Patents by Inventor Michael J. Robrecht
Michael J. Robrecht 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).
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Patent number: 9823786Abstract: A touch screen sensor includes a visible light transparent substrate and an electrically conductive micropattern disposed on or in the visible light transparent substrate. The micropattern includes a first region micropattern within a touch sensing area and a second region micropattern. The first region micropattern has a first sheet resistance value in a first direction, is visible light transparent, and has at least 90% open area. The second region micropattern has a second sheet resistance value in the first direction. The first sheet resistance value is different from the second sheet resistance value.Type: GrantFiled: February 6, 2014Date of Patent: November 21, 2017Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Matthew H. Frey, Michael J. Robrecht, George F. Jambor
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Publication number: 20170060307Abstract: A touch screen sensor includes a visible light transparent substrate and an electrically conductive micropattern disposed on or in the visible light transparent substrate. The micropattern includes a first region micropattern within a touch sensing area and a second region micropattern. The first region micropattern has a first sheet resistance value in a first direction, is visible light transparent, and has at least 90% open area. The second region micropattern has a second sheet resistance value in the first direction. The first sheet resistance value is different from the second sheet resistance value.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 15, 2016Publication date: March 2, 2017Inventors: Matthew H. Frey, Michael J. Robrecht, George F. Jambor
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Publication number: 20140218052Abstract: A touch screen sensor includes a visible light transparent substrate and an electrically conductive micropattern disposed on or in the visible light transparent substrate. The micropattern includes a first region micropattern within a touch sensing area and a second region micropattern. The first region micropattern has a first sheet resistance value in a first direction, is visible light transparent, and has at least 90% open area. The second region micropattern has a second sheet resistance value in the first direction. The first sheet resistance value is different from the second sheet resistance value.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 6, 2014Publication date: August 7, 2014Applicant: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANYInventors: Matthew H. Frey, Michael J. Robrecht, George F. Jambor
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Patent number: 8704799Abstract: A touch screen sensor includes a visible light transparent substrate and an electrically conductive micropattern disposed on or in the visible light transparent substrate. The micropattern includes a first region micropattern within a touch sensing area and a second region micropattern. The first region micropattern has a first sheet resistance value in a first direction, is visible light transparent, and has at least 90% open area. The second region micropattern has a second sheet resistance value in the first direction. The first sheet resistance value is different from the second sheet resistance value.Type: GrantFiled: August 21, 2012Date of Patent: April 22, 2014Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Matthew H. Frey, Michael J. Robrecht, George F. Jambor
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Publication number: 20130038572Abstract: A touch screen sensor includes a visible light transparent substrate and an electrically conductive micropattern disposed on or in the visible light transparent substrate. The micropattern includes a first region micropattern within a touch sensing area and a second region micropattern. The first region micropattern has a first sheet resistance value in a first direction, is visible light transparent, and has at least 90% open area. The second region micropattern has a second sheet resistance value in the first direction. The first sheet resistance value is different from the second sheet resistance value.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 21, 2012Publication date: February 14, 2013Inventors: Matthew H. Frey, Michael J. Robrecht, George F. Jambor
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Patent number: 8274494Abstract: A touch screen sensor includes a visible light transparent substrate and an electrically conductive micropattern disposed on or in the visible light transparent substrate. The micropattern includes a first region micropattern within a touch sensing area and a second region micropattern. The first region micropattern has a first sheet resistance value in a first direction, is visible light transparent, and has at least 90% open area. The second region micropattern has a second sheet resistance value in the first direction. The first sheet resistance value is different from the second sheet resistance value.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 2009Date of Patent: September 25, 2012Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Matthew H. Frey, Michael J. Robrecht, George F. Jambor
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Patent number: 7745733Abstract: A method of making a multilayered product having a repeating conductive pattern that includes determining a repeating pattern configuration such as a grid of conductive traces for use in a range of active element configurations, and forming a continuous web of multilayered product having at least one layer of conductive material configured according to the determined repeating pattern configuration. The continuous web is suitable for use in a range of active element configurations. The method may also include altering the continuous web to form a customized active element. Forming the continuous web may include providing a first roll of continuous webbing stock, the first roll having at least a portion of the repeating pattern formed thereon, providing a second roll of continuous webbing stock, the second roll having at least a portion of the repeating conductive pattern formed thereon, and laminating the first and second rolls of continuous webbing stock together.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 2005Date of Patent: June 29, 2010Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: George F. Jambor, Michael J. Robrecht
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Publication number: 20100156840Abstract: A touch screen sensor includes a visible light transparent substrate and an electrically conductive micropattern disposed on or in the visible light transparent substrate. The micropattern includes a first region micropattern within a touch sensing area and a second region micropattern. The first region micropattern has a first sheet resistance value in a first direction, is visible light transparent, and has at least 90% open area. The second region micropattern has a second sheet resistance value in the first direction. The first sheet resistance value is different from the second sheet resistance value.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 26, 2009Publication date: June 24, 2010Inventors: Matthew H. Frey, Michael J. Robrecht, George F. Jambor
