Abstract: A coated glass article, particularly for use as architectural glass, is gold in appearance. The coated glass article includes a glass substrate with an iron oxide coating deposited thereover, the iron oxide coating comprising primarily iron oxide in the form Fe2O3. The coated glass article has an a* value between about ?5 and about 10, and a b* value between about 10 and about 40, for both transmitted and reflected light.

Abstract: A vehicular, powered slider drive interface and drive assembly are provided. The interface has a driver bracket, which includes contact surfaces, mounted on a regulator, a driver receiver, which includes contact surfaces, mounted on a slider panel, and separate bumpers disposed on each driver surface. When the regulator is caused to move in an open direction, a first driver contact surface is brought into selectively non-attached pushing or pulling mechanical contact with a first driver bumper to smoothly open the slider-panel. When the regulator is caused to move in a closed direction, a second driver contact surface is brought into selectively non-attached pushing or pulling mechanical contact with a second receiver bumper to smoothly close the slider panel. Since the driver bracket and the driver receiver are not rigidly/directly mechanically attached, the slider panel slides freely without binding and requiring precise alignment of the drive interface.

Abstract: A glass bending line for quickly shaping a complex bent glass sheet is provided that includes moving a ring-type female mold, which has a heated glass sheet placed on it, and a full face heated male mold, toward one another. Upon making shaping contact between the glass sheet and the male mold, a vacuum is applied through holes extending through the male mold, for a time sufficient to form the glass sheet to a desired shape. When the glass sheet has been shaped, the vacuum is terminated and pressurized air is connected to the holes to release the bent glass sheet from the male mold. The bent glass sheet is then quickly transported to a quenching station or an annealing station on a continuous conveying device. Hence, the complex bent glass sheet is achieved without the use of a shuttle ring.

Abstract: A multi-layer thin film stack, particularly suitable as a component of a solar cell, is deposited on a transparent dielectric substrate. The multi-layer film stack comprises a transparent electrically conductive metal oxide layer deposited over the dielectric substrate, the conductive metal oxide layer having a refractive index less than 2.0, a light transmittance optimizing interlayer having a refractive index between 2.3 and 3.5, deposited over the electrically conductive metal oxide layer, and a silicon layer having a refractive index of at least 4.5 deposited over the light transmittance optimizing interlayer. The film stack can be deposited by any suitable method, but deposition of each of these layers by atmospheric chemical vapor deposition is preferred.

Abstract: A laminated glass unit having at least two sheets of glass separated and bonded by a polymeric interlayer material, and further having multi-layer thin film coatings on each of the unbonded surfaces of the at least two glass sheets, is disclosed. Two or more of such laminated glass units can be utilized in various configurations to form an insulated glass unit. The thin films deposited on the unbonded glass surfaces have anti-reflective, iridescence-suppressing and solar control properties when suitable configurations, materials and layer thicknesses are chosen. The laminated glass unit and insulated glass units of the invention exhibit an excellent combination of low visible light reflectance and thermal insulating properties.

Abstract: A multi-layer, low-emissivity, solar control article comprises a dielectric substrate, a first dielectric metal oxide layer deposited on the substrate, a first highly conductive, silver-free metal oxide layer deposited on the first dielectric metal oxide, and a second dielectric metal oxide deposited on the first highly conductive, silver-free metal oxide layer. The aforementioned coating layer sequence may be repeated as necessary to achieve the desired properties. An iridescence suppressing interlayer may, optionally, be utilized in connection with the low-emissivity, solar control coating.

