Patents by Inventor Daniel J. Schmidt

Daniel J. Schmidt 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: 12372693
    Abstract: A light control film comprises a light input surface and a light output surface opposite the light input surface. Alternating transmissive regions and absorptive regions are disposed between the light input surface and the light output surface. The absorptive regions have an aspect ratio of at least 30 and the alternating transmissive region and absorptive regions have a relative transmission at a viewing angle of 0 degrees of at least 75%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2025
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Daniel J. Schmidt, Caleb T. Nelson, Kevin W. Gotrik, Raymond J. Kenney, John A. Wheatley, Kenneth A. Epstein, Gary T. Boyd, Corey D. Balts
  • Publication number: 20250237793
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a coated microstructured film. The coated microstructured film includes microstructures extending across a first surface of the microstructured film and a coating disposed on a first portion of at least some of the microstructures. The coating includes a polymer that is the reaction product of a composition comprising at least one of a phenol or a polyphenol. A second portion lacks some or all of the coating. A method of making the coated microstructured film is also provided. The method includes obtaining a microstructured film, applying a coating containing one or more polyelectrolytes to at least some of the microstructures, and removing at least a portion of the coating from a second portion of the coated microstructures to provide the coating disposed on a first portion of the coated microstructures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2022
    Publication date: July 24, 2025
    Inventors: Daniel J. Schmidt, Brylee David Tiu, Caleb T. Nelson, Kevin W. Gotrik
  • Publication number: 20250230335
    Abstract: Articles (100) are provided including a substrate (110) and a coating (120) disposed on a major surface (112) of the substrate. The coating includes one or more polyelectrolytes, a photocleavable polymer, and optionally a light absorbing material. The light absorbing material is present and/or the photocleavable polymer includes one or more polymers of any of specific formulas. Methods of making an article are additionally provided. The method includes applying a coating to a major surface of a substrate. Optionally, the method includes selectively irradiating the article with light and rinsing the irradiated article to remove portions of the coating to provide an article in which the coating is present on the substrate in a pattern.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2022
    Publication date: July 17, 2025
    Inventors: Constantin-Christian A. Voll, Brylee David B. Tiu, Daniel J. Schmidt
  • Publication number: 20250231330
    Abstract: A light control film includes a two-dimensional array of projections arranged across the light control film. A square of a magnitude of a Fourier transform frequency spectrum of the projections includes an annular continuous peak and a corresponding annular continuous full width (FW) at 15% maximum. The peak and the FW vary by no more than about respective factors of 10 and 3 along the annular continuous peak.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2022
    Publication date: July 17, 2025
    Inventors: Raymond J. Kenney, Yehuda E. Altabet, John M. DeSutter, Kenneth A.P. Meyer, Nicholas C. Erickson, Martin B. Wolk, James M. Nelson, Daniel J. Schmidt, Caleb T. Nelson
  • Patent number: 12320993
    Abstract: Light control films comprise a light input surface and alight output surface opposite the light input surface and alternating transmissive regions and absorptive regions disposed between the light input surface and the light output surface. The absorptive regions have an aspect ratio of at least 30 and are canted in the same direction. The alternating transmissive regions and absorbing regions have a maximum relative transmission at a viewing angle other than 0 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2025
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Raymond J. Kenney, Owen M. Anderson, Kevin W. Gotrik, Nicholas A. Johnson, Kenneth A. P. Meyer, Caleb T. Nelson, Daniel J. Schmidt
  • Patent number: 12313864
    Abstract: A light control film comprises a light input surface and a light output surface; alternating transmissive regions and absorptive regions disposed between the light input surface and the light output surface; and TIR cladding layers. The TIR cladding layer having a refractive index, nTIR. The transmissive regions alternate between high refractive index transmissive regions having a refractive index, n2, and low refractive index transmissive regions having a refractive index, n1. The absorptive regions comprise a core having a refractive index, ncore, adjacent an AR cladding layer; wherein n1<n2 and nTIR<n2. The TIR cladding layers are adjacent the high refractive index transmissive regions. The cores have an aspect ratio of at least 20. The high refractive index transmissive regions have a wall angle of 6 degrees or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2025
