US 10,850,666 B1 · Windows with active layers

Abstract

A system such as a vehicle may have windows. A window may be provided with a light modular or other active layer having an electrically adjustable optical property. The active layer may have a pair of electrodes. The electrodes may be used to apply electric fields across the active layer to adjust the active layer. A lower sheet resistance electrode may be supplied with a current to ohmically heat the active layer. A higher sheet resistance electrode may be supplied with a voltage gradient to create a gradient in light transmission or other optical property as a function of distance across the higher sheet resistance electrode. The electrodes may be provided with terminals that are formed from elongated strips of metal or other terminal structures. The terminals may run along the peripheral edges of the electrodes.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A vehicle, comprising:

a vehicle body;
control circuitry;
and
a vehicle window in the body, wherein the vehicle window has a layer with an electrically adjustable optical property, first and second opposing surfaces with respective first and second electrodes, a thickness, first and second terminals coupled to edges of the first electrode, and third and fourth terminals coupled to edges of the second electrode, wherein the control circuitry is configured to supply signals to the first, second, third, and fourth terminals, wherein the second electrode spans a distance between the third and fourth terminals, and wherein the layer is operable in a homogenous state in which the adjustable optical property is constant laterally across the layer and a gradient state in which the adjustable optical property varies laterally across the layer.

1 more element

A vehicle, comprising:

a vehicle body;
a vehicle window in the vehicle body, comprising:
transparent layers;
and
an active layer between the transparent layers, wherein the active layer has at least first and second electrode layers, first and second terminals coupled to edges of the first electrode layer, and third and fourth terminals coupled to edges of the second electrode layer, wherein the first and second electrode layers have respective first and second sheet resistances, wherein the first sheet resistance is less than the second sheet resistance, wherein the second electrode layer spans a distance between the third and fourth terminals, and wherein the active layer is operable in a homogenous state in which an optical property of the active layer is constant laterally across the active layer and a gradient state in which the optical property varies laterally across the active layer;
and
control circuitry that supplies signals to the first, second, third, and fourth terminals.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Windows with active layers

Life of this patent

Windows with active layers

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20