Robert W Adair

Robert W Adair is a notable inventor and patent holder based in Santa Rosa, CA, in the United States. With four patents to his name, Adair has made significant contributions to the field of barrier coatings for glass panels.

One of Adair's latest patents involves a method of applying barrier coatings to glass panels. This innovative approach includes the application of an index-matching coating directly to a low-emissivity (or "lowE") thin-film coating. The technique involves removing nodules that grow from a site in the lowE coating to prevent defect propagation through the layers of the index-matching coating.

To further enhance the coating's properties, a tempering step in an oxygen-containing atmosphere is employed. This step introduces compressive stress into the lowE coating, while also hardening it. The compressive stress allows for the easier removal of nodules, and the hardened coating enables mechanical cleaning of the lowE coating before the index-matching coating is applied, further eliminating nodules. In one embodiment, a layer of magnesium-fluoride is used as the final layer of the index-matching coating, providing improved abrasion resistance.

These glass panels, incorporating Adair's innovative barrier coating technique, find applications as display panels in devices such as plasma displays or organic light-emitting diode (OLED) displays.

Throughout his career, Adair has worked with prominent companies in the industry, including JDS Uniphase Corporation and Optical Coating Laboratory, Inc.

Adair collaborated with esteemed colleagues such as Brad A Duffy and Bryant Hichwa, further showcasing his commitment to innovation and his ability to work effectively within a team.

Robert W Adair's patents and inventions in the field of glass panel barrier coatings have made a noteworthy impact, benefiting industries that rely on display technologies. His contributions continue to drive advancements in this area, making him a prominent figure in the field of innovations and patents.