Reduced ultraviolet radiation transmitting, safety protected electrochromic glazing assembly

• US 6,122,093 A
• Filed: 10/14/1999
• Issued: 09/19/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Lynam, Niall R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Epps, Georgia
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lester, Evelyn A.
• Application Number:
  US09/418,525
• Time in Patent Office: 341 Days
• Field of Search: 359/265-275
• US Class Current: 359/275
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10005 laminated safety glass or glazing
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10036 comprising two outer glass sheets
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10064 comprising at least two glass sheets, only one of which being an outer layer
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10174 Coatings of a metallic or dielectric material on a constituent layer of glass or polymer
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10302 Edge sealing
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/1033 Laminated safety glass or glazing containing temporary protective coatings or layers
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10339 Specific parts of the laminated safety glass or glazing being colored or tinted tinted glass sheet B32B17/1011; tinted interlayer B32B17/10651
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10513 Electrochromic layer
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10761 containing vinyl acetal
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2367/00 Polyesters, e.g. PET, i.e. polyethylene terephthalate
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/08 of synthetic resin
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 3/04 adjustable in transparency
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/088 using a cell of electrically changeable optical characteristic, e.g. liquid-crystal or electrochromic mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1333 Constructional arrangements; Manufacturing methodsG02F1/135, G02F1/136 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1503 caused by oxidation-reduction reactions in organic liquid solutions, e.g. viologen solutions
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1533 structural features not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/157 Structural association of cells with optical devices, e.g. reflectors or illuminating devices
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2001/1536 additional, e.g. protective, layer inside the cell

Abstract

An electrochromic glazing assembly is disclosed with reduced ultraviolet (UV) radiation transmission and safety protection. The assembly may include at least a pair of glass or other elements confining an electrochromic medium therebetween. Ultraviolet radiation reducing means are incorporated for reducing ultraviolet radiation transmission through the assembly. A polymeric antilacerative layer is disposed on one surface of one of the glass elements for preventing lacerative injuries.

Claims

1. A reduced ultraviolet transmitting, safety protected electrochromic vehicular glazing assembly adapted for mounting in a vehicle having an interior and an exterior, said assembly comprising:

first and second spaced transparent panels, said first panel located closest to said exterior of said vehicle when said assembly is mounted in said vehicle and said second panel located closest to said interior of said vehicle when said assembly is mounted in said vehicle;

said first and said second panels each having a front surface and an opposing rear surface, said rear surface of said first panel facing and spaced from said front surface of said second panel defining a space between said first and second panels, said rear surface of said first panel and said front surface of said second panel coated with a transparent electrical conductor;

an electrochromic medium disposed in said space whose light transmittance is variable upon the application of an electric field thereto;

ultraviolet radiation reducing means incorporated in said assembly for reducing ultraviolet radiation transmission through said assembly; and

a polymeric antilacerative layer disposed on said rear surface of said second panel for preventing lacerative injuries should said second panel crack or break.

2. The vehicular glazing assembly of claim 1 wherein said glazing assembly comprises a vehicle window.

3. The vehicular glazing assembly of claim 1 wherein said glazing assembly comprises a vehicle sunroof.

4. The vehicular glazing assembly of claim 1 wherein said glazing assembly comprises a vehicle sun visor.

5. The vehicular glazing assembly of claim 1 wherein said glazing assembly comprises a vehicle shade band.

6. The vehicular glazing assembly of claim 1 wherein at least one of said first and second panels comprises a tempered, safety glass panel.

7. The vehicular glazing assembly of claim 6 wherein each of said first and second panels comprises a tempered, safety glass panel.

8. The vehicular glazing assembly of claim 1 wherein at least said first panel comprises a tempered, safety glass panel.

9. The vehicular glazing assembly of claim 1 wherein at least one of said first and second panels comprises a tinted glass panel.

10. The vehicular glazing assembly of claim 9 wherein said tinted glass panel has a tint selected from the group consisting of a blue tint, a green tint, a blue/green tint, a bronze tint and a gray tint.

