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: 20170227699Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: April 27, 2017Publication date: August 10, 2017Inventors: Carl A. Stover, Timothy J. Hebrink, Martin E. Denker, Jeffery N. Jackson, Kristopher J. Derks
-
Patent number: 9709700Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 6, 2005Date of Patent: July 18, 2017Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANYInventors: 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: 9561629Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 30, 2013Date of Patent: February 7, 2017Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANYInventors: 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: 20160216427Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 3, 2014Publication date: July 28, 2016Inventors: Matthew B. Johnson, Adam D. Haag, Martin E. Denker
-
Publication number: 20160195659Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 4, 2014Publication date: July 7, 2016Inventors: Matthew B. Johnson, Adam D. Haag, Martin E. Denker, Takashi Fujita
-
Publication number: 20140027934Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 30, 2013Publication date: January 30, 2014Applicant: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANYInventors: 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: 8568869Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 5, 2006Date of Patent: October 29, 2013Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: 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: 20090067048Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: November 10, 2008Publication date: March 12, 2009Inventors: 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: 7468204Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 25, 2008Date of Patent: December 23, 2008Inventors: 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: 20080268219Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: July 10, 2008Publication date: October 30, 2008Inventors: 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: 20080217799Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: May 21, 2008Publication date: September 11, 2008Inventors: Carl A. Stover, Timothy J. Hebrink, Martin E. Denker, Jeffery N. Jackson, Kristopher J. Derks
-
Publication number: 20080145666Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: February 25, 2008Publication date: June 19, 2008Inventors: 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: 20080085481Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: October 6, 2006Publication date: April 10, 2008Inventors: William W. Merrill, Andrew J. Ouderkirk, Matthew B. Johnson, Mark B. O'Neill, Martin E. Denker, Timothy J. Hebrink
-
Publication number: 20080083999Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: October 6, 2006Publication date: April 10, 2008Inventors: William W. Merrill, Andrew J. Ouderkirk, Matthew B. Johnson, Mark B. O'Neill, Martin E. Denker, Timothy J. Hebrink
-
Patent number: 7345137Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 18, 2004Date of Patent: March 18, 2008Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: 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: 7037461Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 21, 1999Date of Patent: May 2, 2006Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: 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: 6638637Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: January 22, 2001Date of Patent: October 28, 2003Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Patrick J. Hager, Joseph T. Bartusiak, Kevin M. Hamer, Randall E. Kozulla, Martin E. Denker
-
Publication number: 20030049436Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: January 22, 2001Publication date: March 13, 2003Applicant: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Patrick J. Hager, Joseph T. Bartusiak, Kevin M. Hamer, Randall E. Kozulla, Martin E. Denker