Method of making vacuum insulated glass (VIG) window unit including activating getter

• US 9,290,984 B2
• Filed: 07/31/2012
• Issued: 03/22/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Guardian Glass LLC (KOCH Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Guardian Industries Corporation (KOCH Industries Incorporated)
• Inventors: Hogan, John P., Pantke, Andrew W., Petrmichl, Rudolph H.
• Primary Examiner(s): SCHATZ, CHRISTOPHER T
• Application Number:
  US13/562,408
• Publication Number:
  US 20140034218A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,330 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/06 comprising glass as the main or only constituent of a layer, next to another layer of a specific material
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 3/18 characterised by an internal layer formed of separate pieces of material which are juxtaposed side-by-side B32B5/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 37/10 characterised by the pressing technique, e.g. using action of vacuum or fluid pressure
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 37/14 characterised by the properties of the layers
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 3/6612 Evacuated glazing units
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 3/6775 Evacuating or filling the gap during assembly
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 30/249 Glazing, e.g. vacuum glazing
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 80/22 Glazing, e.g. vaccum glazing

Abstract

Methods of making vacuum insulated glass (VIG) window units are provided, including activating getters in a process of making VIG window units. In certain example embodiments, at least one getter is activated during and/or at the end of a pump-out/evacuation process in which the cavity between the substrates is evacuated. In certain example embodiments, the getter(s) may be activated (e.g., by at least a laser beam that is directed through a pump-out tube) during and/or at the end of the evacuation process in which the cavity between the substrates is evacuated to a low pressure that is below atmospheric pressure.

Claims

1. A method of making a vacuum insulated glass (VIG) window unit, the method comprising:

having first and second substantially parallel glass substrates, a plurality of spacers and a seal provided between the first and second substrates, and a cavity to be evacuated to a pressure less than atmospheric pressure located between the glass substrates, and a getter supported by the first substrate; and

directing a laser beam through a pump-out tube supported by the second substrate so that the laser beam impinges upon the getter and activates the getter, the pump-out tube being elongated so that when viewed in cross section the pump-out tube has a length longer than its width, and wherein the pump-out tube extends through at least part of the second glass substrate.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said directing the laser beam through the pump-out tube to activate the getter is performed during and/or substantially at an end of an evacuation process in which the cavity is evacuated to a pressure less than atmospheric pressure.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said directing the laser beam through the pump-out tube to activate the getter is performed at least during an evacuation process in which the cavity is evacuated to a pressure less than atmospheric pressure.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said directing the laser beam through the pump-out tube to activate the getter is performed at least substantially at an end of an evacuation process in which the cavity is evacuated to a pressure less than atmospheric pressure.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said directing the laser beam through the pump-out tube to activate the getter is performed so that the getter does not exceed the temperature at which it begins to substantially adsorb and/or bind with impurities before pressure in the cavity drops to or below about 1×

10<sup>−

2</sup> to 1×

10<sup>−

3</sup> mbar during an evacuation process.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said directing the laser beam through the pump-out tube to activate the getter is performed only after an evacuation process causes pressure in the cavity to reach less than or equal to about 1×

10<sup>−

3</sup> mbar.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the getter is located in a recess defined in the first substrate.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the getter is located directly below the pump-out tube when the VIG window unit is viewed in cross section.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the getter comprises barium.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the getter comprises NEG material.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the VIG window unit has a visible transmission of at least about 50%.

23. The method of claim 1, wherein the cavity to be evacuated is located between opposing substantially parallel major surfaces of the first and second substrates respectively, and wherein the pump-out tube extends in a direction substantially perpendicular to the major surfaces of the first and second substrates.

12. A method of making a vacuum insulated glass (VIG) window unit, the method comprising:

having first and second substantially parallel glass substrates, a plurality of spacers and a seal provided between the first and second substrates, a cavity to be evacuated to a pressure less than atmospheric pressure located between the glass substrates, and at least one getter provided in the cavity;

activating the getter during and/or substantially at an end of an evacuation process in which the cavity is evacuated to a pressure less than atmospheric pressure;

wherein the cavity to be evacuated is located between opposing substantially parallel major surfaces of the first and second substrates respectively, and wherein a pump-out tube for evacuating the cavity extends in a direction substantially perpendicular to the major surfaces of the first and second substrates, and

wherein the pump-out tube extends through at least part of one of the substrates, the pump-out tube being elongated so that the pump-out tube has a length longer than its width.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said activating the getter is performed at least during the evacuation process in which the cavity is evacuated to a pressure less than atmospheric pressure.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein said activating the getter is performed at least substantially at an end of the evacuation process in which the cavity is evacuated to a pressure less than atmospheric pressure.

15. The method of claim 12, where said activating comprises directing a laser beam through the pump-out tube, the pump-out tube being supported by the second substrate, so that the laser beam impinges upon the getter and activates the getter, and wherein the getter is supported by the first substrate.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein said activating comprises directing a laser beam at the getter in order to at least help activate the getter.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein said activating comprises emitting microwave radiation from a microwave source toward the getter in order to at least help activate the getter.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein said activating comprises emitting RF radiation from at least a coil toward the getter in order to at least help activate the getter.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein said activating is performed so that the getter does not exceed the temperature at which it begins to substantially adsorb and/or bind with impurities before pressure in the cavity drops to or below about 1×

10<sup>−

2</sup> to 1×

10<sup>−

3</sup> mbar during an evacuation process.

20. The method of claim 12, wherein said activating is performed only after an evacuation process causes pressure in the cavity to reach less than or equal to about 1×

10<sup>−

3</sup> mbar.

21. The method of claim 12, wherein the getter is located directly below the pump-out tube when the VIG unit is viewed in cross section.

22. The method of claim 12, wherein the VIG window unit has a visible transmission of at least about 50%.