Abstract: An apparatus (10) for forming the outer layers of a glass laminate sheet comprises a reservoir (12), individual first (14a) and second (14b) distributors extending below and in fluid communication with the reservoir, and first (30a) and second (30b) slots positioned respectively at the bottom of the first and second distributors. The slots have a length, the distributors have sides and a middle, and the length of the slots on the sides of the distributors is desirably decreased relative to the length of the slots in the middle of the distributors. The apparatus is useful with a trough or isopipe (100) to provide clad glass streams to contact an over-flowing core glass on respective sides of the trough or isopipe.

Abstract: An apparatus and methods for bending sheet glass are disclosed. The present invention improves on the state-of-the-art by providing apparatus and methods that prevent unwanted distortion of the glass sheet. The apparatus and methods utilize localized heating at the bend to allow for overall glass sheet temperatures to be reduced, along with optional mechanical devices for improved bend quality.

Abstract: An apparatus and methods for bending sheet glass are disclosed. The present invention improves on the state-of-the-art by providing apparatus and methods that prevent unwanted distortion of the glass sheet. The apparatus and methods utilize localized heating at the bend to allow for overall glass sheet temperatures to be reduced, along with optional mechanical devices for improved bend quality.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods for making an enclosure having a three-dimensionally shaped glass wall portion comprising an initial step of shaping a glass charge into a preform having a preform cross-section corresponding in shape to a smaller cross-sectional shape for the three-dimensional glass wall portion. At least a surface portion of the preform is then finished if necessary to remove any visible optical surface defects therefrom and/or to meet geometric tolerances, and the preform is drawn along an elongation axis perpendicular to the preform cross-section to reduce or draw down the preform in size to the smaller cross-sectional shape for the three dimensional glass wall portion. The smaller cross-sectional shape or sections thereof are then tempered to provide a strengthened glass wall portion having a compressively stressed surface layer thereon.

Abstract: An apparatus and methods for bending sheet glass are disclosed. The present invention improves on the state-of-the-art by providing apparatus and methods that prevent unwanted distortion of the glass sheet. The apparatus and methods utilize localized heating at the bend to allow for overall glass sheet temperatures to be reduced, along with optional mechanical devices for improved bend quality.

Abstract: Methods for preparing glass structures include extruding a glass precursor, the glass precursor having a composition in the range of 55%-75% SiO2, 5%-10% Na2O, 20%-35% B2O3 and 0%-5% Al2O3, and heat treating and leaching the glass precursor to yield a glass article comprising at least about 90% SiO2 by weight. Glass articles can be used to manufacture a variety of geometrically complex structures.

Abstract: A cane having optical properties includes: a core formed of a semiconductor material; and a transparent cladding formed of glass, glass-ceramic, or polymer coaxially oriented about the core, the cane may be used to produce a photovoltaic device, including: a semiconductor core including at least one p-n junction, defined by respective n-type and p-type regions; a substantially transparent cladding in coaxial relationship with the semiconductor core, forming a longitudinally oriented cane; and first and second electrodes, each being electrically coupled to a respective one of the n-type and p-type regions.

Abstract: A cane having optical properties includes: a core formed of a semiconductor material; and a transparent cladding formed of glass, glass-ceramic, or polymer coaxially oriented about the core, the cane may be used to produce a photovoltaic device, including: a semiconductor core including at least one p-n junction, defined by respective n-type and p-type regions; a substantially transparent cladding in coaxial relationship with the semiconductor core, forming a longitudinally oriented cane; and first and second electrodes, each being electrically coupled to a respective one of the n-type and p-type regions.

Abstract: Methods for preparing glass structures include extruding a glass precursor, the glass precursor having a composition in the range of 55%-75% SiO2, 5%-10% Na2O, 20%-35% B2O3 and 0%-5% Al2O3, and heat treating and leaching the glass precursor to yield a glass article comprising at least about 90% SiO2 by weight. Glass articles can be used to manufacture a variety of geometrically complex structures.

Abstract: Photonic crystal fibers include a plurality of extruded non-circular canes, each of the extruded non-circular canes comprising at least one hole. Methods for manufacturing photonic crystal fibers include hot-forming a glass material into a glass tube having a non-circular outer cross-section, drawing the glass tube to obtain a plurality of canes, stacking the canes to create a preform build and drawing the preform build to obtain a photonic crystal fiber.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a silver-containing polarizing boroaluminosilicate glass composition that has been doped with a noble metal selected from the group consisting of Pt, Pd, Os, Ir, Rh and Ru, including mixtures thereof, to nucleate and precipitate silver ions to silver metal without the need for a reducing atmosphere step. The invention is further directed to a method for making the glass composition of the invention. Using the composition and method of the invention, one can prepare a glass having a selected null transmission range.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method for preparing visible light optical polarizers using a non-halide silver salt and any glass composition that the non-halide silver salts is soluble, provided that the glass composition, including the silver salt, was a halide content that is, on a molar basis, 10% or less than the silver content, on a molar basis, of the glass composition. The silver containing glass is hydrogen reduced prior to stretching to form an optical polarizer. The invention enables one to form a visible light polarizer having a polarizing layer thickness in the range 10-40 ?m in which the silver particles have a surround index sufficiently removed from the blue polarizer region to allow good contrast.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a silver-containing polarizing boroaluminosilicate glass composition that has been doped with a noble metal selected from the group consisting of Pt, Pd, Os, Ir, Rh and Ru, including mixtures thereof, to nucleate and precipitate silver ions to silver metal without the need for a reducing atmosphere step. The invention is further directed to a method for making the glass composition of the invention. Using the composition and method of the invention, one can prepare a glass having a selected null transmission range.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a silver-containing polarizing boroaluminosilicate glass composition that has been doped with a noble metal selected from the group consisting of Pt, Pd, Os, Ir, Rh and Ru, including mixtures thereof, to nucleate and precipitate silver ions to silver metal without the need for a reducing atmosphere step. The invention is further directed to a method for making the glass composition of the invention. Using the composition and method of the invention, one can prepare a glass having a selected null transmission range.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a silver-containing polarizing boroaluminosilicate glass composition that has been doped with a noble metal selected from the group consisting of Pt, Pd, Os, Ir, Rh and Ru, including mixtures thereof, to nucleate and precipitate silver ions to silver metal without the need for a reducing atmosphere step. The invention is further directed to a method for making the glass composition of the invention. Using the composition and method of the invention, one can prepare a glass having a selected null transmission range.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method for preparing wide strip optical polarizers by extruding glass and stretching the extruded glass to thereby elongate the polarizing metals or metal salts within the glass. The invention enables one to form a optical polarizers that have a width of 300 mm or larger depending on the size of the die used. The stretching system using two set of rollers as described herein is particularly useful for making larger sizes.