Patents Assigned to Centre Luxembourgeois de Recherches pour le Verre et la
Ceramique S.A.
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Patent number: 7621648Abstract: A mirror (e.g., first surface mirror) is provided with a layer of or including chromium nitride (CrNx). In certain example embodiments, the CrNx layer may be the primary reflective layer of the mirror. Surprisingly and unexpectedly, it has been found the addition of nitrogen to the chromium to form CrNx reduces pinhole formations in the resulting layer. In certain example embodiments, the more nitrogen which is introduced into the layer, the smaller the number and/or size of pinholes in the Cr inclusive layer. In certain example embodiments, it has also been found that the addition of nitrogen to Cr may improve durability.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 2007Date of Patent: November 24, 2009Assignees: Guardian Industries Corp., Centre Luxembourgeois de Recherches pour le Verre et la Ceramique S.A. (C.R.V.C.)Inventors: Francis Wuillaume, Anton Dietrich, Brent Boyce, Gregory Scott
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Patent number: 7597965Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 18, 2006Date of Patent: October 6, 2009Assignees: 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
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Patent number: 7597962Abstract: A coated article is provided with at least one infrared (IR) reflecting layer (e.g,. silver based). In certain example embodiments, silicon nitride, zinc oxide, and an oxide of Ni and/or Cr are provided under the IR reflecting layer. It has been found that improved thermal stability may be realized upon heat treatment. In certain example instances, the silicon nitride may be replaced with tin oxide.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2005Date of Patent: October 6, 2009Assignees: Centre Luxembourgeois de Recherches pour le Verre et la Ceramique S.A. (C.R.V.C.), Guardian Industries Corp.Inventors: Jochen Butz, Richard Blacker, Uwe Kriltz, Anton Dietrich
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Patent number: 7597963Abstract: An insulating glass (IG) window unit, or other suitable window unit, includes a glass substrate with a coating thereon. The coating includes a lower contact layer based on zinc oxide and/or at least one silicon nitride inclusive layer that is Si-rich (i.e., non-stoichiometric). Using such a design, it has been found that coloration can be adjusted in order to achieve certain desirable optical characteristics.Type: GrantFiled: July 8, 2005Date of Patent: October 6, 2009Assignees: Guardian Industries Corp., Centre Luxembourgeois de Recherches pour le Verre et la Ceramique S.A. (C.R.V.C.)Inventors: Bryce Corsner, Nancy Bassett, Anton Dietrich, Jose Nunez-Regueiro
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Patent number: 7592068Abstract: A coated article is provided so as to include a solar control coating having an infrared (IR) reflecting layer sandwiched between at least a pair of dielectric layers. The IR reflecting layer may be of or include NbZrOx, NbZr, NiCr, NiCrNx, or the like in certain embodiments of this invention. In particular, a zirconium silicon oxynitride (e.g., ZrSiOxNy) inclusive layer is provided which unexpectedly improves blocking (reflecting and/or absorption) of UV radiation in a manner which does not significantly degrade other optical properties of a coated article. Moreover, the ZrSiOxNy also has been found to improve (lower) the ?E* value upon heat treatment, thereby permitting a coated article when heat treated (HT) to more closely match its non-HT counterpart with respect to glass side reflective color after such HT.Type: GrantFiled: January 19, 2005Date of Patent: September 22, 2009Assignees: Centre Luxembourgeois de Recherches pour le Verre et la Ceramique S.A. (C.R.V.C.), Guardian Industries Corp.Inventors: Bernd Disteldorf, Anton Dietrich, Ratchaneekorn Chonlamaitri
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Patent number: 7563347Abstract: 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. In certain example embodiments, an ion source(s) and a sputtering target(s) used in forming the IR reflecting layer, or any other suitable layer, may be located in a common deposition chamber of an apparatus used in forming at least part of the coating.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 2004Date of Patent: July 21, 2009Assignees: Centre Luxembourgeois de Recherches pour le Verre et la Ceramique S.A. (C.R.V.C.), Guardian Industries Corp.Inventors: Uwe Kriltz, Jochen Butz, Gerald Jänicke, Vijayen S. Veerasamy
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Publication number: 20090128431Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: November 20, 2007Publication date: May 21, 2009Applicant: Centre Luxembourgeois de Recherches pour le Verre et la Ceramique S.A. (C.R.V.C.)Inventor: Danny Martin
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Patent number: 7534496Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 31, 2006Date of Patent: May 19, 2009Assignee: 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
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Patent number: 7462397Abstract: A low-E coated article is provided, in certain example embodiments, with a layer including silicon nitride adjacent the glass substrate in order to improve chemical and/or mechanical durability of the coated article. In certain example embodiments, the coated article may be formed so as to have a fairly high visible transmission (TY or Tvis) to sheet resistance (Rs) ratio (i.e., a ratio Tvis/Rs) The higher this ratio, the better the coated article's combined functionality of providing for both good solar performance (e.g., ability to reflect and/or absorb IR radiation) and high visible transmission. Coated articles herein may be used in the context of windows or the like (e.g., laminated vehicle windshields).Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 2003Date of Patent: December 9, 2008Assignees: Guardian Industries Corp., Centre Luxembourgeois de Recherches pour le Verre et la Ceramique S.A. (C.R.V.C.)Inventors: Philip J. Lingle, Scott V. Thomsen, Anton Dietrich, Jens-Peter Müller
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Patent number: 7462398Abstract: 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, more neutral and/or desirable coloration, lower sheet resistance (Rs ), and/or lower emissivity.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2004Date of Patent: December 9, 2008Assignee: Centre Luxembourgeois de Recherches pour le Verre et la Ceramique S.A. (C.R.V.C.)Inventors: Jean-Marc Lemmer, Pierre Pallotta, Jose Ferreira
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Patent number: 7419725Abstract: 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, asymmetric IR reflecting layer thicknesses may be used (e.g., bottom IR reflecting layer thicker than the top IR reflecting layer), and/or different contact layer for the top/bottom IR reflecting layers may be used to help achieve a combination of low SF values, high selectivity, and good coloration at normal and/or off-axis viewing angles.Type: GrantFiled: November 4, 2004Date of Patent: September 2, 2008Assignees: Guardian Industries Corp., Centre Luxembourgeois de Recherches pour le Verre et la Ceramique S.A. (C.R.V.C.)Inventors: George Neuman, Jose Ferreira, Jean-Marc Lemmer
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Publication number: 20080182123Abstract: 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 an oxide of zinc. Following and/or during heat treatment (e.g., thermal tempering, or the like) the protective film may be removed. Other embodiments of this invention relate to the pre-HT coated article, or the post-HT coated article.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 29, 2007Publication date: July 31, 2008Applicants: Guardian Industries Corp., Centre Luxembourgeois de Recherches pour le Verre et la Ceramique S.A. (C.R.V.C.)Inventors: Nestor P. Murphy, Maximo Frati, Rudolph Hugo Petrmichl, Jiangping Wang, Jens-Peter Muller, Herbert Lage
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Patent number: 7390572Abstract: A coated article is provided with at least one infrared (IR) reflecting layer. The IR reflecting layer may be of silver or the like. In certain example embodiments, a titanium oxide layer is provided over the IR reflecting layer, and it has been found that this surprisingly results in an IR reflecting layer with a lower specific resistivity (SR) thereby permitting thermal properties of the coated article to be improved.Type: GrantFiled: January 5, 2005Date of Patent: June 24, 2008Assignees: Centre Luxembourgeois de Recherches pour le Verre et la Ceramique S.A. (C.R.V.C.), Guardian Industries Corp.Inventors: Jochen Butz, Uwe Kriltz, Artur Siwek, Anton Dietrich, Jens-Peter Müller, Jean-Marc Lemmer, Richard Blacker
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Patent number: 7344782Abstract: A coated article is provided that may be heat treated in certain example embodiments. A coating of the coated article includes zinc oxide inclusive layer(s) located under infrared (IR) reflecting layer(s) of a material such as silver. In certain example embodiments, coated articles are designed so as to realize higher visible transmission and/or lower sheet resistance values.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2004Date of Patent: March 18, 2008Assignees: 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, Jens-Peter Muller
