Patents by Inventor James M. Nelson

James M. Nelson 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: 11934019
    Abstract: A light coupling unit includes a first major surface comprising one or more substantially parallel first grooves oriented along a first direction for receiving one or more optical waveguides. A second major surface for slidably contacting a mating light coupling unit comprises an optically transmitting window for propagating an optical signal therethrough, and a region of second grooves and lands configured to capture particulate contaminants in the second grooves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: James M. Nelson, Michael A. Haase, Terry L. Smith
  • Patent number: 11914196
    Abstract: An optical ferrule assembly includes a hybrid optical ferrule having a glass portion assembled to a polymeric portion. The polymeric portion includes a groove for receiving and supporting an optical fiber having opposing open front and back ends. A light redirecting member includes an input surface for receiving light from the optical fiber and a light redirecting side. The open back end of the groove and the input surface define a recessed region therebetween. The glass portion includes an optically transparent glass insert disposed in the recessed region conforming in shape to an internal shape of the recessed region. An optical fiber is received and supported in the groove. The optical fiber includes a fiber end laser welded to the glass insert so that a central light ray from the optical fiber propagates through the glass insert before being received and redirected by the light redirecting side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Changbao Ma, James M. Nelson, Michael A. Haase
  • Publication number: 20240045324
    Abstract: Methods of forming an array of patterns on a substrate are provided. An array of protective tiles formed from a protectant resin is provided to cover an array of sub-regions on the substrate. An array of patterns is formed on the substrate by sequentially repeating steps (i) and (ii) for each sub-region: (i) removing the protective tile from one of the sub-regions to expose the first major surface underneath; and (ii) forming a pattern on the exposed first major surface within the one of the sub-regions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2021
    Publication date: February 8, 2024
    Inventors: Lucas J. Hunt, Ashley R. Sonnier, James Zhu, Edwin L. Kusilek, Paul B. Armstrong, William B. Kolb, Caleb T. Nelson, Jeffrey L. Solomon, James M. Nelson, Samuel R. Hei, David J. Tarnowski, Henrik B. van Lengerich
  • Patent number: 11874508
    Abstract: A unitary optical ferrule is molded to include one or more elements for receiving and securing one or more optical waveguides one or more elements for affecting one or more characteristics of light from the optical waveguide while propagating the light within the ferrule. The optical ferrule also includes one or more first alignment features and one or more second alignment features that, when the ferrule is mated with a mating ferrule, each controls alignment of the ferrule with the mating ferrule along three mechanical degrees of freedom. The surface of the optical ferrule can be divided along the thickness axis into a first section and an opposing second section, wherein the first section of the surface includes the receiving and securing elements, the light affecting elements, and the first alignment features and the second section of the surface includes the second alignment features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Michael A Haase, Alexander R. Mathews, Terry L. Smith, James M. Nelson
  • Patent number: 11874510
    Abstract: An optical cable subassembly includes one or more optical waveguides, at least light coupling unit comprising a first attachment area permanently attached to the optical waveguides, and at least one cable retainer comprising a second attachment area permanently attached to the optical waveguides and adapted to be installed in a housing. A length of the optical waveguides between the first attachment area and the second attachment area allows a bend in the optical waveguides that provides a predetermined mating spring force at a predetermined angle of the light coupling unit when installed in the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Michael A. Haase, Terry L. Smith, Alexander R. Mathews, James M. Nelson
  • Publication number: 20240004282
    Abstract: A structured film for forming a pattern on a substrate includes a polymeric support layer, an adhesive layer, an etch resist layer disposed between the polymeric support layer and the adhesive layer, a structured resin layer disposed between the polymeric support layer and the etch resist layer, and one or more unstructured layers disposed between the etch resist layer and the adhesive layer. The structured resin layer has a structured major surface including a plurality of engineered structures. The etch resist layer at least partially fills spaces between adjacent engineered structures to substantially planarize the structured major surface. Methods of using the structured film to form a pattern on a substrate are described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2021
