Ppg Industries, Inc.

The Ohio State University

Raymond D Moran

Eric K Walton

Harry S Koontz

A slot antenna formed in combination with a vehicle window. An electrically conducting, optically transparent film panel is bonded to the window and terminates so that its outer peripheral edge is spaced from the innermost edge of the metal framing the window to define a polygonal antenna slot between the edges. An unbalanced transmission line is connected to the antenna by connecting the grounded conductor to the framing metal near the metal edge and coupling the ungrounded conductor to the conductive panel near the juxtaposed, interfacing edge of the conductive panel.

Transparent window antenna

A plurality of lights are mounted relative to one another to direct light beams toward a glass sheet along continuous scan portions. The sheet moves through the scan portions to reflect light beams toward a linear array of diodes. The linear array of diodes is activated and deactivated to simulate a discrete scan path and to generate points of intersection between the edge portions of the glass sheet and the scan path. The signals of the photodetectors are acted on to determine peripheral characteristics of the sheet such as squareness of the corners, linearity of the sheet sides and length of each sheet side.

Optical system for determining peripheral characterization and

A glass sheet is advanced into a sheet determining position with one side of the sheet intercepting two scan paths and the other adjacent side of the sheet intercepting one of the two scan paths. Light rays reflected from the portion of the scan paths occupied by the sheet are incident on selected photodetectors which generate a plurality of signals. The signals are acted on to determine orientation of the sheet relative to a reference plane. The information is forwarded to the program of an industrial robot to alter the path of the robot arm to position a pick up frame mounted on the arm over the sheet. Thereafter the frame engages the sheet to load same in a shipping container.

Growing community of inventors

Springdale, PA, United States of America

Raymond D Moran