Patents by Inventor Encai Hao

Encai Hao 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).

  • Publication number: 20240122043
    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 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: October 29, 2020
    Publication date: April 11, 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: 20240109242
    Abstract: A system for laminating an adhesive to a component includes a liner including a first major surface facing the component and a second major surface opposite to the first major surface. An adhesive is disposed on the first major surface. The adhesive is configured to be laminated to the component. A support pad engages the second major surface of the liner for laminating the adhesive to the component. Each of the support pad and the liner undergoes deformation upon engagement of the support pad with the liner. The support pad includes a body made of an elastic pad material and includes an upper surface facing the component, a lower surface opposite to the upper surface, and a lateral surface disposed between the upper surface and the lower surface. The liner includes a conformable liner material having a liner elastic modulus from about 5 megapascals (MPa) to about 650 MPa.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2022
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Inventors: Ryan J. Eismin, David J. McDaniel, Encai Hao
  • Patent number: 11920063
    Abstract: The present invention is an oil-resistant adhesive composition including a hydroxy alkyl (meth)acrylate having an alkyl group containing 2 to 4 carbons, a short alkyl (meth)acrylate having an alkyl group containing 6 or less carbons, and a photo-initiator. After the adhesive composition is soaked in oleic acid at room temperature for 7 days, the adhesive composition has an expansion percent of less than about 10%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Encai Hao, Jason D. Clapper, Albert I. Everaerts, Richard B. Ross
  • Publication number: 20240059937
    Abstract: The present invention is an adhesive delivery system including a conformable film having top and bottom faces, an adhesive releasably coated on at least a portion of the top face of the conformable film, and a light release liner adhered to the adhesive side opposite the conformable film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2020
    Publication date: February 22, 2024
    Inventors: Andrew J. Stockholm, Ryan J. Eismin, Encai Hao, David J. McDaniel, Yongshang Lu, Karen J. Calverley
  • Publication number: 20240002703
    Abstract: Adhesive compositions include a pressure sensitive adhesive, and at least 2 light absorbing components dispersed within the pressure sensitive adhesive. The light absorbing components are dyes, nanopigments or a combination thereof. The light absorbing components absorb light in the wavelength range of 350-700 nanometers. A layer of the adhesive composition transmits no more than 10% of light in the wavelength range of 350-700 nanometers and transmits at least 75% of light in the wavelength range of 900-1200 nanometers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2023
    Publication date: January 4, 2024
    Inventors: Encai Hao, John Wheatley, Nicholas Untiedt
  • Publication number: 20230365840
    Abstract: High temperature and high humidity stable optically clear adhesives include a curable (meth)acrylate copolymer having a weight average molecular weight in a range of 100,000 to 400,000 Da, an optional photoinitiator, and a co-curable additive mixture. The additive mixture has at least one epoxy (meth)acrylate oligomer, at least one amine-functional (meth)acrylate, and at least one urethane (meth)acrylate oligomer. The cured adhesive composition has a shear storage modulus (G?) greater than 90 kiloPascals (kPa) when measured at 70° C. and at a frequency of 1 radian/second, and a Tan Delta of 0.2 or less at 70° C., where Tan Delta is the calculated ratio (G?/G?) of the measured shear storage modulus (G?) and shear loss modulus (G?).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2023
    Publication date: November 16, 2023
    Inventors: Encai Hao, Kristy A. Gillette
  • Publication number: 20230368569
    Abstract: An integral optical construction includes a lens layer including a structured first major surface having a plurality of microlenses. An optically opaque mask layer is disposed on the lens layer and defines a plurality of openings. Each of the openings extends from a first major surface of the mask layer facing the lens layer to an opposite second major surface of the mask layer. The openings are in a one-to-one correspondence with the microlenses. Regions of the mask layer between the openings have an optical density of greater than about 2 for at least a first visible wavelength in a visible wavelength range. An optical adhesive layer is disposed on, and makes physical contact with, the second major surface of the mask layer. The optical adhesive layer defines a recess at each of the openings. The recess includes a closed bottom and an opposite open top open to the opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2023
