3m Innovative Properties Company

Jesus R Ramos

Christopher Stewart Lyons

Robert J Fleming

Hassan Sahouani

Mark A Roehrig

Jiaying Ma

Clark Ivan Bright

Joseph M McGrath

Feng Bai

Vadim N Savvateev

Edward John Anderson

Hugo B Montano

Optical shutter (), e.g. fort-stereoscopic shutter glasses, is disclosed. The optical shutter includes a light source, e.g. LCD, CRT or plasma display, that emits polarized light () that has a first polarization state, a first polymeric substrate () that receives the polarized light and transmits the polarized light without substantially changing the first polarization state of the polarized light, a second polymeric substrate () that faces the first polymeric substrate, and an optical stack () that is disposed between the first and second polymeric substrates. The optical stack includes first and second electrically conductive layers (), first and second oriented chromonics alignment layer (), and an oriented liquid crystal layer ().

Optical shutter applicable in stereoscopic viewing glasses

A method for atomizing a liquid including providing an atomizer having a liquid supply conduit having an outlet at one end, a gas supply conduit opening into a port in the liquid supply conduit upstream of the outlet, and a means for imparting vibrational energy to the atomizer. In an embodiment, the liquid supply conduit and gas supply conduit are coaxially displaced relative to one another. The method further includes flowing liquid through the liquid supply conduit to the outlet while simultaneously flowing gas through the gas supply conduit, and imparting vibrational energy to the atomizer to atomize the liquid exiting from the outlet. The introduction of gas at the port results in a spray of droplets with improved dimensional properties.

Method for atomizing material for coating processes

Color shifting retroreflective articles can provide features such as decorative effects, evidence of tampering, security authentication or positional information. In some embodiments, the color shifting retroreflective article includes a layer of microspheres, and a reflective coating that is disposed in optical association with the layer of microspheres. The reflective coating includes a spacer layer disposed between a semitransparent first reflective layer and a second reflective layer. The first reflective layer includes a reflective layer disposed adjacent the layer of microspheres. At least one layer of the reflective coating includes a non-uniform thickness associated with each of a plurality of microspheres such that light incident on the article from a first direction is retroreflected at a first color and light incident on the article from a second direction is retroreflected at a second color visibly different from the first color.

Color shifting retroreflector and method of making same

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Tucson, AZ, United States of America

Jesus R Ramos