VEHICLE WINDOW WITH SHADE
First Claim
1. A window assembly for a vehicle, said window assembly comprising:
- an outer window panel;
an inner window panel;
a conductive layer disposed at an inner surface of said inner window panel;
a spacer element disposed between said inner and outer window panels to establish an interpane cavity between said inner and outer window panels;
a roller shade disposed within said interpane cavity, wherein said roller shade has an end fixedly attached at an anchor stop along a perimeter portion of said spacer element;
a dielectric layer disposed between said roller shade and said conductive layer;
wherein said roller shade is electrically deployable to coil and uncoil between a coiled light transmitting condition, where said roller shade is coiled along said perimeter portion of said spacer element and functions to substantially allow light transmission through said window assembly, and an at least partially uncoiled light attenuating condition, where said roller shade is uncoiled to at least partially cover a surface of said inner window panel and functions to at least partially attenuate light transmission through said window assembly;
wherein said roller shade is electrically operable via applying a voltage at said conductive layer and at said anchor stop to uncoil said roller shade from said coiled light transmitting condition to said at least partially uncoiled light attenuating condition, and wherein electrical connection is made between said roller shade and a vehicle power source to provide electrical power to said roller shade; and
wherein said window assembly comprises a plurality of conductive elements established at said dielectric layer for dissipating charge at said dielectric layer when said voltage is not applied.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A window assembly for a vehicle includes inner and outer window panels and a spacer element disposed between the window panels to establish an interpane cavity, with a roller shade disposed therein having an end fixedly attached at an anchor stop. A dielectric layer is disposed between the roller shade and a conductive layer at the inner window panel. The shade is operable via applying a voltage at the conductive layer and at the anchor stop to uncoil the shade from a coiled light transmitting condition to an at least partially uncoiled light attenuating condition. The window assembly may include conductive elements established at the dielectric layer for dissipating charge at the dielectric layer when the voltage is not applied and/or may mechanically retain the shade in its uncoiled state to allow for reduction in the voltage applied when the shade is uncoiled.
25 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A window assembly for a vehicle, said window assembly comprising:
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an outer window panel; an inner window panel; a conductive layer disposed at an inner surface of said inner window panel; a spacer element disposed between said inner and outer window panels to establish an interpane cavity between said inner and outer window panels; a roller shade disposed within said interpane cavity, wherein said roller shade has an end fixedly attached at an anchor stop along a perimeter portion of said spacer element; a dielectric layer disposed between said roller shade and said conductive layer; wherein said roller shade is electrically deployable to coil and uncoil between a coiled light transmitting condition, where said roller shade is coiled along said perimeter portion of said spacer element and functions to substantially allow light transmission through said window assembly, and an at least partially uncoiled light attenuating condition, where said roller shade is uncoiled to at least partially cover a surface of said inner window panel and functions to at least partially attenuate light transmission through said window assembly; wherein said roller shade is electrically operable via applying a voltage at said conductive layer and at said anchor stop to uncoil said roller shade from said coiled light transmitting condition to said at least partially uncoiled light attenuating condition, and wherein electrical connection is made between said roller shade and a vehicle power source to provide electrical power to said roller shade; and wherein said window assembly comprises a plurality of conductive elements established at said dielectric layer for dissipating charge at said dielectric layer when said voltage is not applied. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A window assembly for a vehicle, said window assembly comprising:
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an outer window panel; an inner window panel; a conductive layer disposed at an inner surface of said inner window panel; a spacer element disposed between said inner and outer window panels to establish an interpane cavity between said inner and outer window panels; a roller shade disposed within said interpane cavity, wherein said roller shade has an end fixedly attached at an anchor stop along a perimeter portion of said spacer element; a controller operable to electrically coil and uncoil said roller shade between a coiled light transmitting condition, where said roller shade is coiled along said perimeter portion of said spacer element and functions to substantially allow light transmission through said window assembly, and an at least partially uncoiled light attenuating condition, where said roller shade is uncoiled to at least partially cover a surface of said inner window panel and functions to at least partially attenuate light transmission through said window assembly; wherein said roller shade is electrically operable via applying a voltage at said conductive layer and at said anchor stop to uncoil said roller shade from said coiled light transmitting condition to said at least partially uncoiled light attenuating condition, and wherein electrical connection is made between said roller shade and a vehicle power source to provide electrical power to said roller shade; and wherein said controller is operable to determine a rate of deployment of said shade element and wherein, responsive to the determined rate of deployment of said shade element, said controller is operable to adjust said voltage applied at said shade film to adjust the deployment rate to be within a selected range of deployment rates. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25)
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26. A window assembly for a vehicle, said window assembly comprising:
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an outer window panel; an inner window panel; a conductive layer disposed at an inner surface of said inner window panel; a spacer element disposed between said inner and outer window panels to establish an interpane cavity between said inner and outer window panels; a roller shade disposed within said interpane cavity, wherein said roller shade has an end fixedly attached at an anchor stop along a perimeter portion of said spacer element; wherein said roller shade is electrically deployable to coil and uncoil between a coiled light transmitting condition, where said roller shade is coiled along said perimeter portion of said spacer element and functions to substantially allow light transmission through said window assembly, and an at least partially uncoiled light attenuating condition, where said roller shade is uncoiled to at least partially cover a surface of said inner window panel and functions to at least partially attenuate light transmission through said window assembly; wherein said roller shade is electrically operable via applying a voltage at said conductive layer and at said anchor stop to uncoil said roller shade from said coiled light transmitting condition to said at least partially uncoiled light attenuating condition, and wherein electrical connection is made between said roller shade and a vehicle power source to provide electrical power to said roller shade; a pressure regulating device for regulating a pressure within said interpane cavity of said window assembly; and wherein said pressure regulating device comprises one of (i) a vent, (ii) an expandable and contractable container in fluid communication with said interpane cavity of said window assembly and (iii) an expandable and contractable spacer element that allows for movement of said outer window panel towards and away from said inner window panel. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28)
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Specification