Patents by Inventor Kelvin L. Baumann

Kelvin L. Baumann 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: 11709407
    Abstract: An electro-active device is disclosed that may comprise a buffer immobilized on one or more films. The electro-active device may comprise a first substrate, a second substrate, a first electrode, and a second electrode. The first and second substrates may be disposed in a spaced apart relationship. Further, the first electrode may be associated with the first substrate and the second electrode may be associated with the second substrate. Additionally, a cathodic film may be associated with one electrode and an anodic film may be associated with the other electrode. The anodic film may comprise an anodic compound immobilized thereon and the cathodic film likewise may comprise a cathodic compound immobilized thereon. Further, a buffer component may be immobilized on the cathodic film and/or the anodic film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: GENTEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Steven D. Looman, Kelvin L. Baumann, Sue F. Franz
  • Patent number: 11194210
    Abstract: An electrochromic device includes a chamber defined by a first conductive surface of a first substrate, a second conductive surface of a second substrate, and a sealing member joining the first substrate to the second substrate; an electrochromic medium containing a blue cathodic electroactive compound and up to three anodic electroactive compounds; wherein the electrochromic medium is disposed within the chamber; the anodic electroactive compounds include a green anodic electroactive compound and one or two gray anodic electroactive compounds; and the anodic electroactive compounds include from about 8 mol % to about 15 mol % gray anodic electroactive compounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: GENTEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kevin L. Ash, Kelvin L. Baumann
  • Publication number: 20210255517
    Abstract: An electro-active device is disclosed that may comprise a buffer immobilized on one or more films. The electro-active device may comprise a first substrate, a second substrate, a first electrode, and a second electrode. The first and second substrates may be disposed in a spaced apart relationship. Further, the first electrode may be associated with the first substrate and the second electrode may be associated with the second substrate. Additionally, a cathodic film may be associated with one electrode and an anodic film may be associated with the other electrode. The anodic film may comprise an anodic compound immobilized thereon and the cathodic film likewise may comprise a cathodic compound immobilized thereon. Further, a buffer component may be immobilized on the cathodic film and/or the anodic film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2021
    Publication date: August 19, 2021
    Applicant: GENTEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Steven D. Looman, Kelvin L. Baumann, Sue F. Franz
  • Patent number: 10866479
    Abstract: An electrochromic device includes an electrochromic medium including a cathodic component, an anodic component, a hydroquinone, and a solvent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: GENTEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sue F. Franz, Kelvin L. Baumann, Adam R. Heintzelman
  • Patent number: 10781364
    Abstract: An electrochromic medium includes a solvent, a first pair of a first anodic material and a first cathodic material, and at least one of a second anodic material and a second cathodic material. At least one of the first anodic material and the first cathodic material is an electrochromic absorbing in the visible range, and at least one of the second anodic material and the second cathodic material is electrochromic absorbing in the visible range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: GENTEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sue F. Franz, Kelvin L. Baumann
  • Patent number: 10774198
    Abstract: An electrochromic thermoplastic composition includes about 10 wt % to about 60 wt % a poly(vinyl alcohol), a poly(acrylic acid), a poly(acrylic acid) salt, a polyaniline salt, a poly(diallyl dimethyl ammonium chloride), a poly(ethylene-co-acrylic acid), a co-polymer of any two or more thereof, or a mixture of any two or more thereof; about 40 wt % to about 90 wt % of a protic solvent; and at least one electroactive material; wherein the composition does not include lithium chloride, tetrabutylammonium bromide, lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide, lithium triflate, and lithium hexafluorophosphate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: GENTEX CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kelvin L. Baumann
  • Patent number: 10539853
    Abstract: An electrochromic device includes a flexible plastic substrate including a front surface, and a rear surface, wherein the rear surface comprises a first conductive material; and a rigid plastic substrate including a front surface, and a rear surface, wherein the front surface comprises a second conductive material, wherein the first substrate is joined to the second substrate by a sealing member, wherein the rear surface of the first substrate and the front surface of the second substrate with the sealing member define a chamber therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: GENTEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Leroy J. Kloeppner, William L. Tonar, Gary J. Dozeman, Kelvin L. Baumann, Mario F. Saenger Nayver, Zachary J. Petroelje, Garret Denolf
  • Patent number: 10464900
    Abstract: An electrochromic device includes an electrochromic compound with reduced intermolecular interactions resulting in uncontrolled color changes, the electrochromic represented by Formula (I):
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: GENTEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Rongguang Lin, Kelvin L. Baumann, Punam Giri, Joel C. Nemes, Leroy J. Kloeppner, David A. Theiste
  • Patent number: 10466562
    Abstract: Protic-soluble electrochromic materials, ion-paired electrochromic materials including protic-soluble electrochromic materials, as well as electrochromic media and electrochromic devices incorporating such materials, are provided. The use of protic solvent mixtures, especially mixtures incorporating water, allows for the use of a wider variety of substrate materials. For example, plastics that may be soluble in organic aprotic solvent systems may be used in water-based devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: GENTEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kelvin L. Baumann, Rongguang Lin, Punam Giri, Sue F. Franz
  • Publication number: 20190258126
    Abstract: An electrochromic device includes a chamber defined by a first conductive surface of a first substrate, a second conductive surface of a second substrate, and a sealing member joining the first substrate to the second substrate; an electrochromic medium containing a blue cathodic electroactive compound and up to three anodic electroactive compounds; wherein the electrochromic medium is disposed within the chamber; the anodic electroactive compounds include a green anodic electroactive compound and one or two gray anodic electroactive compounds; and the anodic electroactive compounds include from about 8 mol % to about 15 mol % gray anodic electroactive compounds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2019
