Patents Assigned to Centre Luxembourgeois de Recherches pour le Verre et la Ceramique S.A.
  • Patent number: 8187671
    Abstract: There is provided a method of making a heat treated (HT) coated article to be used in shower door applications, window applications, or any other suitable applications where transparent coated articles are desired. For example, certain embodiments of this invention relate to a method of making a coated article including a step of heat treating a glass substrate coated with at least a layer of or including diamond-like carbon (DLC) and an overlying protective film thereon. In certain example embodiments, the protective film may be of or include both (a) an oxygen blocking or barrier layer, and (b) a release layer. Following and/or during heat treatment (e.g., thermal tempering, or the like) the protective film may be removed via blasting it off using particles mainly of material softer than the DLC. In certain example embodiments, the blasting particles may be of or include sodium bicarbonate and/or may be directed at the protective film at a blasting pressure of from about 2.5 to 7.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Centre Luxembourgeois de Recherches pour le Verre et la Ceramique S.A. (C.R.V.C.)
    Inventor: Jean-Marc Sol
  • Patent number: 8173263
    Abstract: A heat treatable coated article (e.g., vehicle windshield, IG unit, etc.) is provided with a dual-silver low-E coating. Before and/or after heat treatment (HT), the coating and/or coated article has a visible transmittance of at least 70%, more preferably at least 75%. Moreover, the coating and/or coated article is designed so as to have approximately the same color when viewed over a wide range of viewing angles. In certain embodiments, at least one contact layer (e.g., of or including NiCrOx) that contacts an infrared (IR) reflecting layer (e.g., Ag) is oxidation graded so that it progressively becomes less oxidized through its thickness as it nears the IR reflecting layer. In still other embodiments, a Si-rich silicon nitride layer(s) may be utilized to reduce haze.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignees: Guardian Industries Corp., Centre Luxembourgeois de Recherches pour le Verre et la Ceramique S.A. (C.R.V.C.)
    Inventors: Philip J. Lingle, Anton Dietrich, Ronald E. Laird, Jean-Marc Lemmer
  • Patent number: 8142622
    Abstract: A coated article is provided with a low-emissivity (low-E) layer stack for use in a window unit or the like. The layer stack, or coating, may permit the coated article to achieve one or more of a low solar factor (SF) value, a high selectivity (Tvis/SF) value, substantially neutral color at normal and/or off-axis viewing angles, and/or low emissivity. When high selectivity values are achieved, there is provided a high ratio of visible transmission to SF, which is a desirable feature in certain example instances. In certain example embodiments, a sub-oxide layer (e.g., NiCrOx) may be used as a contact layer under an infrared (IR) reflecting layer in order to permit low SF values, high selectivity, and good coloration to be achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignees: Guardian Industries Corp., Centre Luxembourgeois de Recherches pour le Verre et la Ceramique S.A. (C.R.V.C.)
    Inventors: Jose Ferreira, Jean-Marc Lemmer, Jens-Peter Müller, Scott V. Thomsen
  • Patent number: 8124237
    Abstract: A coated article is provided which may be heat treated thermally tempered) in certain instances. In certain example embodiments, an interlayer of or including a metal oxide such as tin oxide is provided under an infrared (IR) reflecting layer so as to be located between respective layers comprising silicon nitride and zinc oxide. It has been found that the use of such a tin oxide inclusive interlayer results in significantly improved mechanical durability, thermal stability and/or haze characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignees: Guardian Industries Corp., Centre Luxembourgeois de Recherches pour le Verre et la Ceramique S.A. (C.R.V.C.)
    Inventors: Jose Nunez-Regueiro, Anton Dietrich, Philip J. Lingle, Scott V. Thomsen, Hong Wang, Jean-Marc Lemmer, Nancy Bassett, Bryce Corsner
  • Patent number: 8017243
    Abstract: An absorbing layer of a low-E coating is designed to cause the coating to have a more neutral and/or green color at normal and/or certain off-axis viewing angles. In certain example embodiments, the metallic or substantially metallic absorbing layer (e.g., NiCr) is from about 20-30 angstroms (?) thick; this thickness has been found to unexpectedly provide less red and more neutral coloration for the coated article at certain off-axis viewing angles (e.g., at a 45 degree off-axis viewing angle). In certain example embodiments, the absorbing layer is provided between first and second nitride layers in order to reduce or prevent oxidation thereof during heat treatment thereby permitting predictable coloration to be achieved following the heat treatment. Coated articles according to certain example embodiments of this invention may be used in the context of insulating glass (IG) window units, vehicle windows, other types of windows, or in any other suitable application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignees: Guardian Industries Corp., Centre Luxembourgeois de Recherches pour le Verre et la Ceramique S.A. (C.R.V.C.)
