CONNECTORS FOR SMART WINDOWS
First Claim
1. An electrical connection system for an insulated glass unit comprising an optical device requiring electrical powering, the electrical connection system comprising:
- a. a frame having a unitary body and comprising;
b. a track comprising two or more rails, each of said two or more rails in electrical communication with;
c. a wire configured to pass through the frame for connection to an electrical power distribution component of the optical device; and
d. a connector configured to establish electrical connection to said two or more rails and thereby supply electrical power to each of said two or more rails.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
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.
12 Citations
83 Claims
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1. An electrical connection system for an insulated glass unit comprising an optical device requiring electrical powering, the electrical connection system comprising:
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a. a frame having a unitary body and comprising; b. a track comprising two or more rails, each of said two or more rails in electrical communication with; c. a wire configured to pass through the frame for connection to an electrical power distribution component of the optical device; and d. a connector configured to establish electrical connection to said two or more rails and thereby supply electrical power to each of said two or more rails. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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- 11. A spacer for an insulated glass unit, the spacer configured to supply electricity to an optical device on a lite of the insulated glass unit, via one or more electrical power distribution components of the optical device, wherein at least one of said one or more electrical power distribution components is either within the primary seal or within the sealed interior volume of the insulated glass unit, and wherein the electricity supplied to said at least one of said one or more electrical power distribution components does not traverse the primary seal of the insulated glass unit.
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23. An electrical connection system for an insulated glass unit comprising an optical device requiring electrical powering, the electrical connection system comprising:
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a. one or more ribbon conductors configured to be embedded in the secondary seal of the insulated glass unit and supply electricity to the optical device; and b. a pin connector configured to establish electrical connection to said one or more ribbon conductors by penetrating the secondary seal material and piercing the one or more ribbon conductors thereby establishing electrical communication with the one or more ribbon conductors. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. An electrical connection system of an insulated glass unit comprising an optical device requiring electrical powering, the electrical connection system comprising:
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a. a ribbon cable embedded in the secondary seal of the insulated glass unit and configured to supply electricity to the optical device; b. one or more pin sockets, also in the secondary seal, and in electrical communication with the ribbon cable, said one or more pin sockets configured in redundant form, each of the one or more pin sockets having the same electrical communication capability with the optical device; and c. a pin connector configured to mate with each of the one or more pin sockets and deliver electricity to the optical device. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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41. A method of fabricating an IGU, the method comprising:
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a. registering a pre-wired spacer to a first lite comprising an optical device; b. registering a second lite with the pre-wired spacer and the first lite, wherein the second lite optionally comprises a second optical device; and c. affixing the pre-wired spacer to the first and second lites. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
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47. A window unit comprising:
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an insulated glass unit including an optically switchable pane; a wire assembly attached to an edge of the insulated glass unit and comprising wires in electrical communication with distinct electrodes of the optically switchable pane; and a floating connector attached to the distal end of the wire assembly, the floating connector electrically coupled to the optically switchable pane, wherein the floating connector comprises; (i) a flange and a nose extending from the flange by a distance approximately equal to a thickness of a first frame in which insulated glass unit is to be mounted, wherein the nose comprises a terminal face presenting two exposed contacts of opposite polarities, and (ii) two holes in the flange for affixing the floating connector to said first frame, wherein the two holes are arranged with respect to the nose such that the nose is closer to one of the holes than the other, thereby requiring that the two exposed contacts be arranged in a defined orientation when the floating connector is affixed to the first frame, or an asymmetric element in the shape of the nose and/or the flange that permits installation in only one way. - View Dependent Claims (48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64)
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65. A window assembly comprising:
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an insulated glass unit including an optically switchable pane; a first connector mounted to the insulated glass unit in a sealant of the insulated glass unit, the first connector comprising exposed contacts electrically coupled to leads extending from the optically switchable pane and through the insulated glass unit, the first connector further comprising a first ferromagnetic element, which itself may be magnetized; and a wire assembly configured to be detachably mounted to the insulated glass unit through the first connector, wherein the wire assembly comprises at least two wires extending from and electrically coupled to a second connector comprising a surface having contacts and being shaped for mechanical engagement to the first connector, the second connector further comprising a second ferromagnetic element, which itself may be magnetized, wherein at least one of the first and second ferromagnetic elements is magnetized such that the first and second connectors may magnetically engage one another to provide electrical communication between their respective contacts. - View Dependent Claims (66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75)
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76. A window system comprising:
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a first insulated glass unit including a first optically switchable pane and a first connector in electrical communication with electrodes of the first optically switchable pane; and a first coupling unit comprising two connectors linked by a flexible ribbon cable, wherein a first of the two connectors is configured to mate with the first connector. - View Dependent Claims (77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83)
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Specification