3m Innovative Properties Company

Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company

Other

10x Technology LLC

Nelson, John C.

John C Nelson

Robert L Brott

Robert S Moshrefzadeh

Patrick A Thomas

Scott Melvyn Tapio

John C Schultz

Dennis F Vanderwerf

Kenneth L Smith

Richard John Pokorny

Rolf W Biernath

Mark E Gardiner

Hsin-hsin Chou

Timothy L Hoopman

Michael J Sykora

Robert M Pricone

Daniel W Hennen

Roger H Appeldorn

Peter M Olofson

Nelson D Sewall

David A Engler

David W Meitz

Michael L Graetz

Amy J Gates

Madeleine B Fleming

Robert M Fesler

Theodore W Hodapp

Michael Alan Meis

Patrick R Fleming

Sanford Cobb, Jr

Raghunath Padiyath

Glenn E Casner

David Jon Lundin

Dale L Ehnes

Martin Kristoffersen

Scott E Brigham

Kathy L Hagen

Kenneth A Aho

Steven J Rhyner

Bonnie Weiskopf Albrecht

Peter F Cullen

William Titus Nelson

Gregory D Shields

In an embodiment, a molding apparatus for a turbine blade includes first and second mold compartments defining a mold cavity when in a closed position, at least one of the first and second mold compartments including a micro-structured surface facing an interior of the mold cavity. The micro-structured surface includes an array of V-shaped channels, and the V-shaped channels have a maximum height of 200 micrometers. A turbine blade including integral micro-structured riblets and method for making the turbine blade is also provided.

Rigid polymeric blade for a wind turbine and method and apparatus to manufacture same

A method is provided for forming at least one curved polymeric microneedle, wherein the microneedle includes a base portion and an elongated body portion terminating in a sharp tip, said elongated body portion comprising a lower portion that is 15% to 25% of the height of the microneedle, said elongated body portion being connected to said base layer. The method comprises: heating an array comprising said base layer and at least a segment of said elongated body portion; passing the heated array against a fixed member to bend the microneedles; and allowing the bent, heated array to be cooled. The heat applied to the base layer and elongated body portion is sufficient to cause the heated microneedle to be at or above the glass transition temperature of the polymer of the microneedle, but below a temperature that would cause the lower portion to bend during the passing step.

Method and apparatus for fabricating bent microneedles for use as micro-sutures in a wound closure device

A backlight for a stereoscopicD liquid crystal display apparatus includes a light guide having a light emission surface and an opposing light extraction surface, a first side extends between the light emission surface and the light extraction surface, and a second side extends between the light emission surface and the light extraction surface, the second side opposing the first side. A centerline extends parallel to the first side and second side and is equidistant from the first side and the second side. A center elongated prism extends along the centerline and forms a portion of the light extraction surface. A plurality of elongated prisms extend parallel to the center elongated prism wherein the prisms are progressively more canted for each subsequent elongated prism further from the center elongated prism. A plurality of light sources disposed along the first side and the second side.

Stereoscopic 3D liquid crystal display with graded light guide light extraction features

A stereoscopic 3D liquid crystal display apparatus includes a liquid crystal display panel, a backlight positioned to provide light to the liquid crystal display panel, and a double sided prism film disposed between the liquid crystal display panel and the backlight. The backlight includes a light guide having a first side and a second side opposite the first side, and having a first surface extending between the first and second sides and a second surface opposite the first surface. The first surface substantially re-directs light and the second surface substantially transmits light. A plurality of first light sources is arranged along the first side of the light guide for transmitting light into the light guide from the first side. A plurality of second light sources is arranged along the second side of the light guide for transmitting light into the light guide from the second side. The second surface includes a regular array of linear prism or lenticular features. A double sided prism film is disposed between the liquid crystal display panel and the regular array of linear prism or lenticular features.

Stereoscopic 3D liquid crystal display apparatus with structured light guide surface

An LCD device with 3D and 2D sections. The device includes an LCD panel, a light guide with a backlight, and an embedded 3D-2D film stack positioned between the LCD panel and the light guide. The 3D and 2D sections provide for simultaneously viewing visual content in 3D and 2D formats. The device can also include a frame providing a barrier between the 3D and 2D sections and can include other features to enhance the display.

