3m Innovative Properties Company

David W Kuhns

William Vogel Dower

Daniel H Carlson

James N Dobbs

John S Huizinga

Gregory F King

John T Strand

Olester Benson, Jr

M Benton Free

David C Koskenmaki

Jeremy K Larsen

Serge Wetzels

Larry D Humlicek

Thelma E Hunter, Legal Representative

Thomas B Hunter

Haiyan Zhang

Brian W Lueck

Vincent W King

Thomas M Clausen

Steven R Vanhoose

Samuel Hunter, Legal Representative

Vincent W S King

Michael Benton Free

David K Cinader, Jr

Richard E Raby

Oliver L Puttler

Robert Steven Kody

Samuel W Hunter

Samual W Hunter, Legal Representative

Thelma Hunter

Shawn W Lee

David Cinader

Robert S Kody

The positions of orthodontic appliances such as brackets and buccal tubes on a patient's teeth are determined using digital data that represents the shapes of the patient's teeth. Certain landmarks of the teeth such as the marginal ridges are determined using software, and the software adjusts positions of the virtual appliances on the teeth as needed in order to bring the marginal ridges into proper alignment at the conclusion of treatment. The resulting positions are optionally used to determine the location of the appliances in an indirect bonding apparatus such as a transfer tray.

Methods and systems for determining the positions of orthodontic appliances

An apparatus for casting a patterned surface on both sides of an opaque web. The apparatus includes a first patterned roll, a second pattered roll, and a means for rotating the first and second patterned rolls such that their patterns are transferred to opposite sides of the opaque web while it is in continuous motion. During this process, their patterns are maintained in continuous registration to within at least 100 micrometers.

Apparatus and method for producing two-sided patterned web in registration

A virtual model of a dental patient's dentition is provided by obtaining a digital data file of the patient's teeth and orthodontic appliances connected to the teeth, and then combining data from the data file with other data that represents surfaces of the teeth underlying the appliances. The virtual model is useful in preparing a physical model of the patient's current dentition that can be used, for example, to make a dental retainer. Advantageously, the retainer can be fabricated before the orthodontic appliances are disconnected from the patient's teeth and ready for use as soon as the patient's teeth have reached their desired positions in the oral cavity.

Methods of preparing a virtual dentition model and fabricating a dental retainer therefrom

A remote sensing device includes a plurality of components arranged to form a resonant electrical circuit. The plurality of components includes at least one sensing component having sensing elements distributed among regions of an area of interest. The sensing elements are arranged so that a resonant characteristic of the resonant circuit is modifiable by an external event affecting an element associated with a region. The sensing component may be a capacitor having spatially distributed capacitive elements or an inductor having spatially distributed inductive elements.

Spatially distributed remote sensor

A remote sensing device includes a sensor and reference circuit. A resonant circuit of the sensor has a resonant characteristic modifiable by exposure to an external condition. The sensor is configured to produce a sensor signal associated with the modifiable resonant characteristic. A reference circuit of the remote sensing device is configured to produce a reference signal suitable for use in conjunction with the sensor signal. The reference signal is used to account for variations of the sensor signal due to variations in the inductive coupling between the remote sensing device and a reader designed to detect the reference signal and the sensor signal.

Systems and methods for remote sensing using inductively coupled transducers

A microreplicated article is disclosed. The article includes a web including first and second opposed surfaces. The first surface includes a first microreplicated structure having a plurality of first features. The second surface includes a second microreplicated structure having a plurality of second features. Corresponding opposed features cooperate to form a lens features.

Microreplicated article

Conductive circuits and methods of making conductive circuits are disclosed.

Method for making conductive circuits using powdered metals

An apparatus for casting a patterned surface on both sides of a web. The apparatus includes a first patterned roll; a second pattered roll; and a means for rotating the first and second patterned rolls such that their patterns are transferred to opposite sides of the web while it is in continuous motion. During this process, their patterns are maintained in continuous registration to within at least 100 microns, and preferably at least 20 microns.

Apparatus and method for producing two-sided patterned webs in registration

A tamper-indicating radio frequency identification device made of densified metal powder and to a sticker including the same device. The present invention also relates to radio frequency identification antenna made of densified metal powder and to a sticker including the same antenna. The present invention also relates to methods of indicating that a radio frequency identification antenna or sticker has been tampered with.

Tamper-indicating radio frequency identification antenna and sticker, a radio frequency identification antenna, and methods of using the same

The invention includes a method for collecting radiation. An electromechanical radiation collection device is disposed in a roll to collect radiation directed at the roll. The invention is also an apparatus comprising a roll having an outer surface. An electromechanical radiation collection device is disposed in the roll.

Dose radiometer

Manufacturing techniques are described for forming electrical components. For example, a layer of a metal powder composition is deposited onto at least a portion of a substrate. Pressure is applied to the metal powder composition by hydraulic press that has one or more projections in order to capture a pattern on the substrate. The metal powder composition compressed by the projections of the hydraulic press adhere to the substrate to form the captured pattern. The metal powder composition in regions not compressed by the projections of hydraulic press do not adhere to the substrate and may be removed. The metal powder composition may be compressed to form electrical components, such as antennae, capacitor plates, conduction pads and the like, for use in an electronic surveillance system (EAS), a radio frequency identification (RFID) system, or the like.

Forming electromagnetic communication circuit components using densified metal powder

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Minneapolis, MN, United States of America

David W Kuhns