Patents by Inventor Kevin R. Fulton

Kevin R. Fulton 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: 10590031
    Abstract: An ellipsometry system detects and/or identifies significant corrosion on glass, such as on soda-lime-silica based float glass. In certain example embodiments, there is provided a method and/or system using ellipsometry to detect and/or identify significant corrosion on soda-lime-silica based glass, so that such significantly corroded glass can be identified and not coated with a low-E coating and/or not used in applications where optical appearance is important. The ellipsometry system may be part of, or used in connection with, a sputtering apparatus/system for sputter-depositing low-E coatings on glass, so that whether to pass a piece of glass to the sputtering apparatus/system is based on whether significant corrosion is detected on the glass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: GUARDIAN GLASS, LLC
    Inventors: Ali Mohammadkhah, Shuang Ji, Jay Riggins, Kevin R. Fulton
  • Publication number: 20190345057
    Abstract: An ellipsometry system detects and/or identifies significant corrosion on glass, such as on soda-lime-silica based float glass. In certain example embodiments, there is provided a method and/or system using ellipsometry to detect and/or identify significant corrosion on soda-lime-silica based glass, so that such significantly corroded glass can be identified and not coated with a low-E coating and/or not used in applications where optical appearance is important. The ellipsometry system may be part of, or used in connection with, a sputtering apparatus/system for sputter-depositing low-E coatings on glass, so that whether to pass a piece of glass to the sputtering apparatus/system is based on whether significant corrosion is detected on the glass.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2018
    Publication date: November 14, 2019
    Inventors: Ali MOHAMMADKHAH, Shuang JI, Jay RIGGINS, Kevin R. FULTON
  • Patent number: 9630873
    Abstract: Float glass compositions adapted for chemical strengthening, and methods of making the same. Certain example embodiments of this invention relate to such a glass composition having improved ion-exchanged, surface durability, and/or mechanical properties for use in applications where higher strength and improved durability of the glass are desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: Guardian Industries Corp.
    Inventors: Kevin R. Fulton, Kirk McMenamin, Glenn A. Cerny, Zhaoyu Wang, Samuel Olson
  • Publication number: 20160272533
    Abstract: Float glass compositions adapted for chemical strengthening, and methods of making the same. Certain example embodiments of this invention relate to such a glass composition having improved ion-exchanged, surface durability, and/or mechanical properties for use in applications where higher strength and improved durability of the glass are desired.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2015
    Publication date: September 22, 2016
    Inventors: Kevin R. FULTON, Kirk McMENAMIN, Glenn A. CERNY, Zhaoyu WANG, Samuel OLSON
  • Patent number: 8671717
    Abstract: A high transmission and low iron glass is provided for use in a photovoltaic device such as a solar cell. The glass substrate may be patterned on at least one surface thereof. In certain example embodiments, a combination of lithium oxide, antimony oxide, and salt cake is used in the glass to improve the refining conditions by lowering the melting temperature of the batch, thereby resulting in a quicker seed free time in the manufacturing process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Guardian Industries Corp.
    Inventors: Kevin R. Fulton, Richard Hulme, Scott V. Thomsen
  • Patent number: 8298972
    Abstract: This invention relates to a high transmission low iron glass that includes boron oxide. The boron oxide, added to this low iron glass, has the effect of improving glass refining, homogeneity and quality (lower seed count) through its flux action and improves glass optical parameters of green and clear glass through the change in refractive index and surface tension. Boron oxide lends to broader and weaker absorption band of such transition element(s) as iron which additionally improves the transmittance of low iron clear glass in certain example embodiments of this invention. In certain example embodiments, the addition of boron oxide in certain quantities in advantageous in that it improves the chemical durability of the glass by decreasing the USPX (or USPXIII) value of the glass via suppression of the silica, sodium ions in the glass structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignees: Guardian Industries Corp., Phoenicia America-Israel (Flat Glass) Ltd.
    Inventors: Kevin R. Fulton, Abraham W. Michaelis, Mario Resch, David Bird, Richard Hulme, Scott V. Thomsen
  • Publication number: 20110275506
    Abstract: This invention relates to a high transmission low iron glass that includes boron oxide. The boron oxide, added to this low iron glass, has the effect of improving glass refining, homogeneity and quality (lower seed count) through its flux action and improves glass optical parameters of green and clear glass through the change in refractive index and surface tension. Boron oxide lends to broader and weaker absorption band of such transition element(s) as iron which additionally improves the transmittance of low iron clear glass in certain example embodiments of this invention. In certain example embodiments, the addition of boron oxide in certain quantities in advantageous in that it improves the chemical durability of the glass by decreasing the USPX (or USPXIII) value of the glass via suppression of the silica, sodium ions in the glass structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2011
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Applicants: Phoenicia America-Israel (Flat Glass) Ltd., Guardian Industries Corp.
    Inventors: Kevin R. Fulton, Abraham W. Michaelis, Mario Resch, David Bird, Richard Hulme, Scott V. Thomsen
  • Publication number: 20100255980
    Abstract: This invention relates to a high transmission low iron glass that includes boron oxide. The boron oxide, added to this low iron glass, has the effect of improving glass refining, homogeneity and quality (lower seed count) through its flux action and improves glass optical parameters of green and clear glass through the change in refractive index and surface tension. Boron oxide lends to broader and weaker absorption band of such transition element(s) as iron which additionally improves the transmittance of low iron clear glass in certain example embodiments of this invention. In certain example embodiments, the addition of boron oxide in certain quantities in advantageous in that it improves the chemical durability of the glass by decreasing the USPX (or USPXIII) value of the glass via suppression of the silica, sodium ions in the glass structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2009
    Publication date: October 7, 2010
    Applicants: Guardian Industires Corp., Phoenicia America-Israel (Flat Glass) Ltd.
    Inventors: Kevin R. Fulton, Abraham W. Michaelis, Mario Resch, David Bird, Richard Hulme, Scott V. Thomsen
  • Publication number: 20100180939
    Abstract: Certain example embodiments of this invention relate to optical coatings including magnesium fluoride and/or organosilane based coatings, which may be disposed on textured or un-textured substrates (e.g., glass substrates). Surprisingly and unexpectedly, the magnesium fluoride coatings are temperable, while the organosilane based coatings are low temperature heat treatable. Additionally, surprisingly and unexpectedly, such coatings on textured and un-textured glass surfaces result in superior transmission increases.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2009
    Publication date: July 22, 2010
    Inventors: Pramod K. Sharma, John A. Vanderploeg, Kevin R. Fulton
  • Publication number: 20100122728
    Abstract: A high transmission low iron glass includes antimony, has reduced total alkali content, and increased silica content, and is suitable for use in photovoltaic devices (e.g., solar cells) or the like. A method of making the glass is also provided. In certain example embodiments, the glass composition may be made on a pattern line with a highly positive batch redox.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2008
    Publication date: May 20, 2010
    Inventors: Kevin R. Fulton, Richard Hulme, Scott V. Thomsen
  • Publication number: 20090223252
    Abstract: A high transmission and low iron glass is provided for use in a photovoltaic device such as a solar cell. The glass substrate may be patterned on at least one surface thereof. In certain example embodiments, a combination of lithium oxide, antimony oxide, and salt cake is used in the glass to improve the refining conditions by lowering the melting temperature of the batch, thereby resulting in a quicker seed free time in the manufacturing process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2008
    Publication date: September 10, 2009
    Applicant: Guardian Industries Corp.
    Inventors: Kevin R. Fulton, Richard Hulme, Scott V. Thomsen