    Publication date: November 16, 2023
    Inventors: Kristy A. Gillette, Zhaohui Yang, Encai Hao, William J. Gray
  • Publication number: 20230266622
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display comprises a backlight module comprising a reflective polarizing film, a light control film and a liquid crystal panel disposed between the backlight module and the light control film. The light control film comprises a light input surface and a light output surface opposite the light input surface and alternating transmissive 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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2023
    Publication date: August 24, 2023
    Inventors: Nicholas A. Johnson, Encai Hao, Matthew M. Philippi
  • Patent number: 11668977
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display comprises a backlight module comprising a reflective polarizing film, a light control film and a liquid crystal panel disposed between the backlight module and the light control film. The light control film comprises a light input surface and a light output surface opposite the light input surface and alternating transmissive 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Nicholas A. Johnson, Encai Hao, Matthew M. Philippi
  • Patent number: 11629273
    Abstract: There is provided a pressure sensitive adhesive composition comprising a polyurethane polymer that comprises the reaction product of a polyisocyanate component and a polyol component. The polyol component has a hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (HLB) less than 10. The polyurethane further comprises 0.5 to 10 wt.-% of hydrophilic polymerized units having an HLB greater than 12, such as a reaction product of a polyethylene glycol polymer. In another embodiment, the polyurethane further comprises pendent ethylenically unsaturated groups. Also described are articles such as laminating tapes and protective films as well as methods of bonding substrates with the pressure sensitive adhesive and laminating tape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Yongshang Lu, Encai Hao, Jianhui Xia, Lili Qie, David T. Amos, Charlie Chia-Tie Ho, Lauren A. Polski, Richard B. Ross
  • Patent number: 11522025
    Abstract: Polymeric films, which may be adhesive films, and display devices including such polymeric films, wherein a polymeric film includes: a first polymeric layer having two major surfaces, wherein the first polymeric layer includes a first polymeric matrix and particles. The first polymeric layer includes: a first a polyolefin-based low WVTR adhesive polymeric matrix having a refractive index n1; and particles having a refractive index n2 uniformly dispersed within the first polymeric matrix; wherein the particles are present in an amount of less than 30 vol-%, based on the volume of the first polymeric layer, and have a particle size range of 400 nanometers (nm) to 3000 nm; and wherein n1 is different than n2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Encai Hao, Zhaohui Yang, Albert I. Everaerts, Yongshang Lu, William Blake Kolb, Keith R. Bruesewitz
  • Patent number: 11472909
    Abstract: Polymeric films, which may be adhesive films, and display devices including such polymeric films, wherein a polymeric film includes: a first polymeric layer having two major surfaces, wherein the first polymeric layer includes a first polymeric matrix and particles. The first polymeric layer includes: a first polymeric matrix having a refractive index n1; and particles having a refractive index n2 uniformly dispersed within the first polymeric matrix; wherein the particles are present in an amount of less than 30 vol-%, based on the volume of the first polymeric layer, and have a particle size range of 400 nanometers (nm) to 3000 nm; and wherein n1 is different than n2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Encai Hao, Zhaohui Yang, Albert I. Everaerts, Yongshang Lu, William Blake Kolb, Keith R. Bruesewitz
  • Patent number: 11435616
