# US 2016/0355435 A1 · Ruggedized switchable glazing, and/or method of making the same

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- Number: US 2016/0355435 A1
- Document ID: US20160355435A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 15/149,495
- Filed: 2016-05-09
- Published: 2016-12-08
- Earliest claimed: 2007-11-06
- Assignees: Guardian Industries Corp.
- Applicants: Guardian Industries Corp.
- Inventors: Vijayen S. VEERASAMY
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20160355435A1

## CPC

- C03C 17/366: {Low-emissivity or solar control coatings}
- B32B 17/10036: {comprising two outer glass sheets}
- B32B 17/10045: {with at least one intermediate layer consisting of a glass sheet}
- 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 17/10229: {Metallic layers sandwiched by dielectric layers}
- B32B 17/10504: {Liquid crystal layer}
- B32B 17/10761: {containing vinyl acetal}
- B32B 17/10788: {containing ethylene vinylacetate}
- C03C 17/36: at least one coating being a metal
- C03C 17/3618: {Coatings of type glass/inorganic compound/other inorganic layers, at least one layer being metallic}
- C03C 17/3626: {one layer at least containing a nitride, oxynitride, boronitride or carbonitride}
- C03C 17/3639: {Multilayers containing at least two functional metal layers}
- C03C 17/3644: {the metal being silver}
- C03C 17/3652: {the coating stack containing at least one sacrificial layer to protect the metal from oxidation}
- C03C 17/3681: {the multilayer coating being used in glazing, e.g. windows or windscreens}
- E06B 3/6722: {with adjustable passage of light}
- E06B 9/24: Screens or other constructions affording protection against light, especially against sunshine; Similar screens for privacy or appearance; {Slat blinds}(operating, guiding or securing devices or arrangements for roll-type closures E06B9/56; free-hanging flexible screens A47H23/00)
- G02F 1/1333: Constructional arrangements; {Manufacturing methods}(G02F1/135, G02F1/136 take precedence)
- G02F 1/1334: based on polymer dispersed liquid crystals, e.g. microencapsulated liquid crystals
- G02F 1/137: characterised by the electro-optical or magneto-optical effect, e.g. field-induced phase transition, orientation effect, guest-host interaction or dynamic scattering
- C03C 2217/74: UV-absorbing coatings
- E06B 2009/2417: {Light path control; means to control reflection}
- E06B 2009/2464: {featuring transparency control by applying voltage, e.g. LCD, electrochromic panels}
- G02F 1/13756: {the liquid crystal selectively assuming a light-scattering state (G02F1/1334, G02F1/13718 take precedence)}
- G02F 2201/086: UV absorbing
- C03C: CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF GLASSES, GLAZES OR VITREOUS ENAMELS; SURFACE TREATMENT OF GLASS; SURFACE TREATMENT OF FIBRES OR FILAMENTS MADE FROM GLASS, MINERALS OR SLAGS; JOINING GLASS TO GLASS OR OTHER MATERIALS
- 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)
- 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

