Patents by Inventor Francis Defendini

Francis Defendini 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).

  • Patent number: 5889608
    Abstract: This invention relates to an electrically controllable solar building pane composed of two panels spaced apart by a layer of an intermediate gas, the panel facing towards the outside of the building being constituted of a variable transmission system of the electrochromic type comprising two transparent substrates composed, notably, of glass sheets, joined together by an ion-conducting organic polymer and coated on the jointing face with transparent electrically conducting films and films of anodic and cathodic electrochromic materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1999
    Assignee: Saint-Gobain Recherche
    Inventors: Bernard Buffat, Francis Defendini, Christian Padoy, Jean-Pierre Beaufays, Jean-Marie Labbe
  • Patent number: 5793518
    Abstract: An electrochromic system comprising a transparent electrically conducting film (2), a film (3) of a cathodic electrochromic material, which is capable of reversibly inserting M.sup.+ cations of type H.sup.+ or Li.sup.+, an electrolyte film (5), counter-electrode film (7) made of an anodic electrochromic material, and a second electrically conducting film (8), said structure having a barrier film (6) interposed between electrolyte (5) and the counter-electrode (7), which barrier film is open to the diffusion of the M.sup.+ cations and which is constituted of the following materials selected from the group consisting of oxides of metals of Group VB of the Periodic Table, mixtures of these oxides, CeF.sub.3, Sb.sub.2 O.sub.3, HUP (hexauranylphosphate), Cr.sub.2 O.sub.3, ZrO.sub.2, and an ion conductor material of Li.sub.3 N, LiTaO.sub.3, LiAlF.sub.4, Li.sub.3 PO.sub.4, LiBO.sub.2 or LiNbO.sub.3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1998
    Assignee: Saint-Gobain Vitrage International
    Inventors: Christine Lefrou, Francis Defendini, Florence Garot, Odile Marrot
  • Patent number: 5663829
    Abstract: An electrochromic system comprising a transparent electrically conducting film (2), a film (3) of a cathodic electrochromic material, which is capable of reversibly inserting M.sup.+ cations of type H.sup.+ or Li.sup.+, an electrolyte film (5), counter-electrode film (7) made of an anodic electrochromic material, and a second electrically conducting film (8), said structure having a barrier film (6) interposed between electrolyte (5) and the counter-electrode (7), which barrier film is open to the diffusion of the M.sup.+ cations and which is constituted of the following materials selected from the group consisting of oxides of metals of Group VB of the Periodic Table, mixtures of these oxides, CeF.sub.3, Sb.sub.2 O.sub.3, HUP (hexauranylphosphate), Cr.sub.2 O.sub.3, ZrO.sub.2, and an ion conductor material of Li.sub.3 N, LiTaO.sub.3, LiAlF.sub.4, Li.sub.3 PO.sub.4, LiBO.sub.2 or LiNbO.sub.3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 2, 1997
    Assignee: Saint-Gobain Vitrage International
    Inventors: Christine Lefrou, Francis Defendini, Florence Garot, Odile Marrot
  • Patent number: 5657149
    Abstract: This invention relates to an electrically controllable solar building pane composed of two panels spaced apart by a layer of an intermediate gas, the panel facing towards the outside of the building being constituted of a variable transmission system of the electrochromic type comprising two transparent substrates composed, notably, of glass sheets, joined together by an ion-conducting organic polymer and coated on the jointing face with transparent electrically conducting films and films of anodic and cathodic electrochromic materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 12, 1997
    Assignee: Saint-Gobain Recherche
    Inventors: Bernard Buffat, Francis Defendini, Christian Padoy, Jean-Pierre Beaufays, Jean-Marie Labbe
  • Patent number: 5379146
    Abstract: The present invention has as its subject an electrochromic pane including two glass sheets (1, 2), each coated with a transparent electrically conducting film (3, 4) and separated by an electrode of electrochromic material (5), an electrolyte (6) and a counter-electrode (7). The electrically conducting films (3, 4) are, on the one hand, connected by current supply leads (8, 9) to an electrical supply system generating a potential difference (U.sub.1) according to a desired modification to the coloration of the electrochromic material and, on the other hand, are connected to each other at least at a portion of their periphery by an electrically conducting material (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 3, 1995
    Assignee: Saint-Gobain Vitrage International
    Inventor: Francis Defendini
  • Patent number: 5244557
    Abstract: A method for forming an electrochromic glazing system which comprises means to reduce and preferably eliminate all trapped air from the system so as to avoid the formation of undesirable air bubbles trapped therein. The method comprises coating at least a portion of an inner surface of a first glass support sheet with a transparent electroconductive layer, followed by a layer of an electrochromic material which serves as an electrode. A second glass support sheet is also coated upon its inner aspect with an electroconductive layer, upon which is coated a counterelectrode layer. Thereafter, an electrolyte layer is deposited upon either the electrochromic, i.e., electrode layer, or the counterelectrode layer. The two coated glass support plates thereafter are preassembled, that is, they are oriented one above the other with their uncoated surfaces facing outwardly such that their coated portions are adjacent, but not in contact, with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1993
    Assignee: Saint Gobain Vitrage International
    Inventors: Francis Defendini, Christian Padoy, Jean-Claude Cornut, Doris Schoolmann, Jean-Claude Lassegues
  • Patent number: 5231531
    Abstract: An electrochromatic glazing system is provided. The system comprises a first glass sheet covered with a first transparent electrically conductive film and a second glass sheet covered with a second transparent electrically conductive film. A film of electrochromatic material, an electrolyte, and a counterelectrode are interposed between the first and second transparent electrically conductive films. The first and second electrically conductive films are connected to a voltage generator by an electrical control circuit and the voltage generator receives a set-point value from a control unit equipped with a memory and generates a potential difference as a function of the temperature of the electrolyte.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1993
    Assignee: Saint-Gobain Recherche
    Inventors: Francis Defendini, Francois Lerbet
  • Patent number: 5164855
    Abstract: The invention pertains to an electrochromic system composed of a lithium ionic conductor electrolyte and a counter electrode symmetrical with the principal layer of electrochromic material and composed of a layer of nickel oxide, preferably deposited by reactive cathode sputtering in the presence of hydrogen-bearing plasma. The invention is used in particular for electrochromic windows, which can be used, for example, in automobile tops.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1992
    Assignee: Saint-Gobain Vitrage
    Inventors: Bernard Buffat, Francois Lerbet, Francis Defendini, Christian Padoy
  • Patent number: 4844591
    Abstract: The invention relates to coated glass substrates for obtaining a variable degree of light transmission therethrough. The coated substrate comprises successively, (1) a first transparent support plate, preferably formed of glass, (2) a transparent electroconductive layer, (3) a layer of an electrochromic material, (4) a proton conductive electrolytic layer having an organic polymer base, (4a) an optional counterelectrode layer, (5) a second electroconductive layer and (6) a second transparent support plate. A proton conductive polymer is selected for the electrolyte whose conductivity is greater than or equal to ##EQU1## wherein the layer has a thickness of less than 50 micrometers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1987
    Date of Patent: July 4, 1989
    Assignee: Saint-Gobain Vitrage
    Inventors: Herve Arribart, Christian Padoy, Alain Dugast, Michel Armond, Francis Defendini, Bernard Desbat