Connectors for smart windows

• US 9,436,054 B2
• Filed: 01/07/2015
• Issued: 09/06/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: View Incorporated
• Original Assignee: View Incorporated
• Inventors: Brown, Stephen C., Rumer, Alexander, Mullins, Dennis
• Primary Examiner(s): Martinez, Joseph P
• Application Number:
  US14/591,851
• Publication Number:
  US 20150118869A1
• Time in Patent Office: 608 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 2009/2417 Light path control; means to control reflection
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 2009/2464 featuring transparency control by applying voltage, e.g. LCD, electrochromic panels
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 3/66 Units comprising two or more parallel glass or like panes permanently secured together reforming and uniting glass sheets by fusing C03B23/00; joining glass to glass or to other materials C03C27/00; laminated glass B32B17/10
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 3/6612 Evacuated glazing units
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 3/6621 with special provisions for fitting in window frames or to adjacent units; Separate edge protecting strips E06B3/66347 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 3/66304 Discrete spacing elements, e.g. for evacuated glazing units
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 3/66309 Section members positioned at the edges of the glazing unit
• 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 3/667 Connectors therefor
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 3/6722 with adjustable passage of light
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 3/673 Assembling the units E06B3/677 takes precedence ; making hollow glass sheets or bricks C03B23/24
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 3/67326 Assembling spacer elements with the panes
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 3/67391 Apparatus travelling around the periphery of the pane or the unit
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 7/00 Special arrangements or measures in connection with doors or windows arrangements against burglary at the edges of the wings E06B5/113 ; screening or similar protective devices E06B9/00
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 7/28 Other arrangements on doors or windows, e.g. door-plates, windows adapted to carry plants, hooks for window cleaners edge protecting devices for door leaves E06B3/88; special glazing; emergency glazing; double glazing E06B3/66
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 9/00 Screening or protective devices for wall or similar openings, with or without operating or securing mechanisms; Closures of similar construction E06B5/10 takes precedence; wings for doors or windows, connected at their edges, E06B3/48; additional indoor equipment of doors or windows, not forming part of the proper finishing work of a building, e.g. curtains, A47H; gratings as building elements E04C2/24; fastening means E05; operating-mechanisms for wings in general E05F
• 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 1/1345 Conductors connecting electrodes to cell terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1523 comprising inorganic material
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/153 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/161 : Gaskets; Spacers; Sealing of cells; Filling or closing of cells
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/163 : Operation of electrochromic cells, e.g. electrodeposition cells; Circuit arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/79 : connecting to rigid printed circuits or like structures
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6205 : Two-part coupling devices held in engagement by a magnet
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6315 : allowing relative movement between coupling parts, e.g. floating connection for coupling devices specially adapted for printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures, H01R12/91 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/73 : Means for mounting coupling parts to apparatus or structures, e.g. to a wall
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2103/00 : Two poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/76 : with sockets, clips or analogous contacts and secured to apparatus or structure, e.g. to a wall
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 25/14 : Rails or bus-bars constructed so that the counterparts can be connected thereto at any point along their length supporting elements for lighting devices, displaceable along guiding elements and making electrical contact with conductors running along the guiding elements F21V21/35
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 25/162 : Electrical connections between or with rails or bus-bars rails having primarily a non electrical function H01R4/64
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/12 : by twisting
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 41/00 : Non-rotary current collectors for maintaining contact between moving and stationary parts of an electric circuit end pieces terminating in a hook or the like H01R11/12; current collectors for power supply lines of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L5/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49117 : Conductor or circuit manufacturing

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.

Claims

1. An electrochromic insulated glass unit comprising:

an electrochromic device on a transparent substrate;

at least two bus bars configured to deliver power to the electrodes of the electrochromic device;

a first connector embedded in a secondary seal of the electrochromic insulated glass unit and in electrical communication with the at least two bus bars, the first connector comprising electrical leads configured to mate with a second connector;

a wire assembly comprising two wires electrically connected with the second connector at one end and a third connector at the other end, wherein the third connector is configured to electrically connect to a power source, wherein the wire assembly is detachable from the electrochromic insulated glass unit by virtue of the first and second connectors being reversibly detachable; and

a memory device or an integrated circuit device, disposed in the first, second, or third connector.

2. The electrochromic insulated glass unit of claim 1, wherein the memory device or the integrated circuit device comprises control circuitry for the electrochromic device.

3. The electrochromic insulated glass unit of claim 1, wherein the memory or the integrated circuit device comprises information and/or logic to allow identification of the electrochromic device by a controller in communication with the memory or integrated circuit device.

4. The electrochromic insulated glass unit of claim 1, wherein the electrodes are conductive layers in the form of transparent conducting layers sandwiching an electrochromic stack of the electrochromic device.

5. The electrochromic insulated glass unit of claim 1, wherein the third connector is electrically coupled to a controller.

6. The electrochromic insulated glass unit of claim 5, wherein the controller is configured to effect a transition of the electrochromic device between a first optical state and a second optical state.

7. The electrochromic insulated glass unit of claim 1, wherein the wire assembly comprises ribbon cable.

8. The electrochromic insulated glass unit of claim 1,

wherein the two wires are for delivering power to the at least two bus bars, and

wherein the wire assembly further comprises an additional three wires for data communication to the memory device and/or the integrated circuit device.

9. An assembly comprising:

a first connector configured to reside in a secondary seal of an insulated glass unit when installed;

a second connector configured to mate with the first connector;

a third connector at the distal end of at least two wires, wherein the at least two wires electrically connect the second and third connectors; and

a memory or an integrated circuit in one of the first, second and third connectors.

