Glazing having electrically switchable optical properties

• US 9,645,433 B2
• Filed: 11/12/2013
• Issued: 05/09/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Saint-Gobain Glass France (Compagnie De Saint-Gobain)
• Original Assignee: Saint-Gobain Glass France (Compagnie De Saint-Gobain)
• Inventors: Mennig, Julius
• Primary Examiner(s): TRA, TUYEN Q
• Application Number:
  US14/649,534
• Publication Number:
  US 20150301367A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,274 Days
• Field of Search: 359265-275, 345105, 264 21, 349 84
• 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 17/10504 Liquid crystal layer
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10532 Suspended particle layer
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10669 Luminescent agents
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10761 containing vinyl acetal
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10788 containing ethylene vinylacetate
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2367/00 Polyesters, e.g. PET, i.e. polyethylene terephthalate
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 11/02 Use of particular materials as binders, particle coatings or suspension media therefor
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 11/06 containing organic luminescent materials
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 2211/1007 Non-condensed systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1334 based on polymer dispersed liquid crystals, e.g. microencapsulated liquid crystals
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1335 Structural association of cells with optical devices, e.g. polarisers or reflectors
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/15 based on an electrochromic effect
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/157 Structural association of cells with optical devices, e.g. reflectors or illuminating devices
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/172 based on a suspension of orientable dipolar particles, e.g. suspended particles displays

Abstract

A glazing having electrically adjustable optical properties is described, including an outer pane and an optically adjustable element which is connected to the outer pane in a planar fashion via at least one thermoplastic film, wherein the thermoplastic film contains at least one luminescent material.

Claims

1. A glazing having electrically adjustable optical properties, comprising:

an outer pane; and

an optically adjustable element that is areally bonded to the outer pane via at least one thermoplastic film,

wherein the at least one thermoplastic film contains at least one luminescent material, the at least one thermoplastic film containing from 0.1 kg/m³ to 20 kg/m³ of the at least one luminescent material.

2. The glazing according to claim 1, wherein the at least one thermoplastic film contains no UV blockers.

3. The glazing according to claim 1, wherein the optically adjustable element contains at least one organic material.

4. The glazing according to claim 1, wherein the optically adjustable element is areally arranged between two carrier films and wherein one of the carrier films is bonded to the outer pane via the at least one thermoplastic film.

5. The glazing according to claim 1, wherein a barrier film is arranged on a surface of the at least one thermoplastic film facing away from the outer pane.

6. The glazing according to claim 5, wherein the barrier film contains polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

7. The glazing according to claim 1, wherein the thermoplastic film contains one or both of ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) and polyvinyl butyral (PVB).

8. The glazing according to claim 1, wherein the luminescent material has an excitation maximum in the range from 350 nm to 450 nm.

9. The glazing according to claim 1, wherein the luminescent material has an emission maximum in the range from 410 nm to 600 nm.

10. The glazing according to claim 1, wherein the at least one luminescent material contains at least one hydroxyalkyl terephthalate with the formula

R1-COO-Ph(OH)x—

COO—

R2, where

R1, R2 is an alkyl or allyl radical having 1 to 10 C atoms,

Ph is a phenyl ring,

OH is a hydroxyl group bonded to the phenyl ring, and

x is an integer from 1 to 4.

11. The glazing according to claim 1, wherein the at least one thermoplastic film has transmittance less than or equal to 10% in the wavelength range from 380 nm to 410 nm.

12. The glazing according to claim 1, wherein an active layer of the optically adjustable element selected from the group consisting of a suspended particle device, a polymer dispersed liquid crystal, an electrochromic material, and an electroluminescent material.

13. The glazing according to claim 1, further comprising an inner pane forming a composite pane, wherein the optically adjustable element is arranged areally between the outer pane and the inner pane.

14. The glazing according to claim 1, further including a barrier film positioned between the at least one thermoplastic film and the optically adjustable element.

15. The glazing according to claim 1, wherein the at least one thermoplastic film has a thickness from 0.2 mm to 2 mm.

16. The glazing according to claim 1, wherein the at least one luminescent material is contained within the at least one thermoplastic film.

17. The glazing according to claim 1, wherein the at least one luminescent material is distributed homogeneously over an entire area of the at least one thermoplastic film.

18. The glazing according to claim 1, wherein the at least one luminescent material has an excitation maximum in the range from 380 nm to 420 nm.

19. The glazing according to claim 1, wherein the at least one luminescent material has an emission maximum in the range from 430 nm to 500 nm.

20. The glazing according to claim 1, wherein the at least one luminescent material contains diethyl 2,5-dihydroxy terephthalate.

21. The glazing according to claim 1, wherein the at least one thermoplastic film contains from 1 kg/m³ to 7 kg/m³ of the at least one luminescent material.

22. The glazing according to claim 1, wherein the at least one thermoplastic film contains a material selected from the group consisting of ethylene vinyl acetate, polyvinyl butyral, polyurethane, polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polypropylene, polycarbonate, polymethyl methacrylate, polyacrylate, polyvinyl chloride, polyacetate resin, casting resins, acrylates, fluorinated ethylene propylenes, polyvinyl fluoride, and ethylene tetrafluoroethylene.

23. A method for producing a glazing having electrically adjustable optical properties, comprising:

providing a thermoplastic film;

applying at least one luminescent material on the thermoplastic film or incorporating at least one luminescent material into the thermoplastic film, the at least one thermoplastic film containing from 0.1 kg/m³ to 20 kg/m³ of the at least one luminescent material;

arranging the thermoplastic film between an outer pane and an optically adjustable element; and

bonding the optically adjustable element to the outer pane via the thermoplastic film.

24. A protection method for a glazing, comprising:

providing an optically adjustable element; and

areally bonding the optically adjustable element to an outer pane via a thermoplastic film, wherein the thermoplastic film contains at least one luminescent material, the at least one thermoplastic film containing from 0.1 kg/m³ to 20 kg/m³ of the at least one luminescent material, thus protecting the optically adjustable element against UV radiation and radiation in the short wavelength visible range.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein protecting the optically adjustable element includes protection against radiation having a wavelength less than 410 nm.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein protecting the optically adjustable element includes protection against radiation in the wavelength range from 380 nm to 410 nm.