Patents by Inventor Zachary B. Erno

Zachary B. Erno 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: 11414594
    Abstract: A low dimerizing electrochromic compound for use in electrochromic mediums and electro-optic elements incorporating said electrochromic mediums is provided. The low dimerizing electrochromic compound is represented by Formula (I): wherein each R1 is individually an alkyl, a hydroxyalkyl, or an alkyl substituted with at least one polymerizable functional group; each R2 is a hydrogen; each R3 is individually a hydrogen or an alkyl; and each R4 is individually a hydrogen, an alkyl, or a hydroxyalkyl; and X? is an anion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: GENTEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Leroy J. Kloeppner, Zachary B. Erno, Henry A. Luten
  • Patent number: 11414595
    Abstract: An electro-optic element includes a first substrate defining first and second surfaces and a second substrate defining third and fourth surfaces. A first electrically conductive layer is disposed on the second surface and a second electrically conductive layer is disposed on the third surface. An electrochromic medium is disposed in a cavity between the first and second substrates, the electrochromic medium including an anodic component and a cathodic component. At least the anodic component is configured to reversibly attenuate transmittance of light having a wavelength within a predetermined wavelength range when in an electrochemically activated state. The anodic component includes a substituted ketal phenazine compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: GENTEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Zachary B. Erno, Punam Giri
  • Patent number: 11231632
    Abstract: An electrochromic medium for use in an electro-optic device comprises a solvent comprising at least one low-volatile organic electrolyte solvent based on a cyclic carbonate ester; an anodic electroactive material; and a cathodic electroactive material; and at least one of the anodic and cathodic electroactive materials is electrochromic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: GENTEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Leroy J. Kloeppner, Zachary B. Erno, Steven D. Looman, Michael T. Stephenson, Michelle M. Carroll
  • Publication number: 20210318584
    Abstract: An electro-optic element includes a first substrate defining first and second surfaces and a second substrate defining third and fourth surfaces. A first electrically conductive layer is disposed on the second surface and a second electrically conductive layer is disposed on the third surface. An electrochromic medium is disposed in a cavity between the first and second substrates, the electrochromic medium including an anodic component and a cathodic component. At least the anodic component is configured to reversibly attenuate transmittance of light having a wavelength within a predetermined wavelength range when in an electrochemically activated state. The anodic component includes a substituted ketal phenazine compound.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2020
    Publication date: October 14, 2021
    Inventors: Zachary B. Erno, Punam Giri
  • Patent number: 11092867
    Abstract: An optical assembly is provided that includes an electro-optic element that is configured to transition between a substantially clear state and a substantially darkened state. The electro-optic element can include an electrochromic polymer or network film that is substantially aligned with light having a predetermined polarization such that the electro-optic element is variably transmissive to the polarized light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: GENTEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Leroy J. Kloeppner, Henry A. Luten, William L. Tonar, Zachary B. Erno
  • Patent number: 11067867
    Abstract: The electrochromic device includes a first substantially transparent substrate coupled to a first transparent electrode, a second substrate coupled to a second electrode, and an electrochromic medium. The electrochromic medium includes at least one solvent and/or an electrolyte gel, at least one cathodic material, and at least one anodic material. The cathodic material can be a cathodic organic framework electroactive material and/or the anodic material can be an anodic organic framework electroactive material. At least one of the anodic and cathodic organic framework electroactive materials is electrochromic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: GENTEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Zachary B. Erno, Sue F. Franz, Leroy J. Kloeppner, Steven D. Looman
  • Patent number: 10903496
    Abstract: Provided herein are systems and devices comprising rigid macrocyclic and nanoporous compositions of electronically coupled naphthalenediimide redox-active units and methods of preparation and use thereof, for example, in the field of energy generation and storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignees: Northwestern University, KING ABDULAZIZ CITY FOR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Dongyang Chen, Alyssa-Jennifer Avestro, Junling Sun, Zachary B. Erno, J. Fraser Stoddart
  • Publication number: 20200379309
