# US 2014/0192393 A1 · Spacers for insulated glass units

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- Number: US 2014/0192393 A1
- Document ID: US20140192393A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 14/152,873
- Filed: 2014-01-10
- Published: 2014-07-10
- Earliest claimed: 2010-12-08
- Assignees: View, Inc.
- Applicants: View Inc.
- Inventors: Yashraj Bhatnagar; Trevor Frank; Fabian Strong; Sridhar Kailasam; Robert Babcock; Ronald M. Parker; Robert T. Rozbicki
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140192393A1

## CPC

- G02F 1/161: Gaskets; Spacers; Sealing of cells; Filling or closing of cells
- B32B 17/10055: {with at least one intermediate air space}
- B32B 17/10174: {Coatings of a metallic or dielectric material on a constituent layer of glass or polymer}
- B32B 17/10513: {Electrochromic layer}
- E06B 3/66314: {of tubular shape (E06B3/66323 and E06B3/66333 take precedence)}
- E06B 3/66328: {of rubber, plastics or similar materials (E06B3/66314, E06B3/66323 and E06B3/66342 take precedence; transparent materials E06B3/66333)}
- E06B 3/66352: {with separate sealing strips between the panes and the spacer}
- E06B 2003/6638: {with coatings}
- E06B 2003/66385: {with special shapes}
- Y10T 403/55: Member ends joined by inserted section
- Y10T 403/7018: including separably interposed key
- G02F: OPTICAL DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIGHT BY MODIFICATION OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS INVOLVED THEREIN; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING OF LIGHT; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS
- B32B: LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
- E06B: FIXED OR MOVABLE CLOSURES FOR OPENINGS IN BUILDINGS, VEHICLES, FENCES OR LIKE ENCLOSURES IN GENERAL, e.g. DOORS, WINDOWS, BLINDS, GATES (shades or blinds for greenhouses A01G9/22; curtains A47H; lids for car boots or bonnets B62D25/10; skylights E04B7/18; sunshades, awnings E04F10/00)
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

This disclosure provides spacers for smart windows. In one aspect, a window assembly includes a first substantially transparent substrate having an optically switchable device on a surface of the first substrate. The optically switchable device includes electrodes. A first electrode of the electrodes has a length about the length of a side of the optically switchable device. The window assembly further includes a second substantially transparent substrate a metal spacer between the first and the second substrates. The metal spacer has a substantially rectangular cross section, with one side of the metal spacer including a recess configured to accommodate the length of the first electrode such that there is no contact between the first electrode and the metal spacer. A primary seal material bonds the first substrate to the metal spacer and bonds the second substrate to the metal spacer.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An insulated glass unit (IGU) comprising:
a. a first substantially transparent substrate having an optically switchable device disposed on a surface of the first substantially transparent substrate;
b. a second substantially transparent substrate;
c. an electrically insulating spacer between the first and the second substantially transparent substrates, the electrically insulating spacer having a substantially rectangular cross section and comprising an electrically insulating material; and
d. a sealing material bonding the first and second substantially transparent substrates to the electrically insulating spacer, thereby forming a sealed interior space between the first and second substantially transparent substrates.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The IGU of claim 1, wherein the electrically insulating material is a plastic, a polymer, a foam, or a rubber.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The IGU of claim 1, wherein the electrically insulating spacer contacts the first and second substantially transparent substrates along surfaces that are between about 5 mm and about 10 mm wide.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The IGU of claim 1, wherein the sealing material includes polyisobutylene or polyvinyl butyral.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The IGU of claim 1, wherein the optically switchable device faces the sealed interior space of the IGU.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The IGU of claim 5, further including one or more bus bars configured to deliver power to the optically switchable device, wherein the one or more bus bars are disposed, along their length, between the electrically insulating spacer and the first substantially transparent substrate, and not within the inner perimeter of the electrically insulating spacer.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The IGU of claim 1, further comprising wiring disposed within the electrically insulating spacer and configured for providing electrical communication between bus bars of the optical device and a power source.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The IGU of claim 1, wherein the sealed interior space contains an inert gas.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The IGU of claim 1, wherein the optically switchable device is an electrochromic device.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The IGU of claim 9, further including one or more bus bars configured to deliver power to the electrochromic device, wherein the one or more bus bars are disposed, along their length, between the electrically insulating spacer and the first substantially transparent substrate, and not within the inner perimeter of the electrically insulating spacer; and wherein the electrochromic device has a perimeter edge residing past the inner perimeter of the electrically insulating spacer, such that a portion of the electrochromic device colors under the electrically insulating spacer, the electrochromic device is configured to color completely to the inner perimeter of the electrically insulating spacer and there are no inactive area scribe lines in the electrochromic device within the inner perimeter of the electrically insulating spacer

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The IGU of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second substantially transparent substrates is laminated to a reinforcing pane.

