MULTI-PANE ELECTROCHROMIC WINDOWS

• US 20130021659A1
• Filed: 09/14/2012
• Published: 01/24/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: View Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Soladigm, Inc.
• Inventors: Friedman, Robin, Kailasam, Sridhar, Mulpuri, Rao, Powell, Ron, Shrivastava, Dhairya
• Granted Patent: US 8,665,512 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/275
• 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. A three-pane window unit comprising:

a first substantially transparent substrate and a first two-state electrochromic device disposed thereon;

a second substantially transparent substrate and a second two-state electrochromic device disposed thereon;

a third substantially transparent substrate;

a first sealing separator between the first and second substantially transparent substrates, the first sealing separator defining, with the first and second substantially transparent substrates, a first inner region; and

a second sealing separator between the second and third substantially transparent substrates, the second sealing separator defining, with the second and third substantially transparent substrates, a second inner region, wherein at least one of the first and second inner regions is thermally insulating,

wherein the three-pane window unit has at least four optical states.

2. The three-pane window unit of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second two-state electrochromic devices is an entirely sold state and inorganic device.

3. The three-pane window unit of claim 1, wherein at least one of the second and third substantially transparent substrates has a heatable transparent conductive oxide layer disposed thereon.

4. The three-pane window unit of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second two-state electrochromic devices faces the first inner region.

5. The three-pane window unit of claim 1, wherein the third substantially transparent substrate is the inner most pane when the window unit is installed in a building.

6. The three-pane window unit of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first, second, and third substantially transparent substrates further comprises a low emissivity coating.

7. An insulating glass unit comprising:

a first substantially transparent substrate and a first two-state electrochromic device disposed thereon;

a second substantially transparent substrate and a second two-state electrochromic device disposed thereon, wherein at least one of the first and second two-state electrochromic devices is an entirely sold state and inorganic device;

a sealing separator between the first and second substantially transparent substrates, which sealing separator defines, together with the first and second substantially transparent substrates, an interior thermally insulating region; and

a controller in electrical communication with the first and second two-state electrochromic devices, the controller configured for sharing electrical charge between the first and second two-state electrochromic devices.

8. The insulating glass unit of claim 7, further comprising one or more heatable transparent conductive oxide layers disposed on at least one of the first and second substantially transparent substrates.

9. The insulating glass unit of claim 8, wherein the controller further shares electrical charge with the one or more heatable transparent conductive oxide layers.

10. A method of changing between four optical states in a window unit having a first two-state electrochromic device on a first substantially transparent substrate and a second two-state electrochromic device on a second substantially transparent substrate, the method comprising:

changing optical state of the first two-state electrochromic device to change to one of the four optical states in the window unit; and

/or

changing optical state of the second two-state electrochromic device to change to one of the four optical states in the window unit.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein optical state of the first two-state electrochromic device is changed without changing optical state of the second two-state electrochromic device.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein optical state of the second two-state electrochromic device is changed without changing optical state of the first two-state electrochromic device.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the optical state of the first two-state electrochromic device is changed concurrently with changing the optical state of the second two-state electrochromic device.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising sharing electrical charge, by a single controller, between the first and second electrochromic devices of the window unit.

15. A method of providing a gradation of overall transmittance in a window unit, the method comprising:

providing the window unit having a first electrochromic device on a first substantially transparent substrate and a second electrochromic device on a second substantially transparent substrate, wherein each of the first and second electrochromic devices has at least two optical states including a high transmissivity and a low transmissivity; and

operating the first and second electrochromic devices in one or more of four modes, each mode associated with different overall transmittance, wherein the four modes include;

a first mode with both first and second electrochromic devices at high transmissivity,

a second mode with the first electrochromic device at low transmissivity and the second electrochromic device at high transmissivity,

a third mode with the first electrochromic device at high transmissivity and the second electrochromic device at low transmissivity, and

a fourth mode with the first and second electrochromic devices at low transmissivity.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the first mode is associated with an overall transmittance of between about 60% and about 90%.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the second mode is associated with an overall transmittance of between about 15% and about 30%.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the third mode is associated with an overall transmittance of between about 5% and about 10%.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the fourth mode is associated with an overall transmittance of between about 0.1% and about 5%.

20. A window unit comprising:

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

a second substantially transparent substrate and a heatable transparent conductive oxide layer thereon; and

a sealing separator between the first and second substantially transparent substrates, which sealing separator defines, together with the first and second substantially transparent substrates, an insulating glass unit having an interior region that is thermally insulating,

wherein the electrochromic device is an entirely solid state and inorganic device, and

wherein the interior region contains an inert gas.

21. The window unit of claim 20, wherein the electrochromic device and the heatable transparent conductive oxide layer are both in the interior region.

22. The window unit of claim 21, wherein the second substantially transparent substrate comprises an infrared reflective and/or infrared absorbing coating.

23. A window unit comprising:

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

a second substantially transparent substrate and a heatable transparent conductive oxide layer thereon; and

a sealing separator between the first and second substantially transparent substrates, which sealing separator defines, together with the first and second substantially transparent substrates, an interior region that is thermally insulating,

wherein at least one transparent conductive oxide layer of the electrochromic device is configured to be heated independently of operation of the electrochromic device of which it is a component and the interior region contains an inert gas.

24. The window unit of claim 23, wherein the electrochromic device and the heatable transparent conductive oxide layer are both in the interior region.

25. The window unit of claim 24, wherein the second substantially transparent substrate comprises an infrared reflective and/or infrared absorbing coating.

26. The window unit of claim 23, wherein the electrochromic device is an entirely solid state and inorganic device.