The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 25, 2000
Filed:
Oct. 22, 1998
Hiroshi Nakashima, Mie, JP;
Seiji Yamazaki, Mie, JP;
Central Glass Company, Limited, Yamaguchi, JP;
Abstract
The invention relates to a photocatalytic glass pane including (a) a glass substrate having (1) major surfaces that are substantially parallel with and opposed to each other and (2) an edge surface that connects the major surfaces together; (b) a photocatalytic film formed on at least one of the major surfaces of the glass substrate; and (c) a light source for exciting the photocatalytic film. A light from the light source enters the glass substrate from its edge surface and then is reflected totally within the glass pane. Another photocatalytic glass pane of the invention is substantially the same as the above, except that the light enters the glass substrate from its peripheral surface. It is optional to form a prism on the peripheral surface. Alternatively, the peripheral surface may be inclined such that the glass substrate is tapered at a position of the peripheral surface. With this, the light is totally reflected within the another glass pane, too. Thus, the photocatalytic glass panes of the invention are capable of substantially preventing light rays from escaping from the major surfaces thereof. With this, the photocatalytic film can effectively be excited or activated to oxidatively decompose organic contaminants thereon.