    Publication date: January 4, 2024
    Inventors: Martin B. Wolk, Robert L. Brott, Kevin W. Gotrik, Christopher S. Lyons, Caleb T. Nelson, Vadim Savvateev, James M. Nelson, Craig R. Schardt, Jeffrey L. Solomon, Karl K. Stensvad, Steven D. Theiss
  • Publication number: 20240004110
    Abstract: An optical article includes a waveguide and a structured film. The structured film includes a polymeric substrate, an etch stop layer disposed on the polymeric substrate, a structured layer including a plurality of engineered structures disposed on a side of the etch stop layer opposite the polymeric substrate, a planarizing backfill layer disposed over the plurality of engineered structures to define a substantially planar major surface of the planarizing backfill layer having a surface roughness Ra, and an adhesive layer disposed on the substantially planar surface of the planarizing backfill layer and bonding the structured film to the waveguide. A difference in index of refraction of the planarizing backfill layer and the structured layer is at least 0.25 for at least a first wavelength W1 in a range of 400 nm to 2500 nm. The adhesive layer has an average thickness ta where Ra<ta<¼W1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2021
    Publication date: January 4, 2024
    Inventors: Martin B. Wolk, Robert L. Brott, Kevin W. Gotrik, Christopher S. Lyons, Caleb T. Nelson, Vadim Savvateev, James M. Nelson, Craig R. Schardt, Jeffrey L. Solomon, Karl K. Stensvad
  • Patent number: 11845885
    Abstract: Provided are methods and associated compositions directed to a structural bonding adhesive. The structural bonding adhesive is made by mixing a curable composition comprising a mixture of a first curable resin and a second curable resin to provide an uncured adhesive. The uncured adhesive is irradiated by a first actinic light source to polymerize the first curable resin without polymerizing the second curable resin to provide a partially cured adhesive. The partially cured adhesive is a pressure-sensitive adhesive that displays cold flow creep recovery under ambient conditions and is capable of being fully cured by irradiating the partially cured adhesive using a second actinic light source that is different from the first actinic light source to polymerize the second curable resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Matthew J. Schmid, Cyrus A. Anderson, Kathleen S. Shafer, Xiao Gao, James M. Nelson
  • Publication number: 20230393348
    Abstract: An optical ferrule assembly includes a hybrid optical ferrule having a glass portion assembled to a polymeric portion. The polymeric portion includes a groove for receiving and supporting an optical fiber having opposing open front and back ends. A light redirecting member includes an input surface for receiving light from the optical fiber and a light redirecting side. The open back end of the groove and the input surface define a recessed region therebetween. The glass portion includes an optically transparent glass insert disposed in the recessed region conforming in shape to an internal shape of the recessed region. An optical fiber is received and supported in the groove. The optical fiber includes a fiber end laser welded to the glass insert so that a central light ray from the optical fiber propagates through the glass insert before being received and redirected by the light redirecting side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2021
    Publication date: December 7, 2023
    Inventors: Changbao Ma, James M. Nelson, Michael A. Haase
  • Patent number: 11726266
    Abstract: A structured surface reduces optical reflectance at a predetermined wavelength in a first wavelength range extending from 600 nm to 1700 nm. The structured surface includes a plurality of parallel linear structures arranged along a first direction and extending along an orthogonal second direction. Each linear structure includes opposing nonlinear facets meeting at a peak extending along the second direction. An average spacing between the peaks of adjacent linear structures is less than the predetermined wavelength, such that for light having the predetermined wavelength and incident on the structured surface in a direction substantially perpendicular to the first and second directions, the structured surface has a reflectance Rx<0.5% for light polarized along the first direction and a reflectance Ry<0.5% for light polarized along the second direction, where an absolute value of Rx?Ry is less than 0.3%. An optical ferrule may have an exit surface that includes the structured surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Bing Hao, James M. Nelson
  • Publication number: 20230184996
