High spring force shutter for dynamic shade, and/or associated methods

An insulating glass (IG) unit, comprising:

• 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;
• a spacer system helping to maintain the first and second substrates in substantially parallel spaced apart relation to one another and to define a gap therebetween;
• a dynamically controllable shade interposed between the first and second substrates, the shade including:
• a first conductive layer provided, directly or indirectly, on the interior major surface of the first substrate;
• a first dielectric layer provided, directly or indirectly, on the first conductive layer on a side thereof opposite the first substrate;
• and
• a shutter including a flexible substrate, the flexible substrate including first and second sides, the first side of the flexible substrate supporting a first polyimide layer and a second conductive layer sandwiched between the flexible substrate and the first polyimide layer, the second side of the flexible substrate supporting a second polyimide layer, the shutter being extendible from a shutter open position to a shutter closed position and being retractable from the shutter closed position to the shutter open position;
• and
• a control circuit configured to provide a voltage to create electrostatic forces that drive the flexible substrate to the shutter closed position.

A substrate, comprising:

• a dynamically controllable shade provided on the substrate, the shade including:
• a first conductive layer provided, directly or indirectly, on the substrate;
• a first dielectric layer provided, directly or indirectly, on the first conductive layer on a side thereof opposite the substrate;
• and
• a shutter including a flexible substrate having a first modulus of elasticity, the flexible substrate including first and second sides and having a first thickness, the first side of the flexible substrate supporting a first layer stack comprising one or more layers and including at least a second conductive layer, the first layer stack having a second thickness and a second modulus of elasticity, the second side of the flexible substrate supporting a second layer stack comprising one or more layers, the second layer stack collectively having a third thickness and a third modulus of elasticity, the second modulus and the third modulus each being greater than the first modulus, the shutter being extendible from a shutter open position to a shutter closed position and being retractable from the shutter closed position to the shutter open position,
• wherein the ratio of the lower of the second and third modulus and the first modulus is at least 10, and
• wherein (a) the lower of a product of the second modulus and the second thickness and a product of the third modulus and the third thickness, divided by (b) a product of the first modulus and the first thickness, is at least 0.2.

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;
• a first dielectric layer provided, directly or indirectly, on the first conductive layer on a side thereof opposite the first substrate;
• and
• a shutter including a flexible substrate having a first modulus of elasticity, the flexible substrate including first and second sides and having a first thickness, the first side of the flexible substrate supporting a first layer stack comprising one or more layers and including at least a second conductive layer, the first layer stack having a second thickness and a second modulus of elasticity, the second side of the flexible substrate supporting a second layer stack comprising one or more layers, the second layer stack collectively having a third thickness and a third modulus of elasticity, the second modulus and the third modulus each being greater than the first modulus, the shutter being extendible from a shutter open position to a shutter closed position and being retractable from the shutter closed position to the shutter open position;
• connecting the first and second conductive layers to provide a voltage to create electrostatic forces that drive the flexible substrate to the shutter closed position;
• and
• 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 ratio of the lower of the second and third modulus and the first modulus is at least 10, and
• wherein (a) the lower of a product of the second modulus and the second thickness and a product of the third modulus and the third thickness, divided by (b) a product of the first modulus and the first thickness, is at least 0.2.