    Inventors: Richard Blacker, Philip J. Lingle, Jochen Butz, Anton Dietrich, Donald V. Jacobson
  • Patent number: 7998320
    Abstract: A coated article that can be used in applications such as insulating glass (IG) units, so that resulting IG units can achieve high visible transmission of at least 70% (e.g., when using clear glass substrates from 1.0 to 3.5 mm thick), combined with at least one of: (a) SHGC no greater than about 0.45, more preferably no greater than about 0.40; (b) SC no greater than about 0.49, more preferably no greater than about 0.46; (c) chemical and/or mechanical durability; (d) neutral transmissive color such that transmissive a* is from ?5.0 to 0 (more preferably from ?3.5 to ?1.5), and transmissive b* is from ?2.0 to 4.0 (more preferably from 1.0 to 3.0); and (e) neutral reflective color from the exterior of the IG unit (i.e., Rg/Rout) such that reflective a* is from ?3.0 to 2.0 (more preferably from ?2.0 to 0.5), and reflective b* is from ?5.0 to 1.0 (more preferably from ?4.0 to ?1.0).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignees: Guardian Industries Corp., Centre Luxembourgeois de Recherches pour le Verre et la Ceramique S.A. (C.R.V.C.)
    Inventors: Ronald E. Laird, Carole Laird, legal representative, Uwe Kriltz
  • Patent number: 7931971
    Abstract: A plasma display panel (PDP) includes an EMI filter at a front portion thereof for blocking/shielding substantial amounts of electromagnetic waves. The filters has high visible transmission, and is capable of blocking/shielding electromagnetic waves. In certain example embodiments, a silver based coating of the EMI filter reduces damage from EMI radiation through highly conductive Ag layers, blocks significant amounts of NIR and IR radiation from outdoor sunlight to reduce PDP panel temperature, and enhances contrast ratio through reduced reflection, while maintaining high visible transmission. In certain example embodiments, at least one layer of or including silicon nitride may be Si-rich, and/or at least one layer including an oxide of Ni and/or Cr may be a suboxide, in order to improve heat treatability of the coated article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignees: Guardian Industries Corp., Centre Luxembourgeois de Recherches pour le Verre et la Ceramique S.A. (C.R.V.C.)
    Inventors: Philip J. Lingle, Anton Dietrich, Yiwei Lu, Willem Den Boer, John A. Vanderploeg, Yei-Ping (Mimi) H. Wang
  • Patent number: 7923063
    Abstract: This invention relates to a method of making glass. In certain example embodiments, a major surface(s) of the glass is treated with aluminum chloride (e.g., AlCl3). This treating, or application of an aluminum chloride based layer on the glass substrate, may be performed using combustion deposition. The combustion deposition may be performed at or just prior to the annealing lehr in certain example embodiments, or at any other suitable location. The aluminum chloride barrier layer, applied at a desirable glass temperature, helps to reduce sodium leaching or diffusion from the glass during conditions such as high heat and/or humidity, thereby improving the durability and/or stability of the resulting product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignees: Centre Luxembourgeois de Recherches pour le Verre et la Ceramique S.A. (C.R.V.C.), Guardian Industries Corp.
    Inventors: Bernd Disteldorf, Pramod K. Sharma, Nathan P. Mellott
  • Patent number: 7897260
    Abstract: A coated article is provided which may be heat treated (e.g., thermally tempered) in certain instances. In certain example embodiments, an interlayer of or including a metal oxide such as tin oxide is provided under an infrared (IR) reflecting layer so as to be located between respective layers comprising silicon nitride and zinc oxide. It has been found that the use of such a tin oxide inclusive interlayer results in significantly improved mechanical durability, thermal stability and/or haze characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignees: Guardian Industries Corp., Centre Luxembourgeois de Recherches pour le Verre et la Ceramique S.A. (C.R.V.C.)
    Inventors: Jose Nunez-Regueiro, Anton Dietrich, Philip J. Lingle, Scott V. Thomsen, Hong Wang, Jean-Marc Lemmer, Nancy Bassett, Bryce Corsner
  • Publication number: 20110024284
    Abstract: Certain example embodiments relate to sputtering apparatuses that include a plurality of targets such that a first one or ones of target(s) may be used for sputtering in a first mode, while a second one or ones of target(s) may be used for sputtering in a second mode. Modes may be switched in certain example embodiments by rotating the position of the targets, e.g., such that one or more target(s) to be used protrude into the main chamber of the apparatus, while one or more target(s) to be unused are recessed into a body portion of a cathode of (e.g., integrally formed with) the sputtering apparatus. The targets may be cylindrical magnetic targets or planar targets. At least one target location also may be made to accommodate an ion beam source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2009
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Applicant: Centre Luxembourgeois de Recherches pour le Verre et la Ceramique S.A. (C.R.V.C.)
