Patents by Inventor Gareth A. Hughes

Gareth A. Hughes 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: 20230158735
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method of making an additive manufactured article. The method includes: a) attaching a multilayer structure (300, 500) to a build platform (210); b) selectively curing a photocurable composition (219) that is in contact with a porous layer (330, 530) of the multilayer structure, thereby forming an object attached to the porous layer; and c) separating the object from the build platform. The multilayer structure includes an adhesive layer (310, 510), an impermeable layer (320, 520) attached to the adhesive layer, and a porous layer (330, 530) attached to the impermeable layer. The adhesive layer of the multilayer structure is attached to the build platform. The present disclosure also provides an object made by the method, and the multilayer article used in the method. Use of the multilayer article assists in improving adhesion between the build platform and the object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2021
    Publication date: May 25, 2023
    Inventors: Gareth A. Hughes, Jeffrey N. Bartow, Steven J. Ilkka
  • Publication number: 20220395961
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a polymer bond abrasive article formed of a continuous photocured polymer matrix having abrasive particles retained therein. The photocured polymer matrix includes at least one of an optical brightener or a light absorber, and the polymer bond abrasive article has a three-dimensional shape. An abrasive tool is also provided, including the abrasive article affixed to a shaft or a pad. Further, a method of making the polymer bond abrasive article is provided, including a) obtaining a photocurable composition liquid dispersion; b) selectively curing a portion of the photocurable composition; and repeating steps a) and b) to form the polymer bond abrasive article. The dispersion contains at least one photocurable component; abrasive particles; a photoinitiator; and at least one of an optical brightener or a light absorber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2020
    Publication date: December 15, 2022
    Inventors: Tianyu Wu, Gareth A. Hughes, Bruce A. Sventek, Fabian Stolzenburg, Jing Chen, Gregory A. Kobussen, Robert L.W. Smithson
  • Patent number: 11523888
    Abstract: An additively manufactured dental crown with a wall having a bottom edge and an occlusal portion joined with the wall opposite the bottom edge. The wall and occlusal portion form an interior surface and an opposing exterior surface. By using additive manufacturing and materials for such, the dental crown can have thin walls with a thickness of less than 300 microns at the thinnest portion of it and can include fine printed features such as identifiers, internal ribs, slots, porous meshes, and retention elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: James D. Hansen, Joseph C. Dingeldein, Gareth A. Hughes, Gopal B. Haregoppa, Bastian P. Kirchner, Till Meurer, Holger Hauptmann
  • Publication number: 20220380260
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method of making a ceramic article. The method includes (a) obtaining a photopolymerizable slurry or sol including a plurality of ceramic particles distributed in the photopolymerizable slurry or sol and (b) selectively polymerizing the photopolymerizable slurry or sol using actinic radiation and continuous movement of a build substrate through the photopolymerizable slurry or sol to form a gelled article. The method also includes (c) extracting solvent from the gelled article to form an aerogel article or a xerogel article; (d) heat treating the aerogel article or the xerogel article to form a porous ceramic article; and (e) sintering the porous ceramic article to form a sintered ceramic article. The sintered ceramic article exhibits a particular density. Further, additive manufactured ceramic articles are provided that exhibit a particular density, opacity, or both.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2020
    Publication date: December 1, 2022
    Inventors: Amy T. Shah, James D. Hansen, David B. Stegall, Alexander J. Huffman, Gareth A. Hughes, Melissa A. Lackey, Kathleen M. Humpal, Andreas M. Geldmacher, Kristen F. Keller
  • Publication number: 20220350127
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a multiphoton imaging method. The method includes a) immersing a semi-submersible microscope objective in a liquid medium that is at least one of scattering or absorbing; b) directing laser light through the semi-submersible microscope objective and into the liquid medium in an image-wise manner under conditions such that multiphoton absorption by the multiphoton absorber occurs, and at least partial polymerization of the polymerizable compound occurs resulting in an article; and c) removing uncured polymerizable compound to clean the article. The liquid medium includes a polymerizable compound, a secondary component, and a multiphoton absorber. An article is also provided. The article includes a material defining one or more tortuous or arcuate channels, one or more internal architectural voids, one or more undercuts, one or more perforations, or combinations thereof, at least one of which exhibits a surface roughness of 1.0 micrometer Ra or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2020