Embedded stereoscopic 3D display and 2D display film stack

An autostereoscopic display is described. The autostereoscopic display apparatus includes a backlight having opposing first and second light input surfaces and a light transmission surface extending between the opposing first and second light input surfaces and a right eye light source located to provide light into the first light input side and a left eye light source located to provide light into the second light input side, wherein the left eye light source and the right eye light source are configured to be modulated between the left eye light source and the right eye light source at a rate of at least 90 hertz. A double sided prism film is adjacent to the light transmission surface. The double sided prism film has a plurality of linear prism features on a first major surface and a plurality of lenticular features on a second major surface. The first major surface opposes the second major surface. The double sided prism film is disposed between the light transmission surface and a Fresnel lens element. A liquid crystal display panel is positioned to receive light transmitted through the double sided prism film.

Autostereoscopic display with fresnel lens element and double sided prism adjacent a backlight having a transmission surface with opposed first and second light sources alternately modulated at 90 Hz

A backlight for a stereoscopic 3D liquid crystal display apparatus includes a light guide formed from a plurality of segments. Each segment has a first side and a second side opposite the first side, and a first surface extending between the first and second sides and a second surface opposite the first surface. The first surface substantially re-directs light and the second surface substantially transmits light. The plurality of segments are arranged substantially in parallel with the second surfaces transmitting light in substantially the same direction to provide backlighting for a stereoscopic 3D liquid crystal display. A light source is disposed along only one of the first side or second side of each segment for transmitting light into the light guide from either the first side or second side. Each segment light source is selectively turned on and off in a particular pattern.

Stereoscopic 3D liquid crystal display with segmented light guide

Autostereoscopic display with fresnel lens element and double sided prism film adjacent a backlight having a light transmission surface with left and right eye light sources at opposing ends modulated at a rate of at least 90 hz

A film for a screen has a light transmitting substrate and a plurality of structures disposed on the substrate. An optical material at least partially fills cavities between the structures. A method of forming a film includes providing a light transmitting substrate having a plurality of structures disposed thereon and at least partially filling the cavities therebetween with an optical material.

Microstructured screen with light absorbing material and method of manufacturing

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 invention relates to articles comprising a sheeting having a microstructured surface that reflects light in a moir&#xe9;-like pattern. The invention further relates to methods of making a master and replicas thereof including tooling that results in sheeting having such pattern. A preferred method comprises forming V-shaped grooves in a substrate (e.g. metal plate) wherein the intersections of three grooves form cube-corner elements. The cube-corner elements are formed in such a manner that adjacent parallel grooves have substantially the same groove spacing and groove depth throughout the array. The master as well as corresponding tooling and sheeting preferably have a groove spacing within the range of about 0.0005 inches (0.0127 mm) to about 0.007 inches (0.1778 mm) throughout the array and more preferably a groove spacing of less than about 0.004 inches (0.1016 mm).

Retroreflective articles having moire-like pattern

The invention relates to methods of making a master and replicas thereof including tooling and retroreflective sheeting. The invention further relates to the corresponding master, tooling and in particular retroreflective sheeting. The method comprises forming V-shaped grooves in a substrate (e.g. metal plate) wherein the intersections of three grooves form cube-corner elements. The cube-corner elements are substantially the same size throughout the array. The master as well as corresponding tooling and sheeting preferably have an average groove spacing within the range of about 0.0005 inches (0.0127 mm) to about 0.007 inches (0.1778 mm) throughout the array and more preferably an average groove spacing of less than about 0.004 inches (0.1016 mm).

Methods of making a master and replicas thereof

The present invention is a screen, such as is used in back-lit projection screens, having a Fresnel lens laminated to another layer for support. The screen includes a Fresnel lens having an output surface, and a dispersing screen supportingly attached on a first side to the output surface of the Fresnel lens.

Fresnel lens for projection screens

Disclosed is a rear projection screen that includes a plurality of tapered waveguides and a light absorbing layer disposed over the tops of the waveguides, but that does not completely fill the spaces between the waveguides, thereby forming an interstitial low index region under the light absorbing layer and between the waveguides. The low index interstitial region can include air or a material that has a lower index of refraction than the waveguide material. This rear projection screen construction can give rise to increased efficiency and higher contrast, as well as allow for more design freedom in constructing screens that have desired characteristics such as viewing angle, viewing asymmetry, and the like. Also disclosed are methods for making the described microstructured rear projection screen.

Microstructured rear projection screen

Growing community of inventors

The Sea Ranch, CA, United States of America

John C Nelson