Patents by Inventor Eric Berner
Eric Berner has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 12339532Abstract: An electrical driver can be used to provide electrical drive signals to a first and second electrically controllable optical privacy glazing structures. A first electrical drive signal can be applied to the first privacy glazing structure and a second electrical drive signal can be applied to the second privacy glazing structure. Applying the first and second electrical drive signal can comprise temporally staggering delivery of the first and second electrical drive signals such that a peak power draw and/or a peak current draw from the first privacy glazing structure is temporally offset from a peak power draw and/or a peak current draw from the second privacy glazing structure. Staggering can include delaying the application of one electrical drive signal relative to the other, phase shifting one electrical drive signal relative to the other, or a combination thereof.Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 2023Date of Patent: June 24, 2025Assignee: Cardinal IG CompanyInventors: Nicholas Schleder, Peter Whaley, Eric Berner
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Patent number: 12255428Abstract: A power transfer assembly includes a window balance assembly, a pivot bar, and an electrically conductive pathway. The window balance assembly includes a first portion configured to be fixed in place and a second portion configured to be movable relative to the first portion. The pivot bar is conductively coupled to the second portion of the window balance assembly. And, the electrically conductive pathway extends between the window balance assembly and the pivot bar.Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 2022Date of Patent: March 18, 2025Assignee: Cardinal IG CompanyInventor: Eric Berner
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Publication number: 20240313484Abstract: A switchable glazing can include an electrically controllable optically active material controllable to vary the visibility through the glazing structure. The switchable glazing can be movable relative to a surrounding frame, such as when implemented as a door or window. In some examples, the glazing can include a plurality of electrical connectors that can electrically connect to corresponding electrical connectors in the frame when the glazing is moved to a first position and electrically disconnect when the glazing is moved to a second position. Upon disconnecting, electrical connectors associated with the glazing can electrically connect with each other, shorting the electrically controllable optically active material. This can remove the potential energy otherwise stored in the material for increased safety and/or enhanced optics.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 17, 2022Publication date: September 19, 2024Inventors: Eric BERNER, Zachary FRANZ
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Patent number: 11934055Abstract: A privacy glazing structure may include an electrically controllable optically active material that provides controlled transition between a privacy or scattering state and a visible or transmittance state. To make electrical connections with electrode layers that control the optically active material, the privacy glazing structure may include electrode engagement regions. In some examples, the electrode engagement regions are formed as notches in peripheral edges of opposed panes bounding the optically active material. The notches may or may not overlap to provide a through conduit in the region of overlap for wiring. In either case, the notches may allow the remainder of the structure to have a flush edge surface for ease of downstream processing.Type: GrantFiled: October 11, 2022Date of Patent: March 19, 2024Assignee: Cardinal IG CompanyInventors: Eric Berner, Eric Bjergaard, Timothy Braun, Andrew DeMiglio, Chad Peters
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Patent number: 11822166Abstract: A hinge assembly includes a first arm, a second arm, a rotatable pin coupling, and a power transfer conduit. The rotatable pin coupling rotationally couples the second arm to the first arm. The first arm defines a first portion of a channel, the second arm defines a second portion of the channel, and rotatable pin coupling defines a third portion of the channel. The power transfer conduit extends through the first portion of the channel at the first arm, the third portion of the channel at the rotatable pin coupling, and the second portion of the channel at the second arm.Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 2021Date of Patent: November 21, 2023Assignee: Cardinal IG CompanyInventors: Eric Berner, Zachary Franz
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Publication number: 20230350241Abstract: An electrical driver can be used to provide electrical drive signals to a first and second electrically controllable optical privacy glazing structures. A first electrical drive signal can be applied to the first privacy glazing structure and a second electrical drive signal can be applied to the second privacy glazing structure. Applying the first and second electrical drive signal can comprise temporally staggering delivery of the first and second electrical drive signals such that a peak power draw and/or a peak current draw from the first privacy glazing structure is temporally offset from a peak power draw and/or a peak current draw from the second privacy glazing structure. Staggering can include delaying the application of one electrical drive signal relative to the other, phase shifting one electrical drive signal relative to the other, or a combination thereof.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 17, 2023Publication date: November 2, 2023Inventors: Nicholas Schleder, Peter Whaley, Eric Berner