    Abstract: An electro-optic element includes a first substrate defining first and second surfaces and a second substrate defining third and fourth surfaces. A first electrically conductive layer is disposed on the second surface and a second electrically conductive layer is disposed on the third surface. An electrochromic medium is disposed in a cavity between the first and second substrates, the electrochromic medium including an anodic component and a cathodic component. At least the anodic component is configured to reversibly attenuate transmittance of light having a wavelength within a predetermined wavelength range when in an electrochemically activated state. The anodic component includes a substituted ketal phenazine compound.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2020
    Publication date: December 3, 2020
    Inventors: Zachary B. Erno, Punam Giri
  • Publication number: 20200326602
    Abstract: A low dimerizing electrochromic compound for use in electrochromic mediums and electro-optic elements incorporating said electrochromic mediums is provided. The low dimerizing electrochromic compound is represented by Formula (I): wherein each R1 is individually an alkyl, a hydroxyalkyl, or an alkyl substituted with at least one polymerizable functional group; each R2 is a hydrogen; each R3 is individually a hydrogen or an alkyl; and each R4 is individually a hydrogen, an alkyl, or a hydroxyalkyl; and X? is an anion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2020
    Publication date: October 15, 2020
    Inventors: Leroy J. Kloeppner, Zachary B. Erno, Henry A. Luten
  • Patent number: 10774191
    Abstract: An electrochromic device includes a cathodic compartment including a cathodic material; an anodic compartment including an anodic material; and a transparent, ion-selective membrane displaced between the cathodic compartment and the anodic compartment wherein the transparent, ion-selective membrane is a cationic polymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: GENTEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Zachary B. Erno, Leroy J. Kloeppner, Sue F. Franz, Joel C. Nemes, Garret C. Denolf, Nathan P. Boogaart
  • Publication number: 20200192173
    Abstract: An electrochromic medium for use in an electro-optic device comprises a solvent comprising at least one low-volatile organic electrolyte solvent based on a cyclic carbonate ester; an anodic electroactive material; and a cathodic electroactive material; and at least one of the anodic and cathodic electroactive materials is electrochromic.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2018
    Publication date: June 18, 2020
    Applicant: GENTEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Leroy J. Kloeppner, Zachary B. Erno, Steven D. Looman, Michael T. Stephenson, Michelle M. Carroll
  • Publication number: 20190204702
    Abstract: An optical assembly is provided that includes an electro-optic element that is configured to transition between a substantially clear state and a substantially darkened state. The electro-optic element can include an electrochromic polymer or network film that is substantially aligned with light having a predetermined polarization such that the electro-optic element is variably transmissive to the polarized light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2018
    Publication date: July 4, 2019
    Inventors: Leroy J. Kloeppner, Henry A. Luten, William L. Tonar, Zachary B. Erno
  • Publication number: 20190048159
    Abstract: An electrochromic device includes a cathodic compartment including a cathodic material; an anodic compartment including an anodic material; and a transparent, ion-selective membrane displaced between the cathodic compartment and the anodic compartment wherein the transparent, ion-selective membrane is a cationic polymer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2018
    Publication date: February 14, 2019
    Inventors: Zachary B. ERNO, Leroy J. KLOEPPNER, Sue F. FRANZ, Joel C. NEMES, Garret C. DENOLF, Nathan P. BOOGAART
  • Publication number: 20180321565
    Abstract: The electrochromic device includes a first substantially transparent substrate coupled to a first transparent electrode, a second substrate coupled to a second electrode, and an electrochromic medium. The electrochromic medium includes at least one solvent and/or an electrolyte gel, at least one cathodic material, and at least one anodic material. The cathodic material can be a cathodic organic framework electroactive material and/or the anodic material can be an anodic organic framework electroactive material. At least one of the anodic and cathodic organic framework electroactive materials is electrochromic.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2018
    Publication date: November 8, 2018
    Applicant: Gentex Corporation
    Inventors: Zachary B. Erno, Sue F. Franz, Leroy J. Kloeppner, Steven D. Looman
  • Publication number: 20160276669
    Abstract: Provided herein are systems and devices comprising rigid macrocyclic and nanoporous compositions of electronically coupled naphthalenediimide redox-active units and methods of preparation and use thereof, for example, in the field of energy generation and storage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2016
    Publication date: September 22, 2016
    Inventors: Dongyang Chen, Alyssa-Jennifer Avestro, Junling Sun, Zachary B. Erno, J. Fraser Stoddart