3m Innovative Properties Company

Joy L Manske

Britton G Billingsley

David M Blomberg

Chester A Bacon, Jr

Kristina M Magnusson

Kenneth Jarefors

Bradley R Ray

Larissa Zuravskaja

Rodney A Ough

Michael E Hallock

Chester A Bacon

A vision-protecting filter lens, including a multilayer optical film and a neutral-density optical filter.

Vision-protecting filter lens having organic polymer multilayer and neutral-density optical filter

An automatic-darkening filterthat comprises a first polarizer, a second polarizer, a first liquid-crystal cell, and a sensor. The first polarizerhas a first polarization direction, and the second polarizerhas a second polarization direction. The liquid crystal cellis disposed between the first and second polarizersand contains first and second optically-transparent, flexible, glass layersandwith the liquid crystal layerbeing located between these layers. The sensordetects incident light and causes a signal to be sent, which causes molecular rotation within the liquid crystal layer. The inventive automatic-darkening filter is beneficial in that overall product weight can be reduced and the view field can be increased.

Curved automatic-darkening filter

A filtering devicethat includes a housinghaving a plurality of subsections, andwhere each subsection contains a filter element, and. An inletis disposed at a first location on the housing, and an upstream air distribution system is placed in fluid communication with the inletand with each of the subsections, and. A downstream air distribution system is located in fluid communication with each subsection, and, and an outletis in fluid communication with the downstream air distribution system. The subsections are fashioned such that each subsection, andis not in fluid communication with each other. Using a filtering device so constructed, airflow through the device may be better managed to enable overall product service life to be increased while minimizing pressure resistance of the total filter.

Air filtration device having subsections lacking fluid communication

A filtering devicethat includes a housinghaving a plurality of subsections, andwhere each subsection is adapted to receive a filter element, and. An inletis disposed at a first location on the housing, and an upstream air distribution system is placed in fluid communication with the inletand with each of the subsections, and. A downstream air distribution system is located in fluid communication with each subsection, and, and an outletin fluid communication with the downstream air distribution system. The upstream and downstream air distribution systems are constructed to cause the same airflow velocity through each subsection. Using such a construction, overall product service life may be increased while minimizing pressure resistance of the total filter.

Air filtration device having tuned air distribution system

A prismatic retroreflective article and a method for making same. The retroreflective article can include a transparent polymeric body portion, an optical layer coupled to the body portion, and an image layer coupled to the body portion opposite the optical layer. The image layer can define imaged portions and non-imaged portions of the prismatic retroreflective article. The image layer can include cross-links formed between a polymer resin having hydroxyl functional groups and a cross-linking agent having isocyanate functional groups. The image layer can have a percent elongation of at least 80 percent and less than 200 percent. The method can include printing or coating an image layer onto to the body portion of the retroreflective sheeting opposite the optical layer, and cross-linking the image layer to form cross-links between the hydroxyl functional groups of the polymer resin and the isocyanate functional groups of the cross-linking agent.

Growing community of inventors

Menomonie, WI, United States of America

Joy L Manske