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).

  • Patent number: 10896340
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Justin M. Johnson, James W. Howard, James B. Snyder, Thomas J. Dahlin
  • Patent number: 10706311
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Justin M. Johnson, James W. Howard, Thomas J. Dahlin, James B. Snyder, James L. C. Werness, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10586446
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Jeffrey D. Janovec, Kenneth L. Smith, Michael R. Duoos, Todd A. Ballen, Travis L. Potts, James Howard, Thomas J. Dahlin
  • Patent number: 10532704
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Patrick R. Fleming, Thomas J. Dahlin
  • Publication number: 20190304303
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2019
    Publication date: October 3, 2019
    Inventors: Jeffrey D. Janovec, Kenneth L. Smith, Michael R. Duoos, Todd A. Ballen, Travis L. Potts, James Howard, Thomas J. Dahlin
  • Patent number: 10339804
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Jeffrey D. Janovec, Kenneth L. Smith, Michael R. Duoos, Todd A. Ballen, Travis L. Potts, James Howard, Thomas J. Dahlin
  • Publication number: 20180370458
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2018
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Inventors: Patrick R. Fleming, Thomas J. Dahlin
  • Patent number: 10081314
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Patrick R. Fleming, Thomas J. Dahlin
  • Publication number: 20180253616
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2016
    Publication date: September 6, 2018
    Inventors: Justin M. JOHNSON, James W. HOWARD, James B. SNYDER, Thomas J. DAHLIN
  • Publication number: 20180239981
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2016
    Publication date: August 23, 2018
    Inventors: Justin M. JOHNSON, James W. HOWARD, Thomas J. DAHLIN, James B. SNYDER, James L.C. WERNESS, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9937879
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Patrick R. Fleming, Thomas J. Dahlin, Thomas V. Kusilek, Robert L. Smithson
  • Publication number: 20170372607
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2015
    Publication date: December 28, 2017
    Inventors: Jeffrey D. JANOVEC, Kenneth L. SMITH, Michael R. DUOOS, Todd A. BALLEN, Travis L. POTTS, James HOWARD, Thomas J. DAHLIN
  • Publication number: 20170177963
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2015
    Publication date: June 22, 2017
    Inventors: Lee A. Pavelka, Neeraj Sharma, Thomas J. Dahlin, Michael R. Duoos
  • Publication number: 20170028940
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2016
    Publication date: February 2, 2017
    Inventors: Patrick R. Fleming, Thomas J. Dahlin
  • Patent number: 9471863
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Patrick R. Fleming, Thomas J. Dahlin
  • Publication number: 20150353029
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2015
    Publication date: December 10, 2015
    Inventors: Patrick R. Fleming, Thomas J. Dahlin, Thomas V. Kusilek, Robert L. Smithson
  • Patent number: 9145098
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Patrick R. Fleming, Thomas J. Dahlin, Thomas V. Kusilek, Robert L. W. Smithson
  • Patent number: 9025828
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Gerald L. Karel, Thomas J. Dahlin, Patrick R. Fleming
  • Publication number: 20150060551
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2013
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Applicant: 3M INNOVATIVE ROPERTIECOMPANY
    Inventors: Patrick R. Fleming, Thomas J. Dahlin
  • Publication number: 20140267728
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventor: Thomas J. Dahlin