Apple Inc.

David E Kingman

Donald R Monroe

John Raff

Ibuki Kamei

Peter F Masschelein

Clarisse Mazuir

Derek C Scott

Martin Melcher

Albert John Golko

Christopher D Jones

James R Wilson

Samuel G Fowle

Philipp J Wolf

Ali Tavakoli Targhi

David J Donohue

Antonio B Martinez

Juan A Lazaro

Stephen Brian Lynch

Jesse T Buehler

Christopher L Porritt

Marcelo B Da Silveira Magalhaes

Gregory A Cohoon

Budhadipta Dan

Christopher D Prest

Dale N Memering

Phil M Hobson

Mark Rober

James A Yurko

Arturo Llamazares Domper

Paul D Yeomans

Tommaso P Rivellini

Erik Mikael Fermer

Alice C Watts

Bryce A Woollard

Christian Schermaier

Alexander M Zoellner

Steven H Klotz

Rikard Fredriksson

Yuan Chen

Devin William Chalmers

Derek C Krass

Lai Wang

Yunseok Lee

Yogesh Upreti

Olivier C Barthomeuf

Martin Gross

Paul M Connolly

Light-control panels including layered optical components are described in this application. An example of a light-control panel includes first and second glazing layers, first and second transitional layers extending between the first and second glazing layers that guide light emitted from a light source, and a third glazing layer extending between the first and second transitional layers through which light emitted from the light source is guided. The light-control panel also includes a light extraction layer extending between the third glazing layer and one of the first and second transitional layers that distributes light emitted from the light source. The first and second transitional layers have refractive indices that gradually decrease from a first value at surfaces proximate to the first and second glazing layers to a second value at surfaces proximate to the third glazing layer in the stack-up of the light-control panel.

Light-control panel with gradual index transition

A laminated panel that includes a first glass layer, a second glass layer, a polymer layer, and a reinforcement. The polymer layer extends between the first glass layer and the second glass layer. The reinforcement is configured to hold the polymer layer in tension. Additionally, the reinforcement is coupled to the first glass layer and the second glass layer. The reinforcement also includes an internal member and an external member that surrounds the internal member.

Reinforced window

A system may have structure. The structures may include laminated structures formed by attaching inner and outer layers together with a layer of adhesive. The inner and outer layers in a structure may be formed from polymer such as polycarbonate. Forming the structure layers from polymer may allow the structure to have desired curvature. To improve safety and/or acoustic performance of the structure, the inner and outer structure layers may be formed from different materials. The outer polymer layer may be formed from polycarbonate and the inner polymer layer may be formed from a more brittle polymer such as polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA).

Laminated polymer windows

A system such as a vehicle may have adjustable structures such as adjustable windows. Adjustable windows may have adjustable layers such as adjustable tint layers, adjustable reflectivity layers, and adjustable haze layers. Adjustable window layers may be incorporated into a window with one or more transparent structural layers such as a pair of glass window layers. Adjustable components such as adjustable reflectivity layers, adjustable haze layers, and adjustable tint layers may be interposed between the pair of glass window layers. Fixed partially reflective mirrors, fixed tint layers, and/or fixed haze layers may be used in place of adjustable tint, haze, and reflectivity layers and/or may be incorporated into windows in addition to adjustable tint, haze, and reflectivity layers.

Systems with adjustable windows

A window may have a structural window layers such as an inner glass layer and an outer glass layer. The inner glass layer may be a layer of tempered glass. The outer glass layer may be a laminated glass layer. The inner and outer glass layers may be separated by an air gap. One or more reflection suppression layers such as antireflection layers and/or circular polarizers may be incorporated into the window to suppress reflections of light from within the interior region off of the window back towards the interior region. The antireflection layers may be formed on one or both surfaces of the inner glass and one or both surfaces of the outer glass. An electrically adjustable layer such as a guest-host liquid crystal light modulator layer or other electrically adjustable optical component layer may be interposed between the outer glass layer and the air gap.

