Matthew A Atkinson

US Patent:

20130070341, Mar 21, 2013

Filed:

May 17, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/700572

Inventors:

Robert A. Yapel - Oakdale MN, US
Joseph T. Aronson - Menomonie WI, US
Matthew R.C. Atkinson - Cottage Grove MN, US
Gary T. Boyd - Woodbury MN, US
Slah Jendoubi - Fridley MN, US
Mitchell A.F. Johnson - Maplewood MN, US
Scott R. Kaytor - Woodbury MN, US
Steven H. Kong - Woodbury MN, US
Fei Lu - Woodbury MN, US
Tri D. Pham - Oakdale MN, US
Robert B. Secor - Stillwater MN, US
Steven D. Solomonson - Shoreview MN, US

Assignee:

3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY - ST. PAUL MN

International Classification:

G02B 5/02
G02B 1/10

US Classification:

359599, 427162

Abstract:

Optical films for redirecting light are described, and optical systems, such as display systems, incorporating such optical films are described.

US Patent:

57630496, Jun 9, 1998

Filed:

Apr 30, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/641126

Inventors:

Cheryl M. Frey - White Bear Lake MN
Olester Benson - Woodbury MN
Joseph R. Zwack - Roseville MN
Paul E. Marecki - May Township MN
Jeanine M. Shusta - Mahtomedi MN
Matthew R. Atkinson - Cottage Grove MN

Assignee:

Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company - St. Paul MN

International Classification:

B32B 300
G02B 5124
B29D 1100

US Classification:

428172

Abstract:

A retroreflective sheeting having a multiplicity of discrete, cube-corner elements cured in situ on a transparent, polymeric overlay film deformed into a three-dimensional structure so that base edges of a plurality of cube-corner elements are non-planar with respect to one another. The retroreflective article preferably has at least one target optical property. The present invention is also directed to a method of deforming the retroreflective sheeting to form a retroreflective article in which the base edges of a plurality of cube-corner elements are non-planar with respect to one another.

US Patent:

59484888, Sep 7, 1999

Filed:

Apr 30, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/641451

Inventors:

Paul E. Marecki - May Township MN
Jeanine M. Shusta - Mahtomedi MN
Matthew R. Atkinson - Cottage Grove MN
Cheryl M. Frey - White Bear Lake MN
Olester Benson - Woodbury MN

Assignee:

3M Innovative Properties Company - St. Paul MN

International Classification:

B32B 330

US Classification:

428 30

Abstract:

A glittering non-retroreflective sheeting 60 includes an array of cube-corner elements 30 that are arranged in the array such that the sheeting glitters when light is incident thereon. The glitter is in the form of many discrete points of light 68 that tend to blink off and on. The array may be configured such that a dihedral angle. alpha. varies between adjacent cube faces 31 of adjacent cube-corner elements 30 in each groove in one of the groove sets 45, 46, or 47 and such that the base plane 36 are not parallel to each other when the sheeting 60 is laid flat. Preferably, the dihedral angle. alpha. between faces 31 of adjacent cube-corner elements 30 varies in essentially all of the grooves such that the cube-corner elements are randomly tilted throughout the array. The glitter can make the sheeting very useful for aesthetic or decorative applications.

US Patent:

58404058, Nov 24, 1998

Filed:

Apr 30, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/640326

Inventors:

Jeanine M. Shusta - Mahtomedi MN
Paul E. Marecki - May Township MN
Matthew R. Atkinson - Cottage Grove MN
Cheryl M. Frey - White Bear Lake MN
Olester Benson - Woodbury MN

Assignee:

Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company - St. Paul MN

International Classification:

G02B 5124

US Classification:

428156

Abstract:

A cube-corner retroreflective sheeting 60 includes an array of cube-corner elements 30 that are defined by three sets of intersecting parallel grooves 45, 46, 47. The cube-corner elements 30 are arranged in the array such that the sheeting 60 glitters when exposed to light. The glitter is in the form of many discreet points of light that tend to blink on and off when viewed by the naked eye. The array may be configured such that a dihedral angle. alpha. varies between adjacent cube faces 31 of adjacent cube-corner elements 30 in each groove in one of the groove sets 45, 46, or 47 and such that base planes are not parallel to each other when the sheeting 60 is laid flat. Preferably, the dihedral angle. alpha. between faces 31 of adjacent cube-corner elements 30 varies in essentially all of the grooves such that the cube-corner elements are randomly tilted throughout the array. The sheeting glitters very well under daytime viewing conditions and also to some extent under nighttime or retroreflective conditions.

