Patents by Inventor Stephen P. Maki

Stephen P. Maki 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: 12157941
    Abstract: Barrier films including a (co)polymeric substrate, at least one dyad on the substrate, each dyad made of a (co)polymer layer and an oxide layer overlaying the (co)polymer layer, and an outer (co)polymer layer overlaying the dyads. Optionally, at least one outer oxide layer overlays the outer (co)polymer layer. The barrier films transmit visible light and transmits, at an incident light angle of at least one of 0°, 30°, 45°, 60°, or 75°, at most 70 percent of incident ultraviolet light at a wavelength range from at least 100 nanometers to 400 nanometers or in a wavelength range from at least 100 nm to 350 nm. The barrier films exhibit atomic oxygen degradation of less than 1×10?20 mg/atom. The barrier films may be applied to decorative objects or electronic devices, (e.g., light receiving or emitting devices, in a satellite or aircraft. Methods of making the barrier films also are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2024
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Sean M. Sweetnam, Stephen P. Maki, Timothy J. Hebrink, Daniel M. Pierpont, Mark D. Weigel, David J. Rowe, Brandon R. Pietz, Christopher S. Lyons, Kevin D. Hagen
  • Publication number: 20240322052
    Abstract: Ultraviolet light shielding articles are provided. An ultraviolet light shielding article includes a flexible substrate having a major surface and a multilayer optical film disposed on the major surface of the substrate. The multilayer optical film is comprised of at least a plurality of alternating first and second inorganic optical layers collectively reflecting and absorbing at an incident light angle of at least one of 0°, 15°, 30°, 45°, 60°, or 75°, an average of at least 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, or 95 percent of incident ultraviolet light over at least a 30-nanometer wavelength reflection bandwidth in a wavelength range from 190 nanometers (nm) to 400 nm. Solar cell covers including an ultraviolet shielding articles are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2023
    Publication date: September 26, 2024
    Inventors: Sean M. Sweetnam, Stephen P. Maki, Timothy J. Hebrink, David J. Rowe, Daniel M. Pierpont, Kevin W. Gotrik, James A. Phipps
  • Publication number: 20240229227
    Abstract: Barrier films including a (co)polymeric substrate, at least one dyad on the substrate, each dyad made of a (co)polymer layer and an oxide layer overlaying the (co)polymer layer, and an outer (co)polymer layer overlaying the dyads. Optionally, at least one outer oxide layer overlays the outer (co)polymer layer. The barrier films transmit visible light and transmits, at an incident light angle of at least one of 0°, 30°, 45°, 60°, or 75°, at most 70 percent of incident ultraviolet light at a wavelength range from at least 100 nanometers to 400 nanometers or in a wavelength range from at least 100 nm to 350 nm. The barrier films exhibit atomic oxygen degradation of less than 1×10?20 mg/atom. The barrier films may be applied to decorative objects or electronic devices, (e.g., light receiving or emitting devices, in a satellite or aircraft. Methods of making the barrier films also are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2022
    Publication date: July 11, 2024
    Inventors: Sean M. Sweetnam, Stephen P. Maki, Timothy J. Hebrink, Daniel M. Pierpont, Mark D Weigel, David J Rowe, Brandon R Pietz, Christopher S. Lyons, Kevin D. Hagen
  • Patent number: 12001036
    Abstract: Multilayer optical film comprising at least a plurality of alternating first and second optical layers. Embodiments of the multilayer optical film are useful, for example, in UV-C shield, UV-C light collimator, and UV-C light concentrator applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Timothy J. Hebrink, Stephen P. Maki, Charles D. Hoyle, Joel D. Oxman, Matthew T. Scholz, Justin M. Mazzoni, Michael E. Griffin, Anna C. Hamlin
  • Publication number: 20240168204
    Abstract: An optical construction includes a lens film having a plurality of optically transparent first beads at least partially embedded in a first layer. A light blocking second layer is disposed on the lens film and defines a plurality of through openings therein extending at least partially between opposite major top and bottom surfaces of the second layer. The through openings are aligned to the first beads in a one-to-one correspondence.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2022
    Publication date: May 23, 2024
    Inventors: Bert T. Chien, William B. Kolb, Tri D. Pham, Daoyun Song, Daniel K. Bruesewitz, Stephen P. Maki, James A. Phipps, Jonah Shaver, Zhaohui Yang
  • Publication number: 20240115746
    Abstract: A device including a housing that is substantially impermeable to ultraviolet radiation having a wavelength of from 280 nm to 400 nm, and at least one window defined in the housing, the window including a UV-C radiation band-pass mirror film having a multiplicity of alternating first and second optical layers collectively transmitting UV-C radiation at a wavelength from at least 100 nm to less than 280 nm and not transmitting UV-A and UV-B radiation at a wavelength of from 280 nm to 400 nm, and an ultraviolet radiation source positioned within the housing, the ultraviolet radiation source being capable of emitting ultraviolet radiation at one or more wavelength from 100 nm to 400 nm. The device optionally further includes an ultraviolet mirror film positioned within the housing so as to reflect ultraviolet radiation emitted by the ultraviolet radiation source. A method of disinfecting a material is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2021
