Electrical connection configurations for privacy glazing structures
First Claim
1. A privacy glazing structure comprising:
- a first pane of transparent material having an inner face, an outer face, and a peripheral edge;
a second pane of transparent material having an inner face, an outer face, and a peripheral edge;
a first electrode layer on the inner face of the first pane of transparent material;
a second electrode layer on the inner face of the second pane of transparent material;
an electrically controllable optically active material positioned between the first electrode layer on the inner face of the first pane of transparent material and the second electrode layer on the inner face of the second pane of transparent material;
wherein the first pane of transparent material is generally parallel to the second pane of transparent material to form a cavity therebetween containing the electrically controllable optically active material, and the peripheral edge of the first pane of transparent material is aligned with the peripheral edge of the second pane of transparent material to provide a flush edge surface,the first pane of transparent material defines a first notch providing access to the second electrode layer on the inner face of the second pane of transparent material,the second pane of transparent material defines a second notch providing access to the first electrode layer on the inner face of the first pane of transparent material, andthe first notch overlaps the second notch to define a conduit extending through the first pane and the second pane.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A privacy glazing structure may include an electrically controllable optically active material that provides controlled transition between a privacy or scattering state and a visible or transmittance state. To make electrical connections with electrode layers that control the optically active material, the privacy glazing structure may include electrode engagement regions. In some examples, the electrode engagement regions are formed as notches in peripheral edges of opposed panes bounding the optically active material. The notches may or may not overlap to provide a through conduit in the region of overlap for wiring. In either case, the notches may allow the remainder of the structure to have a flush edge surface for ease of downstream processing.
222 Citations
36 Claims
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1. A privacy glazing structure comprising:
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a first pane of transparent material having an inner face, an outer face, and a peripheral edge; a second pane of transparent material having an inner face, an outer face, and a peripheral edge; a first electrode layer on the inner face of the first pane of transparent material; a second electrode layer on the inner face of the second pane of transparent material; an electrically controllable optically active material positioned between the first electrode layer on the inner face of the first pane of transparent material and the second electrode layer on the inner face of the second pane of transparent material; wherein the first pane of transparent material is generally parallel to the second pane of transparent material to form a cavity therebetween containing the electrically controllable optically active material, and the peripheral edge of the first pane of transparent material is aligned with the peripheral edge of the second pane of transparent material to provide a flush edge surface, the first pane of transparent material defines a first notch providing access to the second electrode layer on the inner face of the second pane of transparent material, the second pane of transparent material defines a second notch providing access to the first electrode layer on the inner face of the first pane of transparent material, and the first notch overlaps the second notch to define a conduit extending through the first pane and the second pane. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A privacy glazing structure comprising:
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a first pane of transparent material having an inner face, an outer face, and a peripheral edge; a second pane of transparent material having an inner face, an outer face, and a peripheral edge; a first electrode layer on the inner face of the first pane of transparent material; a second electrode layer on the inner face of the second pane of transparent material; a liquid crystal material positioned between the first electrode layer on the inner face of the first pane of transparent material and the second electrode layer on the inner face of the second pane of transparent material; a sealant extending around a perimeter of the first pane of transparent material and the second pane of transparent material and bonding the first pane of transparent material to the second pane of transparent material, wherein the first electrode layer is offset from the perimeter around the first pane of transparent material over which the seal is in contact such that electricity does not transfer from the first electrode layer through the seal, the second electrode layer is offset from the perimeter around the second pane of transparent material over which the seal is in contact such that electricity does not transfer from the second electrode layer through the seal, the first electrode layer includes a first contact portion extending from the peripheral edge of the first pane to a remainder of the first electrode layer that is offset from the peripheral edge, and the second electrode layer includes a second contact portion extending from the peripheral edge of the second pane to a remainder of the second electrode layer that is offset from the peripheral edge. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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Specification