Transparent Base Patents (Class 427/164)
  • Patent number: 6759097
    Abstract: Methods and devices for producing images on coated articles are provided. The methods generally comprise applying a layer of magnetizable pigment coating in liquid form on a substrate, with the magnetizable pigment coating containing a plurality of magnetic non-spherical particles or flakes. A magnetic field is then applied to selected regions of the pigment coating while the coating is in liquid form, with the magnetic field altering the orientation of selected magnetic particles or flakes. Finally, the pigment coating is solidified, affixing the reoriented particles or flakes in a non-parallel position to the surface of the pigment coating to produce an image such as a three dimensional-like image on the surface of the coating. The pigment coating can contain various interference or non-interference magnetic particles or flakes, such as magnetic color shifting pigments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2004
    Assignee: Flex Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Roger W. Phillips, Charlotte R. LeGallee, Charles T. Markantes, Paul G. Coombs, Matthew R. Witzman
  • Patent number: 6756137
    Abstract: A vapor-deposition material for the production of high-refractive-index optical layers of titanium oxide, titanium and lanthanum oxide under reduced pressure comprising a sintered mixture having the composition TiOx+z*La2O3, where x=1.5 to 1.8 and z=10 to 65% by weight, based on the total weight of the mixture. The constituents of the mixture are in the range of 10 to 65% by weight of lanthanum oxide, 38 to 74% by weight of titanium oxide and 2 to 7% by weight of titanium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2004
    Assignee: Merck Patent GmbH
    Inventors: Uwe Anthes, Martin Friz
  • Publication number: 20040115443
    Abstract: Transparent articles comprising transparent, nonmetallic substrate and a transparent film stack is sputter deposited on the substrate. The film stack is characterized by including at least one infrared reflective metal film, a dielectric film over the metal film, and a protective silicon nitride film of 10 Å to 150 Å in thickness over the said dielectric film. The dielectric film desirably has substantially the same index of refraction as does silicon nitride and is contiguous with the silicon nitride film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2003
    Publication date: June 17, 2004
    Applicant: Cardinal CG Company
    Inventors: Robert Bond, Roger P. Stanek, Wayne Hoffman
  • Patent number: 6746770
    Abstract: Electrically conductive and abrasion resistant polymeric compositions, methods of fabrication thereof and uses thereof are described. Admixtures of abrasion resistant materials and electrically conductive polymeric materials are formed. Many of these admixtures arc light transmitting and can be used as an abrasion resistant light transmitting electrostatic discharge layers. The light transmitting discharge layer is useful as a surface coating for visual displays such as CRT screens to avoid electrostatic accumulation of dust and scratching.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2004
    Assignee: Internatonal Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Ali Afzali-Ardakani, Marie Angelopoulos, Jack Alvin Dickerson, Thomas Baird Pillsbury, Karl Joseph Puttlitz, Jane Margaret Shaw, Jeffrey Donald Gelorme
  • Patent number: 6743486
    Abstract: Production information such as an edging mark 31 indicating a region of a lens remaining after edging and reference position marks 32 are depicted in a region, to be cut off by the edging, of a surface of a lens 10 for spectacles. Any production information does not remain on the finished lens 10 after the edging. A lens processing system 100 includes a reference position detecting apparatus (120 and 130) for detecting a reference position of a spectacle lens, and a marking apparatus (170, 160, 150 and 110) for depicting production information of the lens on a specific surface of the spectacle lens on the basis of the reference position information obtained by the reference position detecting apparatus (120 and 130).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Makoto Miyazawa
  • Patent number: 6736920
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing an electric lamp, in particular the application of an optical shield (5) to a cylindrical part of the lamp vessel (2). According to the invention, the optical shield (5) is applied to the lamp vessel (2) with the aid of at least two prefabricated opaque wax films (5a, 5b) which are provided with a colored layer and are joined in such a way that the width of the transparent window can be set independently of tolerances of the diameter of the lamp vessel (2). The wax of the films (5a, 5b) is vaporized by a heat treatment such that only the heat resistant colored layer remains on the lamp vessel (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignee: Patent-Treuhand-Gesellschaft fur elektrische Gluhlampen mbH
    Inventor: Uwe Kantim
  • Patent number: 6737105
    Abstract: A multi-layer coating for a transparent substrate, such as glass, plastic, or other transparent material, which increases the durability and weatherability of the substrate. The coating includes a surface-hardening layer of organo-siloxane formed over the substrate. An abrasion-resistant coating comprising a multi-layer stack of alternating layers of silicon dioxide and zirconium dioxide is formed over the surface-hardening layer. The multi-layer coating further includes a hydrophobic outer layer of perfluoroalkylsilane formed over the abrasion-resistant coating to form an outer moisture-resistant surface. This multi-layer coating configuration increases the abrasion resistance and mechanical strength of the transparent substrate on which it is formed without imparting color to the transparent substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignee: VTEC Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: David A. Richard