    Publication date: April 11, 2024
    Inventors: Timothy J. Hebrink, John A. Wheatley, Bharat R. Acharya, Tao Liu, Stephen P. Maki, Gilles J.B. Benoit, Sean M. Sweetnam
  • Patent number: 11940651
    Abstract: A light guide comprising a polymeric layer at least 25 percent transmissive over at least a 30 nm bandwidth in a wavelength range from 180 to 280 nm over a distance of at least 100 micrometers and visible light transparent reflecting layers (UV-C mirror) that are at least 50 percent reflective over at least 30 nm bandwidth in a wavelength range from 180 to 280 nm over an incident light angle of 0 to 90 degrees and that are at least 25 percent transmissive of visible light over at least 30 nm bandwidth in a wavelength range of 400 to 800 nm over an incident light angle of 0 to 90 degrees. The light guide is useful, for example, for antimicrobial surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Timothy J. Hebrink, Stephen P. Maki, Michael E. Griffin, Anna C. Hamlin, Justin M. Mazzoni, Christopher A. Merton, Matthew T. Scholz
  • Publication number: 20230400606
    Abstract: An optical construction includes a lens layer and optically opaque first and second mask layers. The lens layer has a first major surface including a plurality of microlenses arranged along orthogonal first and second directions. The first and second mask layers are spaced apart from the first major surface and define respective pluralities of through first and second openings therein arranged along the first and second directions. The first mask layer is disposed between the structured first major surface and the second mask layer. There is a one-to-one correspondence between the microlenses and the first and second openings. The optical construction includes an intermediate layer disposed between the structured first major surface and the first mask layer and including an undulating second major surface facing, and in substantial registration with, an undulating third major surface of first mask layer so as to define a substantially uniform spacing therebetween.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2021
    Publication date: December 14, 2023
    Inventors: Adam T. Ringberg, Vivian W. Jones, James A. Phipps, Tri D. Pham, Przemyslaw P. Markowicz, Mark A. Roehrig, Stephen P. Maki, Bing Hao, David J. Rowe, Serena L. Mollenhauer, Mikhail A. Belkin, Zhaohui Yang, Jathan D. Edwards
  • Publication number: 20230333289
    Abstract: An optical construction can include a lens layer including microlenses formed on a substrate and at least one light absorbing optical cavity disposed on a substrate side of the lens layer. Each light absorbing optical cavity has an average thickness of less than about 300 nm and includes an optically transparent middle layer disposed between light absorbing first and second end layers. Each of the first and second end layers, but not the middle layer, defines a plurality of through openings therein aligned in a one-to-one correspondence with the microlenses. The optical construction can include an optically transparent spacer layer disposed between two light absorbing optical cavities. An optical system includes the optical construction and a refractive component including at least one prism film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2021
    Publication date: October 19, 2023
    Inventors: Stephen P. Maki, Zhaohui Yang, Przemyslaw P. Markowicz, Mark A. Roehrig, Tri D. Pham, Serena L. Mollenhauer, David A. Rosen, Yang Liu
  • Patent number: 11752729
    Abstract: A stretchable reflective color-shifting film comprises a stretchable transparent polymer layer; a semi-transmissive metal layer; a transparent spacer layer; a reflective metal layer; an adhesive layer; and a stretchable base film layer. When the film body is stretched by 25%, the peak total reflectance stretched is at 80% of the peak total reflectance when the film body is unstretched according to the Total Reflectivity Test.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Huiwen Tai, Joan M. Frankel, Stephen P. Maki, Diane North, Robert R. Owings
  • Patent number: 11648761
    Abstract: A method of making an electrically-conductive film is provided. The method includes providing a release layer, optionally having a topologically structured surface, and depositing at least one electrically-conductive layer on the release layer whereby the at least one electrically-conductive layer has an outer surface that substantially replicates the topologically structured surface. The electrically-conductive layer can be peeled away from the release layer to obtain the electrically-conductive film. Such electrically-conductive films can be useful in lightning strike applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Larry S. Hebert, Timothy D. Norum, Steven Y. Yu, Stephen P. Maki
  • Patent number: 11567253
    Abstract: A patterned optical retarder including non-overlapping first (21) and second (27) regions with respective first and second major surfaces having different RMS surface roughnesses. For substantially normally incident light over a wavelength range from about 400 nm to about 1000 nm, the optical retarder has different retardances in the respective first and second regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Jo A. Etter, Stephen P. Maki, Michael L. Steiner, James A. Phipps
  • Publication number: 20230011730