    Publication date: November 3, 2022
    Inventors: Alexander J. Huffman, Brian J. Gates, Jeremy K. Larsen, David A. Ender, Gareth A. Hughes, James D. Hansen
  • Publication number: 20210315664
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a composite material. The composite material includes 20 to 40 weight percent (wt. %) of a polymerizable component; 6 to 40 wt. % of ceramic fibers; and 30 to 70 wt. % of nanoclusters. Each of the ceramic fibers has a diameter and a length, the ceramic fibers having an arithmetic mean diameter of 0.3 micrometers to 5 micrometers, and the length of fifty percent of the ceramic fibers (based on a total number of the ceramic fibers) is at least 10 micrometers and the length of ninety percent of the ceramic fibers is no greater than 500 micrometers. The present disclosure also provides a method of making the composite material. The method includes obtaining components and admixing the components to form a composite material. Further, the present disclosure provides a method of using a composite material including placing a composite material near or on a tooth surface, changing the shape of the composite material near or on a tooth surface, and hardening the composite material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2019
    Publication date: October 14, 2021
    Inventors: David M. Wilson, Bradley D. Craig, Mark B. Agre, Kari A. McGee, Daimon K Heller, William V. Chiu, Gareth A. Hughes
  • Publication number: 20210292243
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method of making a non-oxide ceramic part. The method includes obtaining a photopolymerizable slurry; selectively curing the photopolymerizable slurry to obtain a gelled article; drying the gelled article to form an aerogel article or a xerogel article; heat treating the aerogel article or the xerogel article to form a porous ceramic article; and sintering the porous ceramic article to obtain a sintered ceramic article. The photopolymerizable slurry includes non-oxide ceramic particles; at least one radiation curable monomer; a solvent; a photoinitiator; an inhibitor; and at least one sintering aid. Further, aerogels, xerogels, porous ceramic articles, and non-oxide ceramic articles are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2019
    Publication date: September 23, 2021
    Inventors: Gareth A. Hughes, Melissa A. Lackey, Brant U. Kolb, Jerome G. Magnant, Zeba Parkar, Kevin M. Casey, Nicholas S. Wren
  • Publication number: 20200299815
    Abstract: A metal matrix composite is provided, including a metal, inorganic particles, and discontinuous fibers. The inorganic particles and the discontinuous fibers are dispersed in the metal. The metal includes aluminum, magnesium, or alloys thereof. The inorganic particles have an envelope density that is at least 30% less than a density of the metal. The metal matrix composite has a lower envelope density than the matrix metal while retaining a substantial amount of the mechanical properties of the metal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2016
    Publication date: September 24, 2020
    Inventors: Gareth A. Hughes, Elizaveta Y. Plotnikov, David M. Wilson, Anatoly Z. Rosenflanz, Douglas P. Goetz, Jordan A. Campbell, Fabian Stolzenburg, Colin McCullough, Gang Qi, Yong K. Wu, Jean A. Tangeman, Jason D. Anderson, Sandeep K. Singh
  • Publication number: 20200015945
    Abstract: An additively manufactured dental crown with a wall having a bottom edge and an occlusal portion joined with the wall opposite the bottom edge. The wall and occlusal portion form an interior surface and an opposing exterior surface. By using additive manufacturing and materials for such, the dental crown can have thin walls with a thickness of less than 300 microns at the thinnest portion of it and can include fine printed features such as identifiers, internal ribs, slots, porous meshes, and retention elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2019
    Publication date: January 16, 2020
    Inventors: James D. Hansen, Joseph C. Dingeldein, Gareth A. Hughes, Gopal B. Haregoppa, Bastian P. Kirchner, Till Meurer, Holger Hauptmann
  • Publication number: 20190181323
    Abstract: At least some aspects of the present disclosure direct to a flexible thermoelectric module. The thermoelectric module includes a flexible substrate, a plurality of p-type thermoelectric elements and a plurality of n-type thermoelectric elements, a first set of connectors, and a second set of connectors. The substrate includes a plurality of vias filled with an electrically conductive material or thermoelectric elements. In some cases, the plurality of p-type thermoelectric elements and the plurality of n-type thermoelectric elements are disposed on the flexible substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2017
    Publication date: June 13, 2019
    Applicant: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Jae Yong Lee, Roger W. Barton, Emily L. Bowen, Donato G. Caraig, Gareth A. Hughes, Ravi Palaniswamy, James F. Poch, Michael W. Dolezal