    Inventors: Marcel Schloremberg, Guy Comans, Philippe Uselding
  • Patent number: 7879448
    Abstract: A coated article is provided that may be heat treated in certain example embodiments. A coating of the coated article includes a zinc oxide inclusive layer located over and contacting a contact layer that is in contact with an infrared (IR) reflecting layer of a material such as silver. It has been found that the use of such a zinc oxide inclusive layer results in improved thermal stability upon heat treatment, increased visible transmission, and/or lower sheet resistance (Rs).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignees: Guardian Industires Corp., Centre Luxembourgeois de Recherches pour le Verre et la Ceramique S.A. (C.R.V.C.)
    Inventors: Anton Dietrich, Philip J. Lingle, Jens-Peter Muller, Jean-Marc Lemmer
  • Patent number: 7871664
    Abstract: A reflector (e.g., mirror) for use in a solar collector or the like is provided. In certain example embodiments of this invention, a reflector is made by (a) forming a reflective coating on a thin substantially flat glass substrate (the thin glass substrate may or may not be pre-bent prior to the coating being applied thereto), (b) optionally, if the glass substrate in (a) was not prebent, then cold-bending the glass substrate with the reflective coating thereon; and (c) applying a plate or frame member to the thin bent glass substrate with the coating thereon from (a) and/or (b), the plate or frame member (which may be another thicker pre-bent glass sheet, for example) for maintaining the thin glass substrate and coating thereon in a desired bent orientation in a final product which may be used as parabolic trough or dish type reflector in a concentrating solar power apparatus or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignees: Guardian Industries Corp., Centre Luxembourgeois de Recherches pour le Verre et la Ceramique S.A. (C.R.V.C.)
    Inventors: Kevin O'Connor, Yei-Ping (Mimi) H. Wang, Duane O. Recker, Robert A. Vandal, Shane Hadfield, Jean-Marc Sol, Greg Brecht
  • Patent number: 7864431
    Abstract: Certain example embodiments relate to a head-up display system for a vehicle having a windshield. First and second substantially parallel spaced-apart substrates sandwich a polymer-inclusive interlayer. An anti-reflective coating is provided on a surface of one of the first and second substrates. The anti-reflective coating is arranged so as to optically remove or block at least some of light rays produced by an image source of the head-up display system so as to reduce the occurrence of multiple images being produced by the image source. The anti-reflective coating is provided on a surface of the first or second substrate opposite the polymer-inclusive interlayer. In certain example embodiments, the polymer-inclusive interlayer may include polyvinyl butyral and/or may have a substantially uniform thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Centre Luxembourgeois de Recherches pour le Verre et la Ceramique S.A. (C.R.V.C.)
    Inventor: Danny Martin
  • Patent number: 7858191
    Abstract: A coated article is provided which may be heat treated (e.g., thermally tempered) in certain instances. In certain example embodiments, an interlayer of or including a metal oxide such as tin oxide is provided under an infrared (IR) reflecting layer so as to be located between respective layers comprising silicon nitride and zinc oxide. It has been found that the use of such a tin oxide inclusive interlayer results in significantly improved mechanical durability, thermal stability and/or haze characteristics. In certain example embodiments, a zinc oxide inclusive layer is provide over an IR reflecting layer in order to improve thermal stability. A zirconium oxide overcoat may also be provided in certain example instances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: Centre Luxembourgeois de Recherches pour le Verre et la Ceramique S.A. (C.R.V.C.)
    Inventors: Jean-Marc Lemmer, Jens-Peter Muller, Jose Ferreira, Pierre Pallotta
  • Patent number: 7847745
    Abstract: Certain example embodiments of this invention relate to an antenna wire embedded in a windshield, and/or vehicle incorporating the same. In certain example embodiments, an antenna wire may be embedded in an interlayer (e.g., a PVB interlayer) that is surrounded by two substrates (e.g., glass substrates). The antenna wire includes a fixed end electrically connected to a component (e.g., a bus bar) and a free end mechanically held in the interlayer via an adhesive (e.g., an adhesive tape). Thus, it may be possible to reduce distortion of the antenna wire and/or cause the antenna wire to be disposed in a manner that more closely conforms to a predetermined pattern. In certain example embodiments, the adhesive may be located at a non-visible portion of the windshield. In certain other example embodiments, the adhesive may be located at a visible portion of the windshield, and it optionally may be substantially transparent and/or provided in an aesthetically pleasing fashion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Centre Luxembourgeois de Recherches pour le Verre et la Ceramique S.A. (C.R.V.C.)