    Abstract: Ultraviolet-C (UV-C) radiation shielding films including a substrate made of a fluoropolymer, a multilayer optical film disposed on a major surface of the substrate, and a heat-sealable encapsulant layer disposed on a major surface of the multilayer optical film opposite the substrate. The multilayer optical film is made of at least a multiplicity of alternating first and second optical layers collectively reflecting at an incident light angle of at least one of 0°, 30°, 45°, 60°, or 75°, at least 30 percent of incident ultraviolet light over at least a 30-nanometer wavelength reflection bandwidth in a wavelength range from at least 100 nanometers to 280 nanometers. The ultraviolet light shielding film may be applied to a major surface of a photovoltaic device, such as a component of a satellite or an unmanned aerial vehicle. Methods of making the UV-C radiation-protective films also are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2020
    Publication date: January 12, 2023
    Inventors: Timothy J. Hebrink, Sean M. Sweetnam, Stephen P. Maki
  • Patent number: 11414924
    Abstract: In certain embodiments, the present disclosure relates to low emissivity films and articles comprising them. Other embodiments are directed to methods of reducing emissivity in an article comprising the use of low emissivity films. In some embodiments, the low emissivity films comprise a metal layer and a pair of layers, one comprising a metal oxide such as zinc tin oxide and the other layer comprising a silicon compound, adjacent each of the two sides of the metal layer. This type of assembly may serve various purposes, including being used as a sun control film. These constructions may be used, for example, as window films on glazing units for reducing transmission of infrared radiation across the film in both directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Raghunath Padiyath, Gregory F. King, Stephen P. Maki
  • Publication number: 20220026633
    Abstract: A light guide comprising a polymeric layer at least 25 percent transmissive over at least a 30 nm bandwidth in a wavelength range from 180 to 280 nm over a distance of at least 100 micrometers and visible light transparent reflecting layers (UV-C mirror) that are at least 50 percent reflective over at least 30 nm bandwidth in a wavelength range from 180 to 280 nm over an incident light angle of 0 to 90 degrees and that are at least 25 percent transmissive of visible light over at least 30 nm bandwidth in a wavelength range of 400 to 800 nm over an incident light angle of 0 to 90 degrees. The light guide is useful, for example, for antimicrobial surfaces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2019
    Publication date: January 27, 2022
    Inventors: Timothy J. Hebrink, Stephen P. Maki, Michael E. Griffin, Anna C. Hamlin, Justin M. Mazzoni, Christopher A. Merton, Matthew T. Scholz
  • Publication number: 20220003904
    Abstract: Multilayer optical film comprising at least a plurality of alternating first and second optical layers. Embodiments of the multilayer optical film are useful, for example, in UV-C shield, UV-C light collimator, and UV-C light concentrator applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2019
    Publication date: January 6, 2022
    Inventors: Timothy J. Hebrink, Stephen P. Maki, Charles D. Hoyle, Joel D. Oxman, Matthew T. Scholz, Justin M. Mazzoni, Michael E. Griffin, Anna C. Hamlin
  • Publication number: 20210308984
    Abstract: A stretchable reflective color-shifting film comprises a stretchable transparent polymer layer; a semi-transmissive metal layer; a transparent spacer layer; a reflective metal layer; an adhesive layer; and a stretchable base film layer. When the film body is stretched by 25%, the peak total reflectance stretched is at 80% of the peak total reflectance when the film body is unstretched according to the Total Reflectivity Test.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2019
    Publication date: October 7, 2021
    Inventors: Huiwen Tai, Joan M. Frankel, Stephen P. Maki, Diane North, Robert R. Owings
  • Publication number: 20210187927
    Abstract: A method of making an electrically-conductive film is provided. The method includes providing a release layer, optionally having a topologically structured surface, and depositing at least one electrically-conductive layer on the release layer whereby the at least one electrically-conductive layer has an outer surface that substantially replicates the topologically structured surface. The electrically-conductive layer can be peeled away from the release layer to obtain the electrically-conductive film. Such electrically-conductive films can be useful in lightning strike applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2019
    Publication date: June 24, 2021
    Inventors: Larry S. Hebert, Timothy D. Norum, Steven Y. Yu, Stephen P. Maki
  • Publication number: 20200249385
    Abstract: A patterned optical retarder including non-overlapping first (21) and second (27) regions with respective first and second major surfaces having different RMS surface roughnesses. For substantially normally incident light over a wavelength range from about 400 nm to about 1000 nm, the optical retarder has different retardances in the respective first and second regions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2018
    Publication date: August 6, 2020
    Inventors: Jo A. Etter, Stephen P. Maki, Michael L. Steiner, James A. Phipps
  • Patent number: 10734454
    Abstract: Display stacks are disclosed. More specifically, display stacks including an emissive display including a plurality of organic light emitting diodes, a circular polarizer, and a color correction film disposed between the emissive display and the circular polarizer are disclosed. The color correction film includes a plurality of microlayers and may provide reduced color shift performance between on and off-axis viewing angles compared to display stacks not including the color correction film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Gilles J. Benoit, Daniel J. Schmidt, Stephen P. Maki