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Tao Liu, Nicholas A. Johnson, Raymond J. Kenney, Caleb T. Nelson, Daniel J. Schmidt
  • Patent number: 12287502
    Abstract: A light control film is described comprising a light input surface and alight output surface opposite the light input surface; alternating transmissive regions and absorptive regions disposed between the light input surface and the light output surface, wherein the absorptive regions comprise light-absorbing or light-reflecting particles and a dried aqueous dispersion of an organic polymer. The light control film can have improved on-axis transmission in combination with sufficiently high sheet resistance such that the film does not detract from the responsiveness of a touch screen of an electronic device. Also described is a coated article and method of making.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2025
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Daniel J. Schmidt, Kevin W. Gotrik, James E. Lockridge, Caleb T. Nelson, Bradley L. Givot, Morgan A. Priolo, Luke A. Schroeder
  • Publication number: 20250130352
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a coated microstructured film (100a-c). The coated film includes microstructures (110) extending across a first surface of the microstructured film (100a-e) and a coating (130) on a first portion of at least some of the microstructures (110). The coating (130) includes one or more polyelectrolytes and has an average thickness T. A second portion of the coated microstructures either lacks the coating or has the coating with an average thickness of no more than 50% of T. The coating (130) is essentially free of any light absorptive material. A method of making the coated microstructured film (100a-c) is also provided. The method includes obtaining a microstructured film (100a), applying a coating (130) containing one or more polyelectrolytes to at least some of the microstructures (110), and removing at least some of the coating (130) from a second portion of the coated microstructures. Additionally, the present disclosure provides a method of making a light control film (110d.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2022
    Publication date: April 24, 2025
    Inventors: Daniel J. Schmidt, Morgan A. Priolo, Caleb T. Nelson, Kevin W. Gotrik
  • Publication number: 20250067914
    Abstract: A light control film is described comprising alternating transmissive regions and absorptive regions disposed between the light input surface and the light output surface. The absorptive regions have an aspect ratio of at least 30. In some embodiments, an absorptive layer or reflective layer is disposed between the alternating transmissive regions and absorptive regions and the light input surface and/or light output surface. In another embodiment, the alternating transmissive regions comprise an absorptive material. The light control film can exhibit low transmission of visible light and high transmission of near infrared light. Also described is a light detection system comprising such light control films and a microstructured film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2024
    Publication date: February 27, 2025
    Inventors: Daniel J. Schmidt, Caleb T. Nelson, Kevin W. Gotrik, Raymond J. Kenney, Kenneth A. Epstein, Gary T. Boyd, Corey D. Balts, Morgan A. Priolo, John A. Wheatley, Elisa M. Cross
  • Patent number: 12201005
    Abstract: An optical system includes an optical film curved about a first axis and a light control film curved about the first axis. The light control film can be disposed between a light source and the optical film. The optical film includes a microstructured first major surface and an opposing second major surface. The microstructured first major surface defines a linear Fresnel lens including a plurality of Fresnel elements extending longitudinally along the first axis. The first major surface of the optical film faces the light control film. The light control film can include a plurality of alternating optically transmissive and optically absorptive regions extending longitudinally along the first axis such that in a cross-section orthogonal to the first axis, for at least a majority of the optically transmissive regions, a centerline between adjacent optically absorptive regions is substantially normal to a major surface of the light control film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2024
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Tao Liu, Gary T. Boyd, Daniel J. Schmidt, Caleb T. Nelson, Owen M. Anderson, Tri D. Pham, Encai Hao, Shu-Ching Fan
  • Patent number: 12174407