  • Patent number: 6730459
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a microlens array having a flat surface by a simple process, a microlens array fabricated, thereby and an optical device. The method for fabricating the microlens array includes a first step of bringing a lens side of a microlens array substrate 10 having a plurality of lenses 12 formed thereon into close contact with a flat surface 22 of a master plate 20, in which one surface is the flat surface 22, with a light transmitting layer precursor 30 therebetween; a second step of curing the light transmitting layer precursor 30 to form a light transmitting layer 32; and a third step of releasing the master plate 20 from the light transmitting layer 32.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Takao Nishikawa, Atsushi Takakuwa
  • Patent number: 6723440
    Abstract: The process comprises, (a) adding to a polymerizable composition containing a component A comprising at least one silane compound containing at least one epoxy group and at least two alkoxy groups directly bonded to the Si atom of the molecule or hydrolysate thereof and a component B comprising fine particles of silica, an effective amount of at least one cationic photopolymerization initiator and an effective amount of at least one thermal polymerization catalyst, (b) coating at least one surface of the substrate with the composition resulting from step (a), (c) submitting the coated substrate to a photopolymerization step for pre-curing the coating layer; and thereafter, (d) submitting the substrate with the pre-cured coating layer thereon to a thermal curing at a predetermined temperature and for a predetermined time to complete curing of the coating layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Essilor International Compagnie Generale d'Optique
    Inventors: Robert Alan Valeri, Kimberly Denise Anderson, Sidney Shaw White, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6723377
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of incorporating additives into a thin film formed on a substrate comprising: forming an impregnatable thin film on at least one face of a substrate; depositing an impregnation composition comprising at least one additive incorporated in an appropriate diluent medium on said impregnatable thin film by spin coating; diffusing the impregnation composition within said impregnatable thin film and; treating the substrate coated with the impregnated thin film to at least partially remove the diluent medium from the impregnated thin film. The invention also relates to the application of such methods to the production of optical lenses, including in the coloring of such lenses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Essilor International Compagnie Generale d'Optique
    Inventors: Yves Leclaire, Jean-Paul Cano
  • Patent number: 6716480
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a transparent conductive layered structure which comprises a transparent substrate, a transparent conductive layer and a transparent coating layer formed successively in this order on the substrate, and is used in, for instance, the front panel of displays such as CRT, etc. The transparent conductive layered structure according to the invention is characterized in that the main components of the above-mentioned transparent conductive layer are gold microparticles or gold-containing noble metal microparticles containing 5 wt % or more of gold with a mean particle diameter of 1 to 100 nm, and a binder matrix comprising at least one functional group selected from mercapto groups (—SH), sulfide groups (—S), and polysulfide groups (—Sx, X≧2). Film strength and weather resistance of the transparent conductive layer are improved because the noble metal microparticles and a binder matrix are firmly bonded via the above-mentioned functional groups.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: Sumitomo Metal Mining Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaya Yukinobu, Atsushi Tofuku, Kenji Kato, Midori Fujisaki
  • Patent number: 6716526
    Abstract: A composition comprising particles which comprise a core material within a polymeric shell, wherein the core material comprises a hydrophobic substance, characterized in that the polymeric shell comprises a copolymer formed from a monomer blend which comprises, A) 30 to 90% by weight methacrylic acid B) 10 to 70% by weight alkyl ester of (meth)acrylic acid which is capable of forming a homopolymer of glass transition temperature in excess of 60° C. and C) 0 to 40% by weight other ethylenically unsaturated monomer. The core material can comprise an active ingredient selected from the group consisting of UV absorbers, UV reflectors, pigments, dyes, colorants, scale inhibitors, corrosion inhibitors, antioxidants, pour point depressants, wax deposition inhibitors, dispersants, flame retardants, biocides, active dye tracer materials and phase change materials. The composition has the advantage that the polymeric shell is highly impermeable to the core material even at elevated temperatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: Ciba Specialty Chemicals Water Treatments Ltd.