    Abstract: An optical metasurface film includes a flexible polymeric film having a first major surface, a patterned polymer layer having a first surface proximate to the first major surface of the flexible polymeric film and having a second nanostructured surface opposite the first surface, and a refractive index contrast layer including a refractive index contrast material adjacent to the nanostructured surface of the patterned polymer layer forming a nanostructured bilayer with a nano structured interface. The nanostructured bilayer comprising a plurality of nanostructures disposed on the flexible polymeric film. The nanostructured bilayer imparts a light phase shift that varies as a function of position of the nano structured bilayer on the flexible polymeric film. The light phase shift of the nanostructured bilayer defines a predetermined operative phase profile of the optical metasurface film. A light reflecting layer is in optical communication with the nano structured bilayer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2021
    Publication date: June 15, 2023
    Inventors: Martin B. WOLK, Robert L. BROTT, Karl K. STENSVAD, Vadim N. SAVVATEEV, James M. NELSON, Lin ZHAO, Caitlin RACE, Adam D. HAAG
  • Publication number: 20230144989
    Abstract: A unitary optical ferrule is molded to include one or more elements for receiving and securing one or more optical waveguides one or more elements for affecting one or more characteristics of light from the optical waveguide while propagating the light within the ferrule. The optical ferrule also includes one or more first alignment features and one or more second alignment features that, when the ferrule is mated with a mating ferrule, each controls alignment of the ferrule with the mating ferrule along three mechanical degrees of freedom. The surface of the optical ferrule can be divided along the thickness axis into a first section and an opposing second section, wherein the first section of the surface includes the receiving and securing elements, the light affecting elements, and the first alignment features and the second section of the surface includes the second alignment features.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2023
    Publication date: May 11, 2023
    Inventors: Michael A. Haase, Alexander R. Mathews, Terry L. Smith, James M. Nelson
  • Patent number: 11579375
    Abstract: A unitary optical ferrule is molded to include one or more elements for receiving and securing one or more optical waveguides one or more elements for affecting one or more characteristics of light from the optical waveguide while propagating the light within the ferrule. The optical ferrule also includes one or more first alignment features and one or more second alignment features that, when the ferrule is mated with a mating ferrule, each controls alignment of the ferrule with the mating ferrule along three mechanical degrees of freedom. The surface of the optical ferrule can be divided along the thickness axis into a first section and an opposing second section, wherein the first section of the surface includes the receiving and securing elements, the light affecting elements, and the first alignment features and the second section of the surface includes the second alignment features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Michael A. Haase, Alexander R. Mathews, Terry L. Smith, James M. Nelson
  • Publication number: 20220404525
    Abstract: An optical metasurface film includes a flexible polymeric film having a first major surface, a patterned polymer layer having a first surface proximate to the first major surface of the flexible polymeric film and having a second nanostructured surface opposite the first surface, and a refractive index contrast layer adjacent to the nanostructured surface of the patterned polymer layer forming a nanostructured bilayer with a nanostructured interface. The nanostructured bilayer acts locally on amplitude, phase, or polarization of light, or a combination thereof and imparts a light phase shift that varies as a function of position of the nano structured bilayer on the flexible polymeric film. The light phase shift of the nanostructured bilayer defines a predetermined operative phase profile of the optical metasurface film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2020
    Publication date: December 22, 2022
    Inventors: Martin B. Wolk, Robert L. Brott, Karl K. Stensvad, James M. Nelson, Federico Capasso, Xinghui Yin, Joon-Suh Park
  • Patent number: 11520110
    Abstract: A first optical device is adapted to couple to a second optical device along a coupling direction and includes two spaced apart pairs of leading and trailing pads, such that when the first optical device lands and slides on a landing surface of the second optical device to optically couple to the second optical device, and for each pair of leading and trailing pads, the leading pad prevents any debris on the landing surface from collecting on the trailing pad. Upon full coupling of the first optical device with the second optical device, the leading pads do not make contact with the landing surface. The first optical device may be, for example, an optical ferrule or a cradle having a recess adapted to receive an optical ferrule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Michael A. Haase, James M. Nelson, Terry L. Smith
