High performance privacy glazing structures

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10866480-B2
Application number	US-201815958724-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 20, 2018
Priority date	Apr 20, 2017
Publication date	Dec 15, 2020
Grant date	Dec 15, 2020

Abstract

A privacy glazing structure may be fabricated from multiple panes of transparent material that hold an optically active material and also define a between-pane space that is separated from a surrounding environment for thermal insulating properties. The privacy glazing structure may include various functional coatings and intermediate films to enhance the performance and/or life span of the structure. For example, the privacy glazing structure may include a low emissivity coating and a laminate layer positioned between an optically active layer and an exterior environment exposed to sunlight. The low emissivity coating and laminate layer may work in combination to effectively protect the optically active layer from sunlight degradation. Additionally or alternatively, the laminate layer may impart safety and impact resistance properties to the structure.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A privacy glazing structure comprising:
a first pane of transparent material;
a second pane of transparent material that is generally parallel to the first pane of transparent material;
a spacer positioned between the first pane of transparent material and the second pane of transparent material to define a between-pane space, the spacer sealing the between-pane space from gas exchange with a surrounding environment and holding the first pane of transparent material a separation distance from the second pane of transparent material;
a third pane of transparent material that is generally parallel to the first pane of transparent material and the second pane of transparent material;
a fourth pane of transparent material that is generally parallel to the third pane of transparent material;
an electrically controllable optically active material positioned between the third pane of transparent material and the fourth pane of transparent material;
a first electrically conductive layer deposited over the third pane of transparent material and a second electrically conductive layer deposited over the fourth pane of transparent material, the first electrically conductive layer and the second electrically conductive layer being arranged to electrically control the electrically controllable optically active material;
a laminate layer bonding the second pane of transparent material to the third pane of transparent material, the laminate layer providing a barrier to ultraviolet light that would otherwise impinge upon the electrically controllable optically active material;
a low-emissivity coating on an interior surface of at least one of the first pane of transparent material and the second pane of transparent material facing the between-pane space.

2. The structure of claim 1 , wherein the laminate layer exhibits a T395 less than 75 percent.

3. The structure of claim 1 , wherein the laminate layer exhibits a T395 less than 55 percent.

4. The structure of claim 1 , wherein the first pane of transparent material is tempered glass, and the second, third, and fourth panes of transparent material are each formed of glass that is not thermally strengthened.

5. The structure of claim 1 , wherein the laminate layer comprises polyvinyl butyral having a thickness ranging from 0.010 inches (0.254 mm) to 0.1 inches (2.54 mm).

6. The structure of claim 1 , wherein the low-emissivity coating comprises one or more layers of infrared-reflection film interposed between one or more layers of transparent dielectric film.

7. The structure of claim 6 , wherein the low-emissivity coating comprises two or three layers comprising silver.

8. The structure of claim 1 , wherein the structure exhibits a T395 less than 5 percent through a combination of the first pane of transparent material, the second pane of transparent material, the third pane of transparent material, the laminate layer, and the low-emissivity coating.

9. The structure of claim 1 , wherein the first pane of transparent material forms a #1 surface of the structure configured to face an exterior environment and the low-emissivity coating is on the interior surface of the first pane of transparent material.

10. The structure of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first pane of transparent material, the second pane of transparent material, and the third pane of transparent material have a thickness greater than a thickness of the fourth pane of transparent material.

11. The structure of claim 10 , wherein the first pane of transparent material has a thickness greater than a thickness of each of the second pane of transparent material, the third pane of transparent material, and the fourth pane of transparent material.

12. The structure of claim 1 , further comprising a fifth pane of transparent material, wherein the laminate layer comprises a first laminate layer, and further comprising a second laminate layer, wherein the second laminate layer bonds the fourth pane of transparent material to the fifth pane of transparent material.

13. The structure of claim 12 , wherein the first laminate layer defines a first thickness, the second laminate layer defines a second thickness, and the first thickness is different than the second thickness.

14. The structure of claim 13 , wherein a ratio of the first thickness divided by the second thickness ranges from ranges from 2 to 10.

15. The structure of claim 13 , wherein first thickness ranges from 0.025 inches (0.635 mm) to 0.1 inch (2.54 mm) and the second thickness ranges from 0.005 inches (0.127 mm) to 0.02 inches (5.08 mm).

16. The structure of claim 12 , wherein the first laminate and the second laminate are each formed of a same material.

17. The structure of claim 1 , wherein the structure comprises, in sequential order:
the first pane of transparent material;
the low-emissivity coating deposited on the interior surface of the first pane of transparent material;
the between-pane space;
the second pane of transparent material;
the laminate layer;
the third pane of transparent material;
the first electrically conductive layer deposited on the third pane of transparent material;
the electrically controllable optically active material;
the second electrically conductive layer deposited on the fourth pane of transparent material; and
the fourth pane of transparent material.

18. The structure of claim 1 , wherein the separation distance defined by the spacer ranges from 5 mm to 20 mm.

19. The structure of claim 1 , wherein each pane of transparent material in the structure is formed of glass.

20. The structure of claim 1 , wherein the spacer comprises a tubular spacer.

21. The structure of claim 1 , wherein the electrically controllable optically active material is a liquid crystal material having a light transmittance that varies in response to application of an electrical field.

22. The structure of claim 1 , wherein the electrically controllable optically active material is selected from the group consisting of an electrochromic material and a suspended particle material.

23. A privacy glazing structure comprising:
a first pane of glass;
a second pane of glass that is generally parallel to the first pane of glass;
a spacer positioned between the first pane of glass and the second pane of glass to define a between-pane space, the spacer sealing the between-pane space from gas exchange with a surrounding environment and holding the first pane of glass a separation distance from the second pane of glass;
a third pane of glass that is generally parallel to the first pane of glass and the second pane of glass;
a fourth pane of glass that is generally parallel to the third pane of glass;
a liquid crystal material having a light transmittance that varies in response to application of an electrical field positioned between the third pane of glass and the fourth pane of glass;
a first electrically conductive layer deposited over the third pane of glass and a second electrically conductive layer deposited over the fourth pane of glass, the first electrically conductive layer and the second electrically conductive layer being arranged to electrically control the liquid crystal material;
a first laminate layer bonding the second pane of glass to the third pane of glass,
a fifth pane of glass that is generally parallel to the fourth pane of glass;
a second laminate layer bonding the fourth pane of glass to the fifth pane of glass,
wh

Assignees

• Cardinal Ig Co

Inventors

• Le Houx Nicolas
• Atkuri Hari
• Demiglio Andrew
• Bjergaard Eric

Classifications

• G02F2001/1552

  Inner electrode, e.g. the electrochromic layer being sandwiched between the inner electrode and the support substrate · CPC title

• G02F1/155 Primary

  Electrodes · CPC title

• G02F1/15165

  Polymers · CPC title

• E06B2009/2464

  featuring transparency control by applying voltage, e.g. LCD, electrochromic panels · CPC title

• E06B3/6715 Primary

  specially adapted for increased thermal insulation or for controlled passage of light (E06B3/66323 takes precedence; coating of glass pains C03C17/00; devices or arrangements for controlling the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light G02F1/00) · CPC title