11. The vehicular glazing assembly of claim 1 wherein said antilacerative layer comprises a single-layer polymer film.

12. The vehicular glazing assembly of claim 11 wherein said single-layer polymer film comprises polyurethane.

13. The vehicular glazing assembly of claim 1 wherein said antilacerative layer comprises a two-layer polymer film.

14. The vehicular glazing assembly of claim 13 wherein one layer of said two-layer polymer film comprises plasticized polyvinylbutyral.

15. The vehicular glazing assembly of claim 14 wherein the other layer of said two-layer polymer film comprises polyester and wherein said polyvinylbutyral layer is disposed between said polyester layer and said rear surface of said second panel.

16. The vehicular glazing assembly of claim 1 wherein at least one of said first and second panels comprises a glass panel bent to a compound curvature.

17. The vehicular glazing assembly of claim 1 wherein at least said first panel comprises a glass panel bent to a compound curvature.

18. The vehicular glazing assembly of claim 1 wherein said antilacerative layer has a thickness in the range from about 0.005 inches to about 0.25 inches.

19. The vehicular glazing assembly of claim 18 wherein said antilacerative layer has a thickness in the range from about 0.01 inches to about 0.06 inches.

20. The vehicular glazing assembly of claim 1 wherein said antilacerative layer comprises a tear-resistant, resilient material.

21. The vehicular glazing assembly of claim 1 wherein said antilacerative layer comprises a flexible polymer film.

22. The vehicular glazing assembly of claim 21 wherein said flexible polymer film is adhesively attached to said rear surface of said second panel.

23. The vehicular glazing assembly of claim 1 wherein said transparent conductor comprises one of indium tin oxide, doped tin oxide and doped zinc oxide.

24. The vehicular glazing assembly of claim 1 wherein at least one of said first and second panels comprises a specialized glass transmitting in the visible portion of the electromagnetic spectrum and having reduced transmission in the ultraviolet portion of the electromagnetic spectrum.

25. The vehicular glazing assembly of claim 1 wherein at least said first panel comprises a specialized glass transmitting in the visible portion of the electromagnetic spectrum and having reduced transmission in the ultraviolet portion of the electromagnetic spectrum.

26. The vehicular glazing assembly of claim 25 wherein at least said first panel comprises a tempered, safety glass panel.

27. The vehicular glazing assembly of claim 26 wherein at least said first panel comprises a glass panel bent to a compound curvature.

28. The vehicular glazing assembly of claim 1 wherein said assembly incorporates spectrally absorbing means for absorbing more light in those regions of the visible spectrum from about 560 nanometers to about 780 nanometers than is absorbed in those regions of the visible spectrum from about 400 nanometers to about 560 nanometers.

29. The vehicular glazing assembly of claim 1 wherein said ultraviolet reducing means comprises an additive for absorbing, blocking and/or screening ultraviolet radiation.

30. The vehicular glazing assembly of claim 29 wherein said additive is selected from the group consisting of benzophenones, cinnamic acid derivatives, esters of benzoin acids, salicyclic acid, terephthalic and isophthalic acids with resorcinol and phenols, pentamethyl piperidine derivatives, salicylates, benzotriazoles, cyanoacrylates, benzilidenes, malonates, hindered amines, organo-nickel complexes, nickel chelates and oxalanilides.

31. The vehicular glazing assembly of claim 29 wherein said additive comprises a benzophenone.

32. The vehicular glazing assembly of claim 29 wherein said additive comprises a benzotriazole.

33. The vehicular glazing assembly of claim 29 wherein said additive comprises a cyanoacrylate.

34. The vehicular glazing assembly of claim 29 wherein said electrochromic medium includes said additive.

35. The vehicular glazing assembly of claim 29 wherein said antilacerative layer includes said additive.

36. The vehicular glazing assembly of claim 1 wherein said assembly includes near-infrared radiation transmission reducing means.

37. The vehicular glazing assembly of claim 36 wherein said near-infrared radiation transmission reducing means are located on at least one of said first panel, said second panel and said antilacerative layer.

38. The vehicular glazing assembly of claim 36 wherein said near-infrared radiation transmission reducing means comprises a near-infrared reflector deposited onto one of a polymer sheet and a polymer film.

39. The vehicular glazing assembly of claim 1 wherein said antilacerative layer comprises an anti-fogging antilacerative layer.