Near-infrared reflecting, ultraviolet protected, safety protected, electrochromic vehicular glazing

• US 5,864,419 A
• Filed: 09/29/1997
• Issued: 01/26/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Lynam, Niall R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Epps, Georgia
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lester, Evelyn A.
• Application Number:
  US08/939,854
• Time in Patent Office: 484 Days
• Field of Search: 359/265-275, 359/359-361
• US Class Current: 359/265
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10005 laminated safety glass or glazing
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10036 comprising two outer glass sheets
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10064 comprising at least two glass sheets, only one of which being an outer layer
• 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 17/10302 Edge sealing
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/1033 Laminated safety glass or glazing containing temporary protective coatings or layers
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10339 Specific parts of the laminated safety glass or glazing being colored or tinted tinted glass sheet B32B17/1011; tinted interlayer B32B17/10651
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10513 Electrochromic layer
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10761 containing vinyl acetal
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2367/00 Polyesters, e.g. PET, i.e. polyethylene terephthalate
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/08 of synthetic resin
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 3/04 adjustable in transparency
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/088 using a cell of electrically changeable optical characteristic, e.g. liquid-crystal or electrochromic mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1333 Constructional arrangements; Manufacturing methodsG02F1/135, G02F1/136 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1503 caused by oxidation-reduction reactions in organic liquid solutions, e.g. viologen solutions
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1533 structural features not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/157 Structural association of cells with optical devices, e.g. reflectors or illuminating devices
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2001/1536 additional, e.g. protective, layer inside the cell

Abstract

An electrochromic glazing assembly is disclosed with reduced near-infrared radiation transmission and reduced ultraviolet (UV) radiation transmission. The assembly may include a pair of glass or other elements confining an electrochromic medium therebetween. Near-infrared reflective means are preferably included as at least one of a semitransparent, elemental thin metal film and a low emittance coating. Preferably, the assembly reflects at least about 30% of the solar energy for Air Mass 2 in the spectral region from about 800 nanometers to about 2500 nanometers.

Claims

1. A reduced near-infrared radiation transmitting, reduced ultraviolet radiation transmitting, safety protected, electrochromic glazing assembly comprising:

first and second spaced, optically transparent elements, said elements having facing surfaces defining a space between said first and second elements;

an electrochromic medium confined in said space whose light transmittance is variable upon the application of an electric field thereto;

means for applying an electric field to said electrochromic medium to cause variation in the light transmittance of said medium;

ultraviolet radiation reducing means incorporated in said assembly for reducing ultraviolet radiation degradation of said electrochromic medium in said assembly and for reducing ultraviolet radiation transmittance through said assembly;

safety means incorporated in said assembly for preventing injury upon impact to said assembly; and

near-infrared reflective means incorporated in said assembly for reducing the transmission of near-infrared radiation through said glazing assembly, said reflective means comprising at least one of a semitransparent, elemental thin metal film and a low-emittance coating.

2. The glazing assembly of claim 1 wherein said near-infrared reflective means comprises a low-emittance coating selected from the group consisting of a pyrolytic low-emittance coating and a vacuum deposited low-emittance coating.

3. The glazing assembly of claim 1 wherein said near-infrared reflective means comprises a thin metal film selected from the group consisting of copper, gold, aluminum, silver and alloy combinations thereof.

4. The glazing assembly of claim 1 wherein said safety means comprises at least one of a polymer layer, a tempered glass panel and a laminated glass assembly.

5. The glazing assembly of claim 1 wherein said assembly includes at least one tinted means.

6. The glazing assembly of claim 5 wherein said tinted means comprises at least one of a tinted glass and a tinted polymer.

7. The glazing assembly of claim 6 wherein said tinted means includes at least one of a blue tint, a green tint, a gray tint and a blue-green tint.

8. The glazing assembly of claim 1 wherein said electrochromic medium comprises at least one of a viologen species, a phenazine species, a phenylenediamine species, a benzidene species and a fulvalene species.

