The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 12, 2008
Filed:
Aug. 15, 2006
William A. Tolbert, Woodbury, MN (US);
James M. Nelson, Lino Lakes, MN (US);
Thomas A. Isberg, Minneapolis, MN (US);
Andrew L. Hightower, Eden Prairie, MN (US);
Dean Faklis, Bloomfield, NY (US);
William A. Tolbert, Woodbury, MN (US);
James M. Nelson, Lino Lakes, MN (US);
Thomas A. Isberg, Minneapolis, MN (US);
Andrew L. Hightower, Eden Prairie, MN (US);
Dean Faklis, Bloomfield, NY (US);
3M Innovative Properties Company, St. Paul, MN (US);
Abstract
An optical imaging system is disclosed for selective thermal transfer of a material from a donor film to a substrate. The imaging system includes a light source assembly that is configured to emit a patterned light beam. The patterned light beam includes a plurality of discrete output light segments where the segments at most partially overlap. The imaging system further includes a light relay assembly that receives and projects the plurality of discrete output light segments onto a transfer plane so as to form a projected light segment by a substantial superposition of the plurality of discrete output light segments. When a donor film that includes a transferable material is placed proximate a substrate that lies in the transfer plane, the projected light segment is capable of inducing a transfer of the transferable material onto the substrate.