Switchable variable transmittance window assembly

• US 10,023,028 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2012
• Issued: 07/17/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Inventors: Bugno, Mark D, Cammenga, David J, Busscher, Bradley L, Driscoll, David I, Ash, Kevin L, Cammenga, Alex K, Weller, Andrew D
• Primary Examiner(s): PINKNEY, DAWAYNE
• Application Number:
  US13/724,122
• Publication Number:
  US 20130161971A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,034 Days
• Field of Search: 359245-247, 359242, 359265-275, 359277, 345 49, 345105, 345107, 348814, 348817, 438929, 349182-186
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 3/04 adjustable in transparency
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 1/1484 Windows B64C1/1492 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 1/1492 Structure and mounting of the transparent elements in the window or windscreen

Abstract

An autodimming window assembly for a vehicle such as an aircraft includes a UI devoid of movable elements and integrated with a dust cover of the window assembly. A dust cover optionally includes a lightguide configured to deliver light from a light source associated with the assembly and indicia representing an operational characteristic of the UI and articulated to the dust cover.

Claims

1. A substantially optically transparent cover for a variable transmittance window assembly, the cover comprising:

a first optically transparent substrate serving as said cover for the variable transmittance window assembly and having an area of at least 0.1 m²; and

a user interface (UI) on a surface of said first optically transparent substrate and devoid of moveable elements, the UI including visually perceivable indicia representing an operational parameter of said variable transmittance window assembly, wherein the UI is transparent with the exception of the visually perceivable indicia,

wherein the variable transmittance window assembly comprises an electro-optic device comprising;

a first transparent member,

a second transparent member spaced from the first transparent member,

a seal disposed between the first and second members about the perimeter thereof to thereby form a chamber, and

an electro-optic medium disposed within the chamber,

wherein said first optically transparent substrate of the cover is configured to be mounted spaced apart from, and not in direct contact with, the electro-optic device.

2. A cover according to claim 1, further comprising a material layer on a surface of said first optically transparent substrate that is adapted to increase at least one of optical density, electrical conductivity, and resistance to mechanical abrasion of said UI.

3. A cover according to claim 1, further comprising electrically-conductive pads on a surface of said first optically transparent substrate, said pads being electrically separated from one another.

4. A cover according to claim 1, wherein the indicia includes a surface, of said first optically transparent substrate, adapted to scatter light incident thereupon.

5. A cover according to claim 4, wherein the surface adapted to scatter light incident thereupon includes a trough containing a fluorescent material.

6. A cover according to claim 1, wherein the first optically transparent substrate has a spatially non-uniform thickness.

7. A cover according to claim 1, wherein the first optically transparent substrate includes a ridge lightguide.

8. A cover according to claim 1, further comprising a layer adapted as a lightguide, the layer affixed to a surface of said first optically transparent substrate.

9. A cover according to claim 1, further comprising a second optically transparent substrate adjoining the first optically transparent substrate.

10. A cover according to claim 1, wherein the first and second optically transparent substrates are laminated to one another.

11. A cover according to claim 1, wherein the UI comprises a transparent display for displaying the visually perceivable indicia.

12. A cover according to claim 1, wherein the UI comprises a transparent electrically conductive pads for capacitive touch input.

13. A cover according to claim 12, wherein the transparent electrically conductive pads are provided on a surface of the first optically transparent substrate that faces the electro-optic device.

14. A variable transmittance window assembly comprising:

a housing structure defining an opening therethrough;

an electro-optic device having a clear aperture of at least 0.1 m² secured inside said opening;

an optically transparent dust cover affixedly disposed in said opening in a spaced-apart relationship to said electro-optic device;

a user interface (UI) articulated to a surface of said dust cover, the UI including visually perceivable indicia representing an operational parameter of said variable transmittance window assembly; and

a light source in optical communication with an edge of said dust cover, wherein the dust cover is configured as a lightguide adapted to deliver light from said light source to the UI,

wherein the electro-optic device comprises;

a first transparent member,

a second transparent member spaced from the first transparent member,

a seal disposed between the first and second members about the perimeter thereof to thereby form a chamber, and

an electro-optic medium disposed within the chamber,

wherein said optically transparent dust cover is not in direct contact with the electro-optic device.

15. An assembly according to claim 14, wherein the visual perceivable indicia includes a surface of the dust cover adapted to scatter light incident thereupon.

16. An assembly according to claim 15, wherein the surface adapted to scatter light incident thereupon includes a trough containing a fluorescent material.

17. An assembly according to claim 14, further comprising a pressure pane having first and second surfaces and disposed in said housing structure and separated from the dust cover by said electro-optic cell facing the first surface of the pressure pane, the pressure pane configured to protect said electro-optic cell from barometric pressure applied to the second surface of the pressure pane.

18. An assembly according to claim 14, further comprising a material layer on a surface of said dust cover that is adapted to increase at least one of optical density, electrical conductivity, and resistance to mechanical abrasion of said UI.

19. An assembly according to claim 14, wherein the UI comprises a transparent display for displaying the visually perceivable indicia, wherein the transparent display is illuminated by the light source through the edge-lit dust cover.

20. A substantially optically transparent cover for a variable transmittance window assembly, the cover comprising:

a first optically transparent substrate serving as said cover for the variable transmittance window assembly and having an area of at least 0.1 m²; and

a user interface (UI) on a surface of said first optically transparent substrate and devoid of moveable elements, the UI including a transparent display for displaying visually perceivable indicia representing an operational parameter of said variable transmittance window assembly, wherein the UI comprises transparent electrically conductive pads for capacitive touch input,

wherein the variable transmittance window assembly comprises an electro-optic device comprising;

a first transparent member,

a second transparent member spaced from the first transparent member,

a seal disposed between the first and second members about the perimeter thereof to thereby form a chamber, and

an electro-optic medium disposed within the chamber.