    Inventors: Rachel Clare Weston, Howard Roger Dungworth
  • Publication number: 20040063004
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a substrate in particular of EUV microlithography, to the production of a substrate of this type and to the use of this substrate as a substrate for mirrors and/or masks or mask blanks in particular in EUV microlithography.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2003
    Publication date: April 1, 2004
    Inventors: Jochen Alkemper, Lutz Aschke, Hrabanus Hack
  • Publication number: 20040047988
    Abstract: The present invention relates to polymethylsilsesquioxane copolymers, and methods for preparing the copolymers and low-dielectric PMSSQ coating films. Polymethylsilsesquioxane copolymer of the present invention is synthesized by a copolymerization reaction using a methyltrialkokxysilane [A: CH3Si(OR)3] and &agr;,&ohgr;-bistrialkokxysilane compound [B: (RO)3Si—X—Y—Si(OR)3, wherein X and Y are identical or different hydrocarbon groups and are linked to each other by carbon] as a copolymerization monomer, and it contains Si—OH terminal group more than 10% in content, and has molecular weight ranging from 5,000 to 30,000. The coating film prepared from the low dielectric PMSSQ according to the present invention meets the two inevitable requirements for next generation semiconductor industry, i.e., mechanical strength (hardness 1.9 Gpa, Modulus 12 Gpa) and low dielectric property (<2.3).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2003
    Publication date: March 11, 2004
    Inventors: Jin-Kyu Lee, Hee-Woo Rhee, Kook-Heon Char, Do-Yeung Yoon
  • Publication number: 20040043142
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and systems for temporarily protecting LCD glass by (1) coating the glass material with a hydrophobic coating and (2) removing the hydrophobic coating and any contaminants by either plasma cleaning, pyrolysis cleaning, or a combination of both cleaning methods.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2002
    Publication date: March 4, 2004
    Inventors: William R. Birch, Lori L. Hamilton, Edward J. Sever, Youchun Shi
  • Patent number: 6699559
    Abstract: An inorganic particulate, having strong absorption in the thermal infrared region of the radiative spectrum and low absorption in the solar or visible portion of the radiative spectrum, is combined with a plastic resin, to create a composite material. This composite is used in whole or in part to manufacture a honeycomb transparent insulation material, or is applied as a coating to a honeycomb transparent insulation material. The resulting honeycomb transparent insulation can have similar visible or solar light transmittance, and will have improved thermal radiant suppression relative to an identical honeycomb made of plastic resin only.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: Advanced Glazings Ltd.
    Inventor: Douglas I. Milburn
  • Patent number: 6689426
    Abstract: A liquid compound or a compound solution is kept in contact with the surface of a solid material (synthetic resin, glass, metal, or ceramic), radiation selected from ultraviolet, visible, and infrared is irradiated on the interface between the surface of the solid material and the compound to optically excite the surface of the solid material and the compound, thereby effecting substitution with a chemical species in the compound, depositing or performing etching with the chemical species. Preferably, a transparent window is kept in tight contact with the surface of a solid material to be treated, a thin layer of the liquid compound or the compound solution is interposed between the surface of the solid material and the transparent window by using capillarity, and ultraviolet, visible, or infrared is irradiated through the window. With this treatment, the irradiated portion can be given hydrophilicity, adhesion properties, printing properties, corrosion resistance, and conductivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignees: Tokai University, Nitto Denko Corp.
