3m Innovative Properties Company

Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company

Peter F Cullen

James G Berg

Jennifer Mary Aamodt

Brian T Hargrett

Richard John Pokorny

Robert S Moshrefzadeh

John C Nelson

Patrick A Thomas

Paul S Lugg

Steven J Rhyner

Kejian Chen

L Charles Hardy

Silvia L Bommarito

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

A mechanical fastener. A preferred embodiment of the invention provides a mechanical fastener including engaging stems having heads with demarcation lines. The present invention also provides a method of making a mechanical fastener that includes placing a layer of heated material on stem ends to soften the stem ends and deforming the softened stem ends into convex heads.

Mechanical fastener and method for making the same

A tape that includes an electronically conductive flexible substrate, a release layer, and an adhesive comprising an ion-intercalating material, and electrochromic devices and glazing units prepared using this tape.

Tape for use in manufacturing electrochromic devices

Growing community of inventors

Woodbury, MN, United States of America

Peter F Cullen