    Abstract: A light control film is described comprising alternating transmissive regions and absorptive regions disposed between the light input surface and the light output surface. The absorptive regions have an aspect ratio of at least 30. In some embodiments, an absorptive layer or reflective layer is disposed between the alternating transmissive regions and absorptive regions and the light input surface and/or light output surface. In another embodiment, the alternating transmissive regions comprise an absorptive material. The light control film can exhibit low transmission of visible light and high transmission of near infrared light. Also described is a light detection system comprising such light control films and a microstructured film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2024
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Daniel J. Schmidt, Caleb T. Nelson, Kevin W. Gotrik, Raymond J. Kenney, Kenneth A. Epstein, Gary T. Boyd, Corey D. Balts, Morgan A. Priolo, John A. Wheatley, Elisa M. Cross
  • Publication number: 20240411061
    Abstract: A light control film includes a two-dimensional array of projections arranged across the light control film. A square of a magnitude of a Fourier transform frequency spectrum of the projections includes a plurality of distinct peaks separated by one or more valleys. The peaks and the one or more valleys have respective averages Pavg and Vavg, Pavg/Vavg?5, such that when light from a substantially Lambertian light source is incident on the light control film, the light control film transmits the incident light with the transmitted light propagating along a transmission axis and having an intensity profile having a full width at half maximum of less than about 120 degrees in each cross-section of the intensity profile that comprises the transmission axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2022
    Publication date: December 12, 2024
    Inventors: Raymond J. Kenney, Yehuda E. Altabet, John M. DeSutter, Kenneth A.P. Meyer, Nicholas C. Erickson, Martin B. Wolk, James M. Nelson, Daniel J. Schmidt, Caleb T. Nelson
  • Publication number: 20240288703
    Abstract: A light control layer includes alternating transmissive and absorptive regions, along one or two dimensions. The light control layer may be substantially transparent, or have high transmission, for light incident at or near a normal angle to its surface, while absorbing light incident at angles away from normal. The height of the absorptive region, defined orthogonal to the local display surface, may be much greater than the width of the absorptive region resulting in a high aspect ratio structure. The width of the absorptive region may be relatively thin compared to the width of a pixel in a display. The light control layer may be applied to a display or incorporated into a display. The light control layer may be part of a film stack including other functional layers that cooperatively provide desirable optical properties.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2022
    Publication date: August 29, 2024
    Inventors: Nicholas C. Erickson, Raymond J. Kenney, Daniel J. Schmidt, Brett J. Sitter, Kevin W. Gotrik, Stephen M. Menke, Jathan D. Edwards
  • Publication number: 20240279161
    Abstract: An azido-containing monomer, a polymer containing monomeric units derived from the azido-containing monomer, and various articles containing a substrate and a coating layer of the polymer positioned on the substrate are provided. The azido groups, which are pendant groups of the polymer, can undergo a click chemistry reaction with an unsaturated compound such as those having a terminal —C?CH group, a dibenzocyclooctyne-containing group, an unsaturated bicyclic olefinic group, or an amido group. The click chemistry reaction can be used to covalently attach a fluorescent or bioactive compound to the polymer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2022
    Publication date: August 22, 2024
    Inventors: Brylee David B. Tiu, Stephen B. Roscoe, Daniel J. Schmidt, Joshua M. Fishman
  • Patent number: 12066329
    Abstract: An optical device is disclosed and includes an optical sensor, a plurality of photosensitive pixels disposed on the optical sensor, a wavelength-selective optical filter in optical communication with the photosensitive pixels, and a plurality of spatially-variant written regions disposed in the optical filter, the written regions having a transmission spectrum and each of the written regions being larger than each of the pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: John A. Wheatley, Mark A. Roehrig, Audrey A. Sherman, Del R. Lawson, Gilles J. Benoit, Daniel J. Schmidt, Jonah Shaver, Raymond J. Kenney, Zhaohui Yang
  • Publication number: 20240276851
