3m Innovative Properties Company

Eastman-kodak Company

Carestream Health, Inc.

Gemalto Sa

Kui Chen-Ho

Michael A McCoy

John Allen Wheatley

Travis L Potts

Caroline M Ylitalo

Shri Niwas

Kevin W Gotrik

Scott J Jones

Ying Xia

Encai Hao

Matthew S Stay

Glenn E Casner

William Blake Kolb

Michael Benton Free

Douglas Scott Dunn

William D Coggio

Michael L Steiner

Neeraj Sharma

Scott Melvyn Tapio

Kenneth L Smith

Duane Douglas Fansler

Guruprasad Somasundaram

Robert W Shannon

Gautam Singh

Ramasubramani Kuduva Raman Thanumoorthy

Brant Ulrick Kolb

Kumars Sakizadeh

Kiran S Kanukurthy

Doreen Catherine Lynch

William Donald Ramsden

Suman K Patel

James W Howard

Steven H Kong

Paul Edward Humpal

Peiwang Zhu

Jonathan Dale Gandrud

John S Huizinga

Christopher K Haas

James B Snyder

Michael F Weber

David B Olson

Mikhail L Pekurovsky

Adam D Haag

Steven T Awiszus

Yu Yang

Suresh Iyer

Lan Hong Liu

Britton G Billingsley

Charles David Hoyle

Chaofeng Zou

Robert F Kamrath

James B Philip, Jr

Susannah C Clear

Fei Lu

Nathan J Anderson

Andrew H Tilstra

Timothy J Gardner

Anthony F Schultz

Daniel R Vitcak

Justin M Johnson

Ann R Fornof

Jaewon Kim

Richard S Buckanin

Shawn C Dodds

George J Burgmaier

Brian W Ostlie

Ann M Gilman

Arash Sangari

Stephen A Johnson

Kenneth A Epstein

Miguel Antonio Guerra

Mahfuza B Ali

Christopher Bland Walker, Jr

John Charles Clark

Jun-Ying Zhang

Yongshang Lu

Dong-Wei Zhu

Jeffrey W Leon

Guanglei Du

Daniel J Schmidt

Bryan V Hunt

Todd D Jones

Ross E Behling

James P DiZio

Ryan E Marx

Alexander J Kugel

Michael J Sykora

Graham M Clarke

Daniel J Theis

Ellen O Aeling

Jianhui Xia

John C Hulteen

Timothy D Filiatrault

John T Strand

Matthew R D Smith

David J Rowe

Karissa L Eckert

Mohsen Salehi

Vivek Krishnan

Thomas J Metzler

This disclosure describes a composition that includes a bulk diffuser that includes a film having a major surface; the film includes a polymer, and a scattering element. The scattering element includes a silicone bead having a mean particle diameter in a range of 2 micrometers (μm) to 9 μm. The linear density of the film is at least 5.1 W*μm, wherein the linear density equals the product of the mass fraction of the silicone bead (W) and film thickness in micrometers (μm). This disclosure further describes methods of making the film and the bulk diffuser and methods of using the film including, for example, as a bulk diffuser in a sign box.

Bulk diffuser

A retroreflective article including a binder layer and a plurality of retroreflective elements. Each retroreflective element includes a transparent microsphere partially embedded in the binder layer. At least some of the retroreflective elements include a reflective layer that is a locally-laminated reflective layer that is embedded between the transparent microsphere and the binder layer. At least some of the locally-laminated reflective layers may be localized reflective layers.

Retroreflective article comprising locally-laminated reflective layers

A retroreflective article comprises a binder layer and a plurality of retroreflective elements, each retroreflective element comprising a transparent microsphere partially embedded in the binder layer. At least some of the retroreflective elements comprise a first locally laminated layer and a second locally laminated layer that may be reflective layers. A transfer article comprises a disposable carrier layer in which the retroreflective article is detachably disposed with at least some of the transparent microspheres in contact with the disposable carrier layer.

Retroreflective article comprising multiple locally-laminated layers

The present disclosure includes in one instance an optical article comprising a data rich plurality of retroreflective elements that are configured in a spatially defined arrangement, where the plurality of retroreflective elements comprise retroreflective elements having at least two different retroreflective properties, and where data rich means information that is readily machine interpretable. The present disclosure also includes a system comprising the previously mentioned optical article, an optical system, and an inference engine for interpreting and classifying the plurality of retroreflective elements wherein the optical system feeds data to the inference engine.