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Patent number: 11681170Abstract: An electrical driver can be used to provide electrical drive signals to a first and second electrically controllable optical privacy glazing structures. A first electrical drive signal can be applied to the first privacy glazing structure and a second electrical drive signal can be applied to the second privacy glazing structure. Applying the first and second electrical drive signal can comprise temporally staggering delivery of the first and second electrical drive signals such that a peak power draw and/or a peak current draw from the first privacy glazing structure is temporally offset from a peak power draw and/or a peak current draw from the second privacy glazing structure. Staggering can include delaying the application of one electrical drive signal relative to the other, phase shifting one electrical drive signal relative to the other, or a combination thereof.Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 2021Date of Patent: June 20, 2023Assignee: Cardinal IG CompanyInventors: Nicholas Schleder, Peter Whaley, Eric Berner
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Publication number: 20230032677Abstract: A privacy glazing structure may include an electrically controllable optically active material that provides controlled transition between a privacy or scattering state and a visible or transmittance state. To make electrical connections with electrode layers that control the optically active material, the privacy glazing structure may include electrode engagement regions. In some examples, the electrode engagement regions are formed as notches in peripheral edges of opposed panes bounding the optically active material. The notches may or may not overlap to provide a through conduit in the region of overlap for wiring. In either case, the notches may allow the remainder of the structure to have a flush edge surface for ease of downstream processing.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 11, 2022Publication date: February 2, 2023Inventors: Eric Berner, Eric Bjergaard, Timothy Braun, Andrew DeMiglio, Chad Peters
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Publication number: 20220416491Abstract: A power transfer assembly includes a window balance assembly, a pivot bar, and an electrically conductive pathway. The window balance assembly includes a first portion configured to be fixed in place and a second portion configured to be movable relative to the first portion. The pivot bar is conductively coupled to the second portion of the window balance assembly. And, the electrically conductive pathway extends between the window balance assembly and the pivot bar.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 23, 2022Publication date: December 29, 2022Inventor: Eric Berner
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Patent number: 11467439Abstract: A privacy glazing structure may include an electrically controllable optically active material that provides controlled transition between a privacy or scattering state and a visible or transmittance state. To make electrical connections with electrode layers that control the optically active material, the privacy glazing structure may include electrode engagement regions. In some examples, the electrode engagement regions are formed as notches in peripheral edges of opposed panes bounding the optically active material. The notches may or may not overlap to provide a through conduit in the region of overlap for wiring. In either case, the notches may allow the remainder of the structure to have a flush edge surface for ease of downstream processing.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 2021Date of Patent: October 11, 2022Assignee: Cardinal IG CompanyInventors: Eric Berner, Eric Bjergaard, Timothy Braun, Andrew DeMiglio, Chad Peters
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Publication number: 20220066250Abstract: An electrical driver can be used to provide electrical drive signals to a first and second electrically controllable optical privacy glazing structures. A first electrical drive signal can be applied to the first privacy glazing structure and a second electrical drive signal can be applied to the second privacy glazing structure. Applying the first and second electrical drive signal can comprise temporally staggering delivery of the first and second electrical drive signals such that a peak power draw and/or a peak current draw from the first privacy glazing structure is temporally offset from a peak power draw and/or a peak current draw from the second privacy glazing structure. Staggering can include delaying the application of one electrical drive signal relative to the other, phase shifting one electrical drive signal relative to the other, or a combination thereof.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 9, 2021Publication date: March 3, 2022Inventors: Nicholas Schleder, Peter Whaley, Eric Berner
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Publication number: 20220035192Abstract: A hinge assembly includes a first arm, a second arm, a rotatable pin coupling, and a power transfer conduit. The rotatable pin coupling rotationally couples the second arm to the first arm. The first arm defines a first portion of a channel, the second arm defines a second portion of the channel, and rotatable pin coupling defines a third portion of the channel. The power transfer conduit extends through the first portion of the channel at the first arm, the third portion of the channel at the rotatable pin coupling, and the second portion of the channel at the second arm.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 30, 2021Publication date: February 3, 2022Inventors: Eric Berner, Zachary Franz
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Patent number: 11175523Abstract: An electrical driver can be used to provide electrical drive signals to a first and second electrically controllable optical privacy glazing structures. A first electrical drive signal can be applied to the first privacy glazing structure and a second electrical drive signal can be applied to the second privacy glazing structure. Applying the first and second electrical drive signal can comprise temporally staggering delivery of the first and second electrical drive signals such that a peak power draw and/or a peak current draw from the first privacy glazing structure is temporally offset from a peak power draw and/or a peak current draw from the second privacy glazing structure. Staggering can include delaying the application of one electrical drive signal relative to the other, phase shifting one electrical drive signal relative to the other, or a combination thereof.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 2020Date of Patent: November 16, 2021Assignee: Cardinal IG CompanyInventors: Nicholas Schleder, Peter Whaley, Eric Berner
