Patents by Inventor Timothy P. Hoepfner

Timothy P. Hoepfner 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: 9272371
    Abstract: A solder joint is disposed on an electrical conductor which comprises silver. The solder joint comprises bismuth and tin. The solder joint has a microstructure comprising a bismuth-rich solder bulk and a silver-solder reaction zone. The bismuth-rich solder bulk is disposed adjacent to the silver-solder reaction zone. The solder joint comprises a plurality of bismuth-rich grains formed from bismuth and substantially dispersed throughout at least the bismuth-rich solder bulk of the solder joint. A window pane comprising the solder joint is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignees: AGC AUTOMOTIVE AMERICAS R&D, INC., AGC FLAT GLASS NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Timothy P. Hoepfner
  • Publication number: 20140353015
    Abstract: A solder joint is disposed on an electrical conductor which comprises silver. The solder joint comprises bismuth and tin. The solder joint has a microstructure comprising a bismuth-rich solder bulk and a silver-solder reaction zone. The bismuth-rich solder bulk is disposed adjacent to the silver-solder reaction zone. The solder joint comprises a plurality of bismuth-rich grains formed from bismuth and substantially dispersed throughout at least the bismuth-rich solder bulk of the solder joint. A window pane comprising the solder joint is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2013
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Inventor: Timothy P. Hoepfner
  • Patent number: 7223939
    Abstract: A window pane has a substrate formed from glass and includes an electrical device. The electrical device includes an electrical conductor. An electrical connector is operatively connected to and in electrical communication with the conductor for transferring electrical energy to the conductor. The substrate has a first coefficient of expansion and the connector has a second coefficient of thermal expansion. A difference between the first and second coefficients of thermal expansion is equal to or less than 5×10?6/° C. for minimizing mechanical stress between the connector and the substrate due to thermal expansion of the connector and the substrate resulting from changes in temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    Assignee: AGC Automotive Americas, R & D, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy P. Hoepfner, Mark S. Ackerman, Makoto Sato
  • Patent number: 7134201
    Abstract: A method of bonding a connector to an electrical conductor. The conductor is applied to a glass substrate and the connector is placed over the conductor. An ultrasonic welding apparatus is used to oscillate the connector relative to the conductor to bond the connector to the conductor while maintaining the temperatures of the connector and conductor below the predefined melting points and without damaging the glass substrate. In addition, an electrically conductive foil can be disposed between the connector and the conductor for ensuring electrical communication between the connector and the conductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2006
    Assignee: AGC Automotive Americas R&D, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark S. Ackerman, Timothy P. Hoepfner