Patents by Inventor Michael Pilliod

Michael Pilliod 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).

  • Publication number: 20230065805
    Abstract: A multilayer glass stack for a vehicle windshield with improved durability is described. The multilayer glass stack includes an external-facing glass layer, an internal-facing glass layer, and an adhesive interlayer positioned between the external-facing and internal-facing glass layers. The external-facing glass layer may include borosilicate and/or does not include soda lime glass. Methods of manufacturing the multilayer glass stack are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2022
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Inventors: Rosemary Mottsmith, Michael Pilliod, William S. Sweney, Dante Lamastra, Christos Gougoussis
  • Patent number: 11590829
    Abstract: A glass structure for a vehicle includes an outer layer of glass, an inner layer of glass, and an interlayer stack disposed between opposing surfaces of the outer layer of glass and the inner layer of glass. The interlayer stack includes at least two interlayer substrates and at least one of the interlayer substrates includes a decorative treatment. In another example, the interlayer stack includes at least two interlayer substrates and at least one of the interlayer substrates includes a functional component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventors: William S. Sweney, Mike Laurin, Erin Mathews, Michael Pilliod
  • Patent number: 11569401
    Abstract: A solar panel includes a plurality of photovoltaic cells embedded in a layer of encapsulant. A textured and/or colored layer is positioned on a back side of the layer of encapsulant. The textured and/or colored layer matches a color and/or texture of the plurality of photovoltaic cells. A top layer is positioned on a front side of the layer of encapsulant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Pilliod, Christos Gougoussis, Michael M. Laurin, Scott Tandoi, Javier Verdura, Franz Von Holzhausen, Caroline Park, Radu Muntean, Kate Kuzina, Dante Lamastra
  • Publication number: 20230012646
    Abstract: Automotive glass structures having curves and feature lines and methods for forming the same are provided. An example method includes applying localized heat (e.g., via a laser, heating element) to a location of a substantially planar glass structure and bending the glass structure at that location (e.g., along a line of the planar glass structure) to form a feature line in the glass structure. The bending can be formed to have a radius of curvature of between 2 mm and 5 cm. Additional layers of curved or joined glass layers may further be included to form a curved multi-layer glass structure for automotive use.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2021
    Publication date: January 19, 2023
    Inventors: Christos Gougoussis, William S. Sweney, Rosemary Mottsmith, Michael Pilliod, Gregoire Hamel
  • Patent number: 11511523
    Abstract: A multilayer glass stack for a vehicle windshield with improved durability is described. The multilayer glass stack includes an external-facing glass layer, an internal-facing glass layer, and an adhesive interlayer positioned between the external-facing and internal-facing glass layers. The external-facing glass layer may include borosilicate and/or does not include soda lime glass. Methods of manufacturing the multilayer glass stack are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventors: Rosemary Mottsmith, Michael Pilliod, William S. Sweney, Dante Lamastra, Christos Gougoussis
  • Publication number: 20220127179
    Abstract: Systems and methods for texturing substrates (e.g., glass, metal, and the like) and the textured substrates produced using such systems and methods are disclosed. An exemplary textured substrate includes a surface having a portion with a root-mean-square roughness between 40 to 1000 microns and an autocorrelation function greater than 0.5 for distances less than 50 microns. An exemplary system for texturing a substrate includes a plunger with a textured surface, where a portion of the textured surface has a root-mean-square roughness between 40 to 1000 microns and an autocorrelation function greater than 0.5 for distances less than 50 microns. An exemplary method for texturing a substrate includes the steps of generating a pattern defining a texture, and 3-D printing the pattern on the substrate to form the texture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2022
    Publication date: April 28, 2022
    Inventors: William S. SWENEY, Michael PILLIOD, Christos GOUGOUSSIS
  • Patent number: 11220450
    Abstract: Systems and methods for texturing substrates (e.g., glass, metal, and the like) and the textured substrates produced using such systems and methods are disclosed. An exemplary textured substrate includes a surface having a portion with a root-mean-square roughness between 40 to 1000 microns and an autocorrelation function greater than 0.5 for distances less than 50 microns. An exemplary system for texturing a substrate includes a plunger with a textured surface, where a portion of the textured surface has a root-mean-square roughness between 40 to 1000 microns and an autocorrelation function greater than 0.5 for distances less than 50 microns. An exemplary method for texturing a substrate includes the steps of generating a pattern defining a texture, and 3-D printing the pattern on the substrate to form the texture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventors: William S. Sweney, Michael Pilliod, Christos Gougoussis
  • Publication number: 20210202768
    Abstract: A solar panel includes a plurality of photovoltaic cells embedded in a layer of encapsulant. A textured and/or colored layer is positioned on a back side of the layer of encapsulant. The textured and/or colored layer matches a color and/or texture of the plurality of photovoltaic cells. A top layer is positioned on a front side of the layer of encapsulant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2021
    Publication date: July 1, 2021
    Inventors: Michael PILLIOD, Christos GOUGOUSSIS, Michael M. LAURIN, Scott TANDOI, Javier VERDURA, Franz VON HOLZHAUSEN, Caroline PARK, Radu MUNTEAN, Kate KUZINA, Dante LAMASTRA
  • Publication number: 20210154980
