Privacy glazing structure with asymetrical pane offsets for electrical connection configurations

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10968684-B2
Application number	US-201916542635-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 16, 2019
Priority date	Aug 17, 2018
Publication date	Apr 6, 2021
Grant date	Apr 6, 2021

Abstract

A privacy glazing structure may include an electrically controllable optically active material that provides controlled transition between a privacy or scattering state and a visible or transmittance state. To make electrical connections with electrode layers that control the optically active material, the privacy glazing structure may include an offset pane arrangement. The structure may include first and second panes that contain an optically active material. The two panes may be sandwiched by two laminated outer panes. In some examples, the first and second panes are recessed relative to the laminated outer panes along their side edges to define recesses in which electrical connection features are positioned. While the side edges may be recessed, the bottom edges of all the panes may be positioned flush with each other.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A privacy glazing structure comprising:
a first pane of transparent material having an inner face and an outer face, the first pane of transparent material having a top edge, a bottom edge, a first side edge, and a second side edge;
a second pane of transparent material having an inner face and an outer face, the second pane of transparent material having a top edge, a bottom edge, a first side edge, and a second side edge;
a third pane of transparent material having a top edge, a bottom edge, a first side edge, and a second side edge;
a fourth pane of transparent material having a top edge, a bottom edge, a first side edge, and a second side edge;
a first laminate layer bonding the outer face of the first pane of transparent material to the third pane of transparent material;
a second laminate layer bonding the out face of the second pane of transparent material to the fourth pane of transparent material;
an electrically controllable optically active material positioned between the first pane of transparent material and the second pane of transparent material;
wherein the first side edge of the first pane of transparent material is recessed relative to the first side edge of the third pane of transparent material and the first side edge of the fourth pane of transparent material,
the second side edge of the second pane of transparent material is recessed relative to the second side edge of the third pane of transparent material and the second side edge of the fourth pane of transparent material, and
the bottom edge of the first pane of transparent material is flush with the bottom edge of the second pane of transparent material, the bottom edge of the third pane of transparent material, and the bottom edge of the fourth pane of transparent material.

2. The structure of claim 1 , wherein the first side edge of the second pane of transparent material is also recessed relative to the first side edge of the third pane of transparent material and the first side edge of the fourth pane of transparent material.

3. The structure of claim 2 , wherein the first side edge of the first pane of transparent material is recessed relative to the first side edge of the second pane of transparent material.

4. The structure of claim 1 , wherein:
the second side edge of the first pane of transparent material is also recessed relative to the second side edge of the third pane of transparent material and the second side edge of the fourth pane of transparent material, and
the second side edge of the second pane of transparent material is recessed relative to the second side edge of the first pane of transparent material.

5. The structure of claim 1 , wherein:
the first side edge of the third pane of transparent material is flush with the first side edge of the fourth pane of transparent material, and
the second side edge of the third pane of transparent material is flush with the second side edge of the fourth pane of transparent material.

6. The structure of claim 1 , wherein the top edge of the first pane of transparent material is recessed relative to the top edge of the third pane of transparent material, and the top edge of the second pane of transparent material is recessed relative to the top edge of the fourth pane of transparent material.

7. The structure of claim 1 , wherein at the top edge of the second pane of transparent material is flush with the top edge of the fourth pane of transparent material.

8. The structure of claim 7 , wherein the top edge of the first pane of transparent material is flush with the top edge of the second pane of transparent material, and the top edge of the third pane of transparent material is flush with the top edge of the fourth pane of transparent material.

9. The structure of claim 1 , wherein:
the top edges of the first and second panes of transparent material are recessed a top recess distance,
the first side edge of the first pane of transparent material is recessed relative to the first side edges of the third and fourth panes of transparent material a first side recess distance,
the second side edge of the second pane of transparent material is recessed relative to the second side edges of the third and fourth panes of transparent material a second side recess distance, and
the top recess distance is less than both the first side recess distance and the second side recess distance.

10. The structure of claim 9 , wherein a ratio of the first side recess distance divided by the top recess distance and a ratio of the second side recess distance divided by the top recess distance each range from 1.2 to 2.5.

11. The structure of claim 1 , further comprising:
a first electrode layer on the inner face of the first pane of transparent material;
a second electrode layer on the inner face of the second pane of transparent material;
a first electrode connected to the second electrode layer in a first recessed space defined, collectively, by the first side edge of the first pane of transparent material, the second pane of transparent material, and the third pane of transparent material, and
a second electrode connected to the first electrode layer in a second recessed space defined, collectively, by the second side edge of the second pane of transparent material, the first pane of transparent material, and the fourth pane of transparent material.

12. The structure of claim 11 , wherein:
the first electrodes comprises an elongated body that wraps around the first side edge of the second pane of transparent material, and
the second electrode comprises an elongated body that wraps around the second side edge of the first pane of transparent material.

13. The structure of claim 12 , wherein:
the first electrode includes first and second legs extending from a base, the first leg is embedded in the second laminate layer, the base is in contact with the first side edge of the second pane of transparent material, and the second leg is in contact with the second electrode layer on the second pane of transparent material, and
the second electrode includes first and second legs extending from a base, the first leg is embedded in the first laminate layer, the base is in contact with the second side edge of the first pane of transparent material, and the second leg is in contact with the first electrode layer on the first pane of transparent material.

14. The structure of claim 11 , wherein the first and second electrodes are each formed of deposited solder material.

15. The structure of claim 14 , further comprising a non-conductive overcoat layer deposited over each of the first and second electrode layers, wherein the deposited solder material penetrates the non-conductive overcoat layer.

16. The structure of claim 11 , further comprising:
a first section of electrical wiring electrically connected to the first electrode and positioned in the first recessed space, and
a second section of electrical wiring electrically connected to the second electrode and positioned in the second recessed space.

17. The structure of claim 16 , wherein at least one hole is formed through at least one of the third pane of transparent material and the fourth pane of transparent material, and the first section of electrical wiring and the second section of electrical wiring exit the privacy glazing structure through the least one hole.

18. The structure of claim 11 , further comprising a polymeric material filling the first recessed space and the second recessed space.

19. The structure

Assignees

• Cardinal Ig Co

Inventors

• Bjergaard Eric
• Demiglio Andrew

Classifications

• B32B17/10504 Primary

  Liquid crystal layer · CPC title

• B32B17/10055

  with at least one intermediate air space · CPC title

• G02F1/13452

  Conductors connecting driver circuitry and terminals of panels · CPC title

• E06B9/24

  Screens or other constructions affording protection against light, especially against sunshine; Similar screens for privacy or appearance; {Slat blinds}(operating, guiding or securing devices or arrangements for roll-type closures E06B9/56; free-hanging flexible screens A47H23/00) · CPC title

• G02F2201/42

  Arrangements for providing conduction through an insulating substrate · CPC title