  • Publication number: 20220317386
    Abstract: An optical cable subassembly includes one or more optical waveguides, at least light coupling unit comprising a first attachment area permanently attached to the optical waveguides, and at least one cable retainer comprising a second attachment area permanently attached to the optical waveguides and adapted to be installed in a housing. A length of the optical waveguides between the first attachment area and the second attachment area allows a bend in the optical waveguides that provides a predetermined mating spring force at a predetermined angle of the light coupling unit when installed in the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2022
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Inventors: Michael A. Haase, Terry L. Smith, Alexander R. Mathews, James M. Nelson
  • Publication number: 20220299712
    Abstract: A structured surface reduces optical reflectance at a predetermined wavelength in a first wavelength range extending from 600 nm to 1700 nm. The structured surface includes a plurality of parallel linear structures arranged along a first direction and extending along an orthogonal second direction. Each linear structure includes opposing nonlinear facets meeting at a peak extending along the second direction. An average spacing between the peaks of adjacent linear structures is less than the predetermined wavelength, such that for light having the predetermined wavelength and incident on the structured surface in a direction substantially perpendicular to the first and second directions, the structured surface has a reflectance Rx<0.5% for light polarized along the first direction and a reflectance Ry<0.5% for light polarized along the second direction, where an absolute value of Rx?Ry is less than 0.3%. An optical ferrule may have an exit surface that includes the structured surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2020
    Publication date: September 22, 2022
    Inventors: Bing Hao, James M. Nelson
  • Patent number: 11397297
    Abstract: An optical cable subassembly includes one or more optical waveguides, at least light coupling unit comprising a first attachment area permanently attached to the optical waveguides, and at least one cable retainer comprising a second attachment area permanently attached to the optical waveguides and adapted to be installed in a housing. A length of the optical waveguides between the first attachment area and the second attachment area allows a bend in the optical waveguides that provides a predetermined mating spring force at a predetermined angle of the light coupling unit when installed in the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Michael A. Haase, Terry L. Smith, Alexander R Mathews, James M. Nelson
  • Publication number: 20220229242
    Abstract: A unitary optical ferrule is molded to include one or more elements for receiving and securing one or more optical waveguides one or more elements for affecting one or more characteristics of light from the optical waveguide while propagating the light within the ferrule. The optical ferrule also includes one or more first alignment features and one or more second alignment features that, when the ferrule is mated with a mating ferrule, each controls alignment of the ferrule with the mating ferrule along three mechanical degrees of freedom. The surface of the optical ferrule can be divided along the thickness axis into a first section and an opposing second section, wherein the first section of the surface includes the receiving and securing elements, the light affecting elements, and the first alignment features and the second section of the surface includes the second alignment features.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2022
    Publication date: July 21, 2022
    Inventors: Michael A. Haase, Alexander R. Mathews, Terry L. Smith, James M. Nelson
  • Patent number: 11327244
    Abstract: A unitary optical ferrule is molded to include one or more elements for receiving and securing one or more optical waveguides one or more elements for affecting one or more characteristics of light from the optical waveguide while propagating the light within the ferrule. The optical ferrule also includes one or more first alignment features and one or more second alignment features that, when the ferrule is mated with a mating ferrule, each controls alignment of the ferrule with the mating ferrule along three mechanical degrees of freedom. The surface of the optical ferrule can be divided along the thickness axis into a first section and an opposing second section, wherein the first section of the surface includes the receiving and securing elements, the light affecting elements, and the first alignment features and the second section of the surface includes the second alignment features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Michael A. Haase, Alexander R. Mathews, Terry L. Smith, James M. Nelson