatterned surface having raised portions, recessed portions or a combination thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Naiyong Jing, Kathryn M. Spurgeon, George Van Dyke Tiers, Vivian W. Jones, Brant U. Kolb, Chuntao Cao, Rudolf J. Dams
  • Publication number: 20120329959
    Abstract: Inorganic nanoparticles having a refractive index of at least 1.60 wherein the nanoparticles are surface modified with a surface treatment comprising a compound comprising a carboxylic acid end group and a C3-C8 ester repeat unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Inventors: Clinton L. Jones, Brant U. Kolb, Taun L. McKenzie, David B. Olson, Nathan K. Naismith
  • Publication number: 20120328829
    Abstract: Nano-structured layers having a random nano-structured anisotropic major surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2011
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Inventors: Kalc C. Vang, John D. Le, Moses M. David, Brant U. Kolb, Ta-Hua Yu, Robert C. Fitzer
  • Publication number: 20120277088
    Abstract: Sintered bodies containing zirconia-based ceramic materials and partially sintered bodies that are intermediates in the preparation of the sintered bodies are described. The zirconia-based ceramic material is doped with lanthanum and yttrium. The grain size of the zirconia-based ceramic material can be controlled by the addition of lanthanum. The crystalline phase of the zirconia-based ceramic material can be influenced by the addition of yttrium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2010
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Inventors: James P. Mathers, Kathleen M. Humpal, Brant U. Kolb, Mark J. Hendrickson, Myles L. Brostrom, Holger Hauptmann
  • Publication number: 20120264588
    Abstract: Zirconia-based particles, sols containing the zirconia-based particles, methods of making the sols and the zirconia-based particles, composites containing the zirconia-based particles in an organic matrix, and sintered bodies prepared from the zirconia-based particles are described. The zirconia-based particles are crystalline, have a primary particles size no greater than 100 nanometers, and are doped with a lanthanide element or with both a lanthanide element and yttrium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2010
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Inventors: Brant U. Kolb, Mark J. Hendrickson, James P. Mathers, Kathleen M. Humpal, Neeraj Sharma, Myles L. Brostrom
  • Publication number: 20120264899
    Abstract: Microstructured films such as brightness enhancing films, polymerizable resin compositions comprising an organic component and surface modified nanoparticles, and surface modified nanoparticles are described. The microstructured film has a polymerized structure comprising the reaction product of the polymerizable resin composition (e.g. having a refractive index of at least 1.58). The cured nanocomposite (e.g. structure) can exhibit improved crack resistance. In some embodiments, the flexibility is expressed in terms of a cylindrical mandrel bend test property (e.g. a mandrel size to failure of less than 6 mm or a mandrel size to failure according to the equation D=1000(T/0.025?T) wherein T is the thickness in millimeters of a (e.g. preformed base layer). In other embodiments, the flexibility is expressed in terms of a tensile and elongation property (e.g. a tensile strength at break of at least 25 MPa and an elongation at break of at least 1.75%).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2012
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Inventors: Brant U. Kolb, Clinton L. Jones, David B. Olson, Taun L. McKenzie, Nathan K. Naismith
  • Patent number: 8282863
    Abstract: Microstructured films comprising surface modified inorganic oxide particles, surface modified inorganic nanoparticles having a high refractive index, and polymerizable resins are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Clinton L. Jones, Brant U. Kolb, Taun L. McKenzie, David B. Olson, Nathan K. Naismith
  • Patent number: 8249409
    Abstract: A multifunctional optical film for enhancing light extraction includes a flexible substrate, a structured layer having nanoparticles of different sizes, and a backfill layer. The structured layer effectively uses microreplicated diffractive or scattering nanostructures located near enough to the light generation region to enable extraction of an evanescent wave from an organic light emitting diode (OLED) device. The backfill layer has a material having an index of refraction different from the index of refraction of the structured layer. The backfill layer also provides a planarizing layer over the structured layer in order to conform the light extraction film to a layer of an OLED display device. The film may have additional layers added to or incorporated within it to an emissive surface in order to effect additional functionalities beyond improvement of light extraction efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Jun-Ying Zhang, Jimmie R. Baran, Jr., Terry L. Smith, William J. Schultz, William Blake Kolb, Cheryl A. Patnaude, Sergey A. Lamansky, Brian K. Nelson, Naiyong Jing, Brant U. Kolb
  • Patent number: 8241755
    Abstract: Polymerizable compositions comprising particularly useful for brightness enhancing films.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Clinton L. Jones, Emily S. Goenner, David B. Olson, Brant U. Kolb
  • Publication number: 20120189784