10. The assembly of claim 9, wherein first connector comprises at least two pads for mating with the second connector.

11. The assembly of claim 9, wherein first connector is a part of the secondary seal.

12. The assembly of claim 9, further comprising additional wires electrically connecting the first connector to at least two bus bars configured to deliver power to the electrodes of an electrochromic device of an electrochromic pane.

13. The assembly of claim 12, wherein the additional wires extend from the bus bars through or under a spacer of an insulated glass unit to the first connector.

14. The assembly of claim 12, wherein the memory or the integrated circuit stores voltage and current algorithm or instructions for transitioning the electrochromic device between a first optical state and a second optical state.

15. The assembly of claim 12, wherein the voltage and current algorithm or instructions are configured for one or more of the size and shape of the electrochromic pane.

16. The assembly of claim 12, wherein the memory or the integrated circuit comprises a maximum and a minimum electric signal applied to the electrochromic pane.

17. The assembly of claim 12, wherein the memory or the integrated circuit comprises cycling data for the electrochromic pane.

18. A window comprising:

an electrochromic pane;

at least one other pane;

a sealing separator between the electrochromic pane and the at least one other pane;

a wire assembly comprising two wires, wherein each of the two wires comprises a proximal end electrically connected to the electrochromic pane and a distal end having a connector configured to electrically connect to a power source; and

a memory or integrated circuit device, disposed in the distal end of the wire assembly, wherein the memory or integrated circuit device stores information for controlling the electrochromic pane, the stored information including cycling data for the electrochromic pane.

19. The window of claim 18, wherein the electrochromic pane is incorporated into an insulated glass unit or is a laminate structure of panes.

20. The window of claim 19, wherein the wire assembly is a pig-tail.

21. The window of claim 19, wherein the stored information comprises current and voltage information for transitioning the electrochromic pane between a first optical state and a second optical state.

22. The window of claim 19, wherein the stored information includes a maximum electric signal and a minimum electric signal.

23. The window of claim 18, wherein the at least one other pane comprises an electrochromic device.

24. The window of claim 18, wherein the wires of the wire assembly are braided together and comprise an insulated covering.

25. The window of claim 18, wherein the wires of the wire assembly form a single cord or line.

26. The window of claim 18, wherein the proximal ends of the wires of the wire assembly are electrically connected to bus bars in electrical connection with the electrodes of an electrochromic device of the electrochromic pane.

27. The window of claim 18, wherein the wire assembly further comprises one or more additional wires in communication with the memory or integrated circuit device for data communication.

28. An insulated glass unit comprising:

a laminate structure of panes comprising at least an electrochromic pane laminated to a second pane;

at least one other pane;

a sealing separator disposed between the laminate structure and the at least one other pane;

a wire assembly comprising two wires, and having a proximal end electrically connected to the electrochromic pane and a distal end having a connector configured to electrically connect to a power source; and

a memory or integrated circuit device, disposed in the distal end of the wire assembly.

29. The insulated glass unit of claim 28, wherein the wire assembly is a pig-tail.

30. The insulated glass unit of claim 28, wherein the memory or integrated circuit device stores information for controlling the electrochromic pane.

31. The insulated glass unit of claim 30, wherein the stored information comprises voltage and current algorithm or instructions for transitioning the electrochromic device between a first optical state and a second optical state.

32. The insulated glass unit of claim 30, wherein the stored information comprises a maximum and a minimum electric signal applied to the electrochromic pane.

33. The insulated glass unit of claim 28, wherein the at least one other pane comprises an electrochromic device.

34. The insulated glass unit of claim 28, wherein the wires of the wire assembly are braided together and comprise an insulated covering.

35. The insulated glass unit of claim 28, wherein the wires of the wire assembly form a single cord or line.

36. The insulated glass unit of claim 28, wherein the proximal end of the wire assembly is electrically connected to bus bars in electrical connection with electrodes of an electrochromic device of the electrochromic pane.

37. The insulated glass unit of claim 28, wherein the wire assembly further comprises one or more other wires configured for electrical connection with one or more other components of the insulated glass unit.

38. The insulated glass unit of claim 28, wherein the electrochromic pane comprises a transparent substrate.

39. The insulated glass unit of claim 38, wherein the transparent substrate is glass.

40. A laminate structure comprising:

a first pane comprising an electrochromic device;

a second pane laminated to the first pane;

a wire assembly comprising two wires, wherein each of the two wires comprises a proximal end electrically connected to the electrochromic pane and a distal end having a connector configured to electrically connect to a power source; and

a memory or integrated circuit device, disposed in the distal end of the wire assembly.

41. The laminate structure of claim 40, further comprising:

at least one other pane; and

a sealing separator disposed between the least one more pane and the laminated first and second panes.

42. The laminate structure of claim 41, wherein the at least one other pane comprises an electrochromic device.

43. The laminate structure of claim 40, wherein the wire assembly is a pig-tail.

44. The laminate structure of claim 40, wherein the memory or integrated circuit device stores information for controlling the electrochromic pane.

45. The laminate structure of claim 40, wherein the stored information comprises current and voltage information for transitioning the electrochromic device of the first pane between a first optical state and a second optical state.

46. The laminate structure of claim 40, wherein the stored information includes a maximum electric signal and a minimum electric signal.

47. The laminate structure of claim 40, wherein the proximal ends of the wires of the wire assembly are electrically connected to bus bars in electrical connection with the electrodes of the electrochromic device of the first pane.

48. The laminate structure of claim 40, wherein the wire assembly further comprises one or more additional wires in communication with the memory or integrated circuit device for data communication.