US 10,705,363 B2Granted

Electrical connection configurations for privacy glazing structures

AssigneeCardinal IG Company

InventorsEric Berner, Eric Bjergaard, Timothy Braun, Andrew DeMiglio, Chad Peters

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

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 electrode engagement regions. In some examples, the electrode engagement regions are formed as notches in peripheral edges of opposed panes bounding the optically active material. The notches may or may not overlap to provide a through conduit in the region of overlap for wiring. In either case, the notches may allow the remainder of the structure to have a flush edge surface for ease of downstream processing.

Claims36

Dependent claims

A privacy glazing structure comprising:

a first pane of transparent material having an inner face, an outer face, and a peripheral edge;
a second pane of transparent material having an inner face, an outer face, and a peripheral edge;
a first electrode layer on the inner face of the first pane of transparent material;
a second electrode layer on the inner face of the second pane of transparent material;
an electrically controllable optically active material positioned between the first electrode layer on the inner face of the first pane of transparent material and the second electrode layer on the inner face of the second pane of transparent material;
wherein the first pane of transparent material is generally parallel to the second pane of transparent material to form a cavity therebetween containing the electrically controllable optically active material, and the peripheral edge of the first pane of transparent material is aligned with the peripheral edge of the second pane of transparent material to provide a flush edge surface,
the first pane of transparent material defines a first notch providing access to the second electrode layer on the inner face of the second pane of transparent material,
the second pane of transparent material defines a second notch providing access to the first electrode layer on the inner face of the first pane of transparent material, and
the first notch overlaps the second notch to define a conduit extending through the first pane and the second pane.

6 more elements

A privacy glazing structure comprising:

a first pane of transparent material having an inner face, an outer face, and a peripheral edge;
a second pane of transparent material having an inner face, an outer face, and a peripheral edge;
a first electrode layer on the inner face of the first pane of transparent material;
a second electrode layer on the inner face of the second pane of transparent material;
a liquid crystal material positioned between the first electrode layer on the inner face of the first pane of transparent material and the second electrode layer on the inner face of the second pane of transparent material;
a sealant extending around a perimeter of the first pane of transparent material and the second pane of transparent material and bonding the first pane of transparent material to the second pane of transparent material,
wherein the first electrode layer is offset from the perimeter around the first pane of transparent material over which the seal is in contact such that electricity does not transfer from the first electrode layer through the seal,
the second electrode layer is offset from the perimeter around the second pane of transparent material over which the seal is in contact such that electricity does not transfer from the second electrode layer through the seal,
the first electrode layer includes a first contact portion extending from the peripheral edge of the first pane to a remainder of the first electrode layer that is offset from the peripheral edge, and
the second electrode layer includes a second contact portion extending from the peripheral edge of the second pane to a remainder of the second electrode layer that is offset from the peripheral edge.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 16/035,267Filed 13 Jul 2018 · us provisional application
Priority: 13 Jul 2017
Published: US 2019/0018277 A117 Jan 2019
Granted: 7 Jul 2020
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification27 codes

G02F 1/133308
Constructional arrangements; Manufacturing methods: support structures for LCD panels, e.g. frames or bezels
B32B 17/10036
Characterized by the number, the constitution or treatment of glass sheets: comprising two outer glass sheets
B32B 17/10165
Laminated safety glass or glazing: functional features of the laminated safety glass or glazing
B32B 17/10293
Functional features of the laminated safety glass or glazing: edge features, e.g. inserts or holes