John A Vanderploeg

US Patent:

5793458, Aug 11, 1998

Filed:

Dec 18, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/768502

Inventors:

John A. VanderPloeg - Highland MI
Gang Xu - Northville MI
Adiel Abileah - Farmington Hill MI

Assignee:

OIS Optical Imaging Systems, Inc. - Northville MI

International Classification:

G02F 11335

US Classification:

349118

Abstract:

A normally white twisted nematic liquid crystal display is provided for outputting improved viewing characteristics which are defined by high contrast ratios and reduced inversion. The display includes both positive and negative retardation films, the negative films being biaxial and defined by n. sub. x >n. sub. y >n. sub. z in certain embodiments where the "z" direction is substantially perpendicular to the film plane and the "x" and "y" directions are substantially parallel to the film plane. By providing the positive and biaxial negative retarders with specific retardation values and/or ratios, improved viewing characteristics are provided. According to other embodiments, a positive and a negative (uniaxial or biaxial) retarder may be provided on only one side of the liquid crystal layer.

US Patent:

6567143, May 20, 2003

Filed:

Apr 28, 1998

Appl. No.:

09/066827

Inventors:

John A. VanderPloeg - Highland MI
Gang Xu - Cupertino CA

Assignee:

Guardian Industries Corp. - Auburn Hills MI

International Classification:

G02F 11335

US Classification:

349120, 349118

Abstract:

A normally white twisted nematic (TN) liquid crystal display (LCD) outputs improved viewing characteristics which are defined by high contrast ratios and/or reduced inversion. The display includes a pair of negative tilted retarders located on opposite sides of the liquid crystal layer, each of the tilted retarders including a tilt or incline angle which varies throughout the thickness of the layer. Additionally, one or two negative uniaxial or biaxial retarders are provided. As a result of the particular orientations, alignments, and retardation values described in the different embodiments herein, the display exhibits improved contrast and reduced inversion, often in the same viewing areas. Contrast ratio in the positive vertical viewing zone is especially improved.

US Patent:

7695785, Apr 13, 2010

Filed:

Jul 14, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/486372

Inventors:

Yiwei Lu - Ann Arbor MI, US
Desaraju V. Varaprasad - Ann Arbor MI, US
John A. Vanderploeg - Highland MI, US

Assignee:

Guardian Industries Corp. - Auburn Hills MI

International Classification:

E06B 3/00
B32B 9/00
E04C 2/54

US Classification:

428 34, 428432, 428698, 428699, 428701, 428702, 527861, 5278613, 359360, 359361

Abstract:

Certain embodiments of this invention relates to a coated article including a substrate (e. g. , glass substrate) which supports a coating thereon, wherein the coating includes at least one layer of or including SbON. This layer is desirable for blocking (reflection and/or absorption) of at least some ultraviolet (UV) radiation. In certain example embodiments of this invention, the layer of SbONmay be used as a dielectric layer in a low-E (low-emissivity) coating, and may improve UV-blocking capability of such a low-E coating. Coated articles in certain example embodiments of this invention may be used in the context of windows.

US Patent:

7713633, May 11, 2010

Filed:

Aug 21, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/230033

Inventors:

Philip J. Lingle - Temperance MI, US
Anton Dietrich - Fontnas, CH
Yiwei Lu - Ann Arbor MI, US
Willem Den Boer - Brighton MI, US
John A. Vanderploeg - Zeeland MI, US

Assignee:

Guardian Industries Corp. - Auburn Hills MI
Centre Luxembourgeois de Recherches pour le Verre et la Ceramique S.A. (C.R.V.C.) - Grande Duche de Luxembourg

International Classification:

B32B 17/06

US Classification:

428432, 428428, 428446, 428448, 428688, 428689, 428699, 428701, 428702

Abstract:

A plasma display panel (PDP) includes an EMI filter at a front portion thereof for blocking/shielding substantial amounts of electromagnetic waves. The filters has high visible transmission, and is capable of blocking/shielding electromagnetic waves. In certain example embodiments, a silver based coating of the EMI filter reduces damage from EMI radiation through highly conductive Ag layers, blocks significant amounts of NIR and IR radiation from outdoor sunlight to reduce PDP panel temperature, and enhances contrast ratio through reduced reflection, while maintaining high visible transmission. In certain example embodiments, at least one layer of or including silicon nitride may be Si-rich, and/or at least one layer including an oxide of Ni and/or Cr may be a suboxide, in order to improve heat treatability of the coated article.

