Spacers for insulated glass units

• US 10,782,583 B2
• Filed: 01/09/2018
• Issued: 09/22/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: View Incorporated
• Original Assignee: View Incorporated
• Inventors: Bhatnagar, Yashraj, Frank, Trevor, Strong, Fabian, Kailasam, Sridhar Karthik, Babcock, Robert, Parker, Ronald M., Rozbicki, Robert T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tra, Tuyen
• Application Number:
  US15/866,379
• Publication Number:
  US 20180157140A1
• Time in Patent Office: 987 Days
• Field of Search: 359265-275, 345105
• 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 17/10513 Electrochromic layer
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 2003/6638 with coatings
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 2003/66385 with special shapes
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 3/66314 of tubular shape E06B3/66323 and E06B3/66333 take precedence
• 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 3/66352 with separate sealing strips between the panes and the spacer
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/161 Gaskets; Spacers; Sealing of cells; Filling or closing of cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/55 Member ends joined by inserted section
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/7018 including separably interposed key

Abstract

This disclosure provides spacers for smart windows. In one aspect, a window assembly includes a first substantially transparent substrate having an optically switchable device on a surface of the first substrate. The optically switchable device includes electrodes. A first electrode of the electrodes has a length about the length of a side of the optically switchable device. The window assembly further includes a second substantially transparent substrate a metal spacer between the first and the second substrates. The metal spacer has a substantially rectangular cross section, with one side of the metal spacer including a recess configured to accommodate the length of the first electrode such that there is no contact between the first electrode and the metal spacer. A primary seal material bonds the first substrate to the metal spacer and bonds the second substrate to the metal spacer.

Claims

1. An insulated glass unit comprising:

a laminate structure with a first substantially transparent substrate laminated to a reinforcing pane;

a second substantially transparent substrate;

an electrochromic device disposed on at least one of the first and second transparent substrates, the electrochromic device comprising a first transparent conductive oxide layer, a second transparent conductive oxide layer, and an electrochromic device stack between the first and second transparent conductive oxide layers;

first and second bus bars in electrical communication with first and second transparent conductive oxide layers respectively;

an electrically-insulating spacer between the first and the second substantially transparent substrates; and

a primary seal between the electrically-insulating spacer and each of the first and second substantially transparent substrates.

2. The insulated glass unit of claim 1, wherein at least one external face of the electrically-insulating spacer has an electrically-insulating coating configured to avoid electrical communication between the electrically insulating spacer and the one or more bus bars.

3. The insulated glass unit of claim 2, wherein the electrically-insulating coating includes one or more of a resin, a wax, an elastomer, and a polymeric material.

4. The insulated glass unit of claim 2, wherein the electrically-insulating coating is an organic-based material.

5. The insulated glass unit of claim 2, wherein the electrically-insulating coating is a powder or a paint.

6. The insulated glass unit of claim 2, wherein all external faces of the electrically-insulating spacer are coated with electrically-insulating coating.

7. The insulated glass unit of claim 2, wherein the electrically-insulating spacer comprises a metal portion coated with the electrically-insulating coating on the at least one external face.

8. The insulated glass unit of claim 7, wherein the metal portion is aluminum and the electrically-insulating coating is an anodized layer.

9. The insulated glass unit of claim 7, wherein the metal portion is stainless steel.

10. The insulated glass unit of claim 2, wherein the first substantially transparent substrate is laminated to the reinforcing pane with a resin.

11. The insulated glass unit of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second transparent substrates further comprises a diffusion barrier layer.

12. The insulated glass unit of claim 1, wherein the primary seal includes polyisobutylene or polyvinyl butyral.

13. The insulated glass unit of claim 1, wherein the electrically-insulating spacer is of a substantially rectangular cross-section.

14. The insulated glass unit of claim 1, further comprising wiring traversing the primary seal, wherein the wiring is in electrical communication with the one or more bus bars.

15. The insulated glass unit of claim 14, wherein the wiring is in electrical communication with a controller.

16. The insulated glass unit of claim 1, further comprising wiring disposed within the electrically-insulating spacer, the wiring configured to provide electrical communication between the bus bars and a power source.

17. The insulated glass unit of claim 1, wherein the electrically-insulating spacer comprises one or more connector keys, each connector key configured to mate with open ends of the electrically-insulating spacer.

18. The insulated glass unit of claim 17, wherein each connector key is further configured to accommodate wiring in electrical communication with the bus bars.