3m Innovative Properties Company

Other

Medit Corp.

David B Stegall

Shannon D Scott

Zhisheng Yun

James L Graham, Ii

Encai Hao

Sergey Lamansky

Jun-Ying Zhang

Paul A Sevcik

Ha T Le

James M Battiato

Terry Lee Smith

William Blake Kolb

Scott Melvyn Tapio

Vivian Wynne Jones

Dwayne L LaBrake

Levent Biyikli

Aya Eid

Jerome C Porque

Eric S Hansen

Serena L Mollenhauer

Vladimir Kryzhniy

Dawn Qiu

Amanda L Kastanek

Apparatus for powder-free intra-oral 3D imaging by using a projected texture pattern. A projector projects a random texture pattern of light to teeth to be imaged, and a digital image sensor receives the projected texture pattern from the teeth. The reflected pattern of light reflects and scatters from the teeth. The texture pattern can be a grid having clusters of bright and dark blocks in a pseudo-random arrangement and can provide for powder-free intra-oral 3D imaging by using the pattern to optically simulate powder applied to the teeth. Polarizers can be used in the optical path to transmit the directly reflected light to the image sensor and suppress or discard some of the unwanted scattered light.

Projected texture pattern for intra-oral 3D imaging

A 3D imaging apparatus with enhanced depth of field to obtain electronic images of an object for use in generating a 3D digital model of the object. The apparatus includes a housing having mirrors positioned to receive an image from an object external to the housing and provide the image to an image sensor. The optical path between the object and the image sensor includes an aperture element having apertures for providing the image along multiple optical channels with a lens positioned within each of the optical channels. The apparatus also includes a transparent cover positioned within the optical path and having a plurality of fiducials. The depth of field of the apparatus includes the cover, allowing the fiducials to be used to calibrate the apparatus or verify and correct the existing calibration of it.

3D image capture apparatus with cover window fiducials for calibration

A 3D imaging apparatus with enhanced depth of field to obtain electronic images of an object for use in generating a 3D digital model of the object. The apparatus includes a housing having mirrors positioned to receive an image from an object external to the housing and provide the image to an image sensor. The optical path between the object and the image sensor includes an aperture element having apertures for providing the image along multiple optical channels with a lens positioned within each of the optical channels. The depth of field of the apparatus includes the housing, allowing placement of the housing directly on the object when obtaining images of it.

3D image capture apparatus with depth of field extension

Disclosed herein are systems and methods for providing a power-puzzler computer generated crossword puzzle which employs a unique and original combination of technology-based features to offer puzzlers of all skill levels a richer and more enjoyable crossword puzzle gaming experience. A master puzzle database (MPDB) consisting of lengthy solutions and corresponding hints associated with metadata is created and utilized to offer numerous improvements over previous crossword puzzle games. The improvement features include offering multiple hints to a lengthy solution which are particularly helpful to beginning puzzlers. Furthermore, unique keyboards are offered in many different embodiments to help a puzzler to type a letter which comprises a solution in a less screen space constrained environment. Puzzlers can also navigate the puzzle grid by selecting and shifting the cells to move or expand the selected cells and clues.

Computer implemented puzzle

A light extraction film having nanoparticles with engineered periodic structures. The light extraction film includes a substantially transparent substrate, low index one-dimensional or two-dimensional periodic structures on the substrate, and a high index planarizing backfill layer applied over the periodic structures. Light scattering nanoparticles are either applied in a layer over the periodic structures or included in the backfill layer.

OLED light extraction films having nanoparticles and periodic structures

Disclosed herein are systems and methods for providing a power-puzzler computer generated crossword puzzle which employs a unique and original combination of technology-based features to offer puzzlers of all skill levels a richer and more enjoyable crossword puzzle gaming experience. A master puzzle database (MPDB) consisting of clues and solutions associated with metadata is created and utilized to offer numerous improvements over previous crossword puzzle games. Features include offering multiple clues of varying difficulty for the same solution and improvement features to help a puzzler understand and develop crossword strategies, skills and techniques. Unique scoring is offered based on multiple variables such as level of difficulty, elapsed time to complete the puzzle, percentage of solutions correct, etc. Puzzlers can also create custom puzzles by defining game parameters such as categories of interest, level of difficulty and desired time to complete. Puzzler performance can be stored in a user profile.

Dynamic puzzle generation

A light extraction film laminated to a glass substrate for organic light emitting diode (OLED) devices. The light extraction film includes a flexible substantially transparent film, a low index nanostructured layer applied to the film, and a high index planarizing backfill layer applied over the nanostructured layer. A glass substrate is laminated to the flexible substantially transparent film on a side opposite the nanostructured layer and including an ultra-low index region between the film and the glass substrate. The ultra-low index region is used to reduce optical losses occurring with the glass substrate.

OLED light extraction films laminated onto glass substrates

A system and method for fabricating structures in an optical substrate. An optical element produces first and second write beams that intersect at a first intersection location at the optical substrate. The first intersection location includes a fringe pattern produced by the first and second write beams. The optical element also produces first and second reference beams that intersect and are recombined at a second intersection location in substantially the same plane as the first intersection location. A controller then controls relative positioning between the optical substrate and the fringe pattern based on a signal derived from the recombined first and second reference beams.

Fabrication of structures in an optical substrate

The invention relates to systems and methods for characterizing optical devices, and particularly to one that characterizes optical devices such as fiber Bragg gratings. In one embodiment, a system and method include the use of two light sources and four detectors to detect light transmitted through an optical device both before and after the light has been transmitted in each direction through the device.

Growing community of inventors

Saint Paul, MN, United States of America

David B Stegall