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Publication number: 20090167728Abstract: The present invention provides a light-emitting stylus configured to abruptly change a property of an emitted light beam when the stylus sufficiently contacts a surface. The abrupt change in the light beam is detectable by an array of light sensitive detectors that can be used to determine the position of the light beam when the light beam is transmitted through an input surface. When the stylus contacts the input surface, the detectors can detect the abrupt change in the emitted light, signaling a change from a stylus hover mode to a stylus touch down mode.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 13, 2009Publication date: July 2, 2009Inventors: Bernard O. Geaghan, Michael J. Robrecht
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Patent number: 7369122Abstract: The present invention provides touch panels and touch panel substrates that include spacer dots comprising a nanocomposite material. The present invention also provides methods of ink jet printing spacer dots for touch panel applications. The spacer dots and methods of making spacer dots can lead to spacers that have good durability, have controllable sizes, shapes, and spacings, and have desirable optical properties.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2001Date of Patent: May 6, 2008Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Elisa M. Cross, Robert S. Moshrefzadeh, Jessica L. Voss-Kehl, Brant U. Kolb, Emily S. Goenner, Brian E. Aufderheide, Michael J. Robrecht, Bruce A. Nerad
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Patent number: 7348969Abstract: The present disclosure provides a passive light stylus that produces a defined intensity profile detectable by a user input device when at least a portion of a tip of the stylus is proximate an input surface of the user input device. In some embodiments, the stylus includes a housing including an entrance aperture configured to collect ambient light and an exit aperture configured to emit the collected light, where the exit aperture is proximate a tip of the stylus. The stylus also includes a light guide disposed within the housing, where the light guide is in optical communication with the entrance aperture and the exit aperture such that the light guide directs collected light from the entrance aperture to the exit aperture.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2003Date of Patent: March 25, 2008Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Michael J. Robrecht, Bernard O. Geaghan
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Patent number: 7298367Abstract: The present invention provides a user input device that includes and array of light detectors and a light emitting stylus configured to emit a beam of light detectable by the light detectors. The light beam is wide enough at the plane of the detectors so that at least two detectors are illuminated for all positions of interest. This allows the light beam position to be interpolated to obtain positional resolution that is greater than would be expected simply due to the spacing between detectors. Interpolation can be further aided by using a light beam that has a known variance in cross-sectional intensity. The present invention also provides for determining the orientation of the stylus by comparing the detected shape of the light beam cross-section to the known shape of the light beam cross-section.Type: GrantFiled: November 25, 2003Date of Patent: November 20, 2007Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Bernard O. Geaghan, Michael J. Robrecht
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Publication number: 20040233174Abstract: Disclosed is a touch input device that determines touch position by sensing vibrations propagating in a touch plate that are indicative of a touch to the touch plate. Vibration sensing devices such as piezoelectric sensors are used to sense the vibrations. Selecting the size, shape, placement position and orientation of the sensors on the touch plate can enhance sensitivity of the sensors to vibration and yield symmetric response with respect to the direction of vibration propagation. Also disclosed is a method of making a vibration sensing touch input device.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 19, 2003Publication date: November 25, 2004Inventors: Michael J. Robrecht, Nicholas Patrick Roland Hill, Darius Martin Sullivan
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Publication number: 20030117476Abstract: The present invention provides touch panels and touch panel substrates that include spacer dots comprising a nanocomposite material. The present invention also provides methods of ink jet printing spacer dots for touch panel applications. The spacer dots and methods of making spacer dots can lead to spacers that have good durability, have controllable sizes, shapes, and spacings, and have desirable optical properties.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 14, 2001Publication date: June 26, 2003Applicant: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Elisa M. Cross, Robert S. Moshrefzadeh, Jessica L. Voss-Kehl, Brant U. Kolb, Emily S. Goenner, Brian E. Aufderheide, Michael J. Robrecht
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Patent number: 6034335Abstract: Analog resistance touch switches and matrix type touch switches have contacts coated with a very thin film, which in use does not form an appreciable amount of an insulating oxide, to inhibit changes in contact resistance and extend operating life.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 1994Date of Patent: March 7, 2000Assignee: Dynapro Thin Films ProductsInventors: Brian E. Aufderheide, Michael J. Robrecht
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Patent number: 5062916Abstract: A method for producing electrical membrane panels including spaced conductive circuits on separate plastic film layers in which the membrane panels are formed on webs of the plastic films laminated together, and individual membrane panels are severed from the combined webs after being formed thereon.Type: GrantFiled: August 1, 1990Date of Patent: November 5, 1991Assignee: W. H. Brady Co.Inventors: Brian E. Aufderheide, Michael J. Robrecht, Wayne R. Kelley
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Patent number: 4952783Abstract: Flexible heater panels comprising a light transmitting film substrate and a transparent conductive layer vacuum deposited on the substrate formed of (1) a light transmitting flexible plastic film substrate and (2) a vacuum deposited transparent conductive layer on a surface of the substrate selected from the group consisting of (i) a single lamina of tin oxide or indium tin oxide, (ii) a first lamina of indium oxide on the surface of the substrate and a second lamina of indium tin oxide over the first lamina, or (iii) a first lamina of tin oxide, indium oxide or indium tin oxide on the surface of the substrate, a second lamina of silver, platinum or palladium or alloys thereof over the first lamina, and a third lamina of tin oxide, indium oxide or indium tin oxide over the second lamina.Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 1989Date of Patent: August 28, 1990Assignee: W. H. Brady Co.Inventors: Brian E. Aufderheide, Michael J. Robrecht, Wayne R. Kelley