Patents by Inventor Thomas F. Guarr

Thomas F. Guarr 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: 7154657
    Abstract: An electrochromic window assembly is disclosed that includes a first substrate and a second substrate that is maintained in a parallel and spaced relation from the first substrate by means of a window frame and spacer. The window assembly further includes an electrochromic device mounted within the airtight chamber formed between the first and second substrates. Electrochromic device 22 may be mounted so as to provide an air chamber between first substrate 12, which is the external substrate, and electrochromic device 22. At least one of the chambers formed between substrates 12 and 14 and electrochromic device 22 may be filled with an insulating gas such as argon. Also disclosed are novel methods for manufacture of an electrochromic device for incorporation into such a window assembly. A novel electrochromic device is also disclosed having electrical bus clips secured about the entire periphery of the electrochromic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Assignee: Gentex Corporation
    Inventors: David L. Poll, Kevin L. Ash, David A. Theiste, Thomas F. Guarr, William L. Tonar
  • Patent number: 7075697
    Abstract: An electrochromic medium for use in a tristate electrochromic device, comprising: (a) at least one solvent; (b) at least one anodic material; (c) at least one cathodic material, wherein both of the anodic and cathodic materials are electroactive and at least one of the anodic and cathodic materials is electrochromic; (d) wherein, in a first state, the electrochromic medium exhibits a maximum light transmission; (e) wherein, in a second state, variable attenuation occurs to a significant extent in one of visible radiation or near-infrared radiation without significant attenuation in the other; and (f) wherein, in a third state, variable attenuation occurs to a significant extent in the other spectral region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Assignee: Gentex Corporation
    Inventors: Punam Giri, Thomas F. Guarr
  • Patent number: 7046418
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a reversible electrodeposition device comprising: a first substrate having an electrically conductive material associated therewith; a second substrate having an electrically conductive material associated therewith; a nucleation layer at least partially covering at least one of the electrically conductive materials of the first and second substrates; an electrochemical medium contained within a chamber positioned between the first and second substrates which comprises: at least one solvent; an anodic electroactive material; and cathodic electroactive material; and compositions and/or concentrations associated with the electrochemical medium which enhances the electrochemical performance of the electrodeposition device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Assignee: Gentex Corporation
    Inventors: Rongguang Lin, David A. Theiste, Thomas F. Guarr
  • Patent number: 7031043
    Abstract: An electrochromic device comprising: a first substantially transparent substrate having an electrically conductive material associated therewith; a second substrate having an electrically conductive material associated therewith; and an electrochromic medium contained within a chamber positioned between the first and second substrates which comprises: at least one solvent; an anodic material; a cathodic material, wherein both of the anodic and cathodic materials are electroactive and at least one of the anodic and cathodic materials is electrochromic, and wherein at least one of the anodic and cathodic materials is slow-diffusing; and an electron shuttle, wherein the electron shuttle serves to decrease switching time of the electrochromic device relative to the same without the electron shuttle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: Gentex Corporation
    Inventors: Kathy E. Roberts, Rongguang Lin, Kelvin L. Baumann, Thomas F. Guarr, David A. Theiste
  • Patent number: 7031044
    Abstract: An electrochromic medium for use in an electrochromic device comprising: at least one solvent; an anodic electroactive material; a cathodic electroactive material, wherein at least one of the anodic and cathodic electroactive materials is electrochromic; and a current-reducing additive, wherein the current-reducing additive comprises a polymer present in an effective concentration to materially reduce the current of the electrochromic medium upon application of an electrical potential, relative to an electrochromic medium without the current-reducing additive, while maintaining an electrochromic medium viscosity which facilitates acceptable production rates without a problematic degree of seal or other device component failure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: Gentex Corporation
    Inventors: Kathy E. Roberts, Thomas F. Guarr
  • Patent number: 7001540
    Abstract: An electrochromic medium for use in an electrochromic device comprising: at least one solvent; a cathodic electroactive material; an anodic electroactive material; wherein at least one of the cathodic and anodic electroactive materials is electrochromic; and a self-healing cross-linked polymer gel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2006
    Assignee: Gentex Corporation
    Inventors: Leroy J. Kloeppner, Thomas F. Guarr, Kevin L. Ash, Kathy E. Roberts
  • Patent number: 6972888
    Abstract: An electrochromic window assembly is disclosed that includes a first substrate and a second substrate that is maintained in a parallel and spaced relation from the first substrate by means of a window frame and spacer. The window assembly further includes an electrochromic device mounted within the airtight chamber formed between the first and second substrates. Electrochromic device 22 may be mounted so as to provide an air chamber between first substrate 12, which is the external substrate, and electrochromic device 22. At least one of the chambers formed between substrates 12 and 14 and electrochromic device 22 may be filled with an insulating gas such as argon. Also disclosed are novel methods for manufacture of an electrochromic device for incorporation into such a window assembly. A novel electrochromic device is also disclosed having electrical bus clips secured about the entire periphery of the electrochromic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2005
