Guardian Industries Corporation

Centre Luxembourgeois De Recherches Pour Le Verre Et La Ceramique S.a. (c.r.v.c.)

Guardian Glass, LLC

Daniel F Prone

Philip J Lingle

Yiwei Lu

Robert A Vandal

Jean-Marc Sol

Timothy J Frey

Greg Brecht

David P Maikowski

Vijayen S Veerasamy

Scott V Thomsen

Anthony V Longobardo

George G Neuman

Andre Heyen

Matthew Zabiega

A switchable window includes: first and second substrates (e.g., glass substrates); a liquid crystal inclusive layer (e.g., PDLC layer) disposed between at least the first and the second substrates; and a low-E coating provided between at least the liquid crystal inclusive layer and the first substrate. Voltage is applied to the liquid crystal inclusive layer via the low-E coating and a substantially transparent conductive coating which are on opposite sides of the liquid crystal inclusive layer. By adjusting voltage applied to at least part of the liquid crystal inclusive layer, the window is selectively switchable between at least first and second states with different visible light transmissions.

Switchable window having low emissivity (low-e) coating as conductive layer and/or method of making the same

Switchable window having low emissivity (low-E) coating as conductive layer and/or method of making the same

Certain example embodiments relate to heat treatable coated articles, e.g., suitable for concentrating solar power (CSP) and/or other applications. For instance, the heat treatable coated article may be a secondary reflector panel, primary reflector, etc., where a reflective coating is disposed on a glass substrate. A portion of the reflective coating may be removed and a frit material is disposed over the reflective coating. An elevated temperature may be applied to the glass substrate, the coating, and the frit material where the frit is cured. The coated article may be left flat, or optionally cold- or hot-bent into a desired shape suitable for a desired application.

Coated article with heat treatable coating for concentrated solar power applications, and/or methods of making the same

Certain example embodiments relate to an improved secondary reflector panel with a heat-treatable coating. Certain example embodiments related to method of making a secondary reflector panel where a reflective coating is disposed onto a glass substrate. A portion of the reflective coating is removed and a frit material is disposed over the reflective coating. An elevated temperature is applied to the glass substrate, the coating, and the frit material where the frit is cured and the glass substrate is formed as desired.

Secondary reflector panel (SRP) with heat-treatable coating for concentrated solar power applications, and/or methods of making the same

In certain examples, heat treatable coated articles, e.g., suitable for concentrating solar power (CSP) and/or other applications, may be provided. For instance, the heat treatable coated article may be a secondary reflector panel, primary reflector, etc., where a reflective coating is disposed on a glass substrate. A portion of the reflective coating may be removed and a frit material is disposed over the reflective coating. An elevated temperature may be applied to the glass substrate, the coating, and the frit material where the frit is cured. The coated article may be left flat, or optionally cold- or hot-bent into a desired shape suitable for a desired application.

Coated articles with heat treatable coating for concentrated solar power applications, and/or methods of making the same

A heatable vehicle window (e.g., windshield or backlite) has bus bars electrically connected to a heatable coating having one or more heatable conductive layers. Electrical connection(s) between at least one bus bar and a corresponding external connector in the heatable window is/are made using a silver inclusive epoxy. The use of the silver inclusive epoxy permits a thin substantially uniform electrical connection to be made and permits numerous example advantages to be realized.

Heatable vehicle window utilizing silver inclusive epoxy electrical connection and method of making same

A window such as a vehicle window (e.g., windshield) has a de-icing feature. In certain example embodiments, a conductive structure is provided on an interior surface of a substrate of the window, AC tuned to an ice removal frequency is caused to run through the conductive structure, and fields generated by the AC passing through the conductive structure propagate through the substrate to an exterior surface of the window and can be absorbed by ice thereby causing the ice to melt and/or be removed from the window.

Window with de-icing feature and method

Vehicle window with de-icing feature and method

An apparatus and method for bending and/or tempering glass substrate(s) are provided. The amount of near-IR radiation which reaches the glass to be bent and/or tempered is limited (e.g., via filtering or any other suitable technique). Thus, the IR radiation (used for heating the glass) which reaches the glass to be bent and/or tempered includes mostly mid-IR and/or far-IR radiation, and not much near-IR. In such a manner, coating(s) provided on the glass can be protected and kept at lower temperatures so as to be less likely to be damaged during the bending and/or tempering process. Heating efficiency can be improved. A ceramic (e.g., aluminosilicate) filter or baffle may be used in certain embodiments in order to reduce the amount of mid-IR and/or far-IR radiation reaching the glass to be tempered and/or bent.

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Trenton, MI, United States of America

Daniel F Prone