Window with shade

• US 9,539,883 B2
• Filed: 06/26/2013
• Issued: 01/10/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Snider, Darin J., Warren, Norman B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pape, Joseph D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): IVEY, DANA DESHAWN
• Application Number:
  US14/414,148
• Publication Number:
  US 20150224856A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,294 Days
• Field of Search: 296/146.15, 296/97.8, 296/214, 296/215, 296/210
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 1/2019 powered, e.g. by electric, hydraulic or pneumatic actuators
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 3/0286 Sunglare reduction by temporary translucent screens or foils removably attached to window
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 7/0015 roller blind
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 25/06 Fixed roofs non-fixed roofs or like shelters B60J7/00; roof liners B60R13/02; insulating elements B60R13/08

Abstract

A window assembly includes an outer window panel, an inner window panel, a conductive layer disposed at an inner surface of the inner window panel, a spacer element, and a roller shade disposed within an interpane cavity established between the inner and outer window panels by the spacer element. The roller shade has an end fixedly attached at an anchor stop along a perimeter portion of the spacer element. A dielectric layer is disposed between the roller shade and the conductive layer. The roller shade is electrically deployable to coil and uncoil between a coiled light transmitting condition and an at least partially uncoiled light attenuating condition. The roller shade is electrically operable via applying a voltage at the transparent conductive layer and at the anchor stop to uncoil the roller shade from the coiled light transmitting condition to the at least partially uncoiled light attenuating condition.

Claims

1. A window assembly comprising:

an outer window panel;

an inner window panel;

a conductive layer disposed at an inner surface of said inner window panel;

a spacer element disposed between said inner and outer window panels to establish an interpane cavity between said inner and outer window panels;

a roller shade disposed within said interpane cavity, wherein said roller shade has an end fixedly attached at an anchor stop along a perimeter portion of said spacer element;

a dielectric layer disposed between said roller shade and said conductive layer;

wherein said roller shade is electrically deployable to coil and uncoil between a coiled light transmitting condition, where said roller shade is coiled along said perimeter portion of said spacer element and functions to substantially allow light transmission through said window assembly, and an at least partially uncoiled light attenuating condition, where said roller shade is uncoiled to at least partially cover a surface of said inner window panel and functions to at least partially attenuate light transmission through said window assembly;

wherein said roller shade is electrically operable via applying a voltage at said transparent conductive layer and at said anchor stop to uncoil said roller shade from said coiled light transmitting condition to said at least partially uncoiled light attenuating condition, and wherein an electrical connection is made between said roller shade and a power source to provide electrical power to said roller shade;

wherein said roller shade comprises a laminate material comprising a shade dielectric layer, a conductive layer and an opaque layer, and wherein said conductive layer is disposed at a lower portion of said shade dielectric layer and said opaque layer is disposed at a lower surface of said conductive layer; and

wherein said anchor stop comprises a curved receiving portion that is curved to generally correspond with the curvature of said roller shade when it is coiled at said curved receiving portion of said anchor stop.

2. The window assembly of claim 1, wherein said shade dielectric layer comprises a layer of Polyethylene Naphthalate.

3. The window assembly of claim 1, wherein said conductive layer comprises a transparent conductive layer.

4. The window assembly of claim 3, wherein said transparent conductive layer comprises a layer of indium tin oxide.

5. The window assembly of claim 1, wherein said opaque layer comprises an opaque ink layer.

6. The window assembly of claim 1, wherein said opaque layer comprises a conductive ink layer.

7. The window assembly of claim 1, wherein said opaque layer comprises a non-conductive ink layer.

8. The window assembly of claim 1, comprising at least one sensor disposed in said interpane cavity and at a surface of one of said inner and outer window panels, wherein said sensor is operable to sense at least one of (i) temperature, (ii) humidity and (iii) glass failure.

9. The window assembly of claim 8, wherein electrically conductive traces are established on said dielectric layer for electrically connecting said at least one sensor to a power source.

10. The window assembly of claim 1, wherein said curved receiving portion is curved so as to at least partially encompass an upper portion of said roller shade when said roller shade is coiled at said curved receiving portion of said anchor stop.

11. The window assembly of claim 1, wherein said anchor stop includes a cover portion that extends from an upper region of said curved receiving portion so as to extend at least partially over said roller shade when said roller shade is coiled at said anchor stop.

12. The window assembly of claim 1, wherein said window assembly comprises a movable window assembly that is movable along a frame between an opened position and a closed position.

13. The window assembly of claim 12, wherein wiring to said window assembly is routed along a flexible track mechanism to control flexing of said wiring when said movable window assembly is moved between its opened and closed positions.

14. The window assembly of claim 1, wherein said spacer element comprises a stop element integrally formed therewith, and wherein said stop element is configured to engage said roller shade when said roller shade is uncoiled.

15. The window assembly of claim 1, wherein electrical connection is made to first and second electrical connectors established at a connecting region of said inner surface of said inner window panel, and wherein said first electrical connector is electrically conductively connected to said transparent conductive layer and said second electrical connector is electrically conductively connected to said anchor stop.

16. The window assembly of claim 15, wherein said connecting region of said inner surface is devoid of said transparent conductive layer.

17. The window assembly of claim 16, wherein said first electrical connector is electrically conductively connected to said transparent conductive layer via a first conductive trace established at said inner surface of said inner window panel between said first electrical connector and said transparent conductive layer.

18. The window assembly of claim 16, wherein said second electrical connector is electrically conductively connected to said anchor stop via a second conductive trace established along said inner surface of said inner window panel between said second electrical connector and said anchor stop.

19. The window assembly of claim 18, wherein said second conductive trace is established at a perimeter portion of said dielectric layer such that said dielectric layer is between said second conductive trace and said transparent conductive layer.

20. The window assembly of claim 18, wherein said second conductive trace is established along a perimeter portion of said inner window panel that spans at least a portion of two sides of the periphery of said inner window panel.