Ruggedized switchable glazing, and/or method of making the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016355435-A1
Application number	US-201615149495-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 9, 2016
Priority date	Nov 6, 2007
Publication date	Dec 8, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Certain example embodiments of this invention relate to ruggedized switchable glazings, and/or methods of making the same. The PDLC stack of certain example embodiments includes an outer substrate, a low-E UV blocking coating deposited on an inner surface of the outer substrate, a first PVB or EVA laminate, a first PET layer, a first TCO layer, the PDLC layer, a second TCO layer, a second PET layer, a second PVB or EVA laminate, and an inner substrate. The substrates may be glass substrates. The low-E UV blocking coating may include at least two layers of or including silver and/or may include one or more IR layers. Thus, certain example embodiments may advantageously reduce one or more problems associated with residual haze, color change, flicker, structural changes in the polymer and/or the LC, degradations in state-switching response times, delamination, etc. The PDLC stack of certain example embodiments may be used in connection with any form of coated article, such as, for example, windows, windshields, IG units, etc.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A window comprising:
an inner glass substrate and an outer glass substrate, the inner and outer glass substrates being substantially parallel to one another; a multi-layer low-E ultraviolet (UV) blocking coating supported by an inner surface of the outer glass substrate, the low-E UV blocking coating blocking significant amounts of UV in the range of from ah out 380-400 nm; a liquid crystal inclusive layer disposed between at least the inner and outer glass substrates; first and second substantially transparent conductive layers, the first and second substantially transparent conductive layers being provided between the liquid crystal inclusive layer and the outer and inner glass substrates, respectively; first and second polymer inclusive laminating layers, the first laminating layer provided between at least the liquid crystal inclusive layer and the outer glass substrate and the second laminating layer provided between at least the liquid crystal inclusive layer and the inner glass substrate; at least one bus bar in electrical communication with the first and/or second transparent conductive layer(s) so as to cause the liquid crystal inclusive layer to become activated when a voltage is applied thereto; and wherein the multi-layer low-E UV blocking coating comprises at least one IR reflecting layer and at least one UV blocking layer so that no more than about 20% of ambient light having a wavelength of from 380-400 nm reaches the liquid crystal inclusive layer, and wherein the coated article has a visible transmission of at least about 55% when the liquid crystal inclusive layer is activated.

2 . The window of claim 1 , wherein the first and second polymer inclusive laminating layers are encapsulated at edges thereof.

3 . The window of claim 1 , wherein off-axis haze is less than or equal to about 4 at an incidence of approximately 45°.

4 . The window of claim 1 , wherein off-axis haze is less than or equal to about 3 at an incidence of approximately 45°.

5 . The window of claim 1 , wherein off-axis haze is less than or equal to about 2 at an incidence of approximately 45°.

6 . The window of claim 1 , wherein the liquid, crystal inclusive layer is stable up to at least about 110° C.

7 . The window of claim 1 , wherein the liquid crystal inclusive layer is stable up to at least about 120° C.

8 . An insulating glass window unit, comprising:
at least first, second and third substantially parallel glass substrates; a multi-layer low-E UV blocking coating supported by a surface of the second glass substrate facing the third substrate; a liquid crystal inclusive layer disposed between the second and third glass substrates; first and second transparent conductive layers, the first and second transparent conductive layers being provided between at least the liquid crystal inclusive layer and the second and third glass substrates, respectively; at least one bus bar electrically connected to the first and/or second transparent conductive layer(s) so as to cause the liquid crystal inclusive layer to become activated when at least a predetermined voltage is applied to the bus bar, wherein the first and second glass substrates are spaced apart from each other, wherein the multi-layer low-E UV blocking coating comprises at least one UV blocking layer in order to block significant amounts of UV radiation in the range of from 380-400 nm so that no more than about 20% of ambient light having a wavelength of from 380-400 nm reaches the liquid crystal inclusive layer, and wherein the insulating glass unit has a visible transmission of at least about 50% when the liquid crystal inclusive layer is activated.

9 . The insulating glass window unit of claim 8 , wherein the first and second polymer inclusive laminating layers are encapsulated at edges thereof.

10 . The insulating glass window unit of claim 8 , wherein off-axis haze is less than or equal to about 4 at an incidence of approximately 45°.

11 . The insulating glass window unit of claim 8 , wherein off-axis haze is less than or equal to about 3 at an incidence of approximately 45°.

12 . The insulating glass window unit of claim 8 , wherein off-axis haze, is less than or equal to about 2 at an incidence of approximately 45°.

13 . The insulating glass window unit of claim 8 , wherein the liquid crystal inclusive layer is stable up to at least about 110° C.

14 . The insulating glass window unit of claim 8 , wherein the liquid crystal inclusive layer is stable up to at least about 120° C.

15 . A coated article including a low-E coating supported by a glass substrate, the low-E coating comprising:
first and second IR reflecting layers comprising silver and/or gold; at least one UV blocking layer that blocks significant amounts of UV light having a wavelength of from 380-400 nm so that no more than about 20% of light having a wavelength of from 380-400 passes through the low-E coating; wherein the UV blocking layer is positioned so as to not directly contact the first and second IR reflecting layers.

16 . The coated article of claim 15 , wherein the first and second polymer inclusive laminating layers are encapsulated at edges thereof.

17 . The coated article of claim 15 , wherein off-axis haze is less than or equal to about 4 at an incidence of approximately 45°.

18 . The coated article of claim 15 , wherein off-axis haze is less than or equal to about 3 at an incidence of approximately 45°.

19 . The coated article of claim 15 , wherein off-axis haze is less than or equal to about 2 at an incidence of approximately 45°.

20 . The coated article of claim 15 , wherein the liquid crystal inclusive layer is stable up to at least about 110° C.

21 . The coated article of claim 15 , wherein the liquid crystal inclusive layer is stable up to at least about 120° C.

Assignees

• Guardian Industries

Inventors

• Veerasamy Vijayen S

Classifications

• C03C17/3681

  the multilayer coating being used in glazing, e.g. windows or windscreens · 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

• C03C2217/74

  UV-absorbing coatings · CPC title

• E06B2009/2417

  Light path control; means to control reflection · CPC title

• G02F2201/086

  UV absorbing · CPC title