9. The glazing assembly of claim 1 wherein said electrochromic medium comprises a viologen species.

10. The glazing assembly of claim 1 wherein said electrochromic medium comprises a phenazine species.

11. The glazing assembly of claim 1 wherein said glazing assembly reflects at least about 30% of the solar energy for Air Mass 2 in the spectral region from about 800 nanometers to about 2500 nanometers.

12. The glazing assembly of claim 1 wherein said application of the electric field to said electrochromic medium causes variation in visible light transmission through said assembly from an upper light transmission level greater than about 40% to a lower light transmission level lower than about 12%.

13. The glazing assembly of claim 12 wherein said upper light transmission level is greater than about 60%.

14. The glazing assembly of claim 12 wherein said lower light transmission level is lower than about 6%.

15. The glazing assembly of claim 12 wherein said means for applying an electric field includes two, spaced, transparent electrical conductors;

said electrochromic medium being disposed between said two transparent electrical conductors; and

wherein an electrical voltage of at least one volt is applied to said transparent electrical conductors in order to cause said variation in light transmittance.

16. The glazing assembly of claim 1 wherein said means for applying an electric field includes two, spaced, transparent electrical conductors;

said electrochromic medium being disposed between said two transparent electrical conductors.

17. The glazing assembly of claim 15 wherein at least one of said two transparent electrical conductors comprises a thin film coating selected from the group consisting of indium tin oxide, doped tin oxide and doped zinc oxide.

18. The glazing assembly of claim 15 wherein both of said two transparent electrical conductors comprise a thin film coating selected from the group consisting of indium tin oxide, doped tin oxide and doped zinc oxide.

19. A reduced near-infrared transmitting, reduced ultraviolet radiation transmitting electrochromic glazing assembly comprising:

first and second spaced, optically transparent elements, said elements having facing surfaces defining a space between said first and second elements;

an electrochromic medium confined in said spaced whose light transmittance is variable upon the application of an electric field thereto;

means for applying an electric field to said electrochromic medium to cause variation in the light transmittance of said medium;

ultraviolet radiation reducing means incorporated in said assembly for reducing ultraviolet radiation degradation of said electrochromic medium in said assembly and for reducing ultraviolet radiation transmittance through said assembly; and

near-infrared reflective means for reducing the transmission of near-infrared radiation through said glazing assembly;

wherein said glazing assembly reflects at least about 30% of the solar energy for Air Mass 2 in the spectral region from about 800 nanometers to about 2500 nanometers.

20. The glazing assembly of claim 19 wherein said near-infrared reflective means comprises at least one of a semitransparent, elemental thin metal film and a low-emittance coating.

21. The glazing assembly of claim 20 wherein said near-infrared reflective means comprises a low-emittance coating selected from the group consisting of a pyrolytic low-emittance coating and a vacuum deposited low-emittance coating.

22. The glazing assembly of claim 20 wherein said near-infrared reflective means comprises a thin metal film selected from the group consisting of copper, gold, aluminum, silver and alloy combinations thereof.

23. The glazing assembly of claim 20 wherein said assembly further comprises safety means for preventing injury upon impact to said assembly.

24. The glazing assembly of claim 23 wherein said safety means comprises at least one of a polymer layer, a tempered glass panel and a laminated glass assembly.

25. The glazing assembly of claim 19 wherein said assembly includes at least one tinted means.

26. The glazing assembly of claim 25 wherein said tinted means comprises at least one of a tinted glass and a tinted polymer.

27. The glazing assembly of claim 19 wherein said application of the electric field to said electrochromic medium causes variation in visible light transmission through said assembly from an upper light transmission level greater than about 40% to a lower light transmission level lower than about 12%.

28. The glazing assembly of claim 27 wherein said upper light transmission level is greater than about 60%.

29. The glazing assembly of claim 27 wherein said lower light transmission level is lower than about 6%.

30. The glazing assembly of claim 27 wherein said means for applying an electric field includes two, spaced, transparent electrical conductors;

said electrochromic medium being disposed between said two transparent electrical conductors; and

wherein an electrical voltage of at least one volt is applied to said transparent electrical conductors in order to cause said variation in light transmittance.

