Abstract: A window assembly capable of receiving wireless signals is described. The window assembly includes a plastic substrate having a first side and a second side. A coating is coupled to the first side of the plastic substrate. An antenna is located adjacent to the first side of the plastic substrate. The antenna may be located between the first side of the plastic substrate and the coating or may be embedded within the coating.

Abstract: A window assembly having photochromatic properties is described. The window assembly includes a substrate being adjacent to a coating. A photochromatic film is located between the substrate and the coating, whereby the photochromatic film darkens when the window assembly is exposed to ultraviolet light.

Abstract: A system for sensing environmental conditions on a window assembly. The system includes a transparent panel and a sensor integrated onto the panel. The sensor being configured to sense environmental changes on the panel. The sensor may comprise conductive inks that are printed onto the window assembly. The window assembly may comprise a plastic panel, such as a multilayer polycarbonate panel such that a portion of the sensor may be located on the one layer of the panel while another portion of the sensor overlaps the first portion on a second layer of the window. The sensor may be a resistive or capacitive sensor and may be configured to detect changes in one or more environmental conditions, such as temperature or moisture. Further, the sensor may be in electrical communication with a controller configured for control various vehicle subsystems based on the sensor.

Abstract: An apparatus for printing an image onto a curved surface of a three dimensional article. The apparatus principally includes a support fixture adapted to support the article, an ink jet print head having a plurality of nozzles, and an articulatable robotic arm. One of the support fixture supporting the article and the print head is mounted to and carried by the robotic arm. The robotic arm has more than three degrees of freedom of movement and is moveable so as to cause relative movement of the print head along a series of scanning paths that follow the surface contour of the curved surface of the article. A controller is coupled to the robotic arm and is configured to cause articulation of the robotic arm so as to move the print head along the series of scanning paths. The controller causes the robotic arm to continuously locate the print head relative to the curved surface of the article in a position suitable for printing as the print head is moved along the series of scanning paths.

Abstract: A multi-pass coating system and method for applying multiple coatings to substrates traversed through the system. The system includes at least one vacuum pump coupled to the system to establish a sub-atmospheric pressure within the system. The system also includes a least one coating zone where a coating layer is applied to the substrate and includes at least one transfer lock through which the substrates transition between atmospheric pressure outside the system and the sub-atmospheric pressure inside the system. To move the substrates through the system, the system includes a transport mechanism configured to move the substrates at least two times through the coating zone prior to the substrates being exited from the system.

Abstract: A method for printing on the curved surface of a three-dimensional (3-D) article, such as a plastic window. The printing method generally comprises generating a 3-D surface with the desired image; defining print head paths; calculating imaginary, two-dimensional printing surfaces; projecting the desired image onto the imaginary, two-dimensional printing surfaces; inspecting and correcting for any missed portion of the projected image; calibrating and adjusting the projected image; and printing the projected image through the imaginary, two-dimensional printing surfaces, thereby, creating the desired image on the surface of the 3-D article.

Abstract: A system for coating a substrate includes a heater that heats the substrate. The heater includes a two-dimensional array of a plurality of heat sources which supply heat to the substrate when the substrate is in the presence of the array of heat sources. The heater further includes a controller that controls the operation of each heat source to heat a localized area of the surface of the substrate according to a predetermined temperature profile for the substrate.

Abstract: A window defroster system that includes a heater grid and a controller. The controller includes a pulse width modulator configured to provide a driving signal to the heater grid. The driving signal has an initial heating portion and a pulsed portion. The initial heating portion provides an initial voltage that is greater than an optimal operating voltage of the heater grid, the pulsed portion provides a pulsed signal with a pulsed high voltage that is greater than the optimal operating voltage.

Abstract: A plastic glazing for use in an automobile. The glazing includes a polycarbonate substrate, a conductive layer located adjacent to the polycarbonate substrate, and a glazing layer located adjacent to the conductive layer. The conductive layer comprises carbon nanotubes, and the glazing layer is made of a material that is different from polycarbonate. The glazing layer includes at least one of an abrasion resistant layer and a weathering layer.

