3m Innovative Properties Company

Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company

Robert L Erwin

Kenneth L Smith

Gerald M Benson

Dan E Luttrell

Forrest J Rouser

Gary Timothy Boyd

David Scott Thompson

Tri Dinh Pham

Roger H Appeldorn

Qingbing Wang

Robert J Johnson

Lightguides are disclosed. More particularly, lightguides that include a lightguiding layer and a light extracting layer having a structured surface are disclosed. The light guiding layer is optically coupled to a first set of structures of the structured surface at given locations, and is not optically coupled to a second set of structures at given locations, thereby producing total internal reflection at the second locations. The selective optical coupling may be achieved by a number of different contemplated means as discussed herein. The lightguides allow for distribution of light along with redirection towards an image viewer without a number of commonly required optical elements in backlights.

Light guides

Laminae suitable for use in molds for forming retroreflective cube corner elements and methods for making such laminae are disclosed. A representative lamina includes a first row of cube corner elements disposed in a first orientation and a second row of optically opposing cube corner elements disposed. The working surface of a lamina is provided with a plurality of cube corner elements formed by the optical surfaces defined by three groove sets. Opposing first and second groove sets are formed in the working surface of a lamina. The first groove set forms a plurality of structures having first and second optical surfaces disposed in mutually perpendicular planes that intersect along a reference edge. The second groove set forms a corresponding plurality of structures on the opposite side of the lamina. A third groove is formed in the working surface of the lamina along an axis substantially perpendicular to the axes of the grooves of the first and second groove sets. The surfaces of the third groove intersect the surfaces of the plurality of structures in substantially mutually perpendicular planes to define a plurality of cube corner elements. A plurality of such laminae can be assembled to form a mold useful in the manufacture of retroreflective products such as cube corner sheeting.

Cube corner sheeting mold and of making the same

Cube corner sheeting mold and method of making the same

A reusable security package is disclosed that includes a closure mechanism for closing a container and for determining whether the container has been opened.

Reusable security enclosure

A plurality (e.g. a pair) of misaligned, fastened articles with structured surfaces is disclosed. The structured surfaces have elements which may bend and twist during attachment resulting in a higher peel strength than when the articles are aligned. A method of attaching a pair of articles is also disclosed.

Method of attaching articles and a pair of articles fastened by the

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Rohnert Park, CA, United States of America

Robert L Erwin