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Publication number: 20210240031Abstract: A privacy glazing structure may include an electrically controllable optically active material that provides controlled transition between a privacy or scattering state and a visible or transmittance state. To make electrical connections with electrode layers that control the optically active material, the privacy glazing structure may include electrode engagement regions. In some examples, the electrode engagement regions are formed as notches in peripheral edges of opposed panes bounding the optically active material. The notches may or may not overlap to provide a through conduit in the region of overlap for wiring. In either case, the notches may allow the remainder of the structure to have a flush edge surface for ease of downstream processing.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 26, 2021Publication date: August 5, 2021Inventors: Eric Berner, Eric Bjergaard, Timothy Braun, Andrew DeMiglio, Chad Peters
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Patent number: 10989945Abstract: A privacy glazing structure may include an electrically controllable optically active material that provides controlled transition between a privacy or scattering state and a visible or transmittance state. To make electrical connections with electrode layers that control the optically active material, the privacy glazing structure may include electrode engagement regions. In some examples, the electrode engagement regions are formed as notches in peripheral edges of opposed panes bounding the optically active material. The notches may or may not overlap to provide a through conduit in the region of overlap for wiring. In either case, the notches may allow the remainder of the structure to have a flush edge surface for ease of downstream processing.Type: GrantFiled: July 6, 2020Date of Patent: April 27, 2021Assignee: Cardinal IG CompanyInventors: Eric Berner, Eric Bjergaard, Timothy Braun, Andrew DeMiglio, Chad Peters
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Publication number: 20200341312Abstract: An electrical driver can be used to provide electrical drive signals to a first and second electrically controllable optical privacy glazing structures. A first electrical drive signal can be applied to the first privacy glazing structure and a second electrical drive signal can be applied to the second privacy glazing structure. Applying the first and second electrical drive signal can comprise temporally staggering delivery of the first and second electrical drive signals such that a peak power draw and/or a peak current draw from the first privacy glazing structure is temporally offset from a peak power draw and/or a peak current draw from the second privacy glazing structure. Staggering can include delaying the application of one electrical drive signal relative to the other, phase shifting one electrical drive signal relative to the other, or a combination thereof.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 29, 2020Publication date: October 29, 2020Inventors: Nicholas Schleder, Peter Whaley, Eric Berner
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Publication number: 20200333656Abstract: A privacy glazing structure may include an electrically controllable optically active material that provides controlled transition between a privacy or scattering state and a visible or transmittance state. To make electrical connections with electrode layers that control the optically active material, the privacy glazing structure may include electrode engagement regions. In some examples, the electrode engagement regions are formed as notches in peripheral edges of opposed panes bounding the optically active material. The notches may or may not overlap to provide a through conduit in the region of overlap for wiring. In either case, the notches may allow the remainder of the structure to have a flush edge surface for ease of downstream processing.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 6, 2020Publication date: October 22, 2020Inventors: Eric Berner, Eric Bjergaard, Timothy Braun, Andrew DeMiglio, Chad Peters
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Patent number: 10705363Abstract: A privacy glazing structure may include an electrically controllable optically active material that provides controlled transition between a privacy or scattering state and a visible or transmittance state. To make electrical connections with electrode layers that control the optically active material, the privacy glazing structure may include electrode engagement regions. In some examples, the electrode engagement regions are formed as notches in peripheral edges of opposed panes bounding the optically active material. The notches may or may not overlap to provide a through conduit in the region of overlap for wiring. In either case, the notches may allow the remainder of the structure to have a flush edge surface for ease of downstream processing.Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 2018Date of Patent: July 7, 2020Assignee: Cardinal IG CompanyInventors: Eric Berner, Eric Bjergaard, Timothy Braun, Andrew DeMiglio, Chad Peters
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Publication number: 20190018277Abstract: A privacy glazing structure may include an electrically controllable optically active material that provides controlled transition between a privacy or scattering state and a visible or transmittance state. To make electrical connections with electrode layers that control the optically active material, the privacy glazing structure may include electrode engagement regions. In some examples, the electrode engagement regions are formed as notches in peripheral edges of opposed panes bounding the optically active material. The notches may or may not overlap to provide a through conduit in the region of overlap for wiring. In either case, the notches may allow the remainder of the structure to have a flush edge surface for ease of downstream processing.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 13, 2018Publication date: January 17, 2019Inventors: Eric Berner, Eric Bjergaard, Timothy Braun, Andrew DeMiglio, Chad Peters