Set of window assemblies and a method of fabricating the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016197220-A1
Application number	US-201614986888-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 4, 2016
Priority date	Jan 6, 2015
Publication date	Jul 7, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Different window assemblies can be fabricated and installed where the size of an electrical component is sized for a particular geometry of the window assembly. In a particular embodiment, an energy rating, which may include an energy consumption rate, a recharge rate, a recharge capacity, an electrical current leakage rate, another suitable parameter, or any combination thereof, may be used when determining the size of the electrical component to be used. If needed or desired, one or more trim panels can be used to cover portions of a window assembly to make the window more aesthetically pleasing.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A set of window assemblies comprising:
a first window assembly including:
a first glass unit having a first dimension along a first edge;
a first solar panel adjacent to and extending along the first edge of the first glass unit, wherein the first solar panel has a first length;
a second window assembly including:
a second glass unit having a second dimension along a second edge; and
a second solar panel adjacent to and extending along the second edge of the second glass unit, wherein the second solar panel has a second length,
wherein the first and second dimensions are different from each other, and the first and second lengths are the same.

2 . The set of window assemblies of claim 1 , wherein:
the first window assembly further comprises a first trim panel adjacent to and along the first edge of the first glass unit, wherein the first trim panel has a first length; and the second window assembly further comprises a second trim panel adjacent to and along the second edge of the second glass unit, wherein the second trim panel has a second length.

3 . The set of window assemblies of claim 1 , further comprising a third window assembly including a third glass unit having a third dimension along a third edge, wherein the third window assembly further comprises:
a third solar panel adjacent to and along the third edge of the third glass unit, wherein the third solar panel has a third length; a third energy storage unit adjacent to and along the third edge of the third glass unit, wherein the third energy storage unit has a third length; a third trim panel adjacent to and along the third edge of the third glass unit, wherein the third trim panel has a third length; a third control unit electrically coupled to a third solar panel or a third energy storage unit; or any combination thereof.

4 . The set of window assemblies of claim 1 , wherein a width of the first solar panel is the same as the width of a first trim panel, or a width of the second solar panel is the same as the width of a second trim panel.

5 . The set of window assemblies of claim 1 , wherein the first solar panel has a first width, the second solar panel has a second width, and the first width of the first solar panel and the second width of the second solar panel are different from each other.

6 . The set of window assemblies of claim 5 , wherein:
the first, second, and the third dimensions are different from one another; and the third length of the third solar panel and the first length of the first solar panel are different from each other.

7 . A set of window assemblies comprising:
a first window assembly including:
a first glass unit having a first dimension along a first edge;
a first energy storage unit adjacent to and extending along the first edge of the first glass unit, wherein the first energy storage unit has a first length;
a second window assembly including:
a second glass unit having a second dimension along a second edge; and
a second energy storage unit adjacent to and extending along the second edge of the second glass unit, wherein the second energy storage unit has a second length,
wherein the first and second dimensions are different from each other, and the first and second lengths are the same.

8 . The set of window assemblies of claim 7 , wherein the first solar panel has a first width, the second solar panel has a second width, and the first width of the first solar panel and the second width of the second solar panel are the same.

9 . The set of window assemblies of claim 7 , wherein the first solar panel has a first width, the second solar panel has a second width, and the first width of the first solar panel and the second width of the second solar panel are different from each other.

10 . The set of window assemblies of claim 7 , further comprising a third window assembly including a third glass unit having a third dimension along a third edge, wherein the third window assembly further comprises:
a third solar panel adjacent to and along the third edge of the third glass unit, wherein the third solar panel has a third length; a third energy storage unit adjacent to and along the third edge of the third glass unit, wherein the third energy storage unit has a third length; a third trim panel adjacent to and along the third edge of the third glass unit, wherein the third trim panel has a third length; a third control unit electrically coupled to a third solar panel or a third energy storage unit; or any combination thereof.

11 . The set of window assemblies of claim 7 , wherein the first solar panel has a first width, the second solar panel has a second width, and the first width of the first solar panel and the second width of the second solar panel are the same.

12 . The set of window assemblies of claim 7 , wherein:
the first window assembly further comprises a first trim panel adjacent to and along the first edge of the first glass unit, wherein the first trim panel has a first length; and the second window assembly further comprises a second trim panel adjacent to and along the second edge of the second glass unit, wherein the second trim panel has a second length.

13 . A method comprising:
selecting a first solar panel having a first length; installing the first solar panel adjacent to a first edge of a first glass unit, wherein the first glass unit has a first dimension along a first edge; selecting a second solar panel having a second length; and installing the second solar panel adjacent to a second edge of a second glass unit, wherein the second glass unit has a second dimension along a second edge, wherein the first and second dimensions are different from each other, and the first and second lengths are the same.

14 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
selecting a first trim panel having a first length; installing the first trim panel adjacent to the first edge of the first glass unit; selecting a second trim panel having a second length; and installing the second trim panel adjacent to the second edge of the second glass unit, wherein the first length of the first trim panel and the second length of the second trim panel are different from each other.

15 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
installing a first control unit electrically coupled to the first solar panel, the first energy storage unit, or both; and installing a second control unit electrically coupled to the second solar panel, the second energy storage unit, or both.

16 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
determining a first energy rating of the first window assembly, wherein selecting the first solar panel or the first energy storage unit depends at least in part on the first energy rating; determining a second energy rating of the second window assembly, wherein selecting the second solar panel or the second energy storage unit depends at least in part on the second energy rating; or determining the first energy rating of the first window assembly and the second energy rating of the second window assembly, wherein selecting the first solar panel or the first energy storage unit depends at least in part on the first energy rating, and selecting the second solar panel or the second energy storage unit depends at least in part on the second energy rating.

17 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the first solar panel has a first width, the second solar panel has a second width, and the first width of the first solar panel and the second width of the secon

Assignees

• Sage Electrochromics Inc

Inventors

• Greer Bryan D
• Snyker Mark O

Classifications

• E06B1/36

  Frames uniquely adapted for windows · CPC title

• E06B7/28

  Other arrangements on doors or windows, e.g. door-plates, windows adapted to carry plants, hooks for window cleaners {(edge protecting devices for door leaves E06B3/88; special glazing; emergency glazing; double glazing E06B3/66)} · CPC title

• H02S20/22

  specially adapted for buildings · CPC title

• E06B2009/2464

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

• E06B5/00

  Doors, windows, or like closures for special purposes {(insulated compound frames specially adapted for sliding doors or windows E06B3/26347)}; Border constructions therefor · CPC title