Optical articles and systems interacting with the same

Optical articles including a spatially defined arrangement of a plurality of data rich retroreflective elements, wherein the plurality of retroreflective elements comprise retroreflective elements having at least two different retroreflective properties and at least two different optical contrasts with respect to a background substrate when observed within an ultraviolet spectrum, a visible spectrum, a near-infrared spectrum, or a combination thereof.

A retroreflective article including a binder layer and a plurality of retroreflective elements. Each retroreflective element includes a transparent microsphere partially embedded in the binder layer. At least some of the retroreflective elements include a reflective layer that is embedded between the transparent microsphere and the binder layer. At least some of the embedded reflective layers are localized reflective layers.

Retroreflective article comprising embedded reflective layers

A radar-optical fusion article for attachment to a substrate is described. The radar-optical fusion article includes a first retroreflective layer which is configured to retroreflect at least a portion of light having a wavelength in a range from about 400 nm to about 2500 nm. The radar-optical fusion article includes a second retroreflective layer disposed adjacent to the first retroreflective layer. The second retroreflective layer is configured to retroreflect at least a portion of an electromagnetic wave having a frequency in the range from about 0.5 GHz to about 100 GHz.

Radar-optical fusion article and system

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

Wavelength-selective films are visibly apparent under the selective wavelength. Wavelength-selective films typically reflect off axis the selected wavelength and therefore can provide high-contrast against a background when applied in a pattern on a substrate. However, it is difficult to apply unique patterned embedded images from film. Disclosed is a cost-effective method and construction of a patterned wavelength-selective image to a substrate. In the disclosed wavelength-selective image, wavelength-selective film particles are applied to an adhesive pattern to create the wavelength-selective image.

Patterned wavelength-selective image

In general, techniques are described for a personal protective equipment (PPE) management system (PPEMS) that uses images of optical patterns embodied on articles of personal protective equipment (PPEs) to identify safety conditions that correspond to usage of the PPEs. In one example, an article of personal protective equipment (PPE) includes a first optical pattern embodied on a surface of the article of PPE; a second optical pattern embodied on the surface of the article of PPE, wherein a spatial relation between the first optical pattern and the second optical pattern is indicative of an operational status of the article of PPE.

Personal protective equipment management system using optical patterns for equipment and safety monitoring

The present disclosure includes in one instance an optical article comprising a data rich plurality of retroreflective meats that are configured in a spatially defined arrangement, where the plurality of retroreflective elements comprise retroreflective elements having at least two different retroreflective properties, and where data rich means information that is readily machine interpretable. The present disclosure also includes a system comprising the previously mentioned optical article, an optical system, and an inference engine for interpreting and classifying the plurality of retroreflective elements wherein the optical system feeds data to the inference engine.

Modified adhesive layers are prepared by contacting an adhesive layer to a modified microstructured release liner. The modified release liner has a release layer surface with a set of microstructured depressions and a discontinuous pattern of ink material located on the surface of the release layer. A portion of the discontinuous pattern of ink material overlaps with and is located within some of the depressions. The ink material comprises a non-adhesive but adhesively transferrable material, or an adhesive material. Upon removal of the adhesive from the release liner, the ink material transfers to the adhesive surface.

Microstructured release liners for selective transfer of ink to film

Optical constructions are disclosed. A disclosed optical construction includes a reflective polarizer layer, and an optical film that is disposed on the reflective polarizer layer. The optical film has an optical haze that is not less than about 50%. Substantial portions of each two neighboring major surfaces in the optical construction are in physical contact with each other. The optical construction has an axial luminance gain that is not less than about 1.2.

Optical construction and display system incorporating same

Described herein is an article having a microsphere layer comprising a monolayer of microspheres, the monolayer of microspheres comprising a first area substantially free of microspheres and a second area comprising a plurality of randomly-distributed microspheres, wherein the monolayer of microspheres comprises a predetermined pattern, the predetermined pattern comprises at least one of (i) a plurality of the first areas, (ii) a plurality of the second areas, and (iii) combinations thereof; and (b) a bead bonding layer disposed on the microsphere layer, wherein the plurality of microspheres are partially embedded in a first major surface of the bead bonding layer, wherein the article has a retroreflectivity (R) of less than 5.0 candelas/lux/square meter. Also disclosed herein are transfer carriers and methods of making the articles and transfer carriers.

Article featuring a predetermined pattern of randomly distributed microspheres and methods of making the same

Growing community of inventors

Woodbury, MN, United States of America

Kui Chen-Ho