Privacy glazing structure with asymetrical pane offsets for electrical connection configurations

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12000203-B2
Application number	US-202117213365-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 26, 2021
Priority date	Aug 17, 2018
Publication date	Jun 4, 2024
Grant date	Jun 4, 2024

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.

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;
a first electrode layer positioned over the inner face of the first pane of transparent material;
a second electrode layer positioned over the inner face of 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,
at least one of:
a top recess is defined by at least one of the top edge of the first pane of transparent material and the top edge of the second pane of transparent material being recessed relative to the top edge of the third pane of transparent material and the top edge of the fourth pane of transparent material, and
a bottom recess is defined by at least one of the bottom edge of the first pane of transparent material and the bottom edge of the second pane of transparent material being recessed relative to the bottom edge of the third pane of transparent material and the bottom edge of the fourth pane of transparent material,

a first electrode is 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 is 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.

2. The structure of claim 1 , further comprising a sash extending around a perimeter of the privacy glazing structure, wherein at least one of a setting block and a window hardware component is positioned on a bottom of the sash with a bottom edge of the privacy glazing structure defining a cutout in which the at least one of the setting block and window hardware component is received, the bottom edge of the privacy glazing structure resting on the at least one of the setting block and window hardware component within the sash.

3. The structure of claim 1 , further comprising:
a first section of electrical wiring electrically connected to the first electrode and extending through at least one of the first recessed space, the top recess, and the bottom recess before exiting the privacy glazing structure; and
a second section of electrical wiring electrically connected to the second electrode and extending through at least one of the second recessed space, the top recess, and the bottom recess before exiting the privacy glazing structure.

4. The structure of claim 3 , further comprising at least one hole is formed through at least one of the third pane of transparent material and the fourth pane of transparent material, wherein the first section of electrical wiring and the second section of electrical wiring exit the privacy glazing structure through the least one hole.

5. The structure of claim 3 , further comprising a polymeric material filling the first recessed space and the second recessed space.

6. The structure of claim 3 , wherein:
the first section of electrical wiring extends through the first recessed space and the top recess; and
a second section of electrical wiring extends through the top recess.

7. The structure of claim 1 , comprising the top recess.

8. The structure of claim 1 , comprising the top bottom recess.

9. The structure of claim 1 , comprising both the top recess and the bottom recess.

10. The structure of claim 1 , 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.

11. The structure of claim 1 , wherein the first and second electrodes are each formed of deposited solder material.

12. The structure of claim 11 , 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.

13. 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.

14. The structure of claim 13 , 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.

15. 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.

16. 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.

17. 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.

18. The structure of claim 1 , further comprising:
a fifth pane of transparent material generally parallel to the first, second, third, and fourth panes of transparent material, and
a spacer positioned between the fifth pane of transparent material and the fourth 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 fourth pane of transparent material a separation distance from the fifth pane of transparent material.

Assignees

• Cardinal Ig Co

Inventors

• Bjergaard Eric
• Demiglio Andrew

Classifications

• E06B3/6722 Primary

  with adjustable passage of light · CPC title

• E06B3/66304

  Discrete spacing elements, e.g. for evacuated glazing units · CPC title

• E06B3/66309

  Section members positioned at the edges of the glazing unit · CPC title

• G02F1/1334

  based on polymer dispersed liquid crystals, e.g. microencapsulated liquid crystals · CPC title

• G02F1/1343

  Electrodes {(reflective electrodes G02F1/133553)} · CPC title