Patents by Inventor Heather K. Kranz

Heather K. Kranz 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: 8932701
    Abstract: An optical sheet suitable for use in a laminate comprising at least one glazing component. The optical sheet comprises a non-metallic multi-layer optical film that has multiple optical layers, and can be, for example, a solar energy reflective film (e.g., an infrared radiation reflective film). The multiple layers are thermally and/or otherwise fused together along all, substantially all or at least a substantial portion of the peripheral edge of at least the optical film, so as to prevent or at least substantially reduce the occurrence or degree of delamination of the multiple layers along all, substantially all, or the substantial portion of the peripheral edge of the optical film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Heather K. Kranz, Jeffrey A. Boettcher, Janet R. Kirkman, Peter T. Dietz
  • Publication number: 20120094487
    Abstract: The method of the present invention comprises providing a wafer including a first, second and third material; contacting the third material in the presence of a working liquid with abrasive composites fixed to an abrasive article; and moving the wafer until an exposed surface of the wafer is substantially planar and comprises at least one area of exposed third material and one area of exposed second material. The components of the working liquid include an aqueous solvent; a pH buffer exhibiting a pKa greater than 7 and comprising a basic pH adjusting agent and a multidentate acidic complexing agent; and a non-ionic surfactant. The nonionic surfactant exhibits a hydrophile-lipophile balance of at least about 4. The working liquid is substantially free of loose abrasive particles and exhibits a pH of about 7-12.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2011
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Inventors: Heather K. Kranz, Thomas E. Wood, David A. Kaisaki, John J. Gagliardi, John C. Clark, Patricia M. Savu, Phillip G. Clark
  • Patent number: 8092707
    Abstract: The disclosure pertains to compositions and methods for modifying or refining the surface of a wafer suited for semiconductor fabrication. The compositions include working liquids useful in modifying a surface of a wafer suited for fabrication of a semiconductor device. In some embodiments, the working liquids are aqueous solutions of initial components substantially free of loose abrasive particles, the components including water, a surfactant, and a pH buffer exhibiting at least one pKa greater than 7. In certain embodiments, the pH buffer includes a basic pH adjusting agent and an acidic complexing agent, and the working liquid exhibits a pH from about 7 to about 12. In further embodiments, the disclosure provides a fixed abrasive article comprising a surfactant suitable for modifying the surface of a wafer, and a method of making the fixed abrasive article. Additional embodiments describe methods that may be used to modify a wafer surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: L. Charles Hardy, Heather K. Kranz, Thomas E. Wood, David A. Kaisaki, John J. Gagliardi, John C. Clark, Patricia M. Savu, Philip G. Clark
  • Patent number: 7189447
    Abstract: A transparent optical film laminate and a method of making such a laminate. The laminate can include a transparent optical sheet comprising a non-metallic multi-layer optical film sandwiched between first and second bonding sheets. The optical sheet and the bonding sheets are also sandwiched between two glazing components. A substantial portion of the peripheral edge of the optical film lies within or beyond the peripheral edge of at least one of the glazing components. The peripheral edge of the optical film may have a portion that lies within and a portion that lies beyond the peripheral edge of at least one of the glazing components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Thomas J. Conway, Janet R. Kirkman, Brian L. Koster, Heather K. Kranz, Bruce E. Tait, Einar O. Vaage
  • Publication number: 20040234793
    Abstract: Glazing prelaminates and glazing laminates for vehicular and architectural applications are described. The glazing prelaminate includes a functional film adhered to a shock dissipating layer with an adhesive region between the functional film and the shock dissipating layer. The adhesive region contains a reacted organic titanate primer. The glazing prelaminate can be prepared at temperatures lower than about 120 ° F. (49° C.). Methods of preparing the glazing prelaminate and the glazing laminate are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2004
    Publication date: November 25, 2004
    Applicant: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Peter T. Dietz, Dennis O. Falaas, Heather K. Kranz, Brian L. Koster
  • Patent number: 6797396
    Abstract: A birefringent dielectric multilayer film that reflects in a wavelength region of interest, and preferably reflects at least 50% of light in a band at least 100 nm wide, preferably positioned between wavelengths from about 700 nm to about 2000 nm. The film is heat set to render the film capable of shrinking to conform without substantial wrinkling to a substrate having a compound curvature. The film may be laminated to form a wide variety of non-planar articles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2004
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Yaoqi J. Liu, Jeffrey A. Boettcher, Heather K. Kranz, Andrew T. Ruff, Brian L. Koster, David K. Mortenson
  • Publication number: 20030143371
