Ruggedized switchable glazing, and/or method of making the same

• US 9,963,383 B2
• Filed: 05/09/2016
• Issued: 05/08/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Guardian Glass LLC (KOCH Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Guardian Glass LLC (KOCH Industries Incorporated)
• Inventors: Veerasamy, Vijayen S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, Dennis Y
• Application Number:
  US15/149,495
• Publication Number:
  US 20160355435A1
• Time in Patent Office: 729 Days
• 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 17/10045 with at least one intermediate layer consisting of a glass sheet
• 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 17/10229 Metallic layers sandwiched by dielectric layers
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10504 Liquid crystal layer
• 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: C03C 17/36 at least one coating being a metal
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 17/3618 Coatings of type glass/inorganic compound/other inorganic layers, at least one layer being metallic
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 17/3626 one layer at least containing a nitride, oxynitride, boronitride or carbonitride
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 17/3639 Multilayers containing at least two functional metal layers
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 17/3644 the metal being silver
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 17/3652 the coating stack containing at least one sacrificial layer to protect the metal from oxidation
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 17/366 Low-emissivity or solar control coatings
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 17/3681 the multilayer coating being used in glazing, e.g. windows or windscreens
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 2217/74 UV-absorbing coatings
• 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 3/6722 : with adjustable passage of light
• 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 1/1333 : Constructional arrangements; Manufacturing methodsG02F1/135, G02F1/136 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1334 : based on polymer dispersed liquid crystals, e.g. microencapsulated liquid crystals
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/137 : characterised by the electro-optical or magneto-optical effect, e.g. field-induced phase transition, orientation effect, guest-host interaction or dynamic scattering
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13756 : the liquid crystal selectively assuming a light-scattering state G02F1/1334, G02F1/13718 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2201/086 : UV absorbing

Abstract

Certain example embodiments of this invention relate to ruggedized switchable glazings, and/or methods of making the same. The PDLC stack of certain example embodiments includes an outer substrate, a low-E UV blocking coating deposited on an inner surface of the outer substrate, a first PVB or EVA laminate, a first PET layer, a first TCO layer, the PDLC layer, a second TCO layer, a second PET layer, a second PVB or EVA laminate, and an inner substrate. The substrates may be glass substrates. The low-E UV blocking coating may include at least two layers of or including silver and/or may include one or more IR layers. Thus, certain example embodiments may advantageously reduce one or more problems associated with residual haze, color change, flicker, structural changes in the polymer and/or the LC, degradations in state-switching response times, delamination, etc. The PDLC stack of certain example embodiments may be used in connection with any form of coated article, such as, for example, windows, windshields, IG units, etc.

Claims

1. A coated article including a low-E coating supported by a glass substrate, the low-E coating comprising:

first and second IR reflecting layers comprising silver and/or gold;

a UV blocking layer that blocks significant amounts of UV light having a wavelength of from 380-400 nm so that no more than about 20% of light having a wavelength of from 380-400 nm passes through the low-E coating;

wherein the UV blocking layer is positioned so as to not directly contact the first and second IR reflecting layers; and

wherein the UV blocking layer is located between and directly contacting first and second layers comprising tin oxide.

2. The coated article of claim 1, further comprising first and second polymer inclusive laminating layers separated by at least a liquid crystal inclusive layer, wherein the low-E coating is provided between the glass substrate and the first and second polymer inclusive laminating layers.

3. The coated article of claim 2, wherein the liquid crystal inclusive layer is stable up to at least about 110°

C.

4. The coated article of claim 2, wherein the liquid crystal inclusive layer is stable up to at least about 120°

C.

5. The coated article of claim 1, wherein an off-axis haze of the coated article is less than or equal to about 4 at an incidence of approximately 45°

.

6. The coated article of claim 1, wherein an off-axis haze of the coated article is less than or equal to about 3 at an incidence of approximately 45°

.

7. The coated article of claim 1, wherein an off-axis haze of the coated article is less than or equal to about 2 at an incidence of approximately 45°

.

8. The coated article of claim 1, wherein the UV blocking layer comprises zinc oxide.

9. The coated article of claim 1, wherein the UV blocking layer comprises zinc oxide doped with bismuth.

10. The coated article of claim 1, wherein the UV blocking layer comprises bismuth.