    Inventors: Masataka Murahara, Masakatsu Urairi
  • Patent number: 6679977
    Abstract: A method for producing flat panels for TFT or plasma display applications includes forming a sputter source within a sputter coating chamber, the source having at least two electrically mutually isolated stationery bar-shaped target arrangements. A controlled magnet arrangement provided under each target with a time-varying magnetron field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Unakis Trading AG
    Inventors: Walter Haag, Pius Grunenfelder, Urs Schwendener, Markus Schlegel, Siegfried Krassnitzer
  • Publication number: 20030235767
    Abstract: In a phase shift mask blank comprising a transparent substrate and a phase shift film thereon, after the phase shift film is formed on the substrate, it is surface treated with ozone water having an ozone concentration of at least 1 ppm. The resulting phase shift film is of quality in that it experiences minimized changes of phase difference and transmittance upon immersion in chemical liquid during subsequent mask cleaning step or the like.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2003
    Publication date: December 25, 2003
    Applicant: Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukio Inazuki, Masayuki Nakatsu, Tsuneo Numanami, Atsushi Tajika, Hideo Kaneko, Satoshi Okazaki
  • Patent number: 6666944
    Abstract: The present invention has an object to provide a manufacturing method of readily realizing an optical filter having a flat transmission characteristic and a superior cutoff characteristic relative to adjacent bands. To this end, with the manufacturing method of the present invention, a band-pass filter consisting of a dielectric multilayer coating is formed on one plane of a transparent substrate, and an antireflection coating is formed on the other plane of the substrate. The substrate is then divided into a plurality of segments, and adjacent two segments are selected and adhered to each other by a transparent adhesive with band-pass filter surfaces of these segments facing to each other, while interposing a glass spacer between the band-pass filter surfaces, to thereby obtain an optical filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2003
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventor: Nobuhiro Fukushima
  • Publication number: 20030231280
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of reducing or eliminating unpleasant odor and/or delivering a pleasant odor upon edging and/or surfacing lenses, and more particularly ophthalmic lenses. The present invention also relates to perfume delivering ophthalmic lenses, that deliver a slight perfume pleasant for the wearer of eyeglasses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2002
    Publication date: December 18, 2003
    Applicant: Essilor International Compagnie Generale d'Optique
    Inventors: Richard Muisener, Herbert Mosse, Sidney S. White
  • Patent number: 6660324
    Abstract: A method for fabricating viewing screen (100) includes the steps of: adding to a black surround paste a ductile metal paste, adding to the black surround paste lead titanate particles, depositing the black surround paste on glass substrate (110), and heating the black surround paste and glass substrate (110) to affix the black surround paste to glass substrate (110), thereby forming black matrix (111). The ductile metal paste and lead titanate particles are added in amounts sufficient to realize an extent of cracking in black matrix (111) upon repeated heating to a temperature within a range of 450-600° C. that is significantly less than that exhibited by an unimproved black matrix, which is made only from the material of the black surround paste.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Shawn M. O'Rourke, Nick R. Munizza, Matthew Stainer
  • Patent number: 6660332
    Abstract: A method is provided for making a color filter having a plurality of filter elements aligned in a dot-matrix on a substrate. The method has a first-scanning step of moving the inkjet head having a nozzle line including a plurality of nozzles relative to the substrate while selectively discharging a filter material from the plurality of nozzles so as to form filter elements on filter element forming regions of the substrate and a second-scanning step of moving the inkjet head by a second-scanning distance &dgr; in a second-scanning direction. The plurality of nozzles are divided into a plurality of groups and the first-scanning step and the second-scanning step are repeated so that all the nozzle groups scan the same section of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Tomomi Kawase, Hisashi Aruga, Satoru Katagami, Masaharu Shimizu, Hiroshi Kiguchi
  • Patent number: 6656522
    Abstract: The invention includes a bilayer antireflection coating, multilayer antireflection coatings, and a method for making a multilayer antireflective coated substrate. The bilayer and multilayer coatings include layers having metallic oxides, at least one layer in each of such coatings having as a material with an index of refraction at least about 1.90, a layer comprising oxides of zirconium such that when subjected to heat treatments, such as tempering, the coatings substantially retain their optical properties. The coatings further include layers having materials of low index of refraction which include oxides of aluminum which provide coating stability and increased precursor storage life. In the method, the layers are applied by successive dip coating techniques using solvent-based solutions and the resulting coatings can be used to coat large sized substrates which can be later cut, trimmed and/or otherwise shaped and later heat treated with substantial retention of optical properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: Denglas Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Nanning J. Arfsten, Axel Reich, Frank Rodriguez, James F. Gavlas
  • Patent number: 6652972