Abstract: A press bending station includes an annular mold (5) and a full-face mold (6). Holes (10), selectively connected to a negative pressure source, are placed in portions of the full-face mold (6) that are determined by the configuration of the annular mold when the annular mold comes into contact with a heated glass sheet (2) during the press bending process. The sheet (2) is drawn by negative pressure through the holes (10) towards the full-face mold (6) and thus acquires its shape. Positive pressure may be selectively applied to the holes (10) to release the sheet (2). According to the invention, at least some of the holes (10) are arranged in at least one groove (11) formed in the mold face of the full-face mold. The grooves (11) according to the invention accelerate considerably the removal by negative pressure of the air between the molding face of the full-face mold (6) and the glass sheet (2) to be bent and thus improve the press bending process.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a rain sensor that adaptively functions in a variety of different modes when deployed on vehicle windows of different thicknesses and compositions. The arrangement of multiple lens segments and reflecting surfaces in a nonsequential configuration allows utilization of a greater proportion of light rays from the at least two emitters. Further, a greater portion of the light rays emitted by the at least two emitters is captured by the lens segments and reflectors arranged about at least two detectors, and directed to the detectors. Connection to analytical circuitry then allows interpretation of electrical signals, which in turn control, for example, window wiper systems.

Abstract: A flush-flush horizontal vehicle window assembly is provided that includes a sliding panel with guide pins, formed with a load-bearing shoulder, on sliding panel corners, and a frame defining a window opening. The frame is attached to two fixed panels. Upper/lower tracks are attached above/below the window opening. Each track has a leading and a trailing guide path formed through a surface of the respective tracks, where the pins partially project into the guide paths and where load-bearing shoulder surfaces smoothly and reliably slide on the track surfaces. Each leading guide path is “S” shaped and each trailing guide path is shaped in a perpendicular manner at one end, which causes the sliding panel to smoothly enter and seal the window opening in a flush manner. An aesthetically pleasing flush-flush slider results when the sliding panel is in the plane of the window opening and further in the plane of the outer vehicle body panel.

Abstract: A vehicle slider assembly has a frame, upon which a fixed panel and an upper and a lower track are attached, and a slider panel assembly that moves in the tracks. The frame defines a window opening that the moving slider panel assembly opens and closes. The interior surfaces of the frame provide constant sealing surfaces for seals attached to the outwardly directed slider panel surfaces. The lower horizontal portion of the frame is adjacent to the lower track and has drain holes through it. The lower track has a reservoir channel defined in it, such that, moisture that is interior to the vehicle slider assembly accumulates in the reservoir channel and flows through the drain holes to the exterior of the vehicle slider assembly. An appliqué may be disposed over the exterior of the lower frame portion so that the flow of the moisture is hidden in an unencumbered and aesthetically pleasing manner.

Abstract: A flush-flush horizontal vehicle window assembly is provided that includes a sliding panel with guide pins, formed with a load-bearing shoulder, on sliding panel corners, and a frame defining a window opening. The frame is attached to two fixed panels. Upper/lower tracks are attached above/below the window opening. Each track has a leading and a trailing guide path formed through a surface of the respective tracks, where the pins partially project into the guide paths and where load-bearing shoulder surfaces smoothly and reliably slide on the track surfaces. Each leading guide path is “S” shaped and each trailing guide path is shaped in a perpendicular manner at one end, which causes the sliding panel to smoothly enter and seal the window opening in a flush manner. An aesthetically pleasing flush-flush slider results when the sliding panel is in the plane of the window opening and further in the plane of the outer vehicle body panel.

Abstract: A CVD process is defined for producing a ruthenium dioxide or ruthenium metal like coating on an article. The article is preferably for use as an architectural glazing, and preferably has low emissivity and solar control properties. The method includes providing a heated glass substrate having a surface on which the coating is to be deposited. A ruthenium containing precursor, an oxygen containing compound, and optionally water vapor, in conjunction with an inert carrier gas, are directed toward and along the surface to be coated and the ruthenium containing precursor and the oxygen containing compound are reacted at or near the surface of the glass substrate to form a ruthenium dioxide coating.

Abstract: A partial and a full drop vertical vehicle slider assembly are provided that do not require a horizontal beltline support member. For the partial drop assembly, two fixed panels each with a division member, an upper header member, and a horizontal vehicle body opening edge abut to form the slider panel opening. For the full drop assembly, an upper header member, two upper slider assembly side members, and a horizontal vehicle body opening edge abut one another to form a slider panel opening. In both cases, the horizontal vehicle body opening edges have seals attached, through which a slider panel vertically slides up and spans the vertical extent of the slider panel opening to close the slider assembly, and slides down into the vehicle body to open the slider panel opening. In the case of the full drop assembly, unimpaired backlite viewing is provided.

Abstract: One or more coating precursors are selected from metal or silicon compounds at a temperature above their melting points but substantially below their standard vaporization temperature, thereby causing the coating precursors to be in the form of a liquid. A vaporization chamber has a structure for continually injecting the liquid coating precursor into the chamber to produce a vapor. A seal-less, magnetically driven portion rotates a structure for distributing the liquid coating precursor in the vaporization chamber. In one embodiment, a barrier gas is injected adjacent the chamber at a velocity greater than the diffusion velocity of the vapor to prevent the vapor from communicating with the magnetically driven portion. In another embodiment, a first portion of the magnetically driven portion is connected to a structure for distributing the liquid coating precursor in the vaporization chamber.

Abstract: The present application describes and claims an opto-electronic method of quantitatively analyzing reflected optical distortion in sheets or panels of shaped glass.

Abstract: A flush-flush horizontal vehicle window assembly is provided that includes a sliding panel with guide pins, formed with a load-bearing shoulder, on sliding panel corners, and a frame defining a window opening. The frame is attached to two fixed panels. Upper/lower tracks are attached above/below the window opening. Each track has a leading and a trailing guide path formed through a surface of the respective tracks, where the pins partially project into the guide paths and where load-bearing shoulder surfaces smoothly and reliably slide on the track surfaces. Each leading guide path is “S” shaped and each trailing guide path is shaped in a perpendicular manner at one end, which causes the sliding panel to smoothly enter and seal the window opening in a flush manner. An aesthetically pleasing flush-flush slider results when the sliding panel is in the plane of the window opening and further in the plane of the outer vehicle body panel.

Abstract: A multi-part, multi-use container, having a larger, lower portion, particularly suitable for transporting large, relatively heavy items, such as vehicle glazings, and a smaller, upper portion particularly suitable for transporting accessories for use with vehicle glazings is disclosed. The upper portion of the container is formed from a combination of a plurality of vertically extending support members arranged in a predetermined pattern, and one or more horizontal support trays having slots formed therein in locations to coincide with the locations of, at least, a portion of the vertically extending support members, in order to form an interlocking structure of one or more tiers suitable for transporting, without damage, accessory items such as flexible polymeric gaskets.

Abstract: A chemical vapor deposition process for laying down a gallium oxide coating on a glass substrate through the use of an organic ester and an inorganic gallium halide. The organic ester preferably contains 3-6 carbon atoms which contributes to obtaining a high deposition rate. The chemical vapor deposition method to form the gallium oxide coating is preferably at, essentially, atmospheric pressure. The resulting article has a gallium oxide coating which can be of substantial thickness because of the high deposition rates attainable. The coating deposition rates resulting from the method of the present invention are preferably greater than or equal to 75 ? per second.

Abstract: Nitrogen doped titanium oxide coatings on a hot glass substrate are prepared by providing a uniform vaporized reactant mixture containing a titanium compound, a nitrogen compound and an oxygen-containing compound, and delivering the reactant mixture to the surface of a ribbon of hot glass, where the compounds react to form a nitrogen doped titanium oxide coating. The nitrogen doped titanium oxide coatings deposited in accordance with the invention demonstrate an increase in visible light absorption.

Abstract: A multi-layer, low-emissivity, solar control article comprises a dielectric substrate, a first dielectric metal oxide layer deposited on the substrate, a first highly conductive, silver-free metal oxide layer deposited on the first dielectric metal oxide, and a second dielectric metal oxide deposited on the first highly conductive, silver-free metal oxide layer. The aforementioned coating layer sequence may be repeated as necessary to achieve the desired properties. An iridescence suppressing interlayer may, optionally, be utilized in connection with the low-emissivity, solar control coating.