### Claim 12

A connector key for joining a pair of open ends of a hollow metal IGU spacer, the hollow metal IGU spacer having a substantially rectangular cross section, the connector key configured to accommodate a bus bar lead for an electrochromic device; wherein the connector key and the hollow IGU metal spacer have surfaces for mating with the glass of an IGU, which surfaces are substantially co-planar when the connector key is mated with the pair of open ends of the hollow metal IGU spacer.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The connector key of claim 12, wherein the open ends of the hollow metal IGU spacer are each configured to slide over a portion of the connector key.

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

The connector key of claim 12, wherein the open ends of the hollow metal IGU spacer are each configured to slide into a portion of the connector key.

### Claim 15 (depends on 12)

The connector key of claim 12, comprising a channel configured to accommodate the bus bar lead.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The connector key of claim 15, wherein the channel is between about 0.1 mm and about 1 mm high, and between about 4.5 mm and about 10 mm wide.

### Claim 17 (depends on 12)

The connector key of claim 12, wherein the connector key is made of a metal or a plastic.

### Claim 18

An IGU spacer configured to accommodate two connector keys that are aligned to coincide with two bus bar leads at opposite sides of an electrochromic device.

### Claim 19

An insulated glass unit (IGU) comprising:
a. a first substantially transparent substrate having an electrochromic device disposed on a surface of the first substantially transparent substrate;
b. a second substantially transparent substrate;
c. a hollow metal spacer between the first and the second substantially transparent substrates, the hollow metal spacer having a substantially rectangular cross section;
d. a connector key joining a pair of ends of the hollow metal spacer, the connector key configured to accommodate a bus bar lead for the electrochromic device; wherein the connector key and the hollow metal spacer comprise surfaces that mate with first and second substantially transparent substrates, which surfaces are substantially co-planar; and
e. a sealing material bonding the first and second substantially transparent substrates to the hollow metal spacer and the connector key, thereby forming a sealed interior space between the first and second substantially transparent substrates.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The IGU of claim 19, wherein the sealing material includes polyisobutylene or polyvinyl butyral.

### Claim 21 (depends on 19)

The IGU of claim 19, wherein the electrochromic device faces the sealed interior space of the IGU.

### Claim 22 (depends on 19)

The IGU of claim 19, wherein the sealed interior space contains an inert gas.

### Claim 23 (depends on 19)

The IGU of claim 19, wherein the ends of the hollow metal spacer are each configured to slide over a portion of the connector key.

### Claim 24 (depends on 19)

The IGU of claim 19, wherein the pair of ends of the hollow metal spacer are each configured to slide into a portion of the connector key.

### Claim 25 (depends on 19)

The IGU of claim 19, wherein the connector key comprises a channel configured to accommodate the bus bar lead.

### Claim 26 (depends on 19)

The IGU of claim 19, wherein the connector key is made of a plastic.

### Claim 27 (depends on 19)

The IGU of claim 19, wherein at least one of the first and second substantially transparent substrates is laminated to a reinforcing pane.

### Claim 28

An insulated glass unit (IGU) comprising:
a. a first substantially transparent substrate having an electrochromic device disposed on a surface of the first substantially transparent substrate;
b. a second substantially transparent substrate;
c. a metal spacer between the first and second substantially transparent substrates, the metal spacer having a substantially rectangular cross section, and at least one side of the metal spacer comprising a recess configured to accommodate the length of one or more bus bars of the electrochromic device such that there is no contact between the metal spacer and the one or more bus bars, and wherein the one or more bus bars are disposed, along their length, between the metal spacer and the first substantially transparent substrate, and not within the inner perimeter of the metal spacer; and
d. a sealing material bonding the first and second substantially transparent substrates to the metal spacer.

### Claim 29 (depends on 28)

The IGU of claim 28, wherein the recess is a channel.

### Claim 30 (depends on 28)

The IGU of claim 28, wherein the metal spacer is between about 10 mm and about 15 mm wide.

### Claim 31 (depends on 28)

The IGU of claim 28, wherein the metal spacer is stainless steel.

### Claim 32 (depends on 28)

The IGU of claim 28, wherein the metal spacer comprises the recess on two sides.

### Claim 33 (depends on 28)

The IGU of claim 28, wherein at least one of the first and second substantially transparent substrates is laminated to a reinforcing pane.