    Abstract: A method for the low temperature joining of similar and/or different phosphate glass by mating at low temperature glass components by an aqueous solution containing phosphorus. In preferred embodiments, the phosphate glasses are polished, cleaned, and brought together with the phosphate-containing solution between the polished surfaces. Vacuum may be applied to assist in making the joint. The composite is optionally heat treated to increase strength, chemical durability, and optical performance. The bond thereby formed has low birefringence, is strong, and is virtually photonically invisible. The joints now make possible, for example, substrates for virtually no loss signal splitters and other high-end optical components at low cost. Large hybrid performs substrates composed of multiple glass components may be prepared and segmented, providing an inexpensive novel substrate for the photonics industry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Assignee: Schott Glass Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Samuel Conzone, Joseph S. Hayden, Alexander J. Marker
  • Patent number: 6641937
    Abstract: The present invention is for a transparent conductive film of nitrogen-containing indium tin oxide 5 nm to 100 &mgr;m thick formed on a substrate. The process for producing the transparent film includes exciting the surface of the substrate in a vacuum and depositing vaporized indium tin oxide on the surface of the substrate. The surface may be excited with irradiation with an ion beam. The indium tin oxide may be deposited through vacuum deposition, laser abrasion, ion plating, ion beam deposition, or chemical vapor deposition. Vapor deposition of indium tin oxide may be performed using a sintered product of indium oxide and tin oxide or with indium metal and tin metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Assignee: Agency of Industrial Science and Technology
    Inventors: Masato Kiuchi, Kensuke Murai, Shigeharu Tamura, Norimasa Umesaki, Jiro Matsuo, Isao Yamada
  • Patent number: 6638563
    Abstract: The present invention is directed toward the renewable surface treatment of medical devices such as contact lenses and medical implants. In particular, the present invention is directed to a method of modifying the surface of a medical device to increase its biocompatibility or hydrophilicity by coating the device with a removable hydrophilic polymer by means of reaction between reactive functionalities on the hydrophilic polymer which functionalities are complementary to reactive functionalities on or near the surface of the medical device at reaction temperatures of less than about 55° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Assignee: Bausch & Lomb Incorporated
    Inventors: Joseph A. McGee, Paul L. Valint, Jr., James A. Bonafini, Jr., Joseph C. Salamone
  • Patent number: 6638566
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of manufacturing an electroconductive antireflection film and a glass faceplate having the film of high electroconductivity, excellent antireflection characteristics and electromagnetically shielding characteristic with very high sticking strength and film hardness, etc., and formed at the lower manufacturing cost and in the simple manufacturing method. The method comprises the steps of: dissolving in alcohol an aqueous solution of organic polymer containing polyethylenedioxythiophene which polystyrenesulphonate is doped to; adding silicon alkoxide to the alcoholic solution for reinforcing adhesion; preparing an organic polymeric electroconductive solution by adding pure water and a basic catalyst for hydrolysis; and applying the electroconductive solution on the image display glass plate, thereby forming the polymeric electroconductive film as an antireflective film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Assignee: Orion Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chang Han Lee
  • Patent number: 6635306
    Abstract: Light emissive devices incorporating a low-reflectance black or color dielectric layer into their layered structure for improving the contrast of the emitted light. The black or color dielectric layer comprises a layer of a dielectric material having a network of passageways, such as pores or grain boundaries, and a colorant, such as black ink particles of a black ink additive, color ink particles of a color ink additive, or active particles of an organic dye, which is dispersed within the network of passageways. The presence of the colorant in the network of passageways significantly reduces the reflectivity of the dielectric layer. The light emissive devices of the present invention are applicable to improve the display contrast in various flat panel display technologies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2003
    Assignee: University of Cincinnati
    Inventors: Andrew J. Steckl, Jason C. Heikenfeld
  • Patent number: 6632535
    Abstract: An antireflective coating may be formed on visible light transmitting materials. The antireflective coating may a stack of two coating layers. The first coating layer may be formed from a composition that includes a metal alkoxide. The first coating layer may be cured by the application of ultraviolet light or heat. The second coating layer may be formed from a second composition that includes an initiator and an ethylenically substituted monomer. The second composition may be cured by the application of ultraviolet light. The antireflective coatings may be applied to a plastic lens or a plastic lens mold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Q2100, Inc.
    Inventors: Omar M. Buazza, Xiaodong Sun
  • Patent number: 6632905
    Abstract: Covalently-bound, hydrophilic copolymer coatings for implants are disclosed. The copolymer coatings comprise 2-phenylethyl (meth)acrylate, a hydrophilic monomer selected from the group consisting of hydroxyalkyl (meth)acrylates and acrylamides, and a reactive plasticizer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Alcon Universal Ltd.
