SPACERS FOR INSULATED GLASS UNITS

• US 20120147449A1
• Filed: 12/06/2011
• Published: 06/14/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: View Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Soladigm, Inc.
• Inventors: Bhatnagar, Yashraj, Kailasam, Sridhar, Parker, Ronald M., Rozbicki, Robert T., Frank, Trevor, Strong, Fabian, Babcock, Robert
• Granted Patent: US 8,711,465 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/275
• 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. A window assembly comprising:

a first substantially transparent substrate having an optically switchable device disposed on a surface of the first substantially transparent substrate, the optically switchable device comprising electrodes, a first electrode of the electrodes having a length about the length of a side of the optically switchable device;

a second substantially transparent substrate;

a metal spacer between the first and the second substantially transparent substrates, the metal spacer having a substantially rectangular cross section, one side of the metal spacer comprising 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; and

a primary seal material bonding the first substantially transparent substrate to the metal spacer and bonding the second substantially transparent substrate to the metal spacer.

2. The window assembly of claim 1, wherein the recess extends from a corner of the metal spacer to a point along the one side.

3. The window assembly of claim 1, wherein the recess forms a channel along the one side.

4. The window assembly of claim 1, wherein the metal spacer is stainless steel.

5. The window assembly of claim 4, wherein the metal spacer is about 11 millimeters wide.

6. The window assembly of claim 1, wherein the primary seal material includes polyisobutylene.

7. The window assembly of claim 1, wherein the metal spacer is about 10 millimeters to about 15 millimeters wide.

45. The window assembly of claim 1, wherein the second substantially transparent substrate has a second optically switchable device disposed thereon.

8. A window assembly comprising:

a first substantially transparent substrate having an optically switchable device disposed on a surface of the first substantially transparent substrate, the optically switchable device comprising electrodes, a first electrode of the electrodes having a length about the length of a side of the optically switchable device;

a second substantially transparent substrate;

a metal spacer between the first and the second substantially transparent substrates, the metal spacer having a substantially rectangular cross section, wherein at least one external face of the metal spacer is coated with an electrically insulating coating that prevents electrical communication between the metal spacer and the first electrode; and

a primary seal material bonding the first substantially transparent substrate to the metal spacer and bonding the second substantially transparent substrate to the metal spacer.

9. The window assembly of claim 8, wherein the metal spacer is stainless steel.

10. The window assembly of claim 9, wherein the metal spacer comprises a channel configured to accommodate the first electrode.

11. The window assembly of claim 8, wherein the electrically insulating coating is an organic-based material.

12. The window assembly of claim 8, wherein the metal spacer comprises aluminum, and wherein the electrically insulating coating is an anodized layer.

13. The window assembly of claim 12, wherein the metal spacer comprises a channel configured to accommodate the first electrode.

14. The window assembly of claim 8, wherein the primary seal material includes polyisobutylene.

15. The window assembly of claim 8, wherein four external faces of the metal spacer are coated with the electrically insulating coating.

16. A window assembly comprising:

a first substantially transparent substrate having an optically switchable device disposed on a surface of the first substantially transparent substrate, the optically switchable device comprising electrodes, a first electrode of the electrodes comprising a lead;

a second substantially transparent substrate;

a metal spacer between the first and the second substantially transparent substrates;

a primary seal material bonding the first substantially transparent substrate to the metal spacer and bonding the second substantially transparent substrate to the metal spacer, wherein the metal spacer and the primary seal material form a barrier between an exterior region of the window assembly and an interior region of the window assembly; and

a connector key connecting two ends of the metal spacer, wherein the lead passes from the first electrode, under the connector key, and into the exterior region of the window assembly, and wherein the connector key is not in electrical communication with the lead.

17. The window assembly of claim 16, wherein the connector key comprises a metal, and wherein the connector key includes a recess under which the lead passes, the recess configured to prevent contact between the connector key and the lead.

18. The window assembly of claim 16, wherein the connector key is an electrically insulating material that prevents electrical communication between the lead and the connector key.

