Spacers for insulated glass units

• US 8,711,465 B2
• Filed: 12/06/2011
• Issued: 04/29/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: View Incorporated
• Original Assignee: View Incorporated
• Inventors: Bhatnagar, Yashraj, Frank, Trevor, Strong, Fabian, Kailasam, Sridhar, Babcock, Robert, Parker, Ronald M., Rozbicki, Robert T.
• Primary Examiner(s): TRA, TUYEN Q
• Application Number:
  US13/312,057
• Publication Number:
  US 20120147449A1
• Time in Patent Office: 875 Days
• Field of Search: 359265-275, 359290-292, 359/320, 345/105
• US Class Current: 359/275
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10055 with at least one intermediate air space
• 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 17/10513 Electrochromic layer
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 2003/6638 with coatings
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 2003/66385 with special shapes
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 3/66314 of tubular shape E06B3/66323 and E06B3/66333 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 3/66328 of rubber, plastics or similar materials E06B3/66314, E06B3/66323 and E06B3/66342 take precedence; transparent materials E06B3/66333
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 3/66352 with separate sealing strips between the panes and the spacer
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/161 Gaskets; Spacers; Sealing of cells; Filling or closing of cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/55 Member ends joined by inserted section
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/7018 including separably interposed key

Abstract

This disclosure provides spacers for smart windows. In one aspect, a window assembly includes a first substantially transparent substrate having an optically switchable device on a surface of the first substrate. The optically switchable device includes electrodes. A first electrode of the electrodes has a length about the length of a side of the optically switchable device. The window assembly further includes a second substantially transparent substrate a metal spacer between the first and the second substrates. The metal spacer has a substantially rectangular cross section, with one side of the metal spacer including a recess configured to accommodate the length of the first electrode such that there is no contact between the first electrode and the metal spacer. A primary seal material bonds the first substrate to the metal spacer and bonds the second substrate to the metal spacer.

Claims

1. A insulated glass unit comprising:

a first substantially transparent substrate having an optically switchable device disposed on a surface of the first substantially transparent substrate, the optically switchable device comprising electrodes, a first electrode of the electrodes having a length about the length of a side of the optically switchable device;

a second substantially transparent substrate;

a metal spacer between the first and the second substantially transparent substrates, the metal spacer having a substantially rectangular cross section, wherein at least one external face of the metal spacer is coated with an electrically insulating coating that prevents electrical communication between the metal spacer and the first electrode; and

a primary seal material bonding the first substantially transparent substrate to the metal spacer and bonding the second substantially transparent substrate to the metal spacer.

2. The insulated glass unit of claim 1, wherein the metal spacer is stainless steel.

3. The insulated glass unit of claim 2, wherein the metal spacer comprises a channel configured to accommodate the first electrode.

4. The insulated glass unit of claim 1, wherein the electrically insulating coating is an organic-based material.

5. The insulated glass unit of claim 1, wherein the metal spacer comprises aluminum, and wherein the electrically insulating coating is an anodized layer.

6. The insulated glass unit of claim 5, wherein the metal spacer comprises a channel configured to accommodate the first electrode.

7. The insulated glass unit of claim 1, wherein the primary seal material includes polyisobutylene.

8. The insulated glass unit of claim 1, wherein four external faces of the metal spacer are coated with the electrically insulating coating.

9. The insulated glass unit of claim 1, wherein the electrodes comprise a second electrode having a length of about the length of a side of the optically switchable device.

10. The insulated glass unit of claim 9, wherein each of the first and second electrodes comprises a bus bar.

11. A insulated glass unit comprising:

a first substantially transparent substrate having an optically switchable device disposed on a surface of the first substantially transparent substrate;

a second substantially transparent substrate;

an electrically insulating spacer between the first and the second substantially transparent substrates, the electrically insulating spacer having a substantially rectangular cross section; and

a primary seal material bonding the first substantially transparent substrate to the electrically insulating spacer and bonding the second substantially transparent substrate to the electrically insulating spacer,

wherein the electrically insulating spacer comprises a metal spacer with an electrically insulating coating, and

wherein four external faces of the metal spacer are coated with the electrically insulating coating.

12. The insulated glass unit of claim 11, wherein the electrically insulating coating is an organic-based material.

13. The insulated glass unit of claim 11, wherein the electrically insulating spacer comprises aluminum.

14. The insulated glass unit of claim 11, wherein the primary seal material includes polyisobutylene.

15. The insulated glass unit of claim 11, wherein the primary seal material is modified to resist compression.

16. The insulated glass unit of claim 11, wherein the metal spacer has a substantially rectangular hollow cross section.

17. The insulated glass unit of claim 11, wherein one side of the rectangular cross section of the electrically insulating spacer comprises a recess that forms a channel along the one side that accommodates the length of the optically switchable device.

18. The insulated glass unit of claim 11, wherein the electrically insulating spacer and the primary seal material form a barrier between an exterior region of the insulated glass unit and an interior region of the insulated glass unit.

19. The insulated glass unit of claim 11, wherein the electrically insulating coating comprises a polymeric material.

20. The insulated glass unit of claim 11, wherein the second substantially transparent substrate has a second optically switchable device disposed thereon.