    Inventor: Albert R. Leboeuf
  • Patent number: 6627320
    Abstract: A method for producing a composition for vapor deposition comprising sintering a vapor source mixture prepared by mixing vapor sources that contain titanium dioxide and niobium pentoxide. The method is capable of forming a high-refraction layer even in low-temperature vapor deposition on a substrate. An antireflection film is formed having good scratch resistance, good chemical resistance and good heat resistance, of which the heat resistance decreases little with time, that is useful in a variety of optical elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignee: Hoya Corporation
    Inventors: Takeshi Mitsuishi, Hitoshi Kamura, Kenichi Shinde, Hiroki Takei, Akinori Kobayashi, Yukihiro Takahashi, Yuko Watanabe
  • Patent number: 6627317
    Abstract: A heat treatable coated article includes an anti-migration or barrier layer(s) provided between a solar management layer (e.g., NiCr layer) and a dielectric layer (e.g., silicon nitride). In certain example embodiments, the anti-migration or barrier layer(s) may include a metal oxide, and functions to prevent element(s) from migrating between the solar management layer and the dielectric layer upon heat treatment (HT) of the coated article. As a result, the coated article has improved color stability (and thus a lower &Dgr;E* value) upon HT. For example, the coated article may have a &Dgr;E* value (transmissive and/or glass side reflective) upon HT of no greater than 5.0, more preferably no greater than 4.0. Coated articles herein may be used in the context of insulating glass (IG) window units, other architectural windows, vehicle windows, or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignee: Guardian Industries Corp.
    Inventor: Hong Wang
  • Publication number: 20030175528
    Abstract: A sol-form application liquid 3 is prepared by mixing together two solvents A and B and two film components C and D. The sol-form application liquid 3 thus prepared is applied onto a glass substrate 200, thus forming a mixed layer 401 on the glass substrate 200. The glass substrate 200 having the mixed layer 401 formed thereon is left at room temperature, whereupon the solvent A evaporates and phase separation of the mixed layer 401 into an upper layer 403 and a lower layer 402 occurs. The mixed layer 401 is then heated, thus evaporating the solvent B in the lower layer 402 and gelating the film component C in the upper layer 403 and the film component D in the lower layer 402, and hence forming an internal scattering layer 404.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2003
    Publication date: September 18, 2003
    Inventors: Tetsuya Yoshitake, Toshifumi Tsujino, Kazutaka Kamitani
  • Patent number: 6620454
    Abstract: Processes for making a transparent substrate having a glare reducing diffuser surface coating on its surface are disclosed to provide a touchscreen or a faceplate such as for attachment to a screen for a cathode ray tube or other display device. Preferably, the faceplate has at least one of a gloss reading of less than about 80 gloss units, and a resolution of at least about 3 lines per millimeter. The method includes coating at least one layer of a precursor solution onto a functional coating provided on at least one surface of the substrate, and firing the layer to form the faceplate having a diffuser surface coating on the functional coated substrate. Preferably, the precursor solution at least comprises a metal oxide precursor dissolved in an organic solvent. Also, the firing preferably occurs at a temperature of at least 250° C. The functional coating is preferably provided as a transparent conductive coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Assignee: Donnelly Corporation
    Inventors: Desaraju V. Varaprasad, Craig A. Dornan, Catherine A. Getz
  • Patent number: 6620514
    Abstract: A process for preparing a composition for producing nanostructured mouldings and layers comprises contacting an aqueous and/or alcoholic sol of a compound of an element selected from silicon sand metals of the main groups and transition groups of the Periodic Table with species possessing hydrolysable alkoxy groups and comprising at least one organically modified alkoxysilane or a precondensate derived therefrom, under conditions which lead to (further) hydrolysis of the species, and subsequent removal of the alcohol formed and any alcohol already present originally. The process is characterized in that the alcohol is removed in an amount such that the residual alcohol content of the composition is not more than 20% by weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Assignee: Institut für Neue Materialien gem. GmbH
    Inventors: Ertugrul Arpac, Gerhard Jonschker, Hermann Schirra, Helmut Schmidt
  • Publication number: 20030170382
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a colloidal metal solution comprising colloidal metal particles with a sulfur compound of low molecular weight such as mercaptoacetic acid, mercaptopropionic acid, mercaptoethanol, etc. as a protective colloid on the particle surfaces and having a pH of 8-14. According to the present invention, a colloidal metal solution having a high concentration and a distinguished dispersion stability with a small amount of the protective colloid can be provided with a commercially and economically high advantage without any operation such as centrifuge, etc.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2003
    Publication date: September 11, 2003
    Inventor: Masanori Tomonari
  • Patent number: 6616982
    Abstract: Methods are provided for the fabrication of hydrophilic coatings on hydrophobic surfaces. In one embodiment, a polyethylene oxide (PEO) coating is fabricated on the surface of a polymeric material by contacting the surface with a methacrylic acid or acrylic acid monomer. The monomer first is reacted, for example by irradiation with an electron beam, to polymerize and covalently attach the monomer to the surface, to improve the hydrophilicity of the polymeric material. A coating of PEO molecules is subsequently attached to the polymer surface by hydrogen bond complexation. The PEO coating then may be covalently grafted onto the surface, for example, by irradiation grafting with an electron beam. The covalent grafting of a coating of the methacrylic or acrylic monomers to the surface greatly improves the wettability of the surface, and facilitates the covalent or non-covalent attachment of a coating of PEO to the polymer surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Edward W. Merrill, Susan S. Allgor, Gladys C. Leung