US Patent:

58143556, Sep 29, 1998

Filed:

Apr 30, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/640383

Inventors:

Jeanine M. Shusta - Mahtomedi MN
Paul E. Marecki - May Township MN
Matthew R. Atkinson - Cottage Grove MN
Cheryl M. Frey - White Bear Lake MN
Olester Benson - Woodbury MN
Harlan L. Krinke - Marine on the St. Croix MN

Assignee:

Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company - St. Paul MN

International Classification:

B29D 1100

US Classification:

425373

Abstract:

A mold 79 that includes an array of cube-corner elements 80 that are arranged in the array such that a retroreflective cube-corner sheeting 60 that is formed thereon is capable of glittering when light is incident on the sheeting. The array may be defined by three sets of intersecting grooves 25, 26, 27 where each groove set includes two or more generally parallel grooves. At least one groove in at least one of the sets has faces 22 of adjacent cube-corner elements 30a, 30b arranged such that a dihedral angle. alpha. located between adjacent faces varies along the groove(s) in the set.

US Patent:

57701245, Jun 23, 1998

Filed:

Apr 30, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/641129

Inventors:

Paul E. Marecki - May Township MN
Jeanine M. Shusta - Mahtomedi MN
Matthew R. Atkinson - Cottage Grove MN
Cheryl M. Frey - White Bear Lake MN
Olester Benson - Woodbury MN

Assignee:

Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company - St. Paul MN

International Classification:

B29D 1100

US Classification:

264 136

Abstract:

A method of making a glittering cube-corner sheeting, which method includes: (a) providing a first retroreflective sheeting that includes an array of cube-corner elements arranged in a repeating pattern; and (b) exposing the first retroreflective sheeting to heat, pressure, or a combination thereof to produce a second retroreflective sheeting that comprises an array of cube-corner elements that are randomly tilted; or which method may comprise: (a) providing a mold that has a structured surface that includes a multiplicity of cube-comer elements, the cube-corner elements each including a base plane and three faces, the cube-corner elements being arranged such that the base planes do not reside in the same plane when the sheeting is laid flat; and (b) forming a cube-corner sheeting from the mold.

US Patent:

20210005371, Jan 7, 2021

Filed:

Jun 18, 2020

Appl. No.:

16/904997

Inventors:

- St. Paul MN, US
Seong-Woo Woo - Gwangju-si, KR
Jung Ju Suh - Seoul, KR
Matthew R.C. Atkinson - Grant MN, US

International Classification:

H01F 10/08

Abstract:

A magnetic film includes one or more magnetically conductive layers. Each magnetically conductive layer is cracked to form a plurality of first through-cracks defining a plurality of magnetically conductive segments. The first through-cracks extend along a first direction and form a first regular pattern along an orthogonal second direction at a first pitch P1, such that a Fourier transform of the first regular pattern has a first peak along the second direction at a first spatial frequency corresponding to the first pitch P1. The first through-cracks have an average length L1 along the first direction. L1/P1 is greater than or equal to 5.

US Patent:

20200076232, Mar 5, 2020

Filed:

Aug 28, 2019

Appl. No.:

16/553476

Inventors:

- St. Paul MN, US
Jinwook Kim - Gyeonggi-do, KR
Charles L. Bruzzone - Woodbury MN, US
Jennifer J. Sokol - Mahtomedi MN, US
Matthew R.C. Atkinson - Grant MN, US

International Classification:

H02J 50/10
H01F 38/14
H01Q 7/00
H01F 41/066
H01F 27/30
H02J 7/02
H01Q 1/38
H04B 5/00

Abstract:

A coil for transfer of information or energy is described. The coil includes an electrically conductive magnetically insulative first layer and a magnetically conductive second layer bonded to the first layer along the length of the first layer. The first and second layers are wound to form a plurality of substantially concentric loops. A width and a length of the second layer may be substantially co-extensive with a respective width and length of the first layer so as to expose opposing longitudinal edge surfaces of the first layer along the length of the first layer. At least one of the opposing longitudinal edge surfaces may include a regular pattern extending substantially along a same first direction and across substantially the entire coil. A method of making the coil is described.