Connectors for smart windows

• US 10,678,103 B2
• Filed: 06/22/2018
• Issued: 06/09/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: View Incorporated
• Original Assignee: View Incorporated
• Inventors: Mullins, Dennis, Frank, Trevor, Satern, Jason, Wilbur, Travis D., Sawyer, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Martinez, Joseph P
• Application Number:
  US16/016,450
• Publication Number:
  US 20180314100A1
• Time in Patent Office: 718 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 2009/247 Electrically powered illumination
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 3/42 Sliding wings; Details of frames with respect to guiding E06B3/26347 and E06B3/92 take precedence
• 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 3/6715 specially adapted for increased thermal insulation or for controlled passage of light E06B3/66323 takes precedence; coating of glass pains C03C17/00; devices or arrangements for controlling the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light G02F1/00
• 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 1/13452 Conductors connecting driver circuitry and terminals of panels
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1533 structural features not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/163 Operation of electrochromic cells, e.g. electrodeposition cells; Circuit arrangements therefor
• 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 25/142 Their counterparts

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. Pre-wired spacers improve fabrication efficiency and seal integrity of insulated glass units. Electrical connection systems include those embedded in the secondary seal of the insulated glass unit.

Claims

1. An electrical connection system for a sliding door or window, the electrical connection system comprising:

a guide comprising a recess within which pass one or more wires for electrical communication between at least a power source and an optically switchable device in the sliding door or window, the guide further comprising an outer surface and a lengthwise slot in the outer surface; and

a shuttle configured to couple to the sliding door or window and to slideably engage with the lengthwise slot in the guide, the shuttle further configured to pass the one or more wires from the sliding door or window, through a body of the shuttle into the recess of the guide, wherein during movement of the sliding door or window, the one or more wires are protected from interaction with one or more moving components.

2. The electrical connection system of claim 1, further comprising a flexible member affixed at one end to the shuttle, the one or more wires coupled to the flexible member, wherein the flexible member comprises a bend portion allowing the flexible member to pass back over itself and reside substantially parallel to the length of, and inside, the guide.

3. The electrical connection system of claim 2, wherein the one or more wires are supported on a ribbon cable and the flexible member is a spring steel tape.

4. The electrical connection system of claim 2, wherein the flexible member is a chain guide made of a non-electrically conducting material, and the one or more wires reside within the body of the chain guide.

5. The electrical connection system of claim 3, wherein the shuttle is slideably engaged with the sliding door or window in the vertical direction.

6. The electrical connection system of claim 5, wherein a vertical portion of the body of the shuttle passes through an aperture in a base plate affixed to the sliding door or window.

7. The electrical connection system of claim 5, wherein the body of the shuttle is made of a plastic material.

8. The electrical connection system of claim 5, wherein the guide further comprises an open end so that the shuttle may be inserted into the lengthwise slot through the open end of the guide during assembly of the electrical connection system.

9. The electrical connection system of claim 4, wherein the shuttle is slideably engaged with the sliding door or window in the vertical direction.

10. A sliding door or window assembly, comprising:

a sliding door or window having an optically switchable device, the sliding door or window configured to slideably engage with a lengthwise slot in a guide;

the guide having a recess within which pass one or more wires in electrical communication with the optically switchable device and with a power source; and

a shuttle configured to couple to the sliding door or window and to slideably engage with the lengthwise slot in the guide, wherein the one or more wires from the sliding door or window pass through a body of the shuttle into the recess of the guide, wherein the shuttle is configured such that during movement of the sliding door or window, the one or more wires are prevented from interaction with one or more moving components.

11. The sliding door or window assembly of claim 10, wherein the one or more wires are part of a ribbon cable.

12. The sliding door or window assembly of claim 10, further comprising a flexible member affixed at one end to the shuttle, the one or more wires coupled to the flexible member, wherein the flexible member comprises a bend portion allowing the flexible member to pass back over itself and reside substantially parallel to the length of, and inside, the guide.

13. The sliding door or window assembly of claim 12, wherein the flexible member is a spring steel tape.

14. The sliding door or window assembly of claim 12, wherein the flexible member is a chain guide made of a non-electrically conducting material, and the one or more wires reside within the body of the chain guide.

15. The sliding door or window assembly of claim 14, wherein a vertical portion of the body of the shuttle passes through an aperture in a base plate affixed to the sliding door or window.

16. The sliding door or window assembly of claim 10, wherein the shuttle is configured to slideably engage with the sliding door or window in the vertical direction.

17. The sliding door or window assembly of claim 10, wherein the guide further comprises an open end configured such that the shuttle may be inserted into the lengthwise slot through the open end of the guide.