Multi-pane electrochromic windows

• US 10,890,820 B2
• Filed: 09/05/2018
• Issued: 01/12/2021
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: View Incorporated
• Original Assignee: View Incorporated
• Inventors: Friedman, Robin, Kailasam, Sridhar, Mulpuri, Rao, Powell, Ronald A., Shrivastava, Dhairya
• Primary Examiner(s): Jones, James C.
• Application Number:
  US16/122,778
• Publication Number:
  US 20180373110A1
• Time in Patent Office: 860 Days
• Field of Search: 359273
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 17/34 with at least two coatings having different compositions C03C17/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 17/36 at least one coating being a metal
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 17/3657 the multilayer coating having optical properties
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 17/3681 the multilayer coating being used in glazing, e.g. windows or windscreens
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 2009/2464 featuring transparency control by applying voltage, e.g. LCD, electrochromic panels
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 2009/2643 Screens between double windows
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 7/28 Other arrangements on doors or windows, e.g. door-plates, windows adapted to carry plants, hooks for window cleaners edge protecting devices for door leaves E06B3/88; special glazing; emergency glazing; double glazing E06B3/66
• 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 1/1347 Arrangement of liquid crystal layers or cells in which the final condition of one light beam is achieved by the addition of the effects of two or more layers or cells
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1523 comprising inorganic material
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/153 Constructional details
• 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 1/161 Gaskets; Spacers; Sealing of cells; Filling or closing of cells
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2001/1555 Counter electrode
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/013 Heaters using resistive films or coatings
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/86 the heating conductors being embedded in the transparent or reflecting material H05B3/845 takes precedence

Abstract

Window units, for example insulating glass units (IGU'"'"'s), that have at least two panes, each pane having an electrochromic device thereon, are described. Two optical state devices on each pane of a dual-pane window unit provide window units having four optical states. Window units described allow the end user a greater choice of how much light is transmitted through the electrochromic window. Also, by using two or more window panes, each with its own electrochromic device, registered in a window unit, visual defects in any of the individual devices are negated by virtue of the extremely small likelihood that any of the visual defects will align perfectly and thus be observable to the user.

Claims

1. An electrochromic privacy window comprising:

a first substantially transparent substrate having a first electrochromic device disposed thereon; and

a second substantially transparent substrate having a second electrochromic device disposed thereon;

wherein the first and second substantially transparent substrates are registered, one in front of the other, and the electrochromic privacy window is configured to transition the first electrochromic device and/or the second electrochromic device to a plurality of optical states for the electrochromic privacy window including a dark optical state for privacy;

wherein the electrochromic privacy window is configured to transition uniformly, substantially without curtaining effect, and

wherein the first and second electrochromic devices are entirely solid state.

2. The electrochromic privacy window of claim 1, wherein the dark optical state is between about 0.1% and about 5% transmission.

3. The electrochromic privacy window of claim 1, wherein one or both of the first and second electrochromic devices is a two-state electrochromic device.

4. The electrochromic privacy window of claim 1, wherein the plurality of optical states further includes three additional optical states.

5. The electrochromic privacy window of claim 4, wherein the three additional optical states have:

i) overall transmittance of between about 60% and about 90%;

ii) overall transmittance of between about 15% and about 30%; and

iii) overall transmittance of between about 5% and about 10%.

6. The electrochromic privacy window of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second substantially transparent substrates comprises architectural glass.

7. The electrochromic privacy window of claim 1, wherein the electrochromic privacy window is in the form of an insulated glass unit, and wherein at least one of the first and second electrochromic devices is on a surface facing an interior region of the insulated glass unit.

8. The electrochromic privacy window of claim 1, further comprising an interior region between the first substantially transparent substrate and the second substantially transparent substrate, the interior region comprising a gas.

9. The electrochromic privacy window of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second electrochromic devices has a transparent conductive oxide layer configured to be heated independently of operation of the at least one of the electrochromic devices of which it is a component.

10. The electrochromic privacy window of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second substantially transparent substrates further comprises a low emissivity coating.

11. The electrochromic privacy window of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second electrochromic devices comprises a tungsten oxide or doped tungsten oxide electrochromic layer and a nickel tungsten oxide counter electrode, optionally doped with tantalum.

12. The electrochromic privacy window of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second electrochromic devices comprises a tungsten oxide or doped tungsten oxide electrochromic layer having a charge capacity of between about 75 and about 200 mC/cm²/micron.

13. The electrochromic privacy window of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second electrochromic devices comprises a nickel tungsten oxide counter electrode, optionally doped with tantalum, having a charge capacity of between about 75 and about 200 mC/cm²/micron.

14. The electrochromic privacy window of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second electrochromic devices comprises an electrochromic layer and a counter electrode layer, wherein a ratio of thickness of the electrochromic layer to thickness of the counter electrode layer is between about 1.7:

1 and about 2.3;

1.

15. The electrochromic privacy window of claim 1, wherein the second substantially transparent substrate further comprises one or more of an ultraviolet absorbing and/or reflecting coating, and an infrared absorbing and/or reflecting coating, and a low-emissivity coating.

16. The electrochromic privacy window of claim 1, further comprising a controller in electrical communication with the first and second electrochromic devices, the controller configured for sharing electrical charge between the first and second electrochromic devices.

17. The electrochromic privacy window of claim 1,

further comprising a transparent conductive oxide layer which is not part of the first electrochromic device or part of the second electrochromic device,

wherein the transparent conductive oxide layer is configured to be resistively heated during operation via application of electricity,

wherein the resistive heating of the transparent conductive oxide layer is configured to aid in low temperature switching of at least one of the first and second electrochromic devices.

18. The electrochromic privacy window of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second electrochromic devices is on an interior surface.