Patents by Inventor David Kowitz
David Kowitz 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: 11511522Abstract: The present invention is an optically clear, curable adhesive including a polyvinylbutyral, a polyurethane (meth)acrylate, a (meth)acrylate monomer, and a photoinitiator. The polyvinylbutyral has a dynamic viscosity of between about 9 and about 13 mPa·s and a polyvinyl alcohol weight percent of less than about 18%. The polyurethane (meth)acrylate includes the reaction product of a diol, at least one diisocyanate, and a hydroxyfunctional (meth)acrylate or an isocyanatofunctional (meth)acrylate. When the optically clear, curable adhesive is placed between two transparent substrates and made into a laminate, the laminate has a haze of less than about 6%, a transmission of greater than about 88%, and an optical clarity of greater than about 98% when cured. The optically clear, curable adhesive also has a peel adhesion of at least about 100 g/cm based on ASTM 3330 when cured.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2018Date of Patent: November 29, 2022Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Lan Hong Liu, Jianhui Xia, Thomas P. Klun, David A. Kowitz, Audrey A. Sherman
-
Patent number: 11208576Abstract: The present invention is an optically clear, curable adhesive including a polyvinylbutyral, a polyurethane (meth)acrylate, and a photoinitiator. The polyvinylbutyral has a dynamic viscosity of between about 9 and about 13 mPa·s and a polyvinyl alcohol weight percent of less than about 18%. The polyurethane (meth)acrylate includes the reaction product of a diol, at least one diisocyanate, and a hydroxyfunctional (meth)acrylate or an isocyanatofunctional (meth)acrylate. When the optically clear, curable adhesive is placed between two transparent substrates and made into a laminate, the laminate has a haze of less than about 6%, a transmission of greater than about 88% and an optical clarity of greater than about 98% when cured. The optically clear, curable adhesive also has a peel adhesion of at least about 100 g/cm based on ASTM 3330 when cured.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2018Date of Patent: December 28, 2021Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Lan Hong Liu, Jianhui Xia, Thomas P. Klun, David A. Kowitz, Audrey A. Sherman
-
Publication number: 20200017720Abstract: The present invention is an optically clear, curable adhesive including a polyvinylbutyral, a polyurethane (meth)acrylate, a (meth)acrylate monomer, and a photoinitiator. The polyvinylbutyral has a dynamic viscosity of between about 9 and about 13 mPA·s and a polyvinyl alcohol weight percent of less than about 18%. The polyurethane (meth)acrylate includes the reaction product of a diol, at least one diisocyanate, and a hydroxyfunctional (meth)acrylate or an isocyanatofunctional (meth)acrylate. When the optically clear, curable adhesive is placed between two transparent substrates and made into a laminate, the laminate has a haze of less than about 6%, a transmission of greater than about 88%, and an optical clarity of greater than about 98% when cured. The optically clear, curable adhesive also has a peel adhesion of at least about 100 g/cm based on ASTM 3330 when cured.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 28, 2018Publication date: January 16, 2020Inventors: Lan Hong Liu, Jianhui Xia, Thomas P. Klun, David A. Kowitz, Audrey A. Sherman
-
Publication number: 20200002586Abstract: The present invention is an optically clear, curable adhesive including a polyvinylbutyral, a polyurethane (meth)acrylate, and a photoinitiator. The polyvinylbutyral has a dynamic viscosity of between about 9 and about 13 mPA·s and a polyvinyl alcohol weight percent of less than about 18%. The polyurethane (meth)acrylate includes the reaction product of a diol, at least one diisocyanate, and a hydroxyfunctional (meth)acrylate or an isocyanatofunctional (meth)acrylate. When the optically clear, curable adhesive is placed between two transparent substrates and made into a laminate, the laminate has a haze of less than about 6%, a transmission of greater than about 88% and an optical clarity of greater than about 98% when cured. The optically clear, curable adhesive also has a peel adhesion of at least about 100 g/cm based on ASTM 3330 when cured.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 27, 2018Publication date: January 2, 2020Inventors: Lan Hong Liu, Jianhui Xia, Thomas P. Klun, David A. Kowitz, Audrey A. Sherman
-
Patent number: 7843637Abstract: An article for use in light spreading includes a body having first and second surfaces, and first and second in-plane axes that are orthogonal with respect to each other and a third axis that is mutually orthogonal to the first and second in-plane axes in a thickness direction of the body. A portion of the first surface is a birefringent structured surface. The portion is structured such that, when the article receives a light signal within a particular range of wavelengths, the structured surface causes splitting the light signal into a plurality of divergent light signals. The article can be used for color mixing such as in a cavity providing a backlight for LCD devices or other display devices requiring a backlight.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2006Date of Patent: November 30, 2010Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Rolf W. Biernath, William W. Merrill, Robert L. Brott, David A. Kowitz
-
Publication number: 20090160738Abstract: Disclosed herein is an optical article including a multilayer optical film of alternating layers of first and second optical layers, wherein the first and second optical layers have refractive indices along at least one axis that differ by at least 0.04; and a protective layer disposed on an outer surface of the multilayer optical film, the protective layer having a thickness of less than about 0.5 um and including crosslinked hydroxylated polymer. The optical article may further include a microstructured layer disposed on an outer surface of the multilayer optical film opposite the protective layer. Also disclosed herein are a method of making the optical article and a display device including the optical article.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 19, 2007Publication date: June 25, 2009Inventors: Mark J. Pellerite, Hang K. Loi, James E. Lockridge, Gregory F. King, David A. Kowitz, Eileen M. Haus, Jeffrey A. Peterson, Richard J. Pokorny, Michael L. Steiner
-