    Assignee: Gentex Corporation
    Inventors: David L. Poll, Kevin L. Ash, David A. Theiste, Thomas F. Guarr, William L. Tonar
  • Patent number: 6876478
    Abstract: An electrochromic medium for use in a normally operating electrochromic device comprising an anodic material and a cathodic material wherein both of the anodic and cathodic materials are electroactive and at least one of the anodic and cathodic materials is electrochromic, an additive, and means associated with the additive for maintaining a colorless or nearly colorless electrochromic medium while the electrochromic medium is in a high transmission state relative to an electrochromic medium without the additive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2005
    Assignee: Gentex Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey R. Lomprey, Thomas F. Guarr
  • Patent number: 6876479
    Abstract: An electrochromic medium for use in a tristate electrochromic device, comprising: (a) at least one solvent; (b) at least one anodic material; (c) at least one cathodic material, wherein both of the anodic and cathodic materials are electroactive and at least one of the anodic and cathodic materials is electrochromic; (d) wherein, in a first state, the electrochromic medium exhibits a maximum light transmission; (e) wherein, in a second state, variable attenuation occurs to a significant extent in one of visible radiation or near-infrared radiation without significant attenuation in the other; and (f) wherein, in a third state, variable attenuation occurs to a significant extent in the other spectral region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2005
    Assignee: Gentex Corporation
    Inventors: Punam Giri, Thomas F. Guarr
  • Patent number: 6876477
    Abstract: An electrochromic device comprising: (a) a first substantially transparent substrate having an electrically conductive material associated therewith; (b) a second substrate having an electrically conductive material associated therewith; (c) an electrochromic medium contained within a chamber positioned between the first and second substrates which comprises: (1) a solvent; (2) a cathodic electroactive material; (3) an anodic electroactive material, wherein at least one of the anodic and cathodic electroactive materials is electrochromic; and (4) a color-stabilizing additive, wherein the color-stabilizing additive is electroactive within a normal operating voltage of the electrochromic device; and (d) means associated with the color-stabilizing additive for maintaining an at least nearly colorless electrochromic device while the electrochromic device is in an open circuit and/or zero potential state relative to the same device without the color-stabilizing additive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2005
    Assignee: Gentex Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey R. Lomprey, Thomas F. Guarr
  • Patent number: 6842276
    Abstract: An electrochromic window assembly is disclosed that includes a first substrate and a second substrate that is maintained in a parallel and spaced relation from the first substrate by means of a window frame and spacer. The window assembly further includes an electrochromic device mounted within the airtight chamber formed between the first and second substrates. Electrochromic device 22 may be mounted so as to provide an air chamber between first substrate 12, which is the external substrate, and electrochromic device 22. At least one of the chambers formed between substrates 12 and 14 and electrochromic device 22 may be filled with an insulating gas such as argon. Also disclosed are novel methods for manufacture of an electrochromic device for incorporation into such a window assembly. A novel electrochromic device is also disclosed having electrical bus clips secured about the entire periphery of the electrochromic device. Also disclosed is the use of steel bus clips for the electrochromic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2005
    Assignee: Gentex Corporation
    Inventors: David L. Poll, Kevin L. Ash, David A. Theiste, Thomas F. Guarr, William L. Tonar
  • Publication number: 20040240028
    Abstract: An electrochromic medium for use in a normally operating electrochromic device comprising an anodic material and a cathodic material wherein both of the anodic and cathodic materials are electroactive and at least one of the anodic and cathodic materials is electrochromic, an additive, and means associated with the additive for maintaining a colorless or nearly colorless electrochromic medium while the electrochromic medium is in a high transmission state relative to an electrochromic medium without the additive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2004
    Publication date: December 2, 2004
    Inventors: Jeffrey R. Lomprey, Thomas F. Guarr
  • Publication number: 20040233500
    Abstract: An electrochromic device comprising: a first substantially transparent substrate having an electrically conductive material associated therewith; a second substrate having an electrically conductive material associated therewith; and an electrochromic medium contained within a chamber positioned between the first and second substrates which comprises: at least one solvent; an anodic material; a cathodic material, wherein both of the anodic and cathodic materials are electroactive and at least one of the anodic and cathodic materials is electrochromic, and wherein at least one of the anodic and cathodic materials is slow-diffusing; and an electron shuttle, wherein the electron shuttle serves to decrease switching time of the electrochromic device relative to the same without the electron shuttle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2004
    Publication date: November 25, 2004
    Inventors: Kathy E. Roberts, Rongguang Lin, Kelvin L. Baumann, Thomas F. Guarr, David A. Theiste
