Switchable window

• US 10,197,882 B2
• Filed: 07/10/2015
• Issued: 02/05/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Isoclima Limited (Finanziaria Industriale SPA)
• Original Assignee: Isoclima Limited (Finanziaria Industriale SPA)
• Inventors: Bertolini, Marco
• Primary Examiner(s): Martinez, Joseph P
• Assistant Examiner(s): Patel, Vipin
• Application Number:
  US14/796,845
• Publication Number:
  US 20160011483A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,306 Days
• Field of Search: 359265-275
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10036 comprising two outer glass sheets
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10532 Suspended particle layer
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10761 containing vinyl acetal
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/1077 containing polyurethane
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10788 containing ethylene vinylacetate
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2369/00 Polycarbonates
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2375/00 Polyureas; Polyurethanes
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2605/18 Aircraft blades, propellers B32B2603/00
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 1/14 Windows; Doors; Hatch covers or access panels; Surrounding frame structures; Canopies; Windscreens accessories therefor, e.g. pressure sensors, water deflectors, hinges, seals, handles, latches, windscreen wipersfairings movable in conjunction with undercarriage elements B64C25/16; bomb doors B64D1/06
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 2009/2411 Coloured fluid flow for light transmission control
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 2009/2417 Light path control; means to control reflection
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 2009/2464 featuring transparency control by applying voltage, e.g. LCD, electrochromic panels
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 9/24 Screens or other constructions affording protection against light, especially against sunshine; Similar screens for privacy or appearance; Slat blindsoperating, guiding or securing devices or arrangements for roll-type closures E06B9/56; free-hanging flexible screens A47H23/00
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133305 Flexible substrates, e.g. plastics, organic film
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1334 based on polymer dispersed liquid crystals, e.g. microencapsulated liquid crystals
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/137 characterised by the electro-optical or magneto-optical effect, e.g. field-induced phase transition, orientation effect, guest-host interaction or dynamic scattering
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1533 structural features not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/157 Structural association of cells with optical devices, e.g. reflectors or illuminating devices
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2001/1536 additional, e.g. protective, layer inside the cell

Abstract

A switchable window, in particular for use in an aircraft, helicopter, or space vehicle, includes an outer pane construction subjected to sunlight, and an inner pane construction having an electrically switchable film for changing a color or transmittance of the switchable window, the outer pane construction covering at least an irradiated part of the inner pane construction. The outer pane construction absorbs IR radiation of the sunlight and it absorbs or reflects UV radiation of the sunlight.

Claims

1. A switchable window for an aircraft, helicopter, or space vehicle, the switchable window comprising:

an outer pane construction subjected to sunlight; and

an inner pane construction having an electrically switchable film for changing a color or transmittance of the switchable window, the outer pane construction covering at least an irradiated part of the inner pane construction, wherein

the outer pane construction absorbs IR radiation of the sunlight, and absorbs UV radiation of the sunlight,

the outer pane construction comprises at least one transparent pane,

the at least one transparent pane comprises;

an IR absorber including nanoparticles of hexaboride, and

an UV absorber including a chromophore,

the outer pane construction and the inner pane construction are arranged with a spacing therebetween, and

the at least one transparent pane of the outer pane construction includes a polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) pane having a transmission of visible light LT greater than 80% and a total solar energy transmission TSE lower than or equal to 55% resulting in a transmission ratio LT/TSE greater than or equal to 1.45.

2. The switchable window according to claim 1, wherein the at least one transparent pane of the outer pane construction comprises a further PMMA pane arranged in parallel to said PMMA pane with a distance or spacing therebetween.

3. The switchable window according to claim 1, wherein the at least one transparent pane includes a perylene based dye.

4. The switchable window according to claim 1, wherein the at least one transparent pane of the outer pane construction and the electrically switchable film of the inner pane construction are arranged with a distance or spacing therebetween.

5. The switchable window according to claim 1, wherein the electrically switchable film is an electrochromic device.

6. The switchable window according to claim 5, wherein the electrochromic device comprises a suspended particle device (SPD) emulsion or a polymer dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) film.

7. The switchable window according to claim 1, wherein the inner pane construction is a suspended particle device (SPD) electrochromic laminated panel.

8. The switchable window according to claim 1, wherein the at least one transparent pane of the outer pane construction includes a double glazing structure unit comprising:

said PMMA pane, and

a glass pane, a polycarbonate pane, or a further PMMA pane.

9. The switchable window according to claim 1, further comprising:

a dust protective cover sheet arranged on an inside of the switchable window, wherein

the inner pane construction with the electrically switchable film is arranged between the protective cover sheet and the outer pane construction.

10. The switchable window according to claim 9, wherein the dust protective cover is a polycarbonate cover.

11. The switchable window according to claim 1, wherein the outer pane construction has a shape that is curved away from the inner pane construction.

12. The switchable window according to claim 1, further comprising:

a circumferential continuous frame, rabbet or encapsulation in which a circumferential edge of the inner pane construction is fixed in a corresponding circumferential groove of the frame, rabbet or encapsulation, wherein

the outer pane construction has a circumferential edge which is fixed in a corresponding circumferential continuous further groove of the frame, rabbet or encapsulation.

13. The switchable window according to claim 1, wherein

the inner pane construction is a laminated suspended particle device (SPD) panel comprising:

an inner sheet of polycarbonate (PC), PMMA or glass,

said electrically switchable film being an electrically switchable electrochromic SPD film,

an outer sheet of PC, PMMA or glass,

an interlayer between the inner sheet and the SPD film to attach the inner sheet on the SPD film, and

a further interlayer between the outer sheet and the SPD film to attach the outer sheet on the SPD film, wherein an inside surface of the inner sheet corresponds to an inside surface of the switchable window.

14. The switchable window according to claim 13, wherein

the SPD film is electrically coupled via wiring to a switch that is electrically coupled to a power line supplying AC voltage of the aircraft, helicopter, or space vehicle,

when the switch is ON, AC voltage is applied across the SPD film to maintain the SPD film in a transparent state, and

when the switch is OFF, no AC voltage is applied across the SPD film to switch the SPD film into an opaque non-transparent state.

15. The switchable window according to claim 1, wherein

said PMMA pane of the outer pane construction has

approximately 0% transmission in an UV range of wavelengths below 400 nm,

a maximum transmission of approximately 83% in the visible light range of wavelengths from 400 nm to 780 nm, and

a decreasing transmission of approximately 20% or less in an IR range of wavelengths from 780 nm to 2500 nm, and

said PMMA pane absorbs approximately 100% of UV radiation and approximately 80% of IR radiation.