    Abstract: Optical constructions are disclosed. A disclosed optical construction includes a reflective polarizer layer, and an optical film that is disposed on the reflective polarizer layer. The optical film has an optical haze that is not less than about 50%. Substantial portions of each two neighboring major surfaces in the optical construction are in physical contact with each other. The optical construction has an axial luminance gain that is not less than about 1.2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Encai Hao, Fei Lu, William Blake Kolb, Brian W. Ostlie, Adam D. Haag, Michael Benton Free, William D. Coggio, Michael L. Steiner, Soemantri Widagdo, Kui Chen-Ho, Lan H. Liu, Robert F. Kamrath, Scott M. Tapio, John A. Wheatley, Charles D. Hoyle, Michael F. Weber
  • Publication number: 20220220342
    Abstract: The present invention is an oil-resistant adhesive composition including a hydroxy alkyl (meth)acrylate having an alkyl group containing 2 to 4 carbons, a short alkyl (meth)acrylate having an alkyl group containing 6 or less carbons, and a photo-initiator. After the adhesive composition is soaked in oleic acid at room temperature for 7 days, the adhesive composition has an expansion percent of less than about 10%.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2020
    Publication date: July 14, 2022
    Inventors: Encai Hao, Jason D. Clapper, Albert I. Everaerts, Richard B. Ross
  • Patent number: 11294106
    Abstract: A unitary optical film stack comprising a light redirecting film assembly; a light diffusion film assembly; and an optical adhesive; wherein the light redirecting film assembly and the light diffusion film assembly are physically coupled non-continuously to minimize optical coupling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Tri D. Pham, Qingbing Wang, Daniel J. Theis, Encai Hao, Keith R. Bruesewitz
  • Publication number: 20220043309
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display comprises a backlight module comprising a reflective polarizing film, a light control film and a liquid crystal panel disposed between the backlight module and the light control film. The light control film comprises a light input surface and a light output surface opposite the light input surface and alternating transmissive 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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2019
    Publication date: February 10, 2022
    Inventors: Nicholas A. Johnson, Encai Hao, Matthew M. Philippi
  • Publication number: 20210388149
    Abstract: Described herein is a polyester polyol, which is derived from a first reaction product of (a) a Component A, wherein the Component A is a phthalic acid, a phthalic anhydride or mixtures thereof, (b) a Component B, wherein the Component B is a dimer fatty acid, a dimer fatty acid diol or mixtures thereof, and (c) a Component C, wherein the Component C is an aliphatic diol, an aromatic diol, or mixtures thereof, wherein Component C comprises 2 to 10 carbon atoms and optionally catenated heteroatoms selected from O, S, and N. Also disclosed herein are polyurethane polymers and pressure sensitive adhesives made from the polyurethane polymers or the polyester polyols.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2019
    Publication date: December 16, 2021
    Inventors: Yongshang Lu, David T. Amos, Zhong Chen, Encai Hao, Charlie C. Ho, Yu Yang
  • Patent number: 11127927
    Abstract: Presently described is a method for coupling an optical film to a substrate, laminated optical constructions comprising an optical film and an optical coupling layer disposed on a surface layer of the optical film, and coating compositions useful for optical an optical coupling layer. The coating compositions comprise at least 40 wt.-% inorganic nanoparticles having a refractive index of at least 1.85 and a polymeric silane surface treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Encai Hao, Jonathan A. Anim-Addo, Guy D. Joly, Sergey Lamansky, James P. DiZio
  • Patent number: 11127924
    Abstract: Display devices that include: an organic light emitting diode panel having a multilayer construction including one or more adhesive films; and a polymeric film incorporated within the multilayer construction of the organic light emitting diode panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Encai Hao, Zhaohui Yang, Albert I. Everaerts, Yongshang Lu, William Blake Kolb, Keith R. Bruesewitz
  • Publication number: 20210198536
    Abstract: Phase separated articles that include a matrix phase including an acrylate copolymer; and a silicone elastomer phase stably dispersed in the matrix phase. Methods of forming phase separated articles, and articles including phase separated articles are also included.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2019
    Publication date: July 1, 2021
    Inventors: Encai HAO, Zhicheng TIAN, Dong-Wei ZHU, Zhaohui YANG, James P. DIZIO, Ying ZHANG, Junkang J. LIU, Kent C. HACKBARTH