Multi-pane dynamic window and method for making same

• US 10,437,126 B2
• Filed: 02/27/2017
• Issued: 10/08/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: View Incorporated
• Original Assignee: View Incorporated
• Inventors: Egerton, Peter, Gaskell, Drew
• Primary Examiner(s): Sahle, Mahidere S
• Application Number:
  US15/444,152
• Publication Number:
  US 20170168367A1
• Time in Patent Office: 953 Days
• Field of Search: 359238-279
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 2009/2405 Areas of differing opacity for light transmission control
• 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 3/6722 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: G02B 5/23 Photochromic filters
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/0126 Opto-optical modulation, i.e. control of one light beam by another light beam, not otherwise provided for in this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/0147 based on thermo-optic effects G02F1/132 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133308 Support structures for LCD panels, e.g. frames or bezels
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13336 Combining plural substrates to produce large-area displays, e.g. tiled displays
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1508 using a solid electrolyte
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/153 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1533 structural features not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/155 Electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/157 Structural association of cells with optical devices, e.g. reflectors or illuminating devices
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/163 Operation of electrochromic cells, e.g. electrodeposition cells; Circuit arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2201/123 pixel
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2202/14 photochromic
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2203/01 transmissive

Abstract

A window assembly comprises a plurality of dynamic electrochromic zones formed on a single transparent substrate in which at least two electrochromic zones are independently controllable. In one exemplary embodiment, the window assembly comprises an Insulated Glass Unit (IGU), and at least one transparent substrate comprises a lite. In another exemplary embodiment, the IGU comprises at least two lites in which at least one lite comprises a plurality of independently controllable dynamic zones.

Claims

1. A multi-zone dynamic window, comprising:

a first transparent or translucent substrate; and

a plurality of dynamic zones on the first substrate, the plurality of dynamic zones configured for independent control of optical transmittance properties, wherein at least one of the plurality of dynamic zones comprises a photochromic coating or a thermochromic coating disposed on the first substrate and at least one of the plurality of dynamic zones comprises a solid-state electrochromic device coating on the first substrate.

2. The multi-zone dynamic window of claim 1, wherein the photochromic coating comprises a material selected from the group consisting of a triarylmethane, a stilbene, an azastilbene, a nitrone, a fulgide, a spiropyran, a naphthopyran, a spiro-oxazine, and a quinone.

3. The multi-zone dynamic window of claim 1, wherein the thermochromic coating comprises a material is selected from the group consisting of a liquid crystal and a leuco dye.

4. The multi-zone dynamic window of claim 1, wherein the first substrate comprises at least one of glass, acrylic and polycarbonate.

5. The multi-zone dynamic window of claim 1, wherein said at least one of the plurality of dynamic zones comprising the electrochromic coating is located toward the top of the multi-zone dynamic window when installed, the dynamic zone configured for active control of transmittance properties for daylighting and/or reducing glare.

6. The multi-zone dynamic window of claim 5, further comprising a pair of bus bars on the first substrate, the bus bars configured to apply a voltage to the electrochromic coating to control transmittance properties through the dynamic zone independently of the modulation of transmittance properties through other dynamic zones of the plurality of dynamic zones.

7. The multi-zone dynamic window of claim 5, further comprising an electrically isolating line of removed material between said at least one of the plurality of dynamic zones comprising the electrochromic coating and other dynamic zones of the plurality of dynamic zones.

8. The multi-zone dynamic window of claim 7, wherein the electrically isolating line has a width of between about 10 μ

m and 100 μ

m.

9. The multi-zone dynamic window of claim 1, wherein the plurality of dynamic zones are configured for independent control of transmittance properties based on one or more of internal light levels, external light levels, weather conditions, time of day, and time of year.

10. The multi-zone dynamic window of claim 1, further comprising a frame, wherein the first substrate is located in the frame configured for installation in a sash or a curtain wall.

11. The multi-zone dynamic window of claim 1, wherein the first substrate is part of an insulated glass unit (IGU).

12. An insulated glass unit (IGU) comprising:

a pair of parallel lites;

a spacer between the parallel lites; and

a seal between each of the parallel lites and the spacer;

wherein at least one lite has a plurality of dynamic zones, wherein at least one of the plurality of dynamic zones comprises a photochromic coating or a thermochromic coating disposed on the at least one lite and at least one of the plurality of dynamic zones comprises a solid-state electrochromic device coating on the at least one lite.

13. The IGU of claim 12, wherein each of the plurality of dynamic zones is an isolated area of the at least one lite.

14. The IGU of claim 12, wherein the plurality of dynamic zones is configured for independent control of transmittance properties.

15. The IGU of claim 12, wherein the photochromic coating comprises a material selected from the group consisting of a triarylmethane, a stilbene, an azastilbene, a nitrone, a fulgide, a spiropyran, a naphthopyran, a spiro-oxazine, and a quinone.

16. The IGU of claim 12, wherein the thermochromic coating comprises a material is selected from the group consisting of a liquid crystal and a leuco dye.

17. The IGU of claim 12, wherein one or both of the lites comprise at least one of glass, acrylic and polycarbonate.

18. The IGU of claim 12, further comprising a pair of bus bars on the first substrate, the bus bars configured to apply a voltage to the electrochromic coating to control transmittance properties through the dynamic zone independently of the modulation of transmittance properties through other dynamic zones of the plurality of dynamic zones.

19. The IGU of claim 12, further comprising an electrically isolating line of removed material between said at least one of the plurality of dynamic zones comprising the electrochromic coating and other dynamic zones of the plurality of dynamic zones.

20. The IGU of claim 19, wherein the electrically isolating line has a width of between about 10 μ

m and 100 μ

m.

21. The IGU of claim 12, wherein the plurality of dynamic zones is configured for independent control of transmittance properties based on one or more of internal light levels, external light levels, weather conditions, time of day, and time of year.

22. The IGU of claim 12, wherein the electrochromic coating comprises a sputtered layer.

23. The IGU of claim 12, wherein the electrochromic coating comprises a sol gel layer.

24. The IGU of claim 12, further comprising a low-E coating or a reflective coating on at least one of the pair of parallel lites.

25. The IGU of claim 12, wherein the at least one lite of the pair of parallel lites comprises a light scattering feature.