Electric potentially-driven shade with electrostatic shade retraction, and/or associated methods

An article, comprising:

• a substrate comprising a first conductive surface;
• and
• a shutter, wherein the shutter comprises a second conductive surface,
• wherein the shutter is extendible towards a shutter closed position and retractable towards a shutter open position, and
• wherein the first conductive surface is electrically connectable to a power source that is controllable to set up (a) a first electric potential difference to create first electrostatic forces such that the shutter extends towards a closed position, and (b) a second electric potential difference to create second electrostatic forces such that the shutter at least partially retracts, wherein the first and second electric potential differences are different from one another.

A method of making an insulating glass (IG) unit, the method comprising:

• having first and second substrates, each having interior and exterior major surfaces, the interior major surface of the first substrate facing the interior major surface of the second substrate;
• providing a dynamically controllable shade on the first and/or second substrate, the shade including:
• a first conductive layer provided, directly or indirectly, on the interior major surface of the first substrate;
• and
• a shutter including at least one polymer substrate, first and second conductive coatings, and first and second dielectric layers, wherein the at least one polymer substrate is extendible to a shutter closed position and retractable to a shutter open position;
• connecting the first and second substrates to one another in substantially parallel, spaced apart relation, such that a gap is defined therebetween and such that the dynamically controllable shade is located in the gap;
• wherein the first and/or second conductive coatings are electrically connectable to a power source that is controllable to set up (a) a first electric potential difference to create first electrostatic forces to drive the at least one polymer substrate to the shutter closed position, and (b) a second electric potential difference to create second electrostatic forces to encourage the at least one polymer substrate to at least partially retract.