3m Innovative Properties Company

Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company

David A Engler

Rolf W Biernath

Raghunath Padiyath

Jon E Ottman

Richard John Pokorny

Fred Boyle McCormick

John C Nelson

Donald J McClure

Brian J Gates

Brit G Billingsley

William D Miller

Britton G Billingsley

Anthony Robert Maistrovich

The invention relates to a method of making an organic electronic device and articles.

Method of making an organic light emitting device

The invention relates to organic electronic devices and methods of manufacture comprising at least two segments, each segment comprising an organic electronic light-emitting device wherein each segment is defined by peripheral edges; wherein each segment comprises a first electrical contact disposed on a first peripheral edge and a second electrical contact disposed on a different peripheral edge than the first electrical contact and the electrical contacts of each segment are joined in electrical communication with a conductive material.

Segmented organic light emitting device

A microstructure to interact with electromagnetic waves by changing optical aspect in selected areas in response to an external signal, the microstructure comprising: a plurality of responsive elements, each responsive element capable of presenting at least two different optical aspects and changing between the optical aspects based on an applied external signal; a support substrate containing the responsive elements; and a plurality of assisting optical lenses each optically enlarging an image from the responsive elements associated with the assisting optical lens.

Microstructures with assisting optical lenses

The display panel comprises surrounding media containing particles which are responsive to changes in a magnetic field are optically anisotropic toward the viewing surface. The electrode film has an array layer and an electrode layer, where the array layer provides a support structure for the electrode layer and electrically non conductive and in contact with the surface of the display panel and having. a plurality of mesa shaped segments where each mesa shaped segment has a top face and side walls extending downward from the top face. The electrode layer formed of an electrically conductive material coats the array layer and is exposed for contact by an electrical stimulus. The electrode layer is thicker on the top face than on the side walls, producing resistive bridges between adjacent top faces. The resistive bridges partially electrically isolate each electrode from the other electrodes in the electrode layer.

Microstructured segmented electrode film for electronic displays

A microfabricated structure to interact with electromagnetic waves, such as a visual display apparatus for positioning movable particles, the structure comprising a substrate containing a plurality of pockets and/or a plurality of posts, and a plurality of optically anisotropic particles placed in the substrate. Pockets are sealable in relation to other pockets and to air, and each pocket being capable of positioning at least one particle.

Post and pocket microstructures containing moveable particles having optical effects

A microstructure to interact with electromagnetic waves by changing optical aspect in selected areas in response to an external signal, the microstructure comprising: a plurality of responsive elements, each responsive element capable of presenting at least two different optical aspects and changing between the optical aspects based on an applied external signal; and a support substrate containing the responsive elements, wherein at least a part of the support substrate defines an optical structure containing a plurality of assisting optical elements each optically enlarging an image from the responsive elements associated with the assisting optical element.

Microstructures with assisting optical elements to enhance an optical effect

Generally, the present invention relates to a display film and a method of making same, where the display uses electrically responsive, reflective particles disposed within a polymer matrix. The invention includes a method of making a display film having one or more monolayers of the reflective particles. The invention is also directed to a display having particles selected from a production distribution of particles.

Reflective particle display film and method of manufacture

A method improves the respondability of moveable structures in a display medium, such as a gyricon display. The inventive method includes heating the display and exercising the rotatable structures within the display by an application of an electrical field. Applying heat to the display enlarges the cavity surrounding each particle due to thermal expansion of the cavity and the bead rotation cycling jostles the particles loose. The inventive method enables a larger percentage of the particles to rotate to a greater degree thereby improving resolution of an image. Alternatively, heating and exercising can be accomplished by application of ultrasonics. In addition, degassing the fluid contained in the display enhances switching with heat and improves the rotatability of the structures.

Method of improving the respondability of moveable structures in a display

A retroreflective marking material which can be secured to a substrate, e.g., a firefighter's helmet, and then readily removed when desired, even after exposure to heat and flame. The material comprises a retroreflective layer made up of a layer of retroreflective elements in a binder layer, a fire resistant fabric, and a defined fire resistant adhesive on the rear of the fire resistant fabric. The adhesive adheres strongly to polycarbonate and can be stripped from polycarbonate after being held in a forced air oven at 260.degree. C. for 5 minutes. The marking material can contain fluorescent coloring agent(s) to afford good daylight visibility.

Removable, high temperature resistant retroreflective marking material

A bulk polymerization process for free radical polymerization of vinyl monomers and alkenyl azlactones or macromolecular monomers (e.g. functionalized polystyrene), in a wiped surface reactor is disclosed. Referring to FIG. 1; monomer streams 5 (after purification and silica gel column 2), and 7 and macromer or azlactone 8 are combined with free radical initiator 9 to form a premix 16. Pump 18 transfers the premix stream 22 through static mixer 24 into a wiped surface reactor 27. The reactor can be a counter rotating twin screw extruder which produces polymer stream 36 without the need of solvent and using residence times much shorter than prior art solution or emulsion processes. Some unique pressure sensitive adhesive acrylate polymers have been produced. They are believed to have a relatively high degree of branching. The bulk polymerization process permits the manufacture of pressure sensitive adhesive articles by extruding directly from the twin screw extruder onto a substrate.

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Woodbury, MN, United States of America

David A Engler