Patents by Inventor Brian Kenneth Nelson

Brian Kenneth Nelson 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: 6795636
    Abstract: A glass article comprising a glass substrate and a diamond-like film deposited on the substrate is disclosed. The glass article is desirably responsive to actinic radiation, such as being capable of demonstrating a change in refractive index upon exposure to actinic radiation. The film permits passage of the actinic radiation. through the film and into the substrate. In specific implementations, the film comprises at least about 30 atomic percent carbon, from about 0 to about 50 atomic percent silicon, and from about 0 to about 50 atomic percent oxygen on a hydrogen-free basis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2004
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Bryon James Cronk, Trevor Wayne MacDougall, Moses Mekala David, Brian John Gates, Brian Kenneth Nelson, James Francis Brennan, III
  • Patent number: 6696157
    Abstract: A diamond-like glass film is disclosed. In specific implementations, the film includes a diamond-like glass containing at least about 30 atomic percent carbon, at least about 25 atomic percent silicon, and less than or equal to about 45 atomic percent oxygen on a hydrogen-free basis. The diamond-like glass film may be applied to various substrates. The invention is also directed to articles having a diamond-like glass film, methods of making the articles, and apparatus for making the film and to articles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Moses Mekala David, Brian John Gates, Brian Kenneth Nelson, Louis C. Haddad, Joel Rivard Dufresne
  • Patent number: 6643440
    Abstract: A coated optical fiber adjusted to operate at a predetermined temperature range. The coated fiber includes an optical fiber, a first polymer coating generally concentrically surrounding the optical fiber and a second polymer coating generally concentrically surrounding the first polymer coating, wherein the first polymer coating includes substantially no coefficient of thermal expansion stresses when the optical fiber is placed at a lower end of the temperature range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Thomas Martin Lynch, Brian Kenneth Nelson, James Craig Novack, James Robert Onstott
  • Patent number: 6630209
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a coated optical fiber including the step of determining a desired temperature operating range of a coated optical fiber having at least one critical limit. The intercoating delamination stresses at the critical limit of said temperature range are determined. A zero-stress temperature region using the critical limit and the delamination stresses is then selected. An optical fiber is provided and the optical fiber is coated with a first polymer coating. The first polymer coating is exposed to a source of actinic radiation, wherein the source of actinic radiation generates heat. A second polymer coating including a photopolymerizable composition is applied to the optical fiber directly on the first polymer coating. The second polymer coating is cured, where at the time the second polymer coating is cured the first polymer coating is at the zero-stress temperature region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2003
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Thomas Martin Lynch, Brian Kenneth Nelson, James Craig Novack, James Robert Onstott
  • Patent number: 6532327
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing an optical fiber refractive index grating. The method comprises the steps of, providing a substantially twist-free length of an optical fiber between a first spool and a second spool before attaching the first spool and the second spool to a support having a first surface opposite a second surface. The support and spools provide a filament organizer including the first spool as a lockable spool and the second spool as a rotary spool. The filament organizer further comprises a tensioner coupled to the rotary spool to apply tension to at least a central portion of the length of an optical fiber disposed between the lockable spool and the rotary spool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Anthony William Gatica, Bryon James Cronk, William Vogel Dower, John Thomas Cowher, Stephen Paul LeBlanc, Dwayne L. LaBrake, Brian Kenneth Nelson, Christopher B. Walker, Jr., Ronald Phillip Pepin, Brian John Gates
  • Publication number: 20030039440
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing an optical fiber refractive index grating. The method comprises the steps of, providing a substantially twist-free length of an optical fiber between a first spool and a second spool before attaching the first spool and the second spool to a support having a first surface opposite a second surface. The support and spools provide a filament organizer including the first spool as a lockable spool and the second spool as a rotary spool. The filament organizer further comprises a tensioner coupled to the rotary spool to apply tension to at least a central portion of the length of an optical fiber disposed between the lockable spool and the rotary spool.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2001
    Publication date: February 27, 2003
    Applicant: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Anthony William Gatica, Bryon James Cronk, William Vogel Dower, John Thomas Cowher, Stephen Paul LeBlanc, Dwayne L. LaBrake, Brian Kenneth Nelson, Christopher B. Walker, Ronald Phillip Pepin, Brian John Gates
  • Publication number: 20030026988
    Abstract: A coated optical fiber adjusted to operate at a predetermined temperature range. The coated fiber includes an optical fiber, a first polymer coating generally concentrically surrounding the optical fiber and a second polymer coating generally concentrically surrounding the first polymer coating, wherein the first polymer coating includes substantially no coefficient of thermal expansion stresses when the optical fiber is placed at a lower end of the temperature range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2002
    Publication date: February 6, 2003
    Applicant: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Thomas Martin Lynch, Brian Kenneth Nelson, James Craig Novack, James Robert Onstott
  • Patent number: 6503327
    Abstract: A filament coating apparatus comprising a frame including a first filament holding fixture and a second holding fixture for releasably securing a filament adjacent to an extrusion coating fixture also attached to said frame. The extrusion coating fixture comprises a guide rod, a carriage movably mounted on the guide rod, and a coating head including an opening for directing a curable coating composition to a filament positioned in a channel formed in the coating head. A radiation source is aligned to the coating head for radiation curing of the curable coating composition applied to the filament. Both the coating head and the radiation source are joined to the carriage to move relative to a portion of a filament during application of curable coating composition to its surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2003
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: Brian Kenneth Nelson
  • Publication number: 20020182325
    Abstract: A filament coating apparatus comprising a frame including a first filament holding fixture and a second holding fixture for releasably securing a filament adjacent to an extrusion coating fixture also attached to said frame. The extrusion coating fixture comprises a guide rod, a carriage movably mounted on the guide rod, and a coating head including an opening for directing a curable coating composition to a filament positioned in a channel formed in the coating head. A radiation source is aligned to the coating head for radiation curing of the curable coating composition applied to the filament. Both the coating head and the radiation source are joined to the carriage to move relative to a portion of a filament during application of curable coating composition to its surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2001
    Publication date: December 5, 2002
    Applicant: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: Brian Kenneth Nelson
  • Publication number: 20010006703
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a coated optical fiber including the step of determining a desired temperature operating range of a coated optical fiber having at least one critical limit. The intercoating delamination stresses at the critical limit of said temperature range are determined. A zero-stress temperature region using the critical limit and the delamination stresses is then selected. An optical fiber is provided and the optical fiber is coated with a first polymer coating. The first polymer coating is exposed to a source of actinic radiation, wherein the source of actinic radiation generates heat. A second polymer coating including a photopolymerizable composition is applied to the optical fiber directly on the first polymer coating. The second polymer coating is cured, where at the time the second polymer coating is cured the first polymer coating is at the zero-stress temperature region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2001
    Publication date: July 5, 2001
    Applicant: 3M Innovative Properties company
    Inventors: Thomas Martin Lynch, Brian Kenneth Nelson, James Craig Novack, James Robert Onstott