  • Patent number: 6617056
    Abstract: A transparent conductive laminate in which a crystalline transparent conductive film substantially made of In—Sn—O on a transparent substrate composed of a thermoplastic polymer film, is provided. The crystalline part of the transparent conductive film (ITO-film) has a specific crystalline structure in which the X-ray diffraction intensity from the (222) crystal plane or the (440) crystal plane is highest, and [X440/222], the ratio of the X-ray diffraction intensity from the (440) crystal plane to that from the (222) crystal plane, is within the range of 0.2 to 2.5. The laminate has a low resistivity, and it is useful as an electrode material for a liquid crystal display, an electroluminescence device, a touch panel or the like. The transparent conductive laminate can be manufactured by combining the control of film fabricating atmosphere during sputtering and a heat treatment under specific conditions after film fabricating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: Teijin Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Hara, Seiji Tsuboi
  • Patent number: 6611256
    Abstract: A touch screen assembly for contact input systems, with the touch screen including a base substrate with an electrically resistive coating thereon. An array of reticulated spaced raised projections are formed on the inner surface, with the raised projections consisting of a developed/cured photoresist. In its formation, the photoresist is applied as an adherent layer with a release-film backing, with the layer being applied onto a heated substrate. Thereafter, a laminate is formed by passing the photoresist layer beneath a heated pneumatically actuated nip roll to cause the photoresist layer to flow, thereby forming a layer of uniform thickness. Thereafter, the laminate is masked, exposed to incident radiation, and developed so as to provide a reticulated pattern of adherent raised projections. A flexible plastic film having a resistive coating thereon is thereafter mounted on the substrate in superimposed relationship to the raised projections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2003
    Assignee: The Bergquist Company
    Inventor: Mary L. Randall
  • Patent number: 6610350
    Abstract: A method of modifying a surface of an ophthalmic lens, includes the steps of: generating plasma at an atmospheric pressure between electrodes of a plasma generating device; and blowing the plasma from the plasma generating device by introducing a gas between the electrodes. The ophthalmic lens, which is located outside the plasma generating device, is irradiated with the plasma blown out from the plasma generating device to modify the surface of the ophthalmic lens to form a final ophthalmic lens product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2003
    Assignee: Menicon Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroaki Suzuki, Yuuji Gotou, Kazuhiko Nakada
  • Patent number: 6605361
    Abstract: A coating composition that can be applied to a lens, a method of making the coating composition, and a coated lens comprising a cured coating composition of the invention are disclosed. The coating composition is produced by providing a mixture comprising metal oxide colloid particles and an organosilicon compound, and adding an acetylacetonate metal salt and an aliphatic amine to the mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2003
    Assignee: Hoya Corporation
    Inventors: Jun Watanabe, Takanobu Itoh
  • Patent number: 6599385
    Abstract: A manufacturing method of a multi-layer optical information record carrier, which has a plurality of layers of reflecting surfaces with pits for recording information. According to the method, a reflective layer is first coated on a stamper with a pit pattern. A radiation-setting adhesive polymer resin is then applied on a substrate with another pit pattern and coated with a partial reflective layer. The substrate and the stamper are combined together and the resin is cured by ultraviolet light. After peeling off the stamper, two reflective layers are formed on the substrate. Finally, two of the substrates are adhered together using polymer resin and one obtains a multi-layer optical information record carrier with dual information layers on both sides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2003
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Wen-Yih Liao, Der-Ray Huang, Tzuan-Ren Jeng, Chien-Liang Huang, Huei-Wen Yang, Po-Fu Yen
  • Patent number: 6599559
    Abstract: The present invention is directed toward the renewable surface treatment of medical devices such as contact lenses and medical implants. In particular, the present invention is directed to a method of modifying the surface of a medical device to increase its biocompatibility or hydrophilicity by coating the device with a removable hydrophilic polymer by means of reaction between reactive functionalities on the hydrophilic polymer which functionalities are complementary to reactive functionalities on or near the surface of the medical device. The present invention is also directed to a contact lens or other medical device having such a surface coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2003
    Assignee: Bausch & Lomb Incorporated
    Inventors: Joseph A. McGee, Paul L. Valint, Jr., James A. Bonafini, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6596375
    Abstract: The invention provides an optical sheet suitable for use in displays such as LCD and EL and having good light transmission property and diffusiveness and moreover possessing excellent durability that the optical properties of the optical sheet can be retained even under high-temperature and high-humidity conditions. The optical sheet has a transparent substrate and a binder layer laminated directly or through another layer on the transparent substrate, wherein spherical fine particles having a particle diameter distribution of from 0.8 to 1.0 are embedded in a state of a monoparticle layer in the binder layer so as to partly project from the surface of the binder layer, and a distance from the top of the projected fine particles to the surface of the transparent substrate is from 100% to 110% of the volume average particle diameter of the spherical fine particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2003
    Assignee: Tomoegawa Paper Co.