19. The window assembly of claim 16, wherein the metal spacer is stainless steel.

20. The window assembly of claim 16, wherein the primary seal material includes polyisobutylene.

21. A window assembly comprising:

a first substantially transparent substrate having an optically switchable device disposed on a surface of the first substantially transparent substrate, the optically switchable device comprising electrodes, a first electrode of the electrodes having a length about the length of a side of the optically switchable device;

a second substantially transparent substrate;

a spacer between the first and the second substantially transparent substrates, the spacer comprising a metal portion having a substantially rectangular hollow cross section and an electrically non-conductive portion having a substantially rectangular cross section, one side of the rectangular cross section of the electrically non-conductive portion comprising a recess that forms a channel along the one side that accommodates the length of the first electrode; and

a primary seal material bonding the first substantially transparent substrate to the spacer and bonding the second substantially transparent substrate to the spacer.

22. The window assembly of claim 21, wherein the spacer and the primary seal material form a barrier between an exterior region of the window assembly and an interior region of the window assembly, wherein the metal portion of the spacer is proximate the exterior region of the window assembly, and wherein the electrically non-conductive portion of the spacer is proximate the interior region of the window assembly.

23. The window assembly of claim 22, wherein the metal portion includes a first hole and a second hole, wherein a wire in electrical communication with the first electrode passes through the first hole, through the hollow metal portion, and out of the second hole to the exterior region of the window assembly.

24. The window assembly of claim 21, wherein the metal portion is stainless steel.

25. The window assembly of claim 21, wherein the electrically non-conductive portion is a polymeric material.

26. The window assembly of claim 21, wherein the primary seal material includes polyisobutylene.

27. A window assembly comprising:

a first substantially transparent substrate having an optically switchable device disposed on a surface of the first substantially transparent substrate, the optically switchable device comprising electrodes, a first electrode of the electrodes having a length about the length of a side of the optically switchable device;

a second substantially transparent substrate;

a metal spacer between the first and the second substantially transparent substrates, the metal spacer having a substantially rectangular cross section;

a first primary seal material bonding the first substantially transparent substrate to the metal spacer, the first primary seal material comprising electrically non-conductive particles that define a spacing between the first substantially transparent substrate and the metal spacer and prevent contact between the metal spacer and the first electrode; and

a second primary seal material bonding the second substantially transparent substrate to the metal spacer.

28. The window assembly of claim 27, wherein the metal spacer is stainless steel.

29. The window assembly of claim 27, wherein the first primary seal material and the second primary seal material include polyisobutylene.

30. The window assembly of claim 27, wherein the electrically non-conductive particles comprise at least one of a glass and a plastic.

31. The window assembly of claim 30, wherein the electrically non-conductive particles are substantially spherical.

32. A window assembly comprising:

a first substantially transparent substrate having an optically switchable device disposed on a surface of the first substantially transparent substrate;

a second substantially transparent substrate;

an electrically insulating spacer between the first and the second substantially transparent substrates, the electrically insulating spacer having a substantially rectangular cross section; and

a primary seal material bonding the first substantially transparent substrate to the electrically insulating spacer and bonding the second substantially transparent substrate to the electrically insulating spacer.

33. The window assembly of claim 32, wherein the electrically insulating spacer comprises a metal spacer with an electrically insulating coating.

34. The window assembly of claim 33, wherein the electrically insulating coating is an organic-based material.

35. The window assembly of claim 33, wherein the electrically insulating spacer comprises aluminum, and wherein the electrically insulating coating is an anodized layer.

36. The window assembly of claim 32, wherein the primary seal material includes polyisobutylene.

37. The window assembly of claim 32, wherein the primary seal material is modified to resist compression.

38. The window assembly of claim 33, wherein four external faces of the electrically insulating spacer are coated with the electrically insulating coating.

39. The window assembly of claim 32, wherein the electrically insulating spacer comprises a metal portion having a substantially rectangular hollow cross section and an electrically non-conductive portion having a substantially rectangular cross section.

40. The window assembly of claim 32, wherein one side of the rectangular cross section of the electrically insulating spacer comprises a recess that forms a channel along the one side that accommodates the length of the optically switchable device.

41. The window assembly of claim 32, wherein the electrically insulating spacer and the primary seal material form a barrier between an exterior region of the window assembly and an interior region of the window assembly.

42. The window assembly of claim 32, wherein the electrically insulating spacer comprises a polymeric material.

43. The window assembly of claim 32, wherein the entire electrically insulating spacer is made from a material that is electrically non-conductive.

44. The window assembly of claim 32, wherein the second substantially transparent substrate has a second optically switchable device disposed thereon.