31. The glazing assembly of claim 19 wherein said means for applying an electric field includes two, spaced, transparent electrical conductors;

said electrochromic medium being disposed between said two transparent electrical conductors.

32. The glazing assembly of claim 30 wherein at least one of said two transparent electrical conductors comprises a thin film coating selected from the group consisting of indium tin oxide, doped tin oxide and doped zinc oxide.

33. The glazing assembly of claim 30 wherein both of said two transparent electrical conductors comprise a thin film coating selected from the group consisting of indium tin oxide, doped tin oxide and doped zinc oxide.

34. A reduced near-infrared radiation transmitting, reduced ultraviolet radiation transmitting, safety protected, electrochromic glazing assembly comprising:

first and second spaced, optically transparent elements, said elements having facing surfaces defining a space between said first and second elements;

an electrochromic medium confined in said space whose light transmittance is variable upon the application of an electric field thereto;

means for applying an electric field to said electrochromic medium to cause variation in the light transmittance of said medium;

ultraviolet radiation reducing means incorporated in said assembly for reducing ultraviolet radiation degradation of said electrochromic medium in said assembly and for reducing ultraviolet radiation transmittance through said assembly;

safety means incorporated in said assembly for preventing injury upon impact to said assembly; and

near-infrared reflective means incorporated in said assembly for reducing the transmission of near-infrared radiation through said glazing assembly; and

wherein said application of the electric field to said electrochromic medium causes variation in visible light transmission through said assembly from an upper light transmission level greater than about 37% to a lower light transmission level lower than about 12%.

35. The glazing assembly of claim 34 wherein said upper light transmission level is greater than about 60%.

36. The glazing assembly of claim 34 wherein said lower light transmission level is lower than about 6%.

37. The glazing assembly of claim 34 wherein said means for applying an electric field includes two, spaced, transparent electrical conductors;

said electrochromic medium being disposed between said two transparent electrical conductors.

38. The glazing assembly of claim 37 wherein at least one of said two transparent electrical conductors comprises a thin film coating selected from the group consisting of indium tin oxide, doped tin oxide and doped zinc oxide.

39. The glazing assembly of claim 37 wherein both of said two transparent electrical conductors comprise a thin film coating selected from the group consisting of indium tin oxide, doped tin oxide and doped zinc oxide.

40. The glazing assembly of claim 37 wherein an electrical voltage of at least one volt is applied to said transparent electrical conductors in order to cause said variation in light transmittance.

41. The glazing assembly of claim 34 wherein said near-infrared reflective means comprises a low-emittance coating selected from the group consisting of a pyrolytic low-emittance coating and a vacuum deposited low-emittance coating.

42. The glazing assembly of claim 34 wherein said near-infrared reflective means comprises a thin metal film.

43. The glazing assembly of claim 42 wherein said thin metal film is selected from the group consisting of copper, gold, aluminum, silver and alloy combinations thereof.

44. The glazing assembly of claim 34 wherein said safety means comprises at least one of a polymer layer, a tempered, glass panel and a laminated glass assembly.

45. The glazing assembly of claim 34 wherein said assembly includes at least one tinted means.

46. The glazing assembly of claim 45 wherein said tinted means comprises at least one of a tinted glass and a tinted polymer.

47. The glazing assembly of claim 46 wherein said tinted means includes at least one of a blue tint, a green tint, a gray tint and a blue-green tint.

48. The glazing assembly of claim 34 wherein said electrochromic medium comprises at least one of a viologen species, a phenazine species, a phenylenediamine species, a benzidene species and a fulvalene species.

49. The glazing assembly of claim 34 wherein said electrochromic medium comprises a viologen species.

50. The glazing assembly of claim 34 wherein said electrochromic medium comprises a phenazine species.

51. The glazing assembly of claim 34 wherein said glazing assembly reflects at least about 30% of the solar energy for Air Mass 2 in the spectral region from about 800 nanometers to about 2500 nanometers.