Patents by Inventor Todd Ballen
Todd Ballen 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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Publication number: 20220126381Abstract: A new technique for making cube corner elements that involves end milling is used in the fabrication of cube corner elements having non-orthogonal dihedral angles and dihedral angle errors, and arrays of such cube corner elements. A given optical face of a cube corner element may be a compound face with two constituent faces. In some cases, the constituent faces may be parallel and coplanar such that a given dihedral angle error pertains to the entire optical face, while in other cases, the two constituent faces may not be parallel, and may be associated with different dihedral angle errors.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 6, 2022Publication date: April 28, 2022Inventors: Nelson D. Sewall, Christopher S. Grinde, Todd A. Ballen, Kenneth L. Smith
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Patent number: 11253933Abstract: A new technique for making cube corner elements that involves end milling is used in the fabrication of cube corner elements having non-orthogonal dihedral angles and dihedral angle errors, and arrays of such cube corner elements. A given optical face of a cube corner element may be a compound face with two constituent faces. In some cases, the constituent faces may be parallel and coplanar such that a given dihedral angle error pertains to the entire optical face, while in other cases, the two constituent faces may not be parallel, and may be associated with different dihedral angle errors.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 2018Date of Patent: February 22, 2022Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANYInventors: Nelson D. Sewall, Christopher S. Grinde, Todd A. Ballen, Kenneth L. Smith
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Patent number: 11016229Abstract: An optical filter including a polarizer and a visible light blocking filter is described. The polarizer is configured to transmit at least 60 percent of light in a first infrared wavelength range that is incident on the polarizer at normal incidence in a first polarization state, to transmit less than 30 percent of light in a second infrared wavelength that is incident on the polarizer at normal incidence in a second polarization state orthogonal to the first polarization state, and to transmit less than 30 percent of light in a third infrared wavelength range that is incident on the polarizer with a 50 degree angle of incidence in the second polarization state. The visible light blocking filter configured to transmit at least 60 percent of light in the first infrared wavelength range at normal incidence in the first polarization state.Type: GrantFiled: May 30, 2017Date of Patent: May 25, 2021Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANYInventors: John A. Wheatley, Gilles J. Benoit, Todd A. Ballen, Kenneth L. Smith, Guanglei Du, Edward J. Kivel, Rolf W. Biernath, Jordan D. Whitney, Daniel J. Schmidt
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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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Publication number: 20200038969Abstract: A new technique for making cube corner elements that involves end milling is used in the fabrication of cube corner elements having non-orthogonal dihedral angles and dihedral angle errors, and arrays of such cube corner elements. A given optical face of a cube corner element may be a compound face with two constituent faces. In some cases, the constituent faces may be parallel and coplanar such that a given dihedral angle error pertains to the entire optical face, while in other cases, the two constituent faces may not be parallel, and may be associated with different dihedral angle errors.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 5, 2018Publication date: February 6, 2020Inventors: Nelson D. SEWALL, Christopher S. GRINDE, Todd A. BALLEN, Kenneth L. SMITH
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Patent number: 10502875Abstract: Cube corner articles such as retroreflective sheeting utilize multiple cube corner arrays in a tiled configuration, each tile containing one array of canted cube corner elements. The tiles may be long and narrow, and the array in each of at least two or three adjacent tiles, or even in every tile, may include at least one lengthwise groove that is parallel to an edge of the tile and parallel to a fixed in-plane axis. Each tile may have a width that is narrow (e.g. 0.2 to 5 mm), and equal to an integer multiple of a lengthwise groove pitch to avoid or reduce ineffective fragmented cube corners along the tile edge. Each array may have a plane of cant and a primary plane of entrance angularity, and the primary planes of entrance angularity for the multiple tiles may be more evenly distributed in azimuthal angle than the planes of cant.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2017Date of Patent: December 10, 2019Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANYInventors: Kenneth L. Smith, Todd A. Ballen, Nelson D. Sewall