    Inventors: Makoto Murata, Kensaku Higashi
  • Patent number: 6592950
    Abstract: An anti-Newton ring film excellent in transparency and anti-scratching property is provided. The anti-Newton ring film comprises a transparent substrate and a resin layer formed on one or both sides of the substrate, wherein the resin layer comprising an ionizing radiation curable resin as a binder and a particulate material dispersed in the binder. Preferably, the particulate material is a lubricant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2003
    Assignee: Kimoto Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasumaro Toshima, Takaaki Kato
  • Patent number: 6586038
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for coating a material surface. The process comprises the steps of: (a) covalently binding polymerization initiator radicals to the surface; (b) graft polymerizing a vinyl monomer carrying a reactive group onto the initiator-modified material surface and thereby providing a primary polymer coating comprising reactive groups; and (c) reacting the reactive groups of the primary polymer coating with a hydrophilic telomer having a functional group that is coreactive with the reactive groups of the primary polymer coating. The coated articles that are obtainable by the process of the invention have desirable characteristics regarding adherence to the substrate, durability, hydrophilicity, wettability, biocompatibility and permeability and are thus useful for the manufacture of biomedical articles such as ophthalmic devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Novartis AG
    Inventors: Peter Chabrecek, Dieter Lohmann
  • Patent number: 6579423
    Abstract: A light transmitting electromagnetic wave filter comprising a transparent and a light transmitting electromagnetic wave shield film having a laminate structure composed of 2n+1 (n≧1) layers in which at least two dielectric layers and at least one silver layer are alternately laminated, with each other with the dielectric layer being the first to be provided on the transparent substrate, wherein at least one of the dielectric layers is an antistatic metal oxide layer having a refractive index of 1.6 to 2.7 at a wavelength of 550 nm, which is preferably formed by sputtering using a metal oxide, e.g., tin-containing indium oxide, as a target in an atmosphere having a reduced oxygen content. The electromagnetic wave filter has a high visible light transmission and a low near infrared transmission, is free from pin holes or contamination, and exhibits high durability against moist heat, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2003
    Assignee: Nippon Sheet Glass Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshiaki Anzaki, Etsuo Ogino
  • Publication number: 20030108804
    Abstract: An inkjet manufacturing process and device for color filters are disclosed. The invention includes an inkjet head module, a motion platform, an electric field generator, an optical detection system, and a control system. The motion platform can support a filter substrate and have relative motion with respect to the inkjet head module. The optical detection system provides a real-time positioning function so that the inkjet head module can correctly jet and paint ink droplets on the substrate. The electric field generator imposes an electric field on the ink droplets so that the ink droplets become homogeneous because of the electrocapillary effect. The invention avoids the usual design of an ink absorption layer, greatly increasing the accuracy and diffusion homogeneity of the ink droplet painting.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2002
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Inventors: Kevin Cheng, Jupiter Tsai, Jessen Chen, Tz-Ya Yang, Jane Chang
  • Publication number: 20030108716
    Abstract: A light-scattering material includes a coating with self-cleaning properties on a transparent substrate. Particles randomly distributed in and on the coating roughen the coating and provide a surface structure that scatters light. The light-scattering material is useful in providing indirect illumination, particularly using daylight. The coating can have antimicrobial properties. The light-scattering material can require significantly less maintenance than conventional light-scattering materials.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2002
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Applicant: CREAVIS Gesellschaft fuer Tech. und innovation mbH
    Inventors: Edwin Nun, Markus Oles