    Abstract: A multilayer glass stack for a vehicle windshield with improved durability is described. The multilayer glass stack includes an external-facing glass layer, an internal-facing glass layer, and an adhesive interlayer positioned between the external-facing and internal-facing glass layers. The external-facing glass layer may include borosilicate and/or does not include soda lime glass. Methods of manufacturing the multilayer glass stack are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2020
    Publication date: May 27, 2021
    Inventors: Rosemary Mottsmith, Michael Pilliod, William S. Sweney, Dante Lamastra, Christos Gougoussis
  • Patent number: 10937915
    Abstract: A solar panel includes a backsheet layer, a bottom encapsulant layer adjacent the backsheet layer, a plurality of photovoltaic cells adjacent the bottom encapsulant layer, a top encapsulant layer adjacent the plurality of photovoltaic cells having a plurality of louvers constructed therein to block side view of the plurality of photovoltaic cells, and a top layer adjacent the top encapsulant layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Pilliod, Christos Gougoussis, Michael M. Laurin, Scott Tandoi, Javier Verdura, Franz Von Holzhausen, Caroline Park, Radu Muntean, Kate Kuzina, Dante Lamastra
  • Publication number: 20200031206
    Abstract: A glass structure for a vehicle includes an outer layer of glass, an inner layer of glass, and an interlayer stack disposed between opposing surfaces of the outer layer of glass and the inner layer of glass. The interlayer stack includes at least two interlayer substrates and at least one of the interlayer substrates includes a decorative treatment. In another example, the interlayer stack includes at least two interlayer substrates and at least one of the interlayer substrates includes a functional component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2019
    Publication date: January 30, 2020
    Applicant: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventors: William S. SWENEY, Mike LAURIN, Erin MATHEWS, Michael PILLIOD
  • Publication number: 20190241455
    Abstract: Systems and methods for texturing substrates (e.g., glass, metal, and the like) and the textured substrates produced using such systems and methods are disclosed. An exemplary textured substrate includes a surface having a portion with a root-mean-square roughness between 40 to 1000 microns and an autocorrelation function greater than 0.5 for distances less than 50 microns. An exemplary system for texturing a substrate includes a plunger with a textured surface, where a portion of the textured surface has a root-mean-square roughness between 40 to 1000 microns and an autocorrelation function greater than 0.5 for distances less than 50 microns. An exemplary method for texturing a substrate includes the steps of generating a pattern defining a texture, and 3-D printing the pattern on the substrate to form the texture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2019
    Publication date: August 8, 2019
    Applicant: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventors: William S. SWENEY, Michael PILLIOD, Christos GOUGOUSSIS
  • Patent number: 10013058
    Abstract: One embodiment of a touch-based user interface may include a haptic feedback layer with one or more actuators configured to supply a haptic feedback. The one or more actuators may be embedded in a nonconductive material. The touch-based user interface may further include a printed circuit board layer underlying the haptic feedback layer. The printed circuit board layer may include one or more conductive traces configured to supply a voltage to the one or more actuators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Paul G. Puskarich, Michael Pilliod
  • Publication number: 20180122973
    Abstract: A solar panel includes a backsheet layer, a bottom encapsulant layer adjacent the backsheet layer, a plurality of photovoltaic cells adjacent the bottom encapsulant layer, a top encapsulant layer adjacent the plurality of photovoltaic cells having a plurality of louvers constructed therein to block side view of the plurality of photovoltaic cells, and a top layer adjacent the top encapsulant layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2017
    Publication date: May 3, 2018
    Applicant: Tesla Motors, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Pilliod, Christos Gougoussis, Oliver Lefevre, Mike Laurin, John Liu
  • Publication number: 20120068957
    Abstract: One embodiment of a touch-based user interface may include a haptic feedback layer with one or more actuators configured to supply a haptic feedback. The one or more actuators may be embedded in a nonconductive material. The touch-based user interface may further include a printed circuit board layer underlying the haptic feedback layer. The printed circuit board layer may include one or more conductive traces configured to supply a voltage to the one or more actuators.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2010
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Paul G. Puskarich, Michael Pilliod
  • Patent number: 7910158
    Abstract: The present invention provides high-throughput systems and methods for the fabrication and evaluation of electrode and electrolyte materials for solid oxide fuel cells. The present invention includes systems and methods for synthesizing and optimizing the performance of electrodes and electrode-electrolyte combinations and utilizes small-scale techniques to perform such optimization based on chemical composition and variable processing. Advantageously, rapid device performance systems and methods coupled with structural and surface systems and methods allow for an increased discovery rate of new materials for solid oxide fuel cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: John Lemmon, Chang Wei, Venkat Venkataramani, James Ruud, Wayne Hasz, Anthony Thompson, Curtis Johnson, Oltea Siclovan, Canan Hardwicke, Stephen Rutkowski, Melvin Jackson, Michael Pilliod
  • Patent number: D872010
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Pilliod, Kevin Fine, Radu Muntean, Javier Verdura, Franz Von Holzhausen
  • Patent number: D884597
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Pilliod, Kevin Fine, Radu Muntean, Javier Verdura, Franz Von Holzhausen
  • Patent number: D913296
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Pilliod, Kevin Fine, Radu Muntean, Javier Verdura, Franz Von Holzhausen
  • Patent number: D915281
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: TESLA, INC.
    Inventors: Michael Pilliod, Kevin Fine, Radu Muntean, Javier Verdura, Franz Von Holzhausen