Patents by Inventor Martin E. Denker

Martin E. Denker 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: 20170227699
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to optical bodies including a first optical film, a second optical film and one or more strippable boundary layers disposed between the first and second optical films. Each major surface of a strippable boundary layer may be disposed adjacent to an optical film or another strippable boundary layer. At least one of the first and second optical films may include a reflective polarizer. The present disclosure is also directed to methods of processing such optical bodies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2017
    Publication date: August 10, 2017
    Inventors: Carl A. Stover, Timothy J. Hebrink, Martin E. Denker, Jeffery N. Jackson, Kristopher J. Derks
  • Patent number: 9709700
    Abstract: Optical bodies are disclosed that include a first optical film, a second optical film and at least one rough strippable boundary layer disposed between the first and second optical films. Also disclosed are optical bodies including a strippable boundary layer disposed between the first and second optical films and including a first polymer and a second polymer that is substantially immiscible in the first polymer. The present disclosure also provides methods of processing optical bodies that include stretching the optical bodies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Carl A. Stover, Timothy J. Hebrink, Martin E. Denker, Jeffery N. Jackson, Kristopher J. Derks, Michael F. Weber, Anna A. Kobilansky, Joan M. Strobel, Barry S. Rosell, John P. Purcell, Kevin M. Hamer, Robert D. Taylor, William B. Black, Richard J. Thompson, Gregory L. Bluem
  • Patent number: 9561629
    Abstract: Optical bodies are disclosed that include an optical film and at least one rough strippable skin layer. The at least one rough strippable skin layer can include a continuous phase and a disperse phase. In some embodiments, the at least one rough strippable skin layer can include a first polymer, a second polymer different from the first polymer and an additional material that is substantially immiscible in at least one of the first and second polymers. In some exemplary embodiments, a surface of the at least one rough strippable skin layer adjacent to the optical film comprises a plurality of protrusions and the adjacent surface of the optical film comprises a plurality of asymmetric depressions substantially corresponding to said plurality of protrusions. Methods of making such exemplary optical bodies are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Timothy J. Hebrink, Carl A. Stover, Martin E. Denker, Jeffery N. Jackson, Kristopher J. Derks, Michael F. Weber, Anna A. Wetzels, Joan M. Strobel, Barry S. Rosell, John P. Purcell, Kevin M. Hamer, Robert D. Taylor, William B. Black, Richard J. Thompson, Gregory L. Bluem
  • Publication number: 20160216427
    Abstract: Thermoplastic birefringent multilayer optical films are described. More particularly, thermoplastic multilayer films having alternating first and second layers having a linear layer profile where both outer layers are thinner than 350 nm but thicker than 150 nm are described. Thermoplastic birefringent multilayer optical films with thinner outer protective boundary layers are described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2014
    Publication date: July 28, 2016
    Inventors: Matthew B. Johnson, Adam D. Haag, Martin E. Denker
  • Publication number: 20160195659
    Abstract: Multilayer reflective polarizers are described. More particularly, multilayer reflective polarizers having a higher block light transmission at longer wavelengths than shorter wavelengths while having a high pass light transmission are described. The described multilayer reflective polarizers may be combined with absorbing polarizers or used in display devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2014
    Publication date: July 7, 2016
    Inventors: Matthew B. Johnson, Adam D. Haag, Martin E. Denker, Takashi Fujita
  • Publication number: 20140027934
    Abstract: Optical bodies are disclosed that include an optical film and at least one rough strippable skin layer. The at least one rough strippable skin layer can include a continuous phase and a disperse phase. In some embodiments, the at least one rough strippable skin layer can include a first polymer, a second polymer different from the first polymer and an additional material that is substantially immiscible in at least one of the first and second polymers. In some exemplary embodiments, a surface of the at least one rough strippable skin layer adjacent to the optical film comprises a plurality of protrusions and the adjacent surface of the optical film comprises a plurality of asymmetric depressions substantially corresponding to said plurality of protrusions. Methods of making such exemplary optical bodies are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2013
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Applicant: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Timothy J. HEBRINK, Carl A. STOVER, Martin E. DENKER, Jeffery N. JACKSON, Kristopher J. DERKS, Michael F. WEBER, Anna A. WETZELS, Joan M. STROBEL, Barry S. ROSELL, John P. PURCELL, Kevin M. HAMER, Robert D. TAYLOR, William B. BLACK, Richard J. THOMPSON, Gregory L. BLUEM
  • Patent number: 8568869
    Abstract: Optical bodies are disclosed that include an optical film and at least one rough strippable skin layer. The at least one rough strippable skin layer can include a continuous phase and a disperse phase. In some embodiments, the at least one rough strippable skin layer can include a first polymer, a second polymer different from the first polymer and an additional material that is substantially immiscible in at least one of the first and second polymers. In some exemplary embodiments, a surface of the at least one rough strippable skin layer adjacent to the optical film comprises a plurality of protrusions and the adjacent surface of the optical film comprises a plurality of asymmetric depressions substantially corresponding to said plurality of protrusions. Methods of making such exemplary optical bodies are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Timothy J. Hebrink, Carl A. Stover, Martin E. Denker, Jeffery N. Jackson, Kristopher J. Derks, Michael F. Weber, Anna A. Kobilansky, Joan M. Strobel, Barry S. Rosell, John P. Purcell, Kevin M. Hamer, Robert D. Taylor, William B. Black, Richard J. Thompson, Gregory L. Bluem