Abstract: A non-planar article includes a plasma deposited abrasion resistant coating with a substantially uniform thickness and a substantially uniform abrasion resistance with delta haze (%) in the range between about +/?0.25 of the mean value.

Abstract: The present invention provides a window assembly having a transparent panel and a conductive heater grid formed integrally with the transparent panel. The conductive heater grid has a first group of grid lines and a second group of grid lines, with opposing ends of each group being connected to first and second busbars. Grid lines of the second group are spaced between adjacent grid lines of the first group, with the height of the grid lines themselves in the second group being less than the height of the grid lines in the first group.

Abstract: A screen printing apparatus for printing images onto a three dimensional surface of a substrate. The apparatus includes a screen formed of a flexible mesh material and having porous image portions that allows passage of a printing medium through it. A shaping assembly including a plurality of shapers that are movable between retracted and extended positions. In their extended positions, the shapers are engaged with the screen assembly and generally cause screen to generally conform to the three dimensional surface of the substrate. A squeegee, that is flexible and conformable to the three dimensional surface, is drawn along screen and forces at least some of the printing medium through the porous portion of the screen and onto the three dimensional surface.

Abstract: The present invention provides a window assembly having a transparent panel and a conductive heater grid formed integrally with the transparent panel. The conductive heater grid has a first group of grid lines and a second group of grid lines, with opposing ends of each group being connected to first and second busbars. Grid lines of the second group are spaced between adjacent grid lines of the first group, with the width of the grid lines themselves in the second group being less than the width of the grid lines in the first group.

Abstract: The present invention involves a method of transferring a membrane image to an article. The method comprises providing a printed decoration to be applied onto a low surface energy membrane. The low surface energy membrane has a hardness level of greater than 70 durometer Shore A and a surface energy of up to 25 mJ/m2. The method further includes applying a predetermined pressure with a pressure device to force the printed decoration through a screen onto the low surface energy membrane. The pressure device has a hardness of up to 70 durometer Shore A. The method further includes forming the low surface energy membrane to the geometry of the surface of the article and applying pressure between the membrane and the article to transfer the membrane image from the membrane to the article.

Abstract: The present invention is generally directed towards a polycarbonate surface having an ink printed on the surface. The ink adheres to the polycarbonate and is compatible with a hard coat applied to the polycarbonate substrate. The ink comprises a polycarbonate or a polyester resin or an acrylic resin. The ink composition also comprises a blend of polycarbonate ink or an acrylic ink with a polyester ink such that the ink adheres to the polycarbonate substrate on subjecting the substrate to water immersion and cataplasma tests.

Abstract: An apparatus for, and a method of, printing a precise pattern on the inside radius of a curved substrate by the pivotal movement of a pendulum moving across the surface of a screen capable of receiving and transferring an ink, is disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention is generally directed towards a polycarbonate surface having an ink printed on the surface. The ink adheres to the polycarbonate and is compatible with a hard coat applied to the polycarbonate substrate. The ink comprises a polycarbonate or a polyester resin or an acrylic resin. The ink composition also comprises a blend of polycarbonate ink or an acrylic ink with a polyester ink such that the ink adheres to the polycarbonate substrate on subjecting the substrate to water immersion and cataplasma tests.

Abstract: An automotive glazing panel is provided by a polycarbonate substrate having a coating system including an inner layer blocking IR and overlying coating material blocking UV radiation and providing a scratch resistant outer coating layer.

Abstract: A window panel for use in automotive glazing applications is described, in which inner planer piece transparent plastic is bonded to an outer piece molded from an opaque plastic creating a masking border. The two pieces have overlapping portions, and may be of reduced or tapering thickness to create a transition masking zone of reduced or varying opacity. The inner piece may be designed to separate from the outer piece at a lower impact force than that required to fracture the pieces to establish a prescribed failure mode. The window panel may be formed by a two shot molding process in which the inner and outer pieces are molded respectively to increase the overall window panel size beyond that able to be molded by a one shot process.