    Abstract: A transparent optical film laminate and a method of making such a laminate. The laminate can include a transparent optical sheet comprising a non-metallic multi-layer optical film sandwiched between first and second bonding sheets. The optical sheet and the bonding sheets are also sandwiched between two glazing components. A substantial portion of the peripheral edge of the optical film lies within or beyond the peripheral edge of at least one of the glazing components. The peripheral edge of the optical film may have a portion that lies within and a portion that lies beyond the peripheral edge of at least one of the glazing components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2002
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Inventors: Thomas J. Conway, Janet R. Kirkman, Brian L. Koster, Heather K. Kranz, Bruce E. Tait, Einar O. Vaage
  • Patent number: 6194317
    Abstract: This invention pertains to a method of modifying or refining a surface of a wafer suited for semiconductor fabrication. This method may be used to modify a wafer having an unmodified, exposed surface comprised of a layer of a second material deployed over at least one discrete feature of a first material attached to the wafer. A first step of this method comprises contacting and relatively moving the exposed surface of the wafer with respect to an abrasive article, wherein the abrasive article comprises an exposed surface of a plurality of three-dimensional abrasive composites comprising a plurality of abrasive particles fixed and dispersed in a binder and maintaining contact to effect removal of the second material. In a second step, the contact and relative motion are continued until an exposed surface of the wafer has at least one area of exposed first material and at least one area of exposed second material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2001
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: David A. Kaisaki, Heather K. Kranz, Thomas E. Wood, L. Charles Hardy
  • Patent number: 6155910
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and an article for rapidly polishing a glass workpiece surface using a structured abrasive article including cerium oxide particles dispersed in a binder. The abrasive article for rapid polishing of a glass workpiece comprising a backing and at least one polishing layer. The polishing layer comprises cerium oxide particles dispersed within a binder. The binder provides the attachment means of the at least one polishing layer to the backing. The abrasive article is capable of reducing an initial Rtm of about 0.8 .mu.m or greater on a glass test blank to a final Rtm of about 0.3 .mu.m or less in about one minute using an RPE procedure defined herein. The present invention is also directed to a method of polishing a glass workpiece using the present abrasive article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2000
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Craig F. Lamphere, Chong Yong Kim, David A. Kaisaki, Heather K. Kranz, Julia P. Williams
  • Patent number: 5989111
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and an article for rapidly polishing a glass workpiece surface using a structured abrasive article including cerium oxide particles dispersed in a binder. The abrasive article for rapid polishing of a glass workpiece comprising a backing and at least one polishing layer. The polishing layer comprises cerium oxide particles dispersed within a binder. The binder provides the attachment means of the at least one polishing layer to the backing. The abrasive article is capable of reducing an initial Rtm of about 0.8 .mu.m or greater on a glass test blank to a final Rtm of about 0.3 .mu.m or less in about one minute using an RPE procedure defined herein. The present invention is also directed to a method of polishing a glass workpiece using the present abrasive article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Craig F. Lamphere, Chong Yong Kim, David A. Kaisaki, Heather K. Kranz, Julia P. Williams
  • Patent number: 5958794
    Abstract: A method of modifying an exposed surface of a semiconductor wafer that includes the steps of:(a) contacting the surface with a fixed abrasive article having a three-dimensional textured abrasive surface that includes a plurality of abrasive particles and a binder in the form of a pre-determined pattern; and(b) relatively moving the wafer and the fixed abrasive article to modify said surface of the wafer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1999
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Wesley J. Bruxvoort, Scott R. Culler, Kwok-Lun Ho, David A. Kaisaki, Carl R. Kessel, Thomas P. Klun, Heather K. Kranz, Robert P. Messner, Richard J. Webb, Julia P. Williams
  • Patent number: 5876268
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and an article for rapidly polishing a glass workpiece surface using a structured abrasive article including cerium oxide particles dispersed in a binder. The abrasive article for rapid polishing of a glass workpiece comprising a backing and at least one polishing layer. The polishing layer comprises cerium oxide particles dispersed within a binder. The binder provides the attachment means of the at least one polishing layer to the backing. The abrasive article is capable of reducing an initial Rtm of about 0.8 .mu.m or greater on a glass test blank to a final Rtm of about 0.3 .mu.m or less in about one minute using an RPE procedure defined herein. The present invention is also directed to a method of polishing a glass workpiece using the present abrasive article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1999
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Craig F. Lamphere, Chong Yong Kim, David A. Kaisaki, Heather K. Kranz, Julia P. Williams