  • Publication number: 20040233501
    Abstract: An electrochromic device comprising: (a) a first substantially transparent substrate having an electrically conductive material associated therewith; (b) a second substrate having an electrically conductive material associated therewith; (c) an electrochromic medium contained within a chamber positioned between the first and second substrates which comprises: (1) a solvent; (2) a cathodic electroactive material; (3) an anodic electroactive material, wherein at least one of the anodic and cathodic electroactive materials is electrochromic; and (4) a color-stabilizing additive, wherein the color-stabilizing additive is electroactive within a normal operating voltage of the electrochromic device; and (d) means associated with the color-stabilizing additive for maintaining an at least nearly colorless electrochromic device while the electrochromic device is in an open circuit and/or zero potential state relative to the same device without the color-stabilizing additive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2004
    Publication date: November 25, 2004
    Inventors: Jeffrey R. Lomprey, Thomas F. Guarr
  • Patent number: 6778311
    Abstract: An electrochromic medium for use in an electrochromic device comprising: at least one solvent; an anodic electroactive material; a cathodic electroactive material, wherein at least one of the anodic and cathodic electroactive materials is electrochromic; and a current-reducing additive, wherein the current-reducing additive comprises a polymer present in an effective concentration to materially reduce the current of the electrochromic medium upon application of an electrical potential, relative to an electrochromic medium without the current-reducing additive, while maintaining an electrochromic medium viscosity which facilitates acceptable production rates without a problematic degree of seal or other device component failure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: Gentex Corporation
    Inventors: Kathy E. Roberts, Thomas F. Guarr
  • Publication number: 20040095631
    Abstract: An electrochromic window assembly is disclosed that includes a first substrate and a second substrate that is maintained in a parallel and spaced relation from the first substrate by means of a window frame and spacer. The window assembly further includes an electrochromic device mounted within the airtight chamber formed between the first and second substrates. Electrochromic device 22 may be mounted so as to provide an air chamber between first substrate 12, which is the external substrate, and electrochromic device 22. At least one of the chambers formed between substrates 12 and 14 and electrochromic device 22 may be filled with an insulating gas such as argon. Also disclosed are novel methods for manufacture of an electrochromic device for incorporation into such a window assembly. A novel electrochromic device is also disclosed having electrical bus clips secured about the entire periphery of the electrochromic device. Also disclosed is the use of steel bus clips for the electrochromic device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2003
    Publication date: May 20, 2004
    Inventors: David L. Poll, Kevin L. Ash, David A. Theiste, Thomas F. Guarr, William L. Tonar
  • Patent number: 6735011
    Abstract: An electrochromic medium for use in a normally operating electrochromic device comprising an anodic material and a cathodic material wherein both of the anodic and cathodic materials are electroactive and at least one of the anodic and cathodic materials is electrochromic, an additive, and means associated with the additive for maintaining a colorless or nearly colorless electrochromic medium while the electrochromic medium is in a high transmission state relative to an electrochromic medium without the additive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Assignee: Gentex Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey R. Lomprey, Thomas F. Guarr
  • Publication number: 20040061097
    Abstract: An electrochromic medium for use in an electrochromic device comprising:
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2003
    Publication date: April 1, 2004
    Inventors: Leroy J. Kloeppner, Thomas F. Guarr, Kevin L. Ash, Kathy E. Roberts
  • Patent number: 6710906
    Abstract: An electrochromic medium for use in an electrochromic device comprising: at least one solvent; an anodic electroactive material; a cathodic electroactive material; wherein at least one of the anodic and cathodic electroactive materials is electrochromic; and wherein at least one of the anodic and cathodic electroactive materials is associated with a diffusion coefficient controlling moiety which serves to lower the diffusion coefficient of the associated material relative to the same without the diffusion coefficient controlling moiety.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: Gentex Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas F. Guarr, Kathy E. Roberts, Rongguang Lin, Kelvin L. Baumann, David A. Theiste, Punam Giri, Elizabeth M. Sanford
  • Patent number: 6700693
    Abstract: An electrochromic device comprising: a first substantially transparent substrate having an electrically conductive material associated therewith; a second substrate having an electrically conductive material associated therewith; and an electrochromic medium contained within a chamber positioned between the first and second substrates which comprises: at least one solvent; an anodic material; a cathodic material, wherein both of the anodic and cathodic materials are electroactive and at least one of the anodic and cathodic materials is electrochromic, and wherein at least one of the anodic and cathodic materials is slow-diffusing; and an electron shuttle, wherein the electron shuttle serves to decrease switching time of the electrochromic device relative to the same without the electron shuttle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: Gentex Corporation
    Inventors: Kathy E. Roberts, Rongguang Lin, Kelvin L. Baumann, Thomas F. Guarr, David A. Theiste