US Patent:

7931971, Apr 26, 2011

Filed:

Mar 25, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/659912

Inventors:

Philip J. Lingle - Temperance MI, US
Anton Dietrich - Fontnas, CH
Yiwei Lu - Ann Arbor MI, US
Willem Den Boer - Brighton MI, US
John A. Vanderploeg - Zeeland MI, US

Assignee:

Guardian Industries Corp. - Auburn Hills MI
Centre Luxembourgeois de Recherches pour le Verre et la Ceramique S.A. (C.R.V.C.) - Grand Duche de Luxembourg

International Classification:

B32B 7/00

US Classification:

428432, 428428, 428689, 428697, 428701, 428702

Abstract:

A plasma display panel (PDP) includes an EMI filter at a front portion thereof for blocking/shielding substantial amounts of electromagnetic waves. The filters has high visible transmission, and is capable of blocking/shielding electromagnetic waves. In certain example embodiments, a silver based coating of the EMI filter reduces damage from EMI radiation through highly conductive Ag layers, blocks significant amounts of NIR and IR radiation from outdoor sunlight to reduce PDP panel temperature, and enhances contrast ratio through reduced reflection, while maintaining high visible transmission. In certain example embodiments, at least one layer of or including silicon nitride may be Si-rich, and/or at least one layer including an oxide of Ni and/or Cr may be a suboxide, in order to improve heat treatability of the coated article.

US Patent:

8228590, Jul 24, 2012

Filed:

Aug 9, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/852790

Inventors:

Kelvin L. Baumann - Holland MI, US
John A. VanderPloeg - Zeeland MI, US
David A. Theiste - Byron Center MI, US
Thomas F. Guarr - Holland MI, US
Henry W. Luten - Holland MI, US
George A. Neuman - Holland MI, US

Assignee:

Gentex Corporation - Zeeland MI

International Classification:

G02F 1/153

US Classification:

359267, 359265

Abstract:

An electro-optic system is provided that includes a front element having first and second surfaces, a rear element including third and fourth surfaces, wherein the front and rear elements are sealably bonded together in a spaced-apart relationship to define a chamber, and an electro-optic medium contained in the chamber, and the electro-optic medium is adapted to be in at least a high transmittance state and a low transmittance state. The electro-optic system further includes a display device in optical communication with the electro-optic element, the display device including at least one light source and is configured to emit at least a first primary and a second primary, the first and second primaries each having a first hue (h) when viewed through the electro-optic element in approximately the high transmittance state and a second hue (h′) when viewed through the electro-optic element in approximately the low transmittance state, wherein a change in the first and second hues (Δh) for both first and second primaries is less than approximately 31 degrees.

US Patent:

8236116, Aug 7, 2012

Filed:

Jun 6, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/808133

Inventors:

Jean-Marc Sol - Thionville, FR
Herbert Lage - Luxembourg, LU
John A. Vanderploeg - Highland MI, US
Desaraju V. Varaprasad - Ann Arbor MI, US
Lutz Henkel - Strassen, LU
Marcel Schloremberg - Habay-la-Neuve, BE

Assignee:

Centre Luxembourgeois de Recherches pour le Verre et al Ceramique S.A. (C.R.V.C.) - Luxembourg
Guardian Industries Corp. - Auburn Hills MI

International Classification:

B32B 17/00

US Classification:

156 99, 156104, 156107, 156108, 156109, 156714, 156918, 427154

Abstract:

In certain example embodiments of this invention, there is provided a method of making a window, the method including: forming a multi-layered low-E and/or solar control coating on a glass substrate; providing at least two flexible protective sheets in non-liquid form to the glass substrate over at least part of the low-E and/or solar control coating; applying at least one protective coating in liquid form, before and/or after the flexible protective sheets are provided, so as to reduce one or more gaps formed between the low-E and/or solar control coating and the flexible protective sheet(s) and/or between the flexible protective sheets; and performing one or more of cutting, edge seaming, and/or washing the coated article with the protective coating and protective sheets thereon and peeling the protective sheets and at least part of the protective coating off of the top surface of the low-E and/or solar control coating. Heat treatment (e. g. , thermal tempering) may then be performed, and the heat treated coated article may be used in a window unit or the like.

US Patent:

8298678, Oct 30, 2012

Filed:

Mar 24, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/064426

Inventors:

Philip J. Lingle - Temperance MI, US
Anton Dietrich - Fontnas, CH
Yiwei Lu - Ann Arbor MI, US
Willem Den Boer - Brighton MI, US
John A. Vanderploeg - Zeeland MI, US

Assignee:

Guardian Industries Corp. - Auburn Hills MI
Centre Luxembourgeois de Recherches pour le Verre Et la Ceramique S.A. (C.R.V.C.) - Luxembourg

International Classification:

B32B 7/00

US Classification:

428432, 428428, 428689, 428697, 428701, 428702

Abstract:

A plasma display panel (PDP) includes an EMI filter at a front portion thereof for blocking/shielding substantial amounts of electromagnetic waves. The filters has high visible transmission, and is capable of blocking/shielding electromagnetic waves. In certain example embodiments, a silver based coating of the EMI filter reduces damage from EMI radiation through highly conductive Ag layers, blocks significant amounts of NIR and IR radiation from outdoor sunlight to reduce PDP panel temperature, and enhances contrast ratio through reduced reflection, while maintaining high visible transmission. In certain example embodiments, at least one layer of or including silicon nitride may be Si-rich, and/or at least one layer including an oxide of Ni and/or Cr may be a suboxide, in order to improve heat treatability of the coated article.