3m Innovative Properties Company

Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company

Robert W Wilson

Xudong Fan

Terry Lee Smith

Michael Albert Haase

Jun-Ying Zhang

Barry J Koch

Chunmei Guo

William A Hendrickson

Craig S Chamberlain

James R Bylander

John E Potts

Joan V Brennan

Jack L Evans

Johnny P Bryant

Kenneth R Paulson

Kavita Vemuri

Constance L Gettinger

James M Robitaille

A microresonator sensor apparatus has a microcavity resonator that defines equatorial whispering gallery modes (EWGMs), whose frequencies are separated by the free spectral range (FSR). The EWGMs lie in a plane perpendicular to a microcavity resonator axis. A light source is optically coupled to inject light into the microcavity resonator. The light source produces output light having an output spectrum whose bandwidth is approximately equal to or broader than the FSR of the EGWMs. One or more fluorescent materials are excited using the excitation light coupled into the microcavity resonator. A fluorescent signal arising from fluorescence of the one or more fluorescent materials is then detected.

Dielectric microcavity fluorosensors excited with a broadband light source

A method of making a microresonator device includes the steps of providing at least a first substrate and providing a waveguide integrated on the substrate. The waveguide includes a core and a metal cladding layer on at least part of one boundary of the core. Another step is positioning a microresonator so that it is in an optically coupling relationship with the waveguide.

Method of coupling light into microresonators

Microresonators, such as a microsphere resonators and planar microresonators, are optically coupled to waveguides for input and output of light. It is important that the relative positions of the microresonator and the waveguide are maintained stable, while still maintaining high cavity Q and ease of launching and extracting the optical beams. Structures are provided on a substrate that are useful for maintaining the position of the microresonator relative to the waveguide. The structures provide for vertical or horizontal coupling between the waveguide and the microresonator.

Hybrid sphere-waveguide resonators

An optical microresonator device is described including an optical waveguide and an optical microresonator positioned so as to optically couple to the waveguide. The waveguide includes a core and a metal cladding layer on at least part of one boundary of the core.

Coupling light into microresonators

The use of bulge-like microcavities in microcavity sensors provides advantages in alignment and reproducibility in manufacturing. Arrays of bulge-like microcavities may be used with multiple waveguides. In addition, the bulge-like microcavity may be formed with at least an outer layer made of a polymer material, and may be made entirely from polymer material. This facilitates manufacturing in that the microcavity may be molded, and may also be reproducibly molded in an array configuration.

Dielectric microcavity sensors

An apparatus and method for adjusting the spectral response of a selected channel within an optical waveguide grating includes a grating attached to a support member. An adjusting mechanism applies two bending moments to the grating support member on both sides of the selected channel. The spectral response of the selected channel is adjusted by altering the bending moments.

Apparatus and method for adjusting the spectral response of an optical waveguide grating

Disclosed is a composite material comprising a matrix material comprising a microwave transmissive polymer; and from about 1 to 65 volume percent of a particulate filler dispersed in the matrix. This particulate filler is characterized by an electrically conductive coating on the filler particles, particles selected from spheroids and ellipsoids having a major dimension below about 0.5 mm and particles having an aspect ratio greater than about 2 to 1 having a minor dimension below 100 &mgr;m, and a combination of particle size and coating thickness sufficient to yield a combination of a composite material dielectric constant between about 1.2 to 100, and a composite material microwave loss tangent no greater than about 0.10 at 1 GHz.

Low density dielectric having low microwave loss

A wearable device for alerting a user when a static electrical charge has developed on the user which exceeds a preset limit, prior to an accidental discharge of the static charge. The device includes a first conductive element in close proximity to the user and a second conductive element spaced a further distance from the user than the first conductive element. A high impedance differential amplifier provides a voltage signal proportional to the potential difference existing between the first and second conductive elements. A voltage level discriminator receives the voltage signal from the high impedance differential amplifier and triggers an alarm if the voltage signal exceeds a predetermined limit.

Static charge warning device

A device for monitoring the grounding characteristics of both an electrically dissipative work surface and a conductive wrist strap having a grounding tether. The device includes a mat monitor and a strap monitor. The mat monitor checks the resistance of the mat ground path and alerts the user if this resistance exceeds a predetermined resistance. The strap monitor checks the resistance of the wrist strap and tether ground path, and employs a timer to send electrical pulses to the wrist strap rather than having a constant voltage output to the strap. The strap monitor establishes a resistance window for the strap ground path, and alerts the user if the strap ground path resistance falls outside of the resistance window.

Work station monitor

A monitor for detecting miswiring in standard 3-spade AC electrical outlets. The monitor includes a housing, prongs for insertion into the outlet to be tested, outlet ports for an external plug, and a banana jack for a wrist strap or other anti-static device. If the outlet is properly wired, a lamp will illuminate. If, however, the outlet is miswired, one of two silicon controlled rectifiers will shunt current around the lamp, extinguishing it, indicating to the user the presence of a faulty outlet. A junction field effect transistor is also provided to activate one of the silicon controlled rectifiers when one particular miswiring condition is present.

Electrical outlet monitor

An apparatus for generating air ions. Nuclear air ionizers are utilized which generate a multiplicity of ions of both positive and negative polarity by the bombardment of air molecules with radiation. An electric field is supplied in proximity to the nuclear air ionizers for generating an electrical field of alternating polarity near the source of generation of the multiplicity of ions. This combination creates waves of ions of opposite polarity which assist in moving the air ions away from the ionization source and preventing early recombination. An air ionization system for entire room or enclosure may be constructed utilizing a grid of a plurality of spaced apparatus as described above. Optionally, an air stream may be utilized to assist in moving the air ions created to a target surface.

Apparatus for generating air ions and an air ionization system

A photoconductive assembly comprising a conductive substrate, a photoconductive layer and a topcoat comprised of a cured film-forming silicone polymer. The topcoat has a thickness of between 5 and 300 nm and a melting point above 100.degree. C.

Growing community of inventors

Austin, TX, United States of America

Robert W Wilson