Switchable glazings
First Claim
1. A switchable film assembly comprising an active layer, preferably a layer of a suspended particle emulsion, between first and second electrically conductive layers, the active layer having an optical transmission that is changeable upon projecting an electric field through the active layer, the film assembly having electrical connection means to connect the film assembly to a power supply, wherein at least one of the electrical connection means comprises a first remote electrical connector region lacking direct electrical contact with the first and second electrically conductive layers, such that upon connecting the film assembly to the power supply, the first remote electrical connector region capacitively couples to the first electrically conductive layer so that an electrical field may be projected through at least a portion of the switchable film assembly thereby changing the optical transmission of the active layer.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A switchable film assembly having remote electrical connections comprises an active layer between first and second electrically conductive layers. The active layer has an optical transmission which changes upon projecting an electric field therethrough. An electrical connection connects the film to a power supply and can comprise a remote electrical connector region provided remote to the first and second electrically conductive layers, such upon connecting the film assembly to the power supply, an electrical field may be projected through at least a portion of the switchable film assembly thereby changing the optical transmission of the active layer.
20 Citations
18 Claims
- 1. A switchable film assembly comprising an active layer, preferably a layer of a suspended particle emulsion, between first and second electrically conductive layers, the active layer having an optical transmission that is changeable upon projecting an electric field through the active layer, the film assembly having electrical connection means to connect the film assembly to a power supply, wherein at least one of the electrical connection means comprises a first remote electrical connector region lacking direct electrical contact with the first and second electrically conductive layers, such that upon connecting the film assembly to the power supply, the first remote electrical connector region capacitively couples to the first electrically conductive layer so that an electrical field may be projected through at least a portion of the switchable film assembly thereby changing the optical transmission of the active layer.
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15. A method of manufacturing a switchable film assembly having a remote electrical connector region, the method comprising:
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providing a switchable film comprising first and second planar electrode layers, each of the first and second planar electrode layers having a plastic substrate material having a first electrically conductive coating disposed on at least a portion of one surface of the plastic substrate and having an active portion laminated between the first and second planar electrode layers, the first electrically conductive coating of each of the first and second planar electrodes being in contact with the active portion; and depositing a second electrically conductive coating on an uncoated surface of the plastic substrate of at least one of the first and second planar electrode layers, thereby producing the remote electrical connector region which does not directly electrically contact the first electrically conductive coating of either of the first and second planar electrodes. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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- 17. A switchable film assembly comprising an active layer, the optical transmission of which changes with an applied voltage, laminated between first and second planar electrode layers, the first and second planar electrode layers each comprising a plastic substrate material having an electrically conductive coating disposed on at least a portion of one surface of the plastic substrate material, wherein the electrically conductive coating of the first planar electrode is in between the active layer and the plastic substrate material of the first planar electrode, and the plastic substrate of the second planar electrode is in between the active layer and the electrically conductive coating of the second planar electrode, such that the switchable film assembly has an electrically insulating region on an uncoated surface of the first planar electrode where a remote electrical connector region is positionable so that the remote electrical connector region does not directly electrically contact the electrically conductive coating of either of the first and second planar electrodes.
Specification