  • Publication number: 20190105789
    Abstract: A knife has a first head and a second head. In one embodiment, the first head has a first pair of arms and a first pair of knife edges. In an embodiment, each arm of the first pair of arms hangs over a different knife edge of the first pair of knife edges. Similarly, in an embodiment, a second head has a second pair of arms and a second pair of knife edges. In an embodiment, each arm of the second pair of arms hangs over a different knife edge of the second pair of knife edges. The first head is connected to the second head. In an embodiment, the knife has a cover that slides between different positions to selectively cover one or more of the blades of the knife.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2018
    Publication date: April 11, 2019
    Applicant: EEZYCUT
    Inventors: Laura Jane Mayes, David Gareth Hughes Jones
  • Publication number: 20180272428
    Abstract: A method of making a porous metal matrix composite is provided. The method includes mixing a metal powder, a plurality of inorganic particles, and a plurality of discontinuous fibers to form a mixture, wherein the metal powder comprises aluminum, magnesium, an aluminum alloy, or a magnesium alloy. The method further includes sintering the mixture to form the porous metal matrix composite. Typically, the inorganic particles comprise porous particles or ceramic bubbles or glass bubbles, and the inorganic particles and the discontinuous fibers are dispersed in the metal. The metal matrix composite has a lower density than the metal and an acceptable yield strength.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2016
    Publication date: September 27, 2018
    Inventors: Elizaveta Y. Plotnikov, Douglas E. Johnson, Colin McCullough, Jason D. Anderson, Gang Qi, Yong K. Wu, Sandeep K. Singh, Gareth A. Hughes, David M. Wilson, Anatoly Z. Rosenflanz, Douglas P. Goetz, Jordan A. Campbell, Fabian Stolzenburg, Jean A. Tangeman
  • Publication number: 20180098828
    Abstract: An additively manufactured dental crown with a wall having a bottom edge and an occlusal portion joined with the wall opposite the bottom edge. The wall and occlusal portion form an interior surface and an opposing exterior surface. By using additive manufacturing and materials for such, the dental crown can have thin walls with a thickness of less than 300 microns at the thinnest portion of it and can include fine printed features such as identifiers, internal ribs, slots, porous meshes, and retention elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2016
    Publication date: April 12, 2018
    Inventors: James D. Hansen, Joseph C. Dingeldein, Gareth A. Hughes, Gopal B. Haregoppa, Bastian P. Kirchner, Till Meurer, Holger Hauptmann
  • Publication number: 20080227168
    Abstract: The present invention includes compositions and methods to deliver carbon nanostructures that include agents for delivery to cells, wherein the carbon nanostructure and the agent are made soluble by coating the carbon nanostructure with one or more polymers, e.g., low band gap conductive polymers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2008
    Publication date: September 18, 2008
    Applicants: BOARD OF REGENTS, THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SYSTEM, MEDICAL NANOTECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Tanja Kmecko, Gareth Hughes, Rockford K Draper, Robert M. Burgess, Austin David-Edmiston Swafford
  • Patent number: 6681063
    Abstract: A micro-optical light beam switch comprises a MEMS (Micro-Electromechanical Systems) mirror array with packaged CMOS driving circuitry. Each movable mirror is coupled to orthogonal pairs of thin unimorph PZT capacitor actuators about peripheral mirror portions for precise positional accuracy in two dimensions by the application of mirror tilt control voltages of 5 volts or less to the actuators. Each cantilevered actuator is individually controllable, allowing multi-axial movement of each mirror via simple flexible stress reducing hinging tab elements for the precise redirection of an incoming light beam to the appropriate targeted location, such as the direction of optical traffic throughout a fiber optic network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Computer Optics Inc
    Inventors: Jonathan S. Kane, Gareth A. Hughes
  • Patent number: 6379510
    Abstract: A method of making a micro-mirror light beam switch having a thin flexible movable support member for supporting a thin central reflective mirror surface thereon and for supporting a plurality of thin unimorph piezoelectric cantilevered mirror actuators mechanically coupled between a fixed substrate and movable hinging portions of the thin movable support member. The method employs thin film deposition techniques and photolithography for readily forming the extremely thin switch, whereby the components thereof are substantially co-planar for precisely controlled, multi-axial micro-mirror motion and low voltage operation necessary for the rapid switching of optical traffic from fiber to fiber in the next-generation optical networks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2002
    Inventors: Jonathan S. Kane, Gareth A. Hughes