John I Vanderploeg

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:

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.

US Patent:

8411245, Apr 2, 2013

Filed:

Sep 30, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/570585

Inventors:

Ethan J. Lee - Byron Center MI, US
Daniel B. Lee - Wyoming MI, US
Michael G. Hendricks - Wyoming MI, US
Mark R. Roth - Coloma MI, US
Craig R. Myers - Holland MI, US
G. Bruce Poe - Hamilton MI, US
David A. Blaker - Holland MI, US
Carsten Schaudel - Erlenbach, DE
Mark A. VanVuuren - Dorr MI, US
John A. VanderPloeg - Zeeland MI, US

Assignee:

Gentex Corporation - Zeeland MI

International Classification:

G02F 1/13
G02F 1/133

US Classification:

349195, 349 73

Abstract:

A multi-display vehicular rearview mirror system () and method includes an electrochromic (EC) glass element () and a plurality of liquid crystal displays (LCDs) () positioned behind EC element (). A plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) () are used for providing backlighting for each respective LCD of the plurality of LCDs such that the LCDs utilize a plurality of imaging devices () for forming substantially a single image across the plurality of LCDs ().

US Patent:

8508832, Aug 13, 2013

Filed:

Apr 24, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/454459

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 A. Luten - Holland MI, US
George A. Neuman - Holland MI, US

Assignee:

Gentex Corporation - Zeeland MI

International Classification:

G02F 1/153

US Classification:

359267

Abstract:

An electro-optic system is provided that includes a front element a rear element, and an electro-optic medium, 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:

20090068350, Mar 12, 2009

Filed:

Aug 8, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/222459

Inventors:

Desaraju V. Varaprasad - Ann Arbor MI, US
John A. Vanderploeg - Zeeland MI, US

Assignee:

Guardian Industries Corp. - Auburn Hills MI

International Classification:

B05D 3/00
C23C 14/34

US Classification:

427154, 20419222

Abstract:

A temporary protective coating is provided over a coated glass substrate. The temporary protective coating is preferably applied in liquid form then solidified on the substrate. In some instances, the temporary protective coating may be easily removed by simply peeling it off. In certain example embodiments, the temporary protective coating is applied after heat treatment and is removed by peeling it off before the coated substrate is coupled to another substrate to form a window unit such as an IG window unit or a laminated vehicle windshield.

US Patent:

20090194157, Aug 6, 2009

Filed:

Oct 2, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/285374

Inventors:

Willem den Boer - Brighton MI, US
Alexey Krasnov - Canton MI, US
John A. Vanderploeg - Zeeland MI, US

Assignee:

Guardian Industries Corp. - Auburn Hills MI

International Classification:

H01L 31/00

US Classification:

136256, 438754, 257E21219

Abstract:

Certain example embodiments of this invention relate to a photovoltaic (PV) device including an electrode such as a front electrode/contact, and a method of making the same. In certain example embodiments, the front electrode has a textured (e.g., etched) surface that faces the photovoltaic semiconductor film of the PV device. In certain example embodiments, the front electrode is formed on a flat or substantially flat (non-textured) surface of a glass substrate (e.g., via sputtering), and the surface of the front electrode is textured (e.g., via etching). In certain example embodiments, a combination of two or more different etchants can be used in order to provide the front electrode with a textured surface having at least two different feature sizes. In completing manufacture of the PV device, the etched surface of the front electrode faces the active semiconductor film of the PV device.