    Publication date: August 22, 2019
    Inventors: Kevin L. Ash, Kelvin L. Baumann
  • Patent number: 10324350
    Abstract: An electrochromic device includes a chamber defined by a first conductive surface of a first substrate, a second conductive surface of a second substrate, and a sealing member joining the first substrate to the second substrate; an electrochromic medium containing a blue cathodic electroactive compound and up to three anodic electroactive compounds; wherein the electrochromic medium is disposed within the chamber; the anodic electroactive compounds include a green anodic electroactive compound and one or two gray anodic electroactive compounds; and the anodic electroactive compounds include from about 8 mol % to about 15 mol % gray anodic electroactive compounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: GENTEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kevin L. Ash, Kelvin L. Baumann
  • Publication number: 20190086759
    Abstract: An electrochromic device includes an electrochromic medium including a cathodic component, an anodic component, a hydroquinone, and a solvent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2018
    Publication date: March 21, 2019
    Inventors: Sue F. Franz, Kelvin L. Baumann, Adam R. Heintzelman
  • Publication number: 20180346421
    Abstract: An electrochromic device includes an electrochromic compound with reduced intermolecular interactions resulting in uncontrolled color changes, the electrochromic represented by Formula (I):
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2018
    Publication date: December 6, 2018
    Inventors: Rongguang LIN, Kelvin L. BAUMANN, Punam GIRI, Joel C. NEMES, Leroy J. KLOEPPNER, David A. THEISTE
  • Publication number: 20180224706
    Abstract: Protic-soluble electrochromic materials, ion-paired electrochromic materials including protic-soluble electrochromic materials, as well as electrochromic media and electrochromic devices incorporating such materials, are provided. The use of protic solvent mixtures, especially mixtures incorporating water, allows for the use of a wider variety of substrate materials. For example, plastics that may be soluble in organic aprotic solvent systems may be used in water-based devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2018
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Applicant: Gentex Corporation
    Inventors: Kelvin L. BAUMANN, Rongguang LIN, Punam GIRI, Sue F. FRANZ
  • Patent number: 10040763
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electrochromic device and uses thereof, wherein the electrochromic device includes an electrochromic compound with reduced intermolecular interactions resulting in uncontrolled color changes represented by Formula (I):
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: GENTEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Rongguang Lin, Kelvin L. Baumann, Punam Giri, Joel C. Nemes, Leroy J. Kloeppner, David A. Theiste
  • Publication number: 20180112127
    Abstract: An electrochromic medium includes a solvent, a first pair of a first anodic material and a first cathodic material, and at least one of a second anodic material and a second cathodic material. At least one of the first anodic material and the first cathodic material is an electrochromic absorbing in the visible range, and at least one of the second anodic material and the second cathodic material is electrochromic absorbing in the visible range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2017
    Publication date: April 26, 2018
    Inventors: Sue F. FRANZ, Kelvin L. BAUMANN
  • Patent number: 9939701
    Abstract: Protic-soluble electrochromic materials, ion-paired electrochromic materials including protic-soluble electrochromic materials, as well as electrochromic media and electrochromic devices incorporating such materials, are provided. The use of protic solvent mixtures, especially mixtures incorporating water, allows for the use of a wider variety of substrate materials. For example, plastics that may be soluble in organic aprotic solvent systems may be used in water-based devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: GENTEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kelvin L. Baumann, Rongguang Lin, Punam Giri, Sue Franz
  • Publication number: 20180095338
    Abstract: An electrochromic device includes a chamber defined by a first conductive surface of a first substrate, a second conductive surface of a second substrate, and a sealing member joining the first substrate to the second substrate; an electrochromic medium containing a blue cathodic electroactive compound and up to three anodic electroactive compounds; wherein the electrochromic medium is disposed within the chamber; the anodic electroactive compounds include a green anodic electroactive compound and one or two gray anodic electroactive compounds; and the anodic electroactive compounds include from about 8 mol % to about 15 mol % gray anodic electroactive compounds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2017
    Publication date: April 5, 2018
    Inventors: Kevin L. ASH, Kelvin L. BAUMANN
  • Publication number: 20180039148
    Abstract: An electrochromic device includes a chamber defined by a substantially transparent first substrate, a second substrate, and a sealing member; wherein: the first substrate comprises a first surface, and a second surface comprising a first substantially transparent, electrically conductive coating and disposed opposite to the first surface; the second substrate comprising a first surface comprising a second substantially transparent, electrically conductive coating, and a second surface disposed opposite to the first surface; the second surface of the first substrate and the first surface of the second substrate being located proximally to each other and having a substantially uniform spacing of distance, d, between them; and 0 ?m<d?65 ?m; an electrochromic medium comprising a cathodic component, an anodic component, and a solvent; and insoluble spacing objects within the chamber, the insoluble spacing objects having a largest dimension that is greater than 0, but less than or equal to d.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2017
    Publication date: February 8, 2018
    Inventors: Sue F. Franz, Kelvin L. Baumann, Adam R. Heintzelman
  • Publication number: 20170357136
    Abstract: An electrochromic device includes a flexible plastic substrate including a front surface, and a rear surface, wherein the rear surface comprises a first conductive material; and a rigid plastic substrate including a front surface, and a rear surface, wherein the front surface comprises a second conductive material, wherein the first substrate is joined to the second substrate by a sealing member, wherein the rear surface of the first substrate and the front surface of the second substrate with the sealing member define a chamber therebetween.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2017
    Publication date: December 14, 2017
    Inventors: Leroy J. KLOEPPNER, William L. TONAR, Gary J. DOZEMAN, Kelvin L. BAUMANN, Mario F. SAENGER NAYVER, Zachary J. PETROELJE, Garret DENOLF