Patents by Inventor Stephen F. Richlich
Stephen F. Richlich has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Publication number: 20240053650Abstract: An electro-optic assembly includes a first substrate that has a first surface and a second surface that is opposite the first surface. A second substrate has a third surface and a fourth surface that is opposite the third surface. The first and second substrates are disposed in a parallel and spaced apart relationship so as to define a cavity therebetween. The second and third surfaces face each other. A seal extends between the first and second substrates. An electro-optic medium is located in the cavity and is retained by the seal. A port is at least partially defined by a port reduction member that is located between the first substrate and the second substrate.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 14, 2023Publication date: February 15, 2024Applicant: Gentex CorporationInventors: Michael J. Dornbush, Gerald W. Redwine, Garret C. DeNolf, Stephen F. Richlich, Kevin L. Ash, Donald L. Bareman, David R. Bush
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Patent number: 11851944Abstract: A variably transmissive electro-optic window that has an easily tunable dynamic range is disclosed. The window comprises a first substrate, a second substrate, a first electrode, a second electrode, an electro-optic medium, and at least one tuning layer. The first substrate has a first and a second surface. The first surface is in a first direction relative the second surface. The second substrate has a third and a fourth surface. The third surface is disposed in the first direction relative the fourth surface. The second substrate is disposed in a second direction opposite the first direction relative the first substrate. The second substrate is additionally disposed in a substantially parallel and spaced apart relationship with the first substrate. The first electrode is disposed in the second direction relative the first substrate. The second electrode is disposed in the first direction relative the second substrate. The electro-optic medium is disposed between the first and second electrodes.Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 2021Date of Patent: December 26, 2023Assignee: GENTEX CORPORATIONInventors: George A. Neuman, Mario F. Saenger Nayver, John S. Anderson, David M. Ellis, Matthew A. Koppey, Stephen F. Richlich
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Publication number: 20230305352Abstract: An electro-optic device includes a first electro-optic element and a second electro-optic element in series with the first electro-optic element via a common node conductively connecting the first electro-optic element to the second electro-optic element. A power supply circuitry includes a first node and a second node. The first node connects the power supply circuitry to the first electro-optic element, and the second node connects the power supply circuitry to the second electro-optic element.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 22, 2023Publication date: September 28, 2023Applicant: Gentex CorporationInventors: Mario F. Saenger Nayver, Ryan B. Balili, Patrick Kreun, Robert R. Turnbull, Donald L. Bareman, Winston D. Carston, Stephen F. Richlich, Leroy J. Kloeppner
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Publication number: 20230280603Abstract: An electro-optic assembly comprises a first substrate and a second substrate. The first and second substrates are disposed in a parallel and spaced apart relationship so as to define a cavity therebetween. A primary seal extends between the first and second substrates. An electro-optic medium is located in the cavity and retained in an inboard direction by the primary seal. A plurality of first spacer elements are coupled to the primary seal. A break wall is located in the inboard direction or an outboard direction from the primary seal. The break wall extends between the first and second substrates and generally along the primary seal. A plurality of second spacer elements are coupled to the break wall. A space is defined between the primary seal and the break wall in the inboard-outboard directions.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 1, 2023Publication date: September 7, 2023Applicant: GENTEX CORPORATIONInventors: Stephen F. Richlich, Gerald W. Redwine, Donald L. Bareman, David J. Cammenga
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Patent number: 11579349Abstract: An electro-optic window includes a first substrate; an electro-optic element generally parallel to the first substrate, the electro-optic element including: a second substrate; a third substrate generally parallel to the second substrate; a sealing member disposed along at least a portion of a perimeter of one of the second and third substrates and extending therebetween; and a cavity defined between the second and third substrates. The sealing member defines the sidewalls of the cavity. A first layer of film having a perimeter portion and a central portion is disposed between at least a portion of the first and second substrates, and may be coextensive with the sealing member.Type: GrantFiled: January 6, 2020Date of Patent: February 14, 2023Assignee: GENTEX CORPORATIONInventors: Matthew A. Koppey, Donald L. Bareman, Stephen F. Richlich, Michael J. VanAst
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Publication number: 20220399707Abstract: An electro-optic element comprises a first substrate; a second substrate generally parallel to the first substrate; a first bus having a first bus segment disposed on an inner surface of the first substrate and extending along a first portion of a perimeter of the first substrate and a second bus segment disposed on an inner surface of first substrate and extending along a second portion of the perimeter of the first substrate. The second bus segment is in a spaced apart relationship with first bus segment. A second bus has a third bus segment and a fourth bus segment is disposed on the second substrate, each extending along a portion of the perimeter of the second substrate. A controller is configured to be in selective electrical communication with first and second buses and to independently control a voltage applied to each of the bus segments.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 8, 2022Publication date: December 15, 2022Applicant: GENTEX CORPORATIONInventors: Joel A. Stray, Gary J. Dozeman, Stephen F. Richlich, Matthew A. Koppey, George A. Neuman
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Publication number: 20210277711Abstract: A variably transmissive electro-optic window that has an easily tunable dynamic range is disclosed. The window comprises a first substrate, a second substrate, a first electrode, a second electrode, an electro-optic medium, and at least one tuning layer. The first substrate has a first and a second surface. The first surface is in a first direction relative the second surface. The second substrate has a third and a fourth surface. The third surface is disposed in the first direction relative the fourth surface. The second substrate is disposed in a second direction opposite the first direction relative the first substrate. The second substrate is additionally disposed in a substantially parallel and spaced apart relationship with the first substrate. The first electrode is disposed in the second direction relative the first substrate. The second electrode is disposed in the first direction relative the second substrate. The electro-optic medium is disposed between the first and second electrodes.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 3, 2021Publication date: September 9, 2021Applicant: GENTEX CORPORATIONInventors: George A. Neuman, Mario F. Saenger Nayver, John S. Anderson, David M. Ellis, Matthew A. Koppey, Stephen F. Richlich
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Publication number: 20210026163Abstract: An electro-optic element includes first and second spaced-apart transparent substrates defining respective opposite, aligned first and second edges, a first bus including a first electrode disposed along an inner surface of the first substrate adjacent the first edge and a second electrode disposed along an inner surface of the second substrate adjacent the first edge, and a second bus including a first electrode disposed along an inner surface of the first substrate adjacent the second edge and a second electrode disposed along an inner surface of the second substrate adjacent the second edge. The first bus and second bus are spaced apart along widths of the first and second substrates between the respective first and second edges. An electro-optic medium is disposed between the first and second transparent substrates, including between the first and second electrodes of the first bus and the second bus, respectively.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 24, 2020Publication date: January 28, 2021Inventors: Stephen F. Richlich, Mathew A. Koppey, Gerald W. Redwine, David M. Ellis, Joel A. Stray
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Publication number: 20200215982Abstract: An electro-optic window comprises a first substrate; an electro-optic element generally parallel to the first substrate, the electro-optic element comprising: a second substrate; a third substrate generally parallel to the second substrate; a sealing member disposed along at least a portion of a perimeter of one of the second and third substrates and extending therebetween; and a cavity defined between the second and third substrates. The sealing member defines the sidewalls of the cavity. A first layer of film having a perimeter portion and a central portion is disposed between at least a portion of the first and second substrates, and may be coextensive with the sealing member.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 6, 2020Publication date: July 9, 2020Applicant: GENTEX CORPORATIONInventors: Matthew A. Koppey, Donald L. Bareman, Stephen F. Richlich, Michael J. VanAst