3m Innovative Properties Company

John T Strand

Olester Benson, Jr

John Allen Wheatley

Kevin Michael Lewandowski

Daniel H Carlson

James N Dobbs

John S Huizinga

William Vogel Dower

Gregory F King

David W Kuhns

Jeremy K Larsen

Haiyan Zhang

Karl K Stensvad

Daniel J Theis

Moses Mekala David

David B Olson

Mikhail L Pekurovsky

Duane Douglas Fansler

Michael Benton Free

Robert L Brott

Douglas Scott Dunn

Matthew S Stay

Kui Chen-Ho

Kevin W Gotrik

Charles A Marttila

Shawn C Dodds

Michael J Sykora

Daniel S Wertz

Brian Kenneth Nelson

Kathleen S Shafer

Larry D Humlicek

Thomas B Hunter

Thelma E Hunter, Legal Representative

M Benton Free

Glen A Jerry

Vincent W King

Brian W Lueck

Vincent W S King

Samuel W Hunter

Samuel Hunter, Legal Representative

Susannah C Clear

Ronald P Swanson

Scott J Jones

Anthony F Schultz

Thomas J Metzler

Jennifer Rebecca Yi

Henrik B Van Lengerich

Serge Wetzels

William R Dudley

David L Hofeldt

Tien Yi T H Whiting

Mark J Brady

Levent Biyikli

Jonah Shaver

Bryan T Whiting

Ellison G Kawakami

Thomas M Clausen

James R Starkey

Taylor J Kobe

Andrzej P Jaworski

Belayneh W Million

Alan G Hulme-Lowe

Matthew R Smith

Samual W Hunter, Legal Representative

Thelma Hunter

Jennifer R Yi

The disclosed patterned wavelength-selective material and process for making the patterned wavelength-selective material uses patterned applied adhesive and a structurally weak wavelength-selective material that includes portions that contact the adhesive and break to remain in contact with the adhesive. In one embodiment, the wavelength-selective material comprises an array of sections with cuts at least partially through a wavelength-selective film at each section secured to the adhesive. In another embodiment, the wavelength-selective film comprises a transfer stack of layers.

Patterned wavelength-selective film

Electrically conductive patterns formed on a substrate are provided with a reduced visibility. A region of a major surface of the substrate is selectively roughened to form a roughened pattern on the major surface of the substrate. Electrically conductive traces are directly formed on the roughened region and are conformal with the roughened pattern on the major surface of the substrate.

Metallic microstructures with reduced-visibility and methods for producing same

Compositions of matter capable of being cast and cured to form a microreplicated pattern on a substrate, and further capable of swelling on exposure to water so as to release from that substrate. Water swellable acrylic polymers formed from these compositions, and methods of using same in nanoimprint lithography are also disclosed.

Swellable film forming compositions and methods of nanoimprint lithography employing same

A manufacturing system includes a sensing system that provides high-resolution feedback for web guiding and tension control. The system may be especially useful for web material that is manufactured to include micro-replicated structures with micron size scale. A micro-replication station forms a pattern of micro-replicated lenses on a web material. The sensing system illuminates a measurement area on the web material and detects an angular distribution of light exiting a set of the micro-replicated lenses within the first measurement area. A control system that adjusts at least one process control parameter of the transport system based on the detected angular distribution.

Precision control of web material having micro-replicated lens array

Methods and systems for determining longitudinal position of an elongated web are described. Sensors are used to detect one or more substantially continuous fiducial marks disposed longitudinally on the web. The sensors generate signals associated with the fiducial marks. A position detector receives the signals and determines a longitudinal position of the web using the sensor signals. The fiducial marks may be periodic fiducial marks, such as sine and/or cosine marks on the web and/or may be piecewise continuous marks. The coarse longitudinal position of the web can be determined based on periodically recurring features of the fiducial marks. The fine longitudinal position can be determined based on continuous portions of the fiducial marks between the periodically recurring features.

Web longitudinal position sensor

A web-handling machine frame, at least partially built from reconfigurable interconnected blocks having precision alignment points. From such blocks, modular equipment web-handling lines for web-handling operations can be constructed ad hoc with their shaft mounted web-contacting devices in tram without the need for separate alignment procedures.

Web-handling machine frame

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 microreplicated article is disclosed. The article includes an opaque web having 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. The first microreplicated structure and the second microreplicated structure retain registration within 100 micrometers.

Microreplicated article

A keypad having a virtual floating image that appears to a user to be in a plane other than the apparent plane of the keypad surface. More particularly, the indicia on the keypad appear to float above or below the surface of the device. The keypad can be, for example, the keypad on a cell phone. For such an application there would be more than one array of indicia present on the keypad. For example, there might be ten arrays of indicia, which provide the numerals from 0 to 9 and two more arrays to provide virtual images of the * and # keys. In some embodiments, the keypad is integrated with an illumination source that light up the indicia. The present disclosure also provides a method of manufacturing a key pad with a virtual floating image.

Keypad with virtual image

A roll to roll microreplication apparatus is described. This apparatus forms a microreplicated article including a web having first and second opposed surfaces. The apparatus includes a first patterned roll, first nip roll and first coating die; the first coating die is disposed adjacent the web substrate first side and the web substrate is disposed between the first patterned roll and first nip roll. The first nip roll touches the web substrate second side and the first patterned roll touches the web substrate first side. The apparatus includes, a second patterned roll, second nip roll and second coating die, the second coating die is disposed adjacent the web substrate second side and the web substrate is disposed between the second patterned roll and second nip roll. The second nip roll touches the web substrate first side and the second patterned roll touches the web substrate second side. A drive assembly is configured to rotate the first patterned roll and the second patterned roll such that the first and second rolls maintain a continuous registration within 100 micrometers. Methods of making a microreplicated article are also disclosed.

Apparatus and method for making microreplicated article

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.

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

Growing community of inventors

Stillwater, MN, United States of America

John T Strand