Publication number: 20090067048Abstract: Films having a structured surface with an engineered feature, such as prism grooves, to be used in displays having a backlight. The films can be arranged in a stack having one or more of the following: birefringent brightness enhancement films, non-birefringent brightness enhancement films, polarizers, diffusers, birefringent turning films, and non-birefringent turning films. Those films can be arranged in any order from the backlight to a viewer.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 10, 2008Publication date: March 12, 2009Inventors: James M. Battiato, William W. Merrill, Leland R. Whitney, Kenneth A. Epstein, Robert L. Brott, Rolf W. Biernath, Mitsuko T. O'Neill, Stephen A. Johnson, Matthew B. Johnson, Daniel W. Hennen, William B. Black, Mark B. O'Neill, William J. Bryan, Dennis W. Wilson, Martin E. Denker, David A. Kowitz
-
Publication number: 20070297747Abstract: An article for use in light spreading includes a body having first and second surfaces, and first and second in-plane axes that are orthogonal with respect to each other and a third axis that is mutually orthogonal to the first and second in-plane axes in a thickness direction of the body. A portion of the first surface is a birefringent structured surface. The portion is structured such that, when the article receives a light signal within a particular range of wavelengths, the structured surface causes splitting the light signal into a plurality of divergent light signals. The article can be used for color mixing such as in a cavity providing a backlight for LCD devices or other display devices requiring a backlight.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 22, 2006Publication date: December 27, 2007Inventors: Rolf W. Biernath, William W. Merrill, Robert L. Brott, David A. Kowitz
-
Publication number: 20060274244Abstract: Films having a structured surface with an engineered feature, such as prism grooves, to be used in displays having a backlight. The films can be arranged in a stack having one or more of the following: birefringent brightness enhancement films, non-birefringent brightness enhancement films, polarizers, diffusers, birefringent turning films, and non-birefringent turning films. Those films can be arranged in any order from the backlight to a viewer.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 7, 2006Publication date: December 7, 2006Inventors: James Battiato, William Merrill, Leland Whitney, Kenneth Epstein, Robert Brott, Rolf Biernath, Mitsuko O'Neill, Stephen Johnson, Matthew Johnson, Daniel Hennen, William Black, Mark O'Neill, William Bryan, Dennis Wilson, Martin Denker, David Kowitz
-
Publication number: 20060204720Abstract: An article, such as a film, comprising a body portion and a surface portion is provided. The body portion has (i) a first and a second surface, and (ii) first and second in-plane axes that are orthogonal with respect to each other and a third axis that is mutually orthogonal to the first and second in-plane axis in a thickness direction of the body. The surface portion comprises a linear geometric feature disposed on the first surface of the body in a direction substantially parallel to the first in-plane axis of the polymeric body. The article has (i) a first index of refraction (n1) along the first in-plane axis, (ii) a second index of refraction (n2) along the second in-plane axis, and (iii) a third index of refraction (n3) along the third axis, wherein n2 and n3 are substantially the same but substantially different from n1; and wherein the uniaxially oriented polymeric film has a relative birefringence of 0.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 23, 2004Publication date: September 14, 2006Inventors: Rolf Biernath, William Merrill, Andrew Ouderkirk, Olester Benson, David Kowitz, Catherine Tarnowski, Robert Brott
-
Publication number: 20060141220Abstract: A process for uniaxially stretching films having a structured surface comprising a geometric feature is described. The process provides a film in which the cross sectional shape of the feature after stretching is substantially identical to the cross sectional shape of the feature prior to stretching. Structured surface articles are also described. The articles have substantially the same uniaxial orientation throughout the film, including the geometric structure.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 23, 2004Publication date: June 29, 2006Inventors: William Merrill, Olester Benson, Andrew Ouderkirk, Rolf Biernath, David Kowitz, Robert Brott
-
Publication number: 20060141218Abstract: Uniaxially Oriented Articles Having Structured Surface A process for uniaxially stretching films is having a structured surface comprising a geometric feature is described. The process provides a film in which the cross sectional shape of the feature after stretching is substantially identical to the cross sectional shape of the feature prior to stretching. Structured surface articles are also described. The articles have substantially the same uniaxial orientation throughout the film, including the geometric structure. Uniaxially oriented articles having structured surfaces are described.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 23, 2004Publication date: June 29, 2006Inventors: Rolf Biernath, Olester Benson, Andrew Ouderkirk, William Merrill, David Kowitz, Catherine Tarnowski, Robert Brott
-
Publication number: 20060141219Abstract: A roll of an article, such as a film, comprising a body portion and a surface portion is provided. The body portion has (i) a first and a second surface, and (ii) first and second in-plane axes that are orthogonal with respect to each other and a third axis that is mutually orthogonal to the first and second in-plane axis in a thickness direction of the body. The surface portion comprises a geometric feature. The roll preferably has a cushioning layer between the plies of the article in the roll.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 23, 2004Publication date: June 29, 2006Inventors: Olester Benson, Andrew Ouderkirk, David Kowitz, William Merrill, Rolf Biernath
-
Publication number: 20060138702Abstract: A process for uniaxially orienting articles having a structured surface comprising a geometric feature is described. The process comprises a step of orienting the article in a direction substantially parallel to a first in-plane axis of the article.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 23, 2004Publication date: June 29, 2006Inventors: Rolf Biernath, David Kowitz, Olester Benson, Andrew Ouderkirk, William Merrill
-
Publication number: 20060138686Abstract: A process for uniaxially stretching films having a structured surface comprising a geometric feature is described. The process provides a film in which the cross sectional shape of the feature after stretching is substantially identical to the cross sectional shape of the feature prior to stretching.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 23, 2004Publication date: June 29, 2006Inventors: Andrew Ouderkirk, Rolf Biernath, William Merrill, Olester Benson, David Kowitz