3m Innovative Properties Company

Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company

Suman K Patel

Mikhail L Pekurovsky

Kenneth L Smith

Michael Benton Free

William D Coggio

Neeraj Sharma

Mieczyslaw H Mazurek

Bimal V Thakkar

Denis Terzic

Martin B Wolk

Donald George Peterson

Kui Chen-Ho

James W Howard

Bruce D Orensteen

Travis L Potts

James B Snyder

Thomas J Metzler

Tadesse G Nigatu

Samuel J Carpenter

Mitchell T Nommensen

William Blake Kolb

Ramesh C Kumar

Caroline M Ylitalo

Steven T Awiszus

Kiran S Kanukurthy

James G Carlson

Glenn E Casner

Lee A Pavelka

Terry O Collier

Raymond C Chiu

Tien Yi T H Whiting

Paul L Acito

Charles Allen Shaklee

James L C Werness, Jr

Katja Hansen

John Allen Wheatley

Michael L Steiner

John P Baetzold

Manoj Nirmal

Scott Melvyn Tapio

Guanglei Du

Justin M Johnson

Joseph M McGrath

Erik A Aho

Nelson T Rotto

Ravindra L Arudi

David J Lamb

Howard R Tolliver

Thomas V Kusilek

John C Haidos

Eric J Borchers

Hildegard M Schneider

David L Bergeson

Nagraj Koneripalli

Craig A Schmidt

Jacob J Liu

Joseph A Richie

Daniel Y Chang

Scotty A Kopp

Carla H Barnes

Keith J Modert

A retroreflective article including a retroreflective layer including a structured surface that is opposite a major surface, a pressure sensitive adhesive that contacts at least a portion of the structured surface to form an optically inactive area that does not substantially retroreflect incident light and at least one low refractive index layer forming an optically active area that retroreflects incident light, wherein the optically active area comprises about 25% or less of the structured surface.

Visibly transparent, infrared radiation retroreflective articles

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

Techniques are described in which articles (e.g., security documents, traffic signage and personal protective equipment) are formed to include an infrared absorptive material. In some instances, the infrared absorptive material includes a reduced tungsten oxide, such as cesium tungsten oxide, calcium tungsten oxide, potassium tungsten oxide, or the like, and exposed to radiation such that one or more regions of the security document has a modified appearance, thereby providing a visual marking or information on the article. Example articles include at least one layer including a polymer and an infrared absorptive material including a reduced tungsten oxide. The layer includes a radiation-treated region that exhibits a first appearance under visible light and at least one non-radiation-treated region that exhibits a second, different appearance under visible light. The at least one radiation-treated region may be formed by exposing the at least one radiation-treated region to infrared light to change at least one property of the reduced tungsten oxide in the radiation-treated region compared to the reduced tungsten oxide in the non-radiation-treated region. The first appearance may be whiter than the second appearance.

Articles including infrared absorptive material and comprising radiation-treated and non-radiation-treated regions

In some examples, an optically active article includes a retroreflective substrate; and at least one security element disposed at the retroreflective substrate; an article message disposed at the retroreflective substrate, and wherein the at least one security element comprises validation information that is detectable outside a visible light spectrum, and wherein a combination of the article message and the validation information of the at least one security element indicates whether the optically active article is counterfeit.

Counterfeit detection of an optically active article using security elements

The present disclosure relates to micro-optical assemblies containing at least one optical element adhered to a receptor substrate, e.g. a transparent receptor substrate, the receptor substrate contains at least one graphics layer. The micro-optical assemblies include both functional micro-optical structures that can alter, for example, incident light, and a graphic layer, which includes at least one graphic, e.g. a graphic design, which may include color, patterns, imagery, indicia and the like. The combination of the micro-optical elements with the graphic of the graphics layer can provide unique light altering assemblies that have graphic designs that may be functional, e.g. to display a message, and/or have aesthetic value. The micro-optical assemblies of the present disclosure are useful in a variety of applications which include, but are not limited to, display and graphics applications and architectural glass applications. The present disclosure also provides a method of making the micro-optical assemblies of the present disclosure.

Micro-optical assemblies including transparent substrates having graphic layer and method of making thereof

The disclosed light directing article comprises a structured layer, an adhesive sealing layer, and barrier elements. The structured layer comprises multiple microstructured elements that are opposite a major surface. The adhesive sealing layer has a first region and a second region. The second region is in contact with the structured layer. The barrier element are at the first region. The first region with the barrier element and second region have sufficiently different properties to form a low refractive index layer between the adhesive sealing layer and the structured layer. The barrier element comprises a crosslinked polymeric matrix having a modulus of elasticity less than 4.4 GPa.

Barrier elements on a microstructured article having adhesive sealing layer and specified modulus of elasticity

This disclosure generally relates to retroreflective articles and methods of making such articles.

Retroreflective articles including optically active areas and optically inactive areas

Curable printing ink compositions include a visible light transparent, UV-curable binder composition and a visible light transparent, and infrared light absorbing inorganic composition. The infrared light absorbing inorganic composition can include infrared absorbing nanoparticles. The ink compositions are capable of flexographic printing at room temperature to a thickness of at least 1.0 micrometer. The cured ink composition has an infrared absorbance of at least 50%. The ink compositions can be printed in patterns of geometric features and cured to form articles.

Curable infrared light absorbing printing ink and articles prepared with it

The present disclosure relates to prismatic retroreflective articles that includes a security mark and to methods of making such articles.

Retroreflective articles including a security mark

The present disclosure relates to transfer tapes, segmented and non-segmented which include at least one graphics layer. The transfer tapes include a removable template layer, a transfer layer which includes a backfill layer, having at least one first graphics layer, and an adhesive layer. Segmented transfer tapes further at least one transferable segment, at least one non-transferable segment in the segmented transfer tape and include at least one kerf. The present disclosure also provides optical assemblies, e.g. micro-optical assemblies, which may be fabricated from the transfer tapes which include at least one graphics layer. The present disclosure also provides methods of forming the transfer tapes and methods of making the micro optical assemblies.

Segmented and non-segmented transfer tapes, articles therefrom and method of making and use thereof

A prismatic retroreflective sheeting includes a structured layer that includes a plurality of cube corner elements including a reduced tungsten oxide, a radiation-treated region, and a non-radiation-treated region. The prismatic retroreflective sheeting includes also includes an information-containing layer above the structured layer. The information-containing layer includes at least one indicia defining an edge. The radiation-treated region of the structured layer is adjacent and below at least part of the edge of the at least one indicia.

Prismatic retroreflective sheeting including infrared absorbing material

The present disclosure relates to segmented transfer tapes useful in the transfer of only a portion of the segments of the transfer tapes and methods of making thereof. The segmented transfer tapes include a removable template layer having a structured surface; a transfer layer comprising a backfill layer, wherein the backfill layer has a structured first major surface, and an adhesive layer; at least one transferable segment formed in the transfer layer; at least one non-transferable segment formed in the transfer layer, the at least one non-transferable segment includes an adhesive surface, wherein a passivating layer is disposed on at least a portion of the adhesive surface of the at least one non-transferrable segment; and at least one kerf extending from the first major surface of the adhesive layer and into at least a portion of the removable template layer. The present disclosure also provides micro-optical assemblies and methods of making micro-optical assemblies from the segmented transfer tapes.

Segmented transfer tape and method of making and use thereof

Growing community of inventors

Woodbury, MN, United States of America

Suman K Patel