## Abstract

Certain example embodiments of this invention relate to ruggedized switchable glazings, and/or methods of making the same. The PDLC stack of certain example embodiments includes an outer substrate, a low-E UV blocking coating deposited on an inner surface of the outer substrate, a first PVB or EVA laminate, a first PET layer, a first TCO layer, the PDLC layer, a second TCO layer, a second PET layer, a second PVB or EVA laminate, and an inner substrate. The substrates may be glass substrates. The low-E UV blocking coating may include at least two layers of or including silver and/or may include one or more IR layers. Thus, certain example embodiments may advantageously reduce one or more problems associated with residual haze, color change, flicker, structural changes in the polymer and/or the LC, degradations in state-switching response times, delamination, etc. The PDLC stack of certain example embodiments may be used in connection with any form of coated article, such as, for example, windows, windshields, IG units, etc.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A window comprising:
an inner glass substrate and an outer glass substrate, the inner and outer glass substrates being substantially parallel to one another;
a multi-layer low-E ultraviolet (UV) blocking coating supported by an inner surface of the outer glass substrate, the low-E UV blocking coating blocking significant amounts of UV in the range of from ah out 380-400 nm;
a liquid crystal inclusive layer disposed between at least the inner and outer glass substrates;
first and second substantially transparent conductive layers, the first and second substantially transparent conductive layers being provided between the liquid crystal inclusive layer and the outer and inner glass substrates, respectively;
first and second polymer inclusive laminating layers, the first laminating layer provided between at least the liquid crystal inclusive layer and the outer glass substrate and the second laminating layer provided between at least the liquid crystal inclusive layer and the inner glass substrate;
at least one bus bar in electrical communication with the first and/or second transparent conductive layer(s) so as to cause the liquid crystal inclusive layer to become activated when a voltage is applied thereto; and
wherein the multi-layer low-E UV blocking coating comprises at least one IR reflecting layer and at least one UV blocking layer so that no more than about 20% of ambient light having a wavelength of from 380-400 nm reaches the liquid crystal inclusive layer, and
wherein the coated article has a visible transmission of at least about 55% when the liquid crystal inclusive layer is activated.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The window of claim 1, wherein the first and second polymer inclusive laminating layers are encapsulated at edges thereof.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The window of claim 1, wherein off-axis haze is less than or equal to about 4 at an incidence of approximately 45°.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The window of claim 1, wherein off-axis haze is less than or equal to about 3 at an incidence of approximately 45°.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The window of claim 1, wherein off-axis haze is less than or equal to about 2 at an incidence of approximately 45°.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The window of claim 1, wherein the liquid, crystal inclusive layer is stable up to at least about 110° C.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The window of claim 1, wherein the liquid crystal inclusive layer is stable up to at least about 120° C.

### Claim 8

An insulating glass window unit, comprising:
at least first, second and third substantially parallel glass substrates;
a multi-layer low-E UV blocking coating supported by a surface of the second glass substrate facing the third substrate;
a liquid crystal inclusive layer disposed between the second and third glass substrates;
first and second transparent conductive layers, the first and second transparent conductive layers being provided between at least the liquid crystal inclusive layer and the second and third glass substrates, respectively;
at least one bus bar electrically connected to the first and/or second transparent conductive layer(s) so as to cause the liquid crystal inclusive layer to become activated when at least a predetermined voltage is applied to the bus bar,
wherein the first and second glass substrates are spaced apart from each other,
wherein the multi-layer low-E UV blocking coating comprises at least one UV blocking layer in order to block significant amounts of UV radiation in the range of from 380-400 nm so that no more than about 20% of ambient light having a wavelength of from 380-400 nm reaches the liquid crystal inclusive layer, and
wherein the insulating glass unit has a visible transmission of at least about 50% when the liquid crystal inclusive layer is activated.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The insulating glass window unit of claim 8, wherein the first and second polymer inclusive laminating layers are encapsulated at edges thereof.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The insulating glass window unit of claim 8, wherein off-axis haze is less than or equal to about 4 at an incidence of approximately 45°.

### Claim 11 (depends on 8)

The insulating glass window unit of claim 8, wherein off-axis haze is less than or equal to about 3 at an incidence of approximately 45°.

### Claim 12 (depends on 8)

The insulating glass window unit of claim 8, wherein off-axis haze, is less than or equal to about 2 at an incidence of approximately 45°.

### Claim 13 (depends on 8)

The insulating glass window unit of claim 8, wherein the liquid crystal inclusive layer is stable up to at least about 110° C.

### Claim 14 (depends on 8)

The insulating glass window unit of claim 8, wherein the liquid crystal inclusive layer is stable up to at least about 120° C.

### Claim 15

A coated article including a low-E coating supported by a glass substrate, the low-E coating comprising:
first and second IR reflecting layers comprising silver and/or gold;
at least one UV blocking layer that blocks significant amounts of UV light having a wavelength of from 380-400 nm so that no more than about 20% of light having a wavelength of from 380-400 passes through the low-E coating;
wherein the UV blocking layer is positioned so as to not directly contact the first and second IR reflecting layers.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The coated article of claim 15, wherein the first and second polymer inclusive laminating layers are encapsulated at edges thereof.

### