Patents by Inventor Thomas J. Dahlin
Thomas J. Dahlin 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: 10896340Abstract: In some examples, a computing device receives an image of an optically active article that includes a set of one or more symbols of a symbol set, wherein at least one symbol of the set of one or more symbols comprises a set of encoding regions that are embedded with the symbol. In response to receiving the image, the computing device may determine that a particular image region of the image represents the at least one symbol. For encoding regions within the at least one symbol, the computing device may determine, based at least in part on the determination that the particular image region of the image represents the at least one symbol, whether the one or more encoding regions are active or inactive. The computing device may perform, based at least in part on whether the one or more encoding regions are active or inactive, one or more operations.Type: GrantFiled: August 19, 2016Date of Patent: January 19, 2021Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANYInventors: Justin M. Johnson, James W. Howard, James B. Snyder, Thomas J. Dahlin
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Patent number: 10706311Abstract: The inventors of the present application developed novel retroreflective materials, and articles. One example of the present application is a retroreflective article, comprising a substrate and a machine-readable information disposed on the substrate, wherein the machine-readable information corresponds to a predetermined human-readable information.Type: GrantFiled: August 19, 2016Date of Patent: July 7, 2020Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANYInventors: Justin M. Johnson, James W. Howard, Thomas J. Dahlin, James B. Snyder, James L. C. Werness, Jr.
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Patent number: 10586446Abstract: Disclosed is an identification system to improve safety on roads and allow for the driver or for the vehicle itself, if it is autonomous or semi-autonomous, to have readable and useful information about road signs, roadways, and adjacent roadway information. The disclosed identification system comprises a marker with marker communication information that can be read by a vehicle information system to provide information to the vehicle. Information that the marker communication information may convey would allow the vehicle information system to detect or recognize, or both detect and recognize critical road sign, roadway information, and adjacent roadway information. Then, the vehicle information system could respond to the information received from the marker communication information.Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 2019Date of Patent: March 10, 2020Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANYInventors: Jeffrey D. Janovec, Kenneth L. Smith, Michael R. Duoos, Todd A. Ballen, Travis L. Potts, James Howard, Thomas J. Dahlin
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Patent number: 10532704Abstract: Retroreflective articles comprise a substrate and a bar code provided on the substrate. The bar code comprises at least one human-readable information which provides framing information and a machine-readable information which provides variable information. The human-readable information is visible under a first condition and invisible under a second condition, and the machine-readable information is invisible under the first condition and visible under the second condition.Type: GrantFiled: September 5, 2018Date of Patent: January 14, 2020Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Patrick R. Fleming, Thomas J. Dahlin
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Publication number: 20190304303Abstract: Disclosed is an identification system to improve safety on roads and allow for the driver or for the vehicle itself, if it is autonomous or semi-autonomous, to have readable and useful information about road signs, roadways, and adjacent roadway information. The disclosed identification system comprises a marker with marker communication information that can be read by a vehicle information system to provide information to the vehicle. Information that the marker communication information may convey would allow the vehicle information system to detect or recognize, or both detect and recognize critical road sign, roadway information, and adjacent roadway information. Then, the vehicle information system could respond to the information received from the marker communication information.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 17, 2019Publication date: October 3, 2019Inventors: Jeffrey D. Janovec, Kenneth L. Smith, Michael R. Duoos, Todd A. Ballen, Travis L. Potts, James Howard, Thomas J. Dahlin
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Patent number: 10339804Abstract: Disclosed is an identification system to improve safety on roads and allow for the driver or for the vehicle itself, if it is autonomous or semi-autonomous, to have readable and useful information about road signs, roadways, and adjacent roadway information. The disclosed identification system comprises a marker with marker communication information that can be read by a vehicle information system to provide information to the vehicle. Information that the marker communication information may convey would allow the vehicle information system to detect or recognize, or both detect and recognize critical road sign, roadway information, and adjacent roadway information. Then, the vehicle information system could respond to the information received from the marker communication information.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2015Date of Patent: July 2, 2019Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Jeffrey D. Janovec, Kenneth L. Smith, Michael R. Duoos, Todd A. Ballen, Travis L. Potts, James Howard, Thomas J. Dahlin
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Publication number: 20180370458Abstract: Retroreflective articles comprise a substrate and a bar code provided on the substrate. The bar code comprises at least one human-readable information which provides framing information and a machine-readable information which provides variable information. The human-readable information is visible under a first condition and invisible under a second condition, and the machine-readable information is invisible under the first condition and visible under the second condition.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 5, 2018Publication date: December 27, 2018Inventors: Patrick R. Fleming, Thomas J. Dahlin
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Patent number: 10081314Abstract: Retroreflective articles comprise a substrate and a bar code provided on the substrate. The bar code comprises at least one human-readable information which provides framing information and a machine-readable information which provides variable information. The human-readable information is visible under a first condition and invisible under a second condition, and the machine-readable information is invisible under the first condition and visible under the second condition.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 2016Date of Patent: September 25, 2018Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Patrick R. Fleming, Thomas J. Dahlin
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Publication number: 20180253616Abstract: In some examples, a computing device receives an image of an optically active article that includes a set of one or more symbols of a symbol set, wherein at least one symbol of the set of one or more symbols comprises a set of encoding regions that are embedded with the symbol. In response to receiving the image, the computing device may determine that a particular image region of the image represents the at least one symbol. For encoding regions within the at least one symbol, the computing device may determine, based at least in part on the determination that the particular image region of the image represents the at least one symbol, whether the one or more encoding regions are active or inactive. The computing device may perform, based at least in part on whether the one or more encoding regions are active or inactive, one or more operations.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 19, 2016Publication date: September 6, 2018Inventors: Justin M. JOHNSON, James W. HOWARD, James B. SNYDER, Thomas J. DAHLIN
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Publication number: 20180239981Abstract: The inventors of the present application developed novel retroreflective materials, and articles. One example of the present application is a retroreflective article, comprising a substrate and a machine-readable information disposed on the substrate, wherein the machine-readable information corresponds to a predetermined human-readable information.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 19, 2016Publication date: August 23, 2018Inventors: Justin M. JOHNSON, James W. HOWARD, Thomas J. DAHLIN, James B. SNYDER, James L.C. WERNESS, Jr.
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Patent number: 9937879Abstract: The present disclosure relates to the formation of high contrast, wavelength independent retroreflective sheeting made by including a light scattering material on at least a portion of the retroreflective sheeting. The light scattering material reduces the brightness of the retroreflective sheeting without substantially changing the appearance of the retroreflective sheeting when viewed under scattered light.Type: GrantFiled: August 19, 2015Date of Patent: April 10, 2018Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Patrick R. Fleming, Thomas J. Dahlin, Thomas V. Kusilek, Robert L. Smithson
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Publication number: 20170372607Abstract: Disclosed is an identification system to improve safety on roads and allow for the driver or for the vehicle itself, if it is autonomous or semi-autonomous, to have readable and useful information about road signs, roadways, and adjacent roadway information. The disclosed identification system comprises a marker with marker communication information that can be read by a vehicle information system to provide information to the vehicle. Information that the marker communication information may convey would allow the vehicle information system to detect or recognize, or both detect and recognize critical road sign, roadway information, and adjacent roadway information. Then, the vehicle information system could respond to the information received from the marker communication information.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 30, 2015Publication date: December 28, 2017Inventors: Jeffrey D. JANOVEC, Kenneth L. SMITH, Michael R. DUOOS, Todd A. BALLEN, Travis L. POTTS, James HOWARD, Thomas J. DAHLIN
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Publication number: 20170177963Abstract: The present disclosure relates to optically active sheeting and/or license plates, methods of making and using these; and systems in which these can be used.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 24, 2015Publication date: June 22, 2017Inventors: Lee A. Pavelka, Neeraj Sharma, Thomas J. Dahlin, Michael R. Duoos
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Publication number: 20170028940Abstract: Retroreflective articles comprise a substrate and a bar code provided on the substrate. The bar code comprises at least one human-readable information which provides framing information and a machine-readable information which provides variable information. The human-readable information is visible under a first condition and invisible under a second condition, and the machine-readable information is invisible under the first condition and visible under the second condition.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 13, 2016Publication date: February 2, 2017Inventors: Patrick R. Fleming, Thomas J. Dahlin
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Patent number: 9471863Abstract: Retroreflective articles comprise a substrate and a bar code provided on the substrate. The bar code comprises at least one human-readable information which provides framing information and a machine-readable information which provides variable information. The human-readable information is visible under a first condition and invisible under a second condition, and the machine-readable information is invisible under the first condition and visible under the second condition.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2013Date of Patent: October 18, 2016Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Patrick R. Fleming, Thomas J. Dahlin
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Publication number: 20150353029Abstract: The present disclosure relates to the formation of high contrast, wavelength independent retroreflective sheeting made by including a light scattering material on at least a portion of the retroreflective sheeting. The light scattering material reduces the brightness of the retroreflective sheeting without substantially changing the appearance of the retroreflective sheeting when viewed under scattered light.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 19, 2015Publication date: December 10, 2015Inventors: Patrick R. Fleming, Thomas J. Dahlin, Thomas V. Kusilek, Robert L. Smithson
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Patent number: 9145098Abstract: The present disclosure relates to the formation of high contrast, wavelength independent retroreflective sheeting made by including a light scattering material on at least a portion of the retroreflective sheeting. The light scattering material reduces the brightness of the retroreflective sheeting without substantially changing the appearance of the retroreflective sheeting when viewed under scattered light.Type: GrantFiled: October 5, 2010Date of Patent: September 29, 2015Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Patrick R. Fleming, Thomas J. Dahlin, Thomas V. Kusilek, Robert L. W. Smithson
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Patent number: 9025828Abstract: One embodiment of the apparatuses, methods, and systems of the present disclosure is a license plate, sticker, or ALPR system having enhanced or increased accuracy. At least one of the license plate, sticker, or ALPR system includes useful information that is transmitted over a first channel and checking information that is transmitted over a second channel. The second channel is devoted solely to transmitting the checking information (e.g., the second channel does not transmit useful information). In other words, the license plates, stickers, and ALPR systems of the present disclosure include at least one channel that is devoted solely to transmitting checking information.Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 2010Date of Patent: May 5, 2015Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Gerald L. Karel, Thomas J. Dahlin, Patrick R. Fleming
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Publication number: 20150060551Abstract: Retroreflective articles comprise a substrate and a bar code provided on the substrate. The bar code comprises at least one human-readable information which provides framing information and a machine-readable information which provides variable information. The human-readable information is visible under a first condition and invisible under a second condition, and the machine-readable information is invisible under the first condition and visible under the second condition.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 29, 2013Publication date: March 5, 2015Applicant: 3M INNOVATIVE ROPERTIECOMPANYInventors: Patrick R. Fleming, Thomas J. Dahlin
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Publication number: 20140267728Abstract: A vehicle detection and image capture system that detects a vehicle at the location of a radio frequency identification tag when a radio frequency identification reader fails to receive a response from the radio frequency identification tag during interrogation, and captures an image of the vehicle with a camera.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 14, 2013Publication date: September 18, 2014Applicant: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANYInventor: Thomas J. Dahlin