Patents by Inventor Kevin M. Hamer

Kevin M. Hamer 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: 20040156000
    Abstract: An optical stack includes a first liquid crystal layer and a j-retarder disposed on the liquid crystal layer. The j-retarder includes a simultaneous biaxally stretched polymeric film being substantially non-absorbing and non-scattering for at least one polarization state of visible light. The j-retarder has x, y, and z orthogonal indices of refraction where at least two of the orthogonal indices of refraction are not equal, an in-plane retardance being 100 nm or less and an out-of-plane retardance being 50 nm or greater.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2003
    Publication date: August 12, 2004
    Inventors: Fred J. Roska, Richard C. Allen, Matthew B. Johnson, Steven J. Rhyner, William W. Merrill, Joan M. Strobel, Kevin M. Hamer, Gregory E. Gilligan
  • Patent number: 6638637
    Abstract: A multi-layered biaxially oriented film comprising at least one primary layer and at least one secondary layer, wherein the primary layer comprises a propylene copolymer having a first melting point and the secondary layer comprises a polypropylene homopolymer or copolymer having a second melting point, such that the second melting point is greater than the first melting point and the multi-layered construction is biaxially stretched. The multi-layered film further includes a surface finishing layer, to provide a writable multi-layered film. This stretched film exhibits a refractive index in the machine direction (MD) that is greater than the refractive index measured in the transverse direction (TD).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Patrick J. Hager, Joseph T. Bartusiak, Kevin M. Hamer, Randall E. Kozulla, Martin E. Denker
  • Patent number: 6609795
    Abstract: The present invention provides a unique polarizing beam splitter (PBS) that is suitable for use in projection systems and displays. The PBS contains at least one prism having at least one major surface and having a refractive index of at least about 1.6 and a birefringent film disposed on the major surface of the prism. The birefringent film is a multi-layer film having layers of at least a first material and a second material. After uniaxial stretching, the film exhibits a refractive index difference of less than about 0.15 units in the stretched direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2003
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Michael F. Weber, Charles L. Bruzzone, Peter D. Condo, Kevin M. Hamer, Timothy J. Hebrink, William W. Merrill
  • Publication number: 20030049436
    Abstract: A multi-layered biaxially oriented film comprising at least one primary layer and at least one secondary layer, wherein the primary layer comprises a propylene copolymer having a first melting point and the secondary layer comprises a polypropylene homopolymer or copolymer having a second melting point, such that the second melting point is greater than the first melting point and the multi-layered construction is biaxially stretched. The multi-layered film further includes a surface finishing layer, to provide a writable multi-layered film. This stretched film exhibits a refractive index in the machine direction (MD) that is greater than the refractive index measured in the transverse direction (TD).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2001
    Publication date: March 13, 2003
    Applicant: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Patrick J. Hager, Joseph T. Bartusiak, Kevin M. Hamer, Randall E. Kozulla, Martin E. Denker
  • Publication number: 20030016334
    Abstract: The present invention provides a unique polarizing beam splitter (PBS) that is suitable for use in projection systems and displays. The PBS contains at least one prism having at least one major surface and having a refractive index of at least about 1.6 and a birefringent film disposed on the major surface of the prism. The birefringent film is a multi-layer film having at layers of at least a first material and a second material. After uniaxial stretching, the film exhibits a refractive index difference of less than about 0.15 units in the stretched direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2001
    Publication date: January 23, 2003
    Inventors: Michael F. Weber, Charles L. Bruzzone, Peter D. Condo, Kevin M, Hamer, Timothy J. Hebrink, William W. Merrill
  • Patent number: 5786062
    Abstract: Attachment strips that can be withdrawn from an enclosure, each comprising a flexible backing layer, a field of hooks along and projecting from one of its surfaces; and a first layer of pressure sensitive adhesive along one of its surfaces. The strips can be releasably adhered to each other by their layers of adhesive to form a stack in which first and second ends of successive strips are adjacent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1998
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Joseph P. Callahan, Jr., Kevin M. Hamer, Patricia R. Konsti, David C. Windorski
  • Patent number: 5672404
    Abstract: Attachment strips that can be withdrawn from an enclosure, each comprising a flexible backing layer, a field of hooks along and projecting from one of its surfaces; and a first layer of pressure sensitive adhesive along one of its surfaces. The strips can be releasably adhered to each other by their layers of adhesive to form a stack in which first and second ends of successive strips are adjacent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 30, 1997
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Joseph P. Callahan, Jr., Kevin M. Hamer, Patricia R. Konsti, David C. Windorski