Variable transmission window system
First Claim
1. A variable transmittance window comprising:
- an electrochromic device coupled to control circuitry for varying the transmittance of the electrochromic device, said electrochromic device comprising;
first and second substrates arranged in a parallel, spaced-apart relation to form a chamber between inner surfaces of said substrates;
a transparent electrode coating provided on each of said inner surfaces of said substrates;
first and second layers of silver epoxy respectively deposited on inner surfaces of said first and second transparent electrode coatings of said substrates at a perimeter of said substrates; and
an electrochromic medium disposed between said transparent electrode coatings.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electrical control system is disclosed for controlling a plurality of variable transmittance windows. The electrical control system comprises a master control circuit and user input circuits for supplying control signals representing transmittance levels for the variable transmission windows, and a plurality of slave window control circuits coupled to the master control circuit, user input circuits and the variable transmittance windows. Each slave window control circuit controls the transmittance of at least one of the variable transmission windows in response to control signals received from the master control circuit and/or user input circuits. Also disclosed are novel methods for the manufacture of an electrochromic device used in variable transmittance windows. Novel structural features for improving heat transfer away from the windows, shielding the window from external loads, and improving the electrical performance of the windows are also disclosed.
199 Citations
77 Claims
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1. A variable transmittance window comprising:
an electrochromic device coupled to control circuitry for varying the transmittance of the electrochromic device, said electrochromic device comprising; first and second substrates arranged in a parallel, spaced-apart relation to form a chamber between inner surfaces of said substrates; a transparent electrode coating provided on each of said inner surfaces of said substrates; first and second layers of silver epoxy respectively deposited on inner surfaces of said first and second transparent electrode coatings of said substrates at a perimeter of said substrates; and an electrochromic medium disposed between said transparent electrode coatings. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A variable transmittance window system, comprising:
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a variable transmittance window comprising an electrochromic device coupled to control circuitry for varying the transmittance of said electrochromic device; and a middle reveal and an outer reveal that are in physical contact with said electrochromic device around its perimeter, and that are configured to retain the electrochromic device in a fixed position, wherein said middle and outer reveals are made of a thermally conductive plastic so that thermal energy from said electrochromic device is conducted into other structures in contact with said middle and outer reveals. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A variable transmittance window system comprising:
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a variable transmittance window comprising an electrochromic device coupled to control circuitry for varying the transmittance of said electrochromic device; an elastomeric bezel in contact with, and enclosing the perimeter of, said electrochromic device; and a middle reveal and an outer reveal that are in physical contact with, and enclose, said elastomeric bezel around its perimeter, and that are configured to retain the electrochromic device in a fixed position. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A variable transmittance window system, comprising:
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a variable transmittance window comprising an electrochromic device comprising; a first substrate having a first surface, a second surface, and a perimeter defining a first side and a second side opposite said first side; a second substrate having a first surface, a second surface, and a perimeter defining a first side and a second side opposite said first side; a first electrically conductive coating provided on said second surface of said first substrate; a second electrically conductive coating provided on said first surface of said second substrate; and an electrochromic medium disposed between said electrically conductive coatings; and a control circuit coupled to said electrochromic device for controlling the transmittance thereof, wherein said control circuit applies a positive voltage to decrease the transmittance of said electrochromic device and applies a sequence of negative voltage pulses to said variable transmittance window while short-circuiting said variable transmittance window during other times to increase the transmittance of said electrochromic device. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A variable transmittance window system comprising:
an electrochromic device comprising; a first substrate having a first surface, a second surface, and a perimeter defining a first side and a second side opposite said first side; a second substrate having a first surface, a second surface, and a perimeter defining a first side and a second side opposite said first side; a first electrically conductive coating provided on said second surface of said first substrate; a second electrically conductive coating provided on said first surface of said second substrate; an electrochromic medium disposed between said electrically conductive coatings; a first electrically conductive structure electrically coupled to said first electrically conductive coating at said first side of said first substrate; a second electrically conductive structure electrically coupled to said first electrically conductive coating at said second side of said first substrate; a third electrically conductive structure electrically coupled to said second electrically conductive coating at said first side of said second substrate; and a fourth electrically conductive structure electrically coupled to said second electrically conductive coating at said second side of said second substrate, wherein each of said electrically conductive structures may receive an applied voltage independent of the other electrically conductive structures. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. An electrochromic element comprising:
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a first glass substrate having a first surface, a second surface, and a perimeter defining a first side and a second side opposite said first side, said first glass substrate having a thickness of less than about 1.2 mm; a second glass substrate having a first surface, a second surface, and a perimeter defining a first side and a second side opposite said first side; a first layer of ITO provided on said second surface of said first glass substrate having a thickness of at least two waves and having a sheet resistance of less than about 2.6 ohms/square; a second layer of ITO provided on said first surface of said second glass substrate; and an electrochromic medium disposed between said first and second layers of ITO. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48)
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49. A variable transmittance window system, comprising:
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a variable transmittance window comprising an electrochromic device comprising; a first substrate having a first surface, a second surface, and a perimeter defining a first side and a second side opposite said first side; a second substrate having a first surface, a second surface, and a perimeter defining a first side and a second side opposite said first side; a first electrically conductive coating provided on the second surface of said first substrate; a second electrically conductive coating provided on the first surface of said second substrate; and an electrochromic medium disposed between said electrically conductive coatings; and a control circuit coupled to said electrochromic device for controlling the transmittance thereof, wherein said variable transmittance window system is configured such that said electrochromic device transitions from 60% transmittance to less than about 0.2% transmittance in less than about 2 minutes. - View Dependent Claims (50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58)
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59. A variable transmittance window system, comprising:
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a variable transmittance window comprising an electrochromic device having an area larger than 0.1 m2, said electrochromic device comprising; a first substrate having a first surface, a second surface, and a perimeter defining a first side and a second side opposite said first side; a second substrate having a first surface, a second surface, and a perimeter defining a first side and a second side opposite said first side; a first electrically conductive coating provided on the second surface of said first substrate; a second electrically conductive coating provided on said first surface of said second substrate; and an electrochromic medium disposed between said electrically conductive coatings; and a control circuit coupled to said electrochromic device for controlling the transmittance thereof, wherein said variable transmittance window system is configured such that said electrochromic device transitions from 60% transmittance to less than about 0.2% transmittance. - View Dependent Claims (60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68)
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69. A variable transmittance window system, comprising:
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a variable transmittance window comprising an electrochromic device comprising; a first substrate having a first surface, a second surface, and a perimeter defining a first side and a second side opposite said first side; a second substrate having a first surface, a second surface, and a perimeter defining a first side and a second side opposite said first side; a first electrically conductive coating provided on the second surface of said first substrate; a second electrically conductive coating provided on the first surface of said second substrate; and an electrochromic medium disposed between said electrically conductive coatings; and a control circuit coupled to said electrochromic device for controlling the transmittance thereof, wherein said variable transmittance window system is configured such that said electrochromic device transitions from 0.2% transmittance to more than about 60% transmittance in less than about 5 minutes. - View Dependent Claims (70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77)
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Specification