    Abstract: Microstructured optical films, assemblies of films including at least one microstructured optical film, and (e.g. illuminated) display devices including a single microstructured optical film or assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Inventors: Clinton L. Jones, Brant U. Kolb, David B. Olson, Emily S. Goenner, Shandon D. Hart, John T. Cowher
  • Patent number: 8168271
    Abstract: Microstructured optical films, assemblies of films including at least one microstructured optical film, and (e.g. illuminated) display devices including a single microstructured optical film or assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Clinton L. Jones, Brant U. Kolb, David B. Olson, Emily S. Goenner, Shandon D. Hart, John T. Cowher
  • Publication number: 20120038990
    Abstract: Optical film is disclosed. The optical film includes a binder, a plurality of particles, and a plurality of interconnected voids. The volume fraction of the plurality of interconnected voids in the optical film is not less than about 20%. The weight ratio of the binder to the plurality of the particles is not less than about 1:2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2010
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Inventors: Encai Hao, William Blake Kolb, Brant U. Kolb, Brian W. Ostlie, Naiyong Jing, Michael Benton Free, Hui Ren, Robert L. Brott, Fei Lu, Audrey A. Sherman, Scott M. Tapio, Charles David Hoyle, John A. Wheatley
  • Publication number: 20120026431
    Abstract: A lightguide (3690) is disclosed. The lightguide includes a light guiding layer (3610) for propagating light by total internal reflection, and an optical film (3640) that is disposed on the light guiding layer. The optical film includes a plurality of voids, an optical haze that is not less than about 30%, and a porosity that is not less than about 20%. Substantial portions of each two neighboring major surfaces (3614, 3642) in the lightguide are in physical contact with each other. The lightguide can be used as blacklight in a display system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2010
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Inventors: William D. Coggio, John A. Wheatley, Tao Liu, Brian W. Ostlie, Encai Hao, William Blake Kolb, Qingbing Wang, Michael Benton Free, Brant U. Kolb, Michael L. Steiner, Scott M. Tapio
  • Publication number: 20120027945
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for producing a nanovoided article, a nanovoided coating, and a low refractive index coating is described. The process includes providing a first solution of a polymerizable material in a solvent; at least partially polymerizing the polymerizable material to form a composition that includes an insoluble polymer matrix and a second solution, wherein the insoluble polymer matrix includes a plurality of nanovoids that are filled with the second solution; and removing a major portion of the solvent from the second solution. An apparatus for the process is also described, and includes a webline, a coating section, a partial polymerization section, and a solvent removal section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2010
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Inventors: William Blake Kolb, Encai Hao, Brant U. Kolb, David L. Phillips
  • Publication number: 20110318538
    Abstract: Polymerizable compositions comprising particularly useful for brightness enhancing films.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2011
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Inventors: Clinton L. Jones, Emily S. Goenner, David B. Olson, Brant U. Kolb
  • Publication number: 20110250392
    Abstract: A substrate coated with a composition so as to form a planarizing layer defining a planarized surface of the substrate having an RMS surface roughness equal to or less than about 1 nm. The composition comprises in polymerized form at least one or more acrylate containing monomers, oligomers, or resins and a plurality of inorganic oxide particles that are smaller than or equal to 20 nm in size.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2009
    Publication date: October 13, 2011
    Inventors: Joseph W. Woody, V., William Blake Kolb, Brant U. Kolb
  • Patent number: 8034421
    Abstract: Polymerizable compositions comprising particularly useful for brightness enhancing films.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Clinton L. Jones, Emily S. Goenner, David B. Olson, Brant U. Kolb
  • Patent number: 8026115
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an optical bonding composition that may be used in optical applications. An LED light source that utilizes the composition is also disclosed, as well as a method of making it. The LED light source may comprise: an LED die; an optical element optically coupled to the LED die; and a bonding layer comprising surface-modified metal oxide nanoparticles in an amorphous silicate network, the bonding layer bonding the LED die and the optical element together. Efficiency of the LED light source may be increased when using an optical extractor as the optical element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Amy S. Barnes, D. Scott Thompson, Brant U. Kolb, Todd A. Ballen, Jacqueline C. Rolf, Robert L. Brott
  • Patent number: 8025934
    Abstract: Polymerizable compositions comprising particularly useful for brightness enhancing films.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Clinton L. Jones, Emily S. Goenner, David B. Olson, Brant U. Kolb