Multi-Pane Dynamic Window and Method For Making Same

• US 20090323160A1
• Filed: 06/25/2008
• Published: 12/31/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: View Incorporated
• Original Assignee: View Incorporated
• Inventors: Egerton, Peter, Gaskell, Drew
• Granted Patent: US 8,514,476 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/275
• 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 window assembly, comprising a plurality of dynamic electrochromic zones formed on a single substrate through which light can pass.

2. The window assembly according to claim 1, wherein at least two electrochromic zones are independently controllable.

3. The window assembly according to claim 2, wherein at least one electrochromic zone comprises:

a first transparent conductive layer;

a counter electrode layer formed in contact with the first transparent conductive layer;

an ion conductor layer formed in contact with the counter electrode layer;

an electrochromic layer formed in contact with the ion conductor layer; and

a second transparent conductive layer formed in contact with the electrochromic layer.

4. The window assembly according to claim 3, wherein the window assembly comprises one of an Insulated Glass Unit (IGU), a curtain wall, and part of a window sash.

5. The window assembly according to claim 4, wherein the single substrate through with light can pass comprises one of glass, acrylic and polycarbonate.

6. The window assembly according to claim 1, wherein the single substrate through which light can pass comprises one of glass, acrylic and same question polycarbonate.

7. The window assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a frame supporting the single substrate through which light can pass on at least one side of the substrate.

8. The window assembly according to claim 7, wherein the window assembly comprises an Insulated Glass Unit (IGU), and

wherein the single substrate through which light can pass comprises a lite.

9. The window assembly according to claim 8, wherein the IGU comprises at least two lites.

10. The window assembly according to claim 9, wherein at least one lite comprises a clear lite, and at least one lite comprises a plurality of dynamic electrochromic zones.

11. The window assembly according to claim 9, wherein at least one lite comprises a low-E lite, and at least one lite comprises a plurality of dynamic electrochromic zones.

12. The window assembly according to claim 9, wherein at least one lite comprises a tinted lite, and at least one lite comprises a plurality of dynamic electrochromic zones.

13. The window assembly according to claim 9, wherein at least one lite comprises at least a partially reflective lite, and at least one lite comprises a plurality of dynamic electrochromic zones.

14. The window assembly according to claim 9, further comprising at least one of dynamic zone formed from one of a photochromic and a thermochromic material.

15. The window assembly according to claim 1, wherein at least one electrochromic zone comprises:

a first transparent conductive layer;

a counter electrode layer formed in contact with the first transparent conductive layer;

an ion conductor layer formed in contact with the counter electrode layer;

an electrochromic layer formed in contact with the ion conductor layer; and

a second transparent conductive layer formed in contact with the electrochromic layer.

16. The window assembly according to claim 1, further comprising at least one of dynamic zone formed from one of a photochromic and a thermochromic material.

17. A method, comprising:

providing a single substrate through which light can pass; and

forming a plurality of dynamic electrochromic zones on the single substrate.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein forming a plurality of dynamic electrochromic zones comprises forming an electrochromic device by:

forming a first transparent conductive layer on the single substrate through which light can pass;

forming a counter electrode layer in contact with the first transparent conductive layer;

forming an ion conductor layer in contact with the counter electrode layer;

forming an electrochromic layer in contact with the ion conductor layer;

forming a second transparent conductive layer in contact with the electrochromic layer; and

forming the plurality of dynamic electrochromic zones by separating selected portions of the electrochromic device to form the plurality of electrochromic zones.

20. The method according to claim 17, wherein at least two electrochromic zones are independently controllable.