Method of making a window comprising a liquid-crystal inclusive switchable film that is operable in at least first and second visible transmission modes

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9694740-B2
Application number	US-201615356961-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 21, 2016
Priority date	Aug 22, 2014
Publication date	Jul 4, 2017
Grant date	Jul 4, 2017

Abstract

Certain example embodiments relate to a vehicle window (e.g., sunroof). Side-firing LEDs are provided between first and second substantially parallel substrates and emit light towards central regions of the window. A liquid-crystal inclusive switchable film is provided between the first and second substrates. The liquid crystals are sized such that light received from the LEDs is redirected in a direction substantially normal to major surfaces of the first and second substrates. The switchable film is operable in at least first and second modes, with the window in the first mode having a visible transmission of less than 1%, and with the window in the second mode having a visible transmission of 7-15%. The switchable film and the LEDs are operable independently of one another in connection with the LEDs emitting light and the switchable film controlling visible transmission therethrough.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of making a window, the method comprising:
positioning a plurality of side-firing light emitting diodes (LEDs) around a periphery of a first glass substrate, the LEDs being configured to emit light towards central regions of the window;
providing a liquid-crystal inclusive switchable film, the liquid crystals of the liquid-crystal inclusive switchable film being sized such that light received from the LEDs is redirected in a direction substantially normal to major surfaces of the first and second substrates; and
laminating together the first substrate and a second glass substrate with the LEDs and the liquid-crystal inclusive switchable film therebetween such that the first and second substrates are substantially parallel to one another, wherein:
the switchable film and the LEDs are operable independently of one another in connection with the LEDs emitting light and the switchable film controlling visible transmission therethrough, and
the switchable film is operable in at least first and second modes, the window in the first mode having a visible transmission of less than 1%, the window in the second mode having a visible transmission of 7-15%.

Assignees

• Guardian Industries

Inventors

• Frey Timothy J
• Vandal Robert A

Classifications

• B60Q3/0213 Primary

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• B60Q1/2696

  Mounting of devices using LEDs · CPC title

• G02F1/1334

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

• G02F2001/133302

  Physics · mapped topic

• B32B2367/00

  Polyesters, e.g. PET, i.e. polyethylene terephthalate · CPC title