Connectors for smart windows

• US 10,591,799 B2
• Filed: 10/17/2018
• Issued: 03/17/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: View Incorporated
• Original Assignee: View Incorporated
• Inventors: Brown, Stephen Clark
• Primary Examiner(s): Martinez, Joseph P
• Application Number:
  US16/163,445
• Publication Number:
  US 20190121214A1
• Time in Patent Office: 517 Days
• 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 3/66 Units comprising two or more parallel glass or like panes permanently secured together reforming and uniting glass sheets by fusing C03B23/00; joining glass to glass or to other materials C03C27/00; laminated glass B32B17/10
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 3/6612 Evacuated glazing units
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 3/6621 with special provisions for fitting in window frames or to adjacent units; Separate edge protecting strips E06B3/66347 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 3/66304 Discrete spacing elements, e.g. for evacuated glazing units
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 3/66309 Section members positioned at the edges of the glazing unit
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 3/66328 of rubber, plastics or similar materials E06B3/66314, E06B3/66323 and E06B3/66342 take precedence; transparent materials E06B3/66333
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 3/667 Connectors therefor
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 3/6722 with adjustable passage of light
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 3/673 Assembling the units E06B3/677 takes precedence ; making hollow glass sheets or bricks C03B23/24
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 3/67326 Assembling spacer elements with the panes
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 3/67391 Apparatus travelling around the periphery of the pane or the unit
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 7/00 Special arrangements or measures in connection with doors or windows arrangements against burglary at the edges of the wings E06B5/113 ; screening or similar protective devices E06B9/00
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 7/28 Other arrangements on doors or windows, e.g. door-plates, windows adapted to carry plants, hooks for window cleaners edge protecting devices for door leaves E06B3/88; special glazing; emergency glazing; double glazing E06B3/66
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 9/00 Screening or protective devices for wall or similar openings, with or without operating or securing mechanisms; Closures of similar construction E06B5/10 takes precedence; wings for doors or windows, connected at their edges, E06B3/48; additional indoor equipment of doors or windows, not forming part of the proper finishing work of a building, e.g. curtains, A47H; gratings as building elements E04C2/24; fastening means E05; operating-mechanisms for wings in general E05F
• 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 1/1345 Conductors connecting electrodes to cell terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1523 comprising inorganic material
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/153 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/161 : Gaskets; Spacers; Sealing of cells; Filling or closing of cells
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/163 : Operation of electrochromic cells, e.g. electrodeposition cells; Circuit arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/79 : connecting to rigid printed circuits or like structures
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6205 : Two-part coupling devices held in engagement by a magnet
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6315 : allowing relative movement between coupling parts, e.g. floating connection for coupling devices specially adapted for printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures, H01R12/91 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/73 : Means for mounting coupling parts to apparatus or structures, e.g. to a wall
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2103/00 : Two poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/76 : with sockets, clips or analogous contacts and secured to apparatus or structure, e.g. to a wall
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 25/14 : Rails or bus-bars constructed so that the counterparts can be connected thereto at any point along their length supporting elements for lighting devices, displaceable along guiding elements and making electrical contact with conductors running along the guiding elements F21V21/35
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 25/162 : Electrical connections between or with rails or bus-bars rails having primarily a non electrical function H01R4/64
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/12 : by twisting
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 41/00 : Non-rotary current collectors for maintaining contact between moving and stationary parts of an electric circuit end pieces terminating in a hook or the like H01R11/12; current collectors for power supply lines of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L5/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49117 : Conductor or circuit manufacturing

Abstract

This disclosure provides connectors for smart windows. A smart window may incorporate an optically switchable pane. In one aspect, a window unit includes an insulated glass unit including an optically switchable pane. A wire assembly may be attached to the edge of the insulated glass unit and may include wires in electrical communication with electrodes of the optically switchable pane. A floating connector may be attached to a distal end of the wire assembly. The floating connector may include a flange and a nose, with two holes in the flange for affixing the floating connector to a first frame. The nose may include a terminal face that present two exposed contacts of opposite polarity.

Claims

1. An electrochromic window comprising:

a pair of panes including an electrochromic pane with an electrochromic device thereon; and

a ribbon cable or tape conductor in electrical communication with the electrochromic device disposed on the electrochromic pane, the ribbon cable or tape conductor embedded between the electrochromic pane and the other of the pair of panes.

2. The electrochromic window of claim 1, configured as an insulated glass unit (IGU), and further comprising:

a spacer sealed between the pair of panes; and

a secondary seal outside the spacer and between the pair of panes, wherein the ribbon cable or tape conductor is embedded in the secondary seal.

3. The electrochromic window of claim 1, wherein the pair of panes is configured as a laminate.

4. The electrochromic window of claim 1, wherein the ribbon cable or tape conductor is embedded in an adhesive between the pair of panes of the electrochromic window.

5. The electrochromic window of claim 2, further comprising a window controller embedded at least partially between the pair of panes of the IGU, the window controller in electrical communication with the ribbon cable or tape conductor.

6. The electrochromic window of claim 5, wherein the window controller lies entirely within the perimeter edge of the pair of panes of the IGU.

7. The electrochromic window of claim 5, further comprising one or more pin connectors in electrical communication with the ribbon cable or tape conductor.

8. The electrochromic window of claim 7, wherein the one or more pin connectors comprise a locking tab to secure engagement of a socket and connector pair.

9. The electrochromic window of claim 1, wherein the ribbon cable or tape conductor is in electrical communication with the electrochromic device via bus bars.

10. The electrochromic window of claim 9, wherein multiple parallel wires of the ribbon cable or the tape conductor are in electrical communication with the bus bars through a soldered connection.

11. The electrochromic window of claim 1, wherein the ribbon cable or tape conductor is in electrical communication with a pigtail connector.

12. The electrochromic window of claim 11, wherein the pigtail connector comprises a memory device and/or integrated circuit device configured for storing information for identifying and/or controlling the electrochromic pane.

13. The electrochromic window of claim 12, wherein the information comprises current and voltage operating instructions for transitioning the electrochromic pane between a first optical state and a second optical state.

14. The electrochromic window of claim 12, wherein the electrochromic device is solid state and inorganic.

15. The electrochromic window of claim 1, wherein the ribbon cable or tape conductor is in electrical communication with a memory device and/or integrated circuit device, and wherein the memory device and/or integrated circuit device is at least part of control circuitry configured to control the electrochromic device.

16. The electrochromic window of claim 15, wherein the memory device and/or integrated circuit device is configured to store information comprising current and voltage operating instructions for transitioning the electrochromic pane between a first optical state and a second optical state.

17. The electrochromic window of claim 15, wherein the control circuitry is part of a window controller embedded at least partially between the pair of panes.