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: 20250236085
    Abstract: A method for texturing a substrate includes 3-D printing a pattern onto a substrate to form a texture. The pattern 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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2025
    Publication date: July 24, 2025
    Applicant: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventors: William S. SWENEY, Michael PILLIOD, Christos GOUGOUSSIS
  • Patent number: 12343960
    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: September 28, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2025
    Assignee: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventors: Rosemary Mottsmith, Michael Pilliod, William S. Sweney, Dante Lamastra, Christos Gougoussis
  • Patent number: 12233617
    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 system for texturing a substrate includes a first roller and a second roller. The first roller has a first textured surface. The first 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2025
    Assignee: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventors: William S. Sweney, Michael Pilliod, Christos Gougoussis
  • Publication number: 20240051270
    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: September 28, 2023
    Publication date: February 15, 2024
    Inventors: Rosemary Mottsmith, Michael Pilliod, William S. Sweney, Dante Lamastra, Christos Gougoussis
  • Publication number: 20230391657
    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 system for texturing a substrate includes a first roller and a second roller. The first roller has a first textured surface. The first 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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2023
    Publication date: December 7, 2023
    Inventors: William S. SWENEY, Michael PILLIOD, Christos GOUGOUSSIS
  • Patent number: 11806968
    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: October 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventors: Rosemary Mottsmith, Michael Pilliod, William S. Sweney, Dante Lamastra, Christos Gougoussis
  • Patent number: 11773000
    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: January 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventors: William S. Sweney, Michael Pilliod, Christos Gougoussis
  • 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
  • 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