    Inventor: Danny Martin
  • Patent number: 7820019
    Abstract: A coated article is provided that may be used as a vehicle windshield, insulating glass (IG) window unit, or the like. An ion beam is used to treat an infrared (IR) reflecting layer(s) of such a coated article. Advantageously, this has been found to improve sheet resistance (Rs) properties, emittance, solar control properties, and/or durability of the coated article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignees: Centre Luxembourgeois de Recherches pour le Verre et la Ceramique S.A. (C.R.V.C.), Guardian Industries Corp.
    Inventors: Jochen Butz, Vijayen S. Veerasamy, Scott V. Thomsen, Anton Dietrich
  • Patent number: 7771571
    Abstract: A sputter coated article is provided with improved mechanical durability (e.g., pre-HT scratch resistance) and/or thermal stability by sputtering at least one Ag inclusive layer in an atmosphere including at least O2 gas. For instance, in certain example embodiments an Ag inclusive target may be sputtered in an atmosphere including a combination of Ar and O2 gas. In certain embodiments, this enables the resulting AgOx infrared (IR) reflecting layer to better adhere to adjacent contact layer(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignees: Guardian Industries Corp., Centre Luxembourgeois de Recherches pour le Verre et la Ceramique S.A. (C.R.V.C.)
    Inventors: Ronald E. Laird, George Neuman, Philip J. Lingle, Jean-Marc Lemmer, Keith H. Schillinger
  • Publication number: 20100178850
    Abstract: Certain example embodiments of this invention relate to techniques for edge deleting coatings supported by coated articles while a temporary protective coating is applied thereto. More particularly, a stationary, enlarged, and higher powered aspirator is connected to flexible tubing, which itself has an enlarged diameter, that has a nozzle located proximate to a grinding wheel on an edge deletion unit is provided in connection with an edge deletion table. Advantageously, the edge deletion table and aspirator of certain example embodiments are capable of performing edge deletion and removal of a temporary protective coating substantially simultaneously (e.g., from a common area of interest), during which process the debris produced when edge deletion is performed is controlled and removed from the substrate of interest.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2009
    Publication date: July 15, 2010
    Applicant: Centre Luxembourgeois de Recherches pour le Verre et la Ceramique S.A. (C.R.V.C), Dudelange
    Inventor: Peter Sondag
  • Patent number: 7713633
    Abstract: A plasma display panel (PDP) includes an EMI filter at a front portion thereof for blocking/shielding substantial amounts of electromagnetic waves. The filters has high visible transmission, and is capable of blocking/shielding electromagnetic waves. In certain example embodiments, a silver based coating of the EMI filter reduces damage from EMI radiation through highly conductive Ag layers, blocks significant amounts of NIR and IR radiation from outdoor sunlight to reduce PDP panel temperature, and enhances contrast ratio through reduced reflection, while maintaining high visible transmission. In certain example embodiments, at least one layer of or including silicon nitride may be Si-rich, and/or at least one layer including an oxide of Ni and/or Cr may be a suboxide, in order to improve heat treatability of the coated article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignees: Guardian Industries Corp., Centre Luxembourgeois de Recherches pour le Verre et la Ceramique S.A. (C.R.V.C.)
    Inventors: Philip J. Lingle, Anton Dietrich, Yiwei Lu, Willem Den Boer, John A. Vanderploeg, Yei-Ping (Mimi) H. Wang
  • Patent number: 7648769
    Abstract: An absorbing layer of a low-E coating is designed to cause the coating to have a more bluish color at normal and/or certain off-axis viewing angles. In certain example embodiments, the metallic or substantially metallic absorbing layer (e.g., NiCr) is located in the middle section of the layer stack and has been found to unexpectedly provide desirable bluish glass side reflective color for the coated article at certain off-axis viewing angles (e.g., at a 45 degree off-axis viewing angle). In certain example embodiments, the absorbing layer is provided between first and second nitride inclusive or based layers in order to reduce or prevent oxidation thereof during heat treatment thereby permitting predictable coloration to be achieved following the heat treatment. Coated articles according to certain example embodiments of this invention may be used in the context of insulating glass (IG) window units, vehicle windows, other types of windows, or in any other suitable application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignees: Guardian Industries Corp., Centre Luxembourgeois de Recherches pour le Verre et la Ceramique S.A. (C.R.V.C.)
    Inventors: Richard Blacker, Anton Dietrich, Jose Ferreira, Jens-Peter Muller, Pierre Pallotta, Jean-Marc Lemmer