Systems with suppressed window reflections

A vehicle or other system may have windows. A window may include an outer glass layer having a concave inner surface and an inner glass layer having a convex inner surface. Transparent conductive electrodes may be formed on the concave inner surface and the convex outer surface. A liquid crystal layer such as a nanocapsule guest-host liquid crystal layer may be interposed between the transparent conductive electrodes. During manufacturing, a first layer of liquid crystal may be coated onto the transparent electrode on the outer glass layer, and a second layer of liquid crystal may be coated onto the transparent electrode on the inner glass layer. The two coated glass layers may then be pressed together in a vacuum chamber so that the first and second liquid crystal layers merge and become a homogenous layer, thereby removing surface irregularities in the liquid crystal layers and reducing undesired haze.

Windows with liquid crystal layers

A system may have a window. The window may have a waveguide that includes photoluminescent material such as a phosphor layer. The waveguide may have a waveguide core surrounded by cladding layers. The waveguide may be located between an outer structural glass layer and an inner structural glass layer. A light source such as an ultraviolet light source provides pump light to one or more edges the waveguide. The pump light is guided within the waveguide and excites the photoluminescent material. This causes the photoluminescent material to luminesce and create visible light illumination. The visible light illumination may be used to light up an interior region of the system.

Windows with photoluminescent lighting

Light-control panels including layered optical components are described in this application. An example of a light-control panel includes a first glazing layer, a second glazing layer, a third glazing layer, and a fourth glazing layer, a first switchable component extending between the first glazing layer and the second glazing layer, a thermal coating extending between the first glazing layer and the first switchable component, and a second switchable component extending between the third glazing layer and the fourth glazing layer. The second glazing layer and the third glazing layer have an air gap therebetween, such that the air gap forms a space between the second glazing layer and the third glazing layer.

Light-control panel with layered optical components

Light-control panels including layered optical components are described in this application. An example of a light-control panel includes first, second, and third glazing layers, first and second switchable components extending between the first and second glazing layers, and a third switchable component extending between the second and third glazing layers. The switchable components include a polymer-dispersed liquid-crystal (PDLC) device having a clear state and a hazy state, a guest-host liquid-crystal (GHLC) device having a clear state and a tinted state, and a light-guide device having a clear state and a bright state.

A laminated glazing includes a first glass layer, a second glass layer, and a third layer between the first glass layer and the second glass layer. The third layer has an optical property that differs in a first region as compared to a second region, the first region being within five inches of one side of the laminated glazing and the second region extending from the first region toward another side of the laminated glazing.

Laminated glazing

An apparatus for resisting entry of objects through a panel. The apparatus includes a weakened portion that extends laterally across a width dimension of the panel. The apparatus includes a stop structure spaced from the weakened portion that extends laterally across the width dimension of the panel to limit deformation. A bottom edge of the panel is configured to rotate about an axis extending along the weakened portion to abut the stop structure.

Panel intrusion control

A glass fastening system includes a glass portion, a support structure defining a recess, a first adhesive layer disposed on an exterior surface of the glass portion facing the recess in the support structure, a second adhesive layer disposed within the recess of the support structure, and a fastener having a first portion secured to the first adhesive layer and a second portion extending away from the first portion and into the second adhesive layer to secure the glass portion to the support structure.

Glass fastening and sealing systems

A light transmitting panel assembly includes a first panel, a second panel, a frame, a gap between the first panel and the second panel, and a first active component located between the first panel and the second panel.

Light transmitting panel with active components

A vehicle includes a roof opening, a front window that is located forward from the roof opening, and a rear window that is located rearward from the roof opening. The vehicle also includes a first panel and a second panel. The first panel and the second panel obstruct the roof opening in a closed position and are movable to an open position in which the first panel is positioned adjacent to an exterior surface of the front window and the second panel is positioned adjacent to an exterior surface of the rear window.

Movable panel assemblies

Light-control panels including layered optical components are described in this application. An example of a light-control panel includes first and second glazing layers and first and second switchable components extending between the first and second glazing layers. The light-control panel also includes a thermal coating extending between the first switchable component and the first glazing layer and a filter extending between the first and second switchable components.

Growing community of inventors

Campbell, CA, United States of America

David E Kingman