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Publication number: 20190358918Abstract: The present disclosure relates to end milling methods for making microstructures, and articles containing such microstructures. The end milling process comprises rotating an end mill (1410r) around an axis of rotation (1409) and translating the rotating end mill (1410r) in a working surface (1407) to form a first recess (1420) such that end mill (1410r) moves along an inclined path (1411) relative to the working surface (1409), or to a reference plane along which the working surface (1407) extends. The method forms flat faces (1441a, 1441b) that meet along a rounded edge (1451), the edge (1451) being inclined to the reference plane. Both truncated cube corner elements (see for instance FIGS. 47 and 48) and full cube corner elements (see for instance FIG. 56A) can be made in a substrate (4705, 4805, 5605) by forming at least part of an optical face of the cube corner element (4780, 4880, 5680) by cutting the substrate (4705, 4805, 5605) with a rotating end mill (1410r).Type: ApplicationFiled: February 5, 2018Publication date: November 28, 2019Inventors: Nelson D. SEWALL, Christoper S. GRINDE, Kenneth L. SMITH, Todd A. BALLEN
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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: 20190137669Abstract: An optical filter including a polarizer and a visible light blocking filter is described. The polarizer is configured to transmit at least 60 percent of light in a first infrared wavelength range that is incident on the polarizer at normal incidence in a first polarization state, to transmit less than 30 percent of light in a second infrared wavelength that is incident on the polarizer at normal incidence in a second polarization state orthogonal to the first polarization state, and to transmit less than 30 percent of light in a third infrared wavelength range that is incident on the polarizer with a 50 degree angle of incidence in the second polarization state. The visible light blocking filter configured to transmit at least 60 percent of light in the first infrared wavelength range at normal incidence in the first polarization state.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 30, 2017Publication date: May 9, 2019Inventors: John A. Wheatley, Gilles J. Benoit, Todd A. Ballen, Kenneth L. Smith, Guanglei Du, Edward J. Kivel, Rolf W. Biernath, Jordan D. Whitney, Daniel J. Schmidt
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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: 20170299787Abstract: Cube corner articles such as retroreflective sheeting utilize multiple cube corner arrays in a tiled configuration, each tile containing one array of canted cube corner elements. The tiles may be long and narrow, and the array in each of at least two or three adjacent tiles, or even in every tile, may include at least one lengthwise groove that is parallel to an edge of the tile and parallel to a fixed in-plane axis. Each tile may have a width that is narrow (e.g. 0.2 to 5 mm), and equal to an integer multiple of a lengthwise groove pitch to avoid or reduce ineffective fragmented cube corners along the tile edge. Each array may have a plane of cant and a primary plane of entrance angularity, and the primary planes of entrance angularity for the multiple tiles may be more evenly distributed in azimuthal angle than the planes of cant.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 30, 2017Publication date: October 19, 2017Inventors: Kenneth L. Smith, Todd A. Ballen, Nelson D. Sewall
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Patent number: 9703023Abstract: Cube corner articles such as retroreflective sheeting utilize multiple cube corner arrays in a tiled configuration, each tile containing one array of canted cube corner elements. The tiles may be long and narrow, and the array in each of at least two or three adjacent tiles, or even in every tile, may include at least one lengthwise groove that is parallel to an edge of the tile and parallel to a fixed in-plane axis. Each tile may have a width that is narrow (e.g. 0.2 to 5 mm), and equal to an integer multiple of a lengthwise groove pitch to avoid or reduce ineffective fragmented cube corners along the tile edge. Each array may have a plane of cant and a primary plane of entrance angularity, and the primary planes of entrance angularity for the multiple tiles may be more evenly distributed in azimuthal angle than the planes of cant.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2014Date of Patent: July 11, 2017Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANYInventors: Kenneth L. Smith, Todd A. Ballen, Nelson D. Sewall
