Multi-zone EC windows

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11899330-B2
Application number	US-202217654563-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 11, 2022
Priority date	Mar 13, 2012
Publication date	Feb 13, 2024
Grant date	Feb 13, 2024

Abstract

Thin-film devices, for example, multi-zone electrochromic windows, and methods of manufacturing are described. In certain cases, a multi-zone electrochromic window comprises a monolithic EC device on a transparent substrate and two or more tinting zones, wherein the tinting zones are configured for independent operation.

First claim

We claim:

1. An electrochromic (EC) window comprising:
an EC device on a transparent substrate, the EC device comprising bus bars;
a region of the transparent substrate that is not covered by the EC device, the region capable of providing, when not mitigated, a bright spot or bright region when the EC device is tinted; and
an obscuring material over the region, wherein the obscuring material has a lower transmittance than the transparent substrate,
wherein the obscuring material comprises a thermochromic material.

2. The electrochromic window of claim 1 , wherein the region is a pinhole, a scribe line, or an edge line.

3. The electrochromic window of claim 1 , wherein the obscuring material has an opacity of at least about 50% of the maximum transmittance of the electrochromic device.

4. The electrochromic window of claim 1 , wherein the obscuring material has a color selected from a group consisting of white, black, gray, green, brown and blue.

5. The electrochromic window of claim 1 , wherein the obscuring material comprises light scattering particles.

6. The electrochromic window of claim 1 , wherein the obscuring material comprises an adhesive.

7. The electrochromic window of claim 1 , wherein the thermochromic material comprises a leuco dye, an ink, a paint, a polymer, or a metal oxide.

8. The electrochromic window of claim 7 , wherein the metal oxide comprises titanium dioxide, zinc oxide or vanadium oxide.

9. The electrochromic window of claim 1 , wherein the EC device comprises a solid state and inorganic EC device.

10. The electrochromic window of claim 1 , wherein the EC device comprises a first transparent conducting oxide (TCO) and a second TCO.

11. The electrochromic window of claim 1 , wherein the EC device comprises two or more tinting zones.

12. The electrochromic windows of claim 1 , wherein the bus bars are disposed along opposing edges of the EC device.

13. A method of obscuring a bright area produced by a region of a transparent substrate that is not covered by an EC device, the method comprising:
i. providing an electrochromic lite having the EC device on a substrate;
ii. identifying a site of the bright area on the substrate; and
iii. applying an obscuring material over the site, wherein the obscuring material has a lower transmittance than the substrate,

wherein the obscuring material comprises a thermochromic material.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the region is a pinhole, a scribe line, or an edge line.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the obscuring material is applied via an ink jet dispenser.

16. The method of claim 13 , wherein the obscuring material has an opacity of about 50% of the maximum transmittance of the electrochromic device.

17. The method of claim 13 , wherein the obscuring material has a color selected from a group consisting of white, black, gray, green, brown and blue.

18. The method of claim 13 , wherein the obscuring material comprises light scattering particles.

19. The method of claim 13 , wherein the obscuring material comprises an adhesive.

20. The method of claim 13 , wherein the thermochromic material comprises a leuco dye, an ink, a paint, a polymer or a metal oxide.

21. The method of claim 20 , wherein the metal oxide comprises titanium dioxide, zinc oxide or vanadium oxide.

22. The method of claim 13 , wherein the EC device comprises a solid state and inorganic EC device.

23. The method of claim 13 , wherein the EC device comprises a first transparent conducting oxide (TCO) and a second TCO.

24. The method of claim 13 , wherein the EC device comprises two or more tinting zones.

25. The method of claim 13 , wherein the bus bars are disposed along opposing edges of the EC device.

Assignees

• View Inc

Inventors

• Shrivastava Dhairya
• Friedman Robin
• Khosla Vinod
• Mulpuri Rao

Classifications

• G02F1/153 Primary

  Constructional details · CPC title

• B23K26/359

  by providing a line or line pattern, e.g. a dotted break initiation line · CPC title

• E06B3/6715

  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

• E06B3/6722

  with adjustable passage of light · 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