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Publication number: 20080022723Abstract: 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) at or just prior to the annealing lehr. The aluminum chloride treatment at or just prior to the annealing lehr, in either a float or patterned line glass making process, is advantageous in that it allows the treatment to be performed at a desirable glass temperature and permits exhaust functions in or proximate the annealing lehr to remove byproducts of the treatment in an efficient manner. In certain example embodiments, the glass may be polished for thinning after the treatment, with the polishing being performed on a major surface of the glass opposite to a major surface which has been treated with aluminum chloride.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 23, 2007Publication date: January 31, 2008Applicants: Centre Luxembourgeois de Recherches pour le Verre et la Ceramique S.A. (C.R.V.C), Guardian Industries Corp.,Inventors: Bernd Disteldorf, Willem den Boer
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Patent number: 7311975Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 19, 2004Date of Patent: December 25, 2007Assignees: 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
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Patent number: 7291251Abstract: A method of making a coated article is provided, where the coated article may be used in a window or the like and may have at least one infrared (IR) reflecting layer in a low-E coating. The IR reflecting layer may be of silver or the like. In certain example embodiments, at least krypton (Kr) gas is used in sputter-depositing a silver inclusive IR reflecting layer. It has been found that the use of Kr gas in sputtering Ag targets results in an IR reflecting layer having improved resistance and emittance properties.Type: GrantFiled: January 18, 2005Date of Patent: November 6, 2007Assignee: Centre Luxembourgeois de Recherches pour le Verre et la Ceramique S.A. (C.R.V.C.)Inventors: Jochen Butz, Uwe Kriltz, Sebastian Bobrowski
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Publication number: 20070223121Abstract: 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 performing at least the following steps: (a) forming a reflective coating on a flat glass substrate, (b) cold-bending the glass substrate with the reflective coating thereon; and (c) applying a plate member (e.g., thermoplastic or glass based) to the cold-bent glass substrate, the plate member for maintaining the coated glass substrate in a desired bent orientation. In certain example embodiments, the glass substrate supporting the reflective coating may be maintained in desired bent form by using another glass substrate and a glue layer provided between the another glass substrate and the glass substrate supporting the coating. The bent reflector (e.g., mirror) may be used in a solar collector, or in any other suitable application.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 23, 2006Publication date: September 27, 2007Applicant: Centre Luxembourgeois de Recherches pour le Verre et la Ceramique S.A. (C.R.V.C.)Inventors: Pierre-Yves Franck, Jean-Marc Sol
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Publication number: 20070221313Abstract: 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 performing at least the following steps: (a) forming a reflective coating on a flat glass substrate, (b) cold-bending the glass substrate with the reflective coating thereon; and (c) applying a plate or frame member (e.g., another glass sheet/substrate, or alternatively a thermoplastic member) to the cold-bent glass substrate, the plate or frame member for maintaining the coated glass substrate in a desired bent orientation. In certain example embodiments, the glass substrate supporting the reflective coating may be maintained in desired bent form by using another glass substrate and a glue layer provided between the another glass substrate and the glass substrate supporting the coating. The bent reflector (e.g., mirror) may be used in a solar collector, or in any other suitable application.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 3, 2006Publication date: September 27, 2007Applicant: Centre Luxembourgeois de Recherches pour le Verre et la Ceramique S.A. (C.R.V.C.)Inventors: Pierre-Yves Franck, Jean-Marc Sol
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Patent number: 7267879Abstract: A low-E coated article is provided, in certain example embodiments, with a layer including silicon oxynitride adjacent the glass substrate in order to improve chemical and/or mechanical durability of the coated article. In certain example embodiments, the coated article may be formed so as to have a fairly high visible transmission (TY or Tvis) to sheet resistance (Rs) ratio (i.e., a ratio Tvis/Rs). The higher this ratio, the better the coated article's combined functionality of providing for both good solar performance (e.g., ability to reflect and/or absorb IR radiation) and high visible transmission. Coated articles herein may be used in the context of insulating glass (IG) window units, architectural or residential monolithic window units, vehicle window units, and/or the like.Type: GrantFiled: August 8, 2003Date of Patent: September 11, 2007Assignees: Guardian Industries Corp., Centre Luxembourgeois de Recherches pour le Verre et la Ceramique S.A. (C.R.V.C.)Inventors: Scott V. Thomsen, Anton Dietrich, Jose Nunez Regueiro