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Patent number: 9293622Abstract: Re-emitting semiconductor constructions (RSCs) for use with LEDs, and related devices, systems, and methods are disclosed. A method of fabrication includes providing a semiconductor substrate, forming on a first side of the substrate a semiconductor layer stack, attaching a carrier window to the stack, and removing the substrate after the attaching step. The stack includes an active region adapted to convert light at a first wavelength ?1 to visible light at a second wavelength ?2, the active region including at least a first potential well. The attaching step is carried out such that the stack is disposed between the substrate and the carrier window, which is transparent to the second wavelength ?2. The carrier window may also have a lateral dimension greater than that of the stack. The removal step is carried out so as to provide an RSC carrier device that includes the carrier window and the stack.Type: GrantFiled: May 3, 2010Date of Patent: March 22, 2016Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Terry L. Smith, Catherine A. Leatherdale, Michael A. Haase, Thomas J. Miller, Xiaoguang Sun, Zhaohui Yang, Todd A. Ballen, Amy S. Barnes
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Publication number: 20160033694Abstract: Cube corner articles such as retroreflective sheeting utilize multiple cube corner arrays in a tiled configuration, each tile containing one array of canted cube corner elements. The tiles may be long and narrow, and the array in each of at least two or three adjacent tiles, or even in every tile, may include at least one lengthwise groove that is parallel to an edge of the tile and parallel to a fixed in-plane axis. Each tile may have a width that is narrow (e.g. 0.2 to 5 mm), and equal to an integer multiple of a lengthwise groove pitch to avoid or reduce ineffective fragmented cube corners along the tile edge. Each array may have a plane of cant and a primary plane of entrance angularity, and the primary planes of entrance angularity for the multiple tiles may be more evenly distributed in azimuthal angle than the planes of cant.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 13, 2014Publication date: February 4, 2016Inventors: Kenneth L. Smith, Todd A. Ballen, Nelson D. Sewall
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Patent number: 9136429Abstract: Multilayer construction is disclosed. The multilayer construction includes a II-VI semiconductor layer and a Si3N4 layer disposed directly on the II-VI semiconductor layer.Type: GrantFiled: August 25, 2014Date of Patent: September 15, 2015Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANYInventors: Jun-Ying Zhang, Michael A. Haase, Todd A. Ballen, Terry L. Smith
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Publication number: 20140367641Abstract: Multilayer construction is disclosed. The multilayer construction includes a II-VI semiconductor layer and a Si3N4 layer disposed directly on the II-VI semiconductor layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 25, 2014Publication date: December 18, 2014Inventors: Jun-Ying Zhang, Michael A. Haase, Todd A. Ballen, Terry L. Smith
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Patent number: 8846518Abstract: A multilayer construction is disclosed. The multilayer construction includes a -II-VI semiconductor layer (110)x and a Si3N4 layer (120) disposed directly on the II-VI semiconductor layer. To improve the adhesion of the Si3N4 layer (120) a native oxide on the II-VI semiconductor layer is removed.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 2011Date of Patent: September 30, 2014Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Jun-Ying Zhang, Michael A. Haase, Todd A. Ballen, Terry L. Smith
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Publication number: 20130109183Abstract: A multilayer construction is disclosed. The multilayer construction includes a -II-VI semiconductor layer (110)x and a Si3N4 layer (120) disposed directly on the II-VI semiconductor layer. To improve the adhesion of the Si3N4 layer (120) a native oxide on the II-VI semiconductor layer is removed.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 1, 2011Publication date: May 2, 2013Applicant: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANYInventors: Jun-Ying Zhang, Michael A. Haase, Todd A. Ballen, Terry L. Smith
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Patent number: 8193543Abstract: Light emitting systems are disclosed. The light emitting system includes an LED that emits light at a first wave-length. A primary portion of the emitted first wavelength light exits the LED from a top surface of the LED that has a minimum lateral dimension Wmin. The remaining portion of the emitted first wavelength light exits the LED from one or more sides of the LED that has a maximum edge thickness Tmax (122, 124). The ratio Wmin/Tmax is at least 30. The light emitting system further includes a re-emitting semiconductor construction that includes a semiconductor potential well. The re-emitting semiconductor construction receives the first wavelength light that exits the LED from the top surface and converts at least a portion of the received light to light of a second wavelength.Type: GrantFiled: August 18, 2009Date of Patent: June 5, 2012Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Catherine A. Leatherdale, Michael A. Haase, Todd A. Ballen