    Abstract: An optical system includes an optical film curved about a first axis and a light control film curved about the first axis. The light control film can be disposed between a light source and the optical film. The optical film includes a microstructured first major surface and an opposing second major surface. The microstructured first major surface defines a linear Fresnel lens including a plurality of Fresnel elements extending longitudinally along the first axis. The first major surface of the optical film faces the light control film. The light control film can include a plurality of alternating optically transmissive and optically absorptive regions extending longitudinally along the first axis such that in a cross-section orthogonal to the first axis, for at least a majority of the optically transmissive regions, a centerline between adjacent optically absorptive regions is substantially normal to a major surface of the light control film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2024
    Publication date: August 15, 2024
    Inventors: Tao Liu, Gary T. Boyd, Daniel J. Schmidt, Caleb T. Nelson, Owen M. Anderson, Tri D. Pham, Encai Hao, Shu-Ching Fan
  • Publication number: 20240230961
    Abstract: An optical construction includes a lens film having a structured first major surface having a plurality of microlenses and an opposing second major surface. A light absorbing layer is disposed on the second major surface and has an average thickness of greater than about 0.5 microns and an optical density of greater than about 3. A plurality of openings are provided in the light absorbing layer. A major surface of the light absorbing layer includes a plurality of irregular features imparting an average mean square height Sq of greater than about 0.05 microns. In a cross-section, the opening includes opposing first and second sidewalls having respective first and second best linear fits with respective r-squared values R1 and R2 and respective linear slope magnitudes S1 and S2, each of R1 and R2 greater than about 0.8. S1 and S2 within 30% of each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2022
    Publication date: July 11, 2024
    Inventors: Daniel J. Schmidt, Kevin W. Gotrik, Kundapur Raveesh Shenoy, Przemyslaw P. Markowicz, Zhaohui Yang
  • Publication number: 20240210600
    Abstract: An optical system includes an optical film curved about a first axis and a light control film curved about the first axis and substantially coextensive with the optical film. The optical film includes a first layer including a microstructured first major surface where the microstructured first major surface defines a linear Fresnel lens including a plurality of Fresnel elements extending along the first axis. The first major surface of the optical film faces the light control film. The light control film includes a plurality of spaced apart optically absorptive regions extending along the first axis and along a direction substantially normal to a major surface of the light control film. At least one of the optical film or at least one layer disposed between the optical film and the light control film includes at least one reflection mitigation element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2022
    Publication date: June 27, 2024
    Inventors: Tao Liu, Shu-Ching Fan, Gary T. Boyd, David Scott Thompson, Caleb T. Nelson, Tri D. Pham, Adam T. Ringberg, Daniel J. Schmidt, Owen M. Anderson
  • Publication number: 20240192544
    Abstract: A light control film comprises a light input surface and a light output surface opposite the light input surface; alternating transmissive regions and absorptive regions disposed between the light input surface and the light output surface, wherein the absorptive regions comprise a core having a first concentration, C1, of a light absorbing material sandwiched between cladding layers having a second concentration, C2, of the light absorbing material, wherein C2<C1, and wherein the cores have an aspect ratio of at least 20.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2024
    Publication date: June 13, 2024
    Inventors: Daniel J. Schmidt, Kevin W. Gotrik, Nicholas A. Johnson, Raymond J. Kenney, Caleb T. Nelson, Kenneth A. Epstein
  • Patent number: 12004410
    Abstract: An optical system includes a light source, an optical film curved about a first axis, and a light control film curved about the first axis and disposed between the light source and the optical film. The optical film includes a microstructured first major surface and an opposing second major surface. The microstructured first major surface defines a linear Fresnel lens including a plurality of Fresnel elements extending longitudinally along the first axis. The first major surface of the optical film faces the light control film. The light control film includes a plurality of alternating optically transmissive and optically absorptive regions extending longitudinally along the first axis such that in a cross-section orthogonal to the first axis, for at least a majority of the optically transmissive regions, a centerline between adjacent optically absorptive regions is substantially normal to a major surface of the light control film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Tao Liu, Gary T. Boyd, Daniel J. Schmidt, Caleb T. Nelson, Owen M. Anderson, Tri D. Pham, Encai Hao, Shu-Ching Fan