SEALED SWITCHABLE GLAZING

• US 20110171443A1
• Filed: 06/17/2009
• Published: 07/14/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pilkington Group Limited (Nippon Sheet Glass Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Pilkington Group Limited (Nippon Sheet Glass Company Limited)
• Inventors: Thompson, James Robert
• Granted Patent: US 8,551,603 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 428/212
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10036 comprising two outer glass sheets
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10302 Edge sealing
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10532 Suspended particle layer
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10761 containing vinyl acetal
• 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 1/13306 Circuit arrangements or driving methods for the control of single liquid crystal cells G02F1/132, G02F1/133382 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133305 Flexible substrates, e.g. plastics, organic film
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1341 Filling or closing of cells
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2201/38 Anti-reflection arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2202/28 Adhesive materials or arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24777 Edge feature
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24802 Discontinuous or differential coating, impregnation or bond [e.g., artwork, printing, retouched photograph, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24851 Intermediate layer is discontinuous or differential
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24876 Intermediate layer contains particulate material [e.g., pigment, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24901 including coloring matter
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24942 including components having same physical characteristic in differing degree
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/28 Web or sheet containing structurally defined element or component and having an adhesive outermost layer

Abstract

The invention discloses a functional film assembly comprising a functional film having at least one active layer laminated between first and second planar electrode layers. At least a portion of the edge region of the functional film is sealed by a sealing member. Preferably, the sealing member comprises a strip of polymer film material having on one surface a first strip-like region of adhesive material adjacent a first edge of the strip of polymer film material, and a second strip-like region of adhesive material adjacent a second edge of the strip of polymer film material. There is an adhesive-free region between the first and second strip-like regions of adhesive material, which is positioned coincident with the active layer of the functional film.

Claims

1. Functional film assembly comprising a functional film having at least one active layer laminated between first and second planar electrode layers, at least a portion of the edge region of the functional film being sealed by a sealing member, wherein the sealing member comprises a strip of polymer film material having on one surface a first strip-like region of adhesive material adjacent a first edge of the strip of polymer film material, and a second strip-like region of adhesive material adjacent a second edge of the strip of polymer film material, there being an adhesive-free region between the first strip-like region of adhesive material and the second strip-like region of adhesive material, and the adhesive-free region is positioned coincident with the active layer of the functional film.

2. Functional film assembly according to claim 1, wherein the first strip-like region of adhesive material is physically separate from the second strip-like region of adhesive material.

3. Functional film assembly according to claim 1, wherein the first strip-like region of adhesive material and the second strip-like region of adhesive material are substantially continuous and the adhesive-free region is physically separate from the strip of polymer film.

4. Functional film assembly according to claim 1, wherein the first strip-like region of adhesive material is supported on a first support film, and the strip of polymer film material is joined to the first planar electrode layer via the first strip-like region of adhesive material.

5. Functional film assembly according to claim 4, wherein the second strip-like region of adhesive material is supported on a second support film, and the strip of polymer film material is connected to the second planar electrode layer via the second strip-like region of adhesive material.

6. Functional film assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first strip-like region of adhesive material contacts the first planar electrode layer of the functional film, and the second strip-like region of adhesive material contacts the second planar electrode layer.

7. Functional film assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first and second strip-like regions of adhesive material are formed from a pressure-sensitive adhesive.

8. Functional film assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the active layer contains a suspended particle emulsion or a liquid crystal emulsion.

9. A laminated vehicle glazing comprising the functional film assembly of claim 1, laminated between a first and a second ply of a transparent glazing material by at least a first and a second ply of adhesive interlayer material.

10. The laminated vehicle glazing of claim 9, wherein the functional film is framed within a ply of adhesive interlayer material in an inset region, and laminated between the first and second plies of adhesive interlayer material.

11. The laminated glazing of claim 9, wherein the adhesive interlayer material is polyvinyl butyral.

12. Functional film assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first strip-like region of adhesive material contacts the first planar electrode layer of the functional film, and the second strip-like region of adhesive material contacts the second planar electrode layer.

13. Functional film assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein the first strip-like region of adhesive material contacts the first planar electrode layer of the functional film, and the second strip-like region of adhesive material contacts the second planar electrode layer.

14. Functional film assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first and second strip-like regions of adhesive material are formed from a pressure-sensitive adhesive.

15. Functional film assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein the first and second strip-like regions of adhesive material are formed from a pressure-sensitive adhesive.

16. Functional film assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein the active layer contains a suspended particle emulsion or a liquid crystal emulsion.

17. Functional film assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein the active layer contains a suspended particle emulsion or a liquid crystal emulsion.

18. A laminated vehicle glazing comprising the functional film assembly of claim 2, wherein the functional film assembly is laminated between a first and a second ply of a transparent glazing material by respective plies of adhesive interlayer material.

19. A laminated vehicle glazing comprising the functional film assembly of claim 3, wherein the functional film assembly is laminated between a first and a second ply of a transparent glazing material by respective plies of adhesive interlayer material.