  • Publication number: 20090067048
    Abstract: Films having a structured surface with an engineered feature, such as prism grooves, to be used in displays having a backlight. The films can be arranged in a stack having one or more of the following: birefringent brightness enhancement films, non-birefringent brightness enhancement films, polarizers, diffusers, birefringent turning films, and non-birefringent turning films. Those films can be arranged in any order from the backlight to a viewer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2008
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Inventors: James M. Battiato, William W. Merrill, Leland R. Whitney, Kenneth A. Epstein, Robert L. Brott, Rolf W. Biernath, Mitsuko T. O'Neill, Stephen A. Johnson, Matthew B. Johnson, Daniel W. Hennen, William B. Black, Mark B. O'Neill, William J. Bryan, Dennis W. Wilson, Martin E. Denker, David A. Kowitz
  • Patent number: 7468204
    Abstract: Modified copolyesters having relatively low refractive indices and relatively high glass transition temperatures are disclosed. These modified copolyesters can be used in forming one or more layers in an optical film, such as a multilayer polymer film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2008
    Inventors: Timothy J. Hebrink, Martin E. Denker, Bert T. Chien, Matthew B. Johnson, Richard J. Thompson, Kristopher J. Derks, William W. Merrill, Fuming B. Li
  • Publication number: 20080268219
    Abstract: Modified copolyesters having relatively low refractive indices and relatively high glass transition temperatures are disclosed. These modified copolyesters can be used in forming one or more layers in an optical film, such as a multilayer polymer film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2008
    Publication date: October 30, 2008
    Inventors: Timothy J. Hebrink, Martin E. Denker, Bert T. Chien, Matthew B. Johnson, Richard J. Thompson, Kristopher J. Derks, William W. Merrill, Fuming B. Li
  • Publication number: 20080217799
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to optical bodies including a first optical film, a second optical film and one or more strippable boundary layers disposed between the first and second optical films. Each major surface of a strippable boundary layer may be disposed adjacent to an optical film or another strippable boundary layer. At least one of the first and second optical films may include a reflective polarizer. The present disclosure is also directed to methods of processing such optical bodies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2008
    Publication date: September 11, 2008
    Inventors: Carl A. Stover, Timothy J. Hebrink, Martin E. Denker, Jeffery N. Jackson, Kristopher J. Derks
  • Publication number: 20080145666
    Abstract: Modified copolyesters having relatively low refractive indices and relatively high glass transition temperatures are disclosed. These modified copolyesters can be used in forming one or more layers in an optical film, such as a multilayer polymer film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2008
    Publication date: June 19, 2008
    Inventors: Timothy J. Hebrink, Martin E. Denker, Bert T. Chien, Matthew B. Johnson, Richard J. Thompson, Kristopher J. Derks, William W. Merrill, Fuming B. Li
  • Publication number: 20080085481
    Abstract: An exemplary roll of film includes an oriented optical film comprising a birefringent material characterized by an effective orientation axis and a normalized difference between a refractive index for light polarized along TD and a refractive index for light polarized along ND being less than 0.06. The optical film has a width of greater than 0.3 m and a length a length greater than 10 m, and the effective orientation axis is aligned along the length of the optical film (MD).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2006
    Publication date: April 10, 2008
    Inventors: William W. Merrill, Andrew J. Ouderkirk, Matthew B. Johnson, Mark B. O'Neill, Martin E. Denker, Timothy J. Hebrink
  • Publication number: 20080083999
    Abstract: Exemplary methods include includes providing a film comprising at least one polymeric material; widening the film under a first set of processing conditions in a first draw step along the crossweb direction such that in-plane birefringence, if any, created in the film is low; and drawing the film in a second draw step along a downweb direction, while allowing the film to relax along the crossweb direction, under a second set of processing conditions, wherein the second set of processing conditions creates in-plane birefringence in at least one polymeric material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2006
    Publication date: April 10, 2008
    Inventors: William W. Merrill, Andrew J. Ouderkirk, Matthew B. Johnson, Mark B. O'Neill, Martin E. Denker, Timothy J. Hebrink
  • Patent number: 7345137
    Abstract: Modified copolyesters having relatively low refractive indices and relatively high glass transition temperatures are disclosed. These modified copolyesters can be used in forming one or more layers in an optical film, such as a multilayer polymer film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Timothy J. Hebrink, Martin E. Denker, Bert T. Chien, Matthew B. Johnson, Richard J. Thompson, Kristopher J. Derks, William W. Merrill, Fuming B. Li
  • Patent number: 7037461
    Abstract: A method of stretching films in which all or a portion of the width of the film is cooled during or just after stretching so as to improve the uniformity of the film. The includes stretching a polymeric film in a tenter that grasps the film with a plurality of clips along the opposing edges of the film and propels the clips to thereby stretch the film. The tenter includes driven clips and idler clips, with at least one idler clip between respective pairs of driven clips. The cooling is done so as to improve the uniformity of the clip spacing relative to the spacing obtained at otherwise identical process conditions without such cooling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Martin E. Denker, Joseph T. Bartusiak, Anthony B. Ferguson, Thomas P. Hanschen, Jeffery N. Jackson, William Ward Merrill, Susan J. Newhouse, Fred J. Roska, Richard J. Thompson, Chiu Ping Wong
  • 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
  • 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