Abstract: The present invention provides a transparent antenna including a transparent dielectric substrate, an electroconductive antenna element positioned along a major surface of the substrate, an electroconductive patch capacitively or directly connected to the antenna element, and a connector secured to the patch to permit transfer of signals generated by the antenna element to an electromagnetic energy transmitting and/or receiving device. The patch, is configured to have a visibility coefficient (i.e. a ratio of the non-opaque area to the total area) between 0 and 1. In one particular embodiment of the invention, the antenna element includes one or more transparent, electroconductive coatings positioned between first and second glass plies of a windshield for a motor vehicle and the electroconductive patch is applied to an exposed major surface of the windshield such that it overlays at least a portion of the antenna element and is capacitively coupled to the antenna element.

Abstract: The present invention provides a transparent antenna including a transparent dielectric substrate, an electroconductive antenna element positioned along a major surface of the substrate, an electroconductive patch capacitively or directly connected to the antenna element, and a connector secured to the patch to permit transfer of signals generated by the antenna element to an electromagnetic energy transmitting and/or receiving device. The patch, is configured to have a visibility coefficient (i.e. a ratio of the non-opaque area to the total area) between 0 and 1. In one particular embodiment of the invention, the antenna element includes one or more transparent, electroconductive coatings positioned between first and second glass plies of a windshield for a motor vehicle and the electroconductive patch is applied to an exposed major surface of the windshield such that it overlays at least a portion of the antenna element and is capacitively coupled to the antenna element.

Abstract: The glass sheet processing apparatus includes a sheet support stand which rotates the glass about a vertical axis and cutting and edging tools that move along linear axes generally perpendicular to the vertical axis. As the glass is rotated, the cutting tool moves towards and away the support stand to score the desired outline configuration of the glass part. The undesired trim portion of the glass is then removed. The glass sheet is then rotated and the edging tool is moved towards and away from the support stand to grind the periphery of the glass part to its final finished edge.

Abstract: A glass sheet is cut while at a temperature at about its annealing point temperature by scoring the glass sheet along a line of cut and imparting a bending moment to the glass along the scored line to open the glass. The glass sheet remains at its elevated temperature throughout the cutting operation to reduce or eliminate additional heating required for subsequent processing.

Abstract: A pulverulent batch stream is fed into a liquefying vessel by means of an angled feed tube so as to direct the stream tangentially onto side wall portions. The tube may be rotated so as to change the location onto which the batch stream is impinged.

Abstract: In an arrangement for preheating and liquefying glass batch materials or the like, the material is transferred from the preheater to the liquefying vessel by conveyor means that isolates batch material from exhaust gas and permits feeding of the batch material to selected regions of the liquefying vessel.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for liquefying material such as glass batch, primary thermal protection for the vessel is provided by a lining of the batch material, with secondary protection being provided by forced cooling of a minor portion of the vessel in regions and at times when the primary protection is irregular.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for soldering by means of an industrial robot is disclosed. The apparatus includes a soldering head end effector having retractable continuity sensing probes. The soldering head is particularly adapted to solder metal connector braids onto fused silver ceramic frit bus bars which are associated with the heating elements of defogging automobile back lights. The method includes positioning the work piece sensing the alignment of the bus bar and braid, controlling the robot to its starting position, controlling the robot soldering heat to subsequent preprogrammed soldering positions, holding the connector braid onto the bus bar and soldering the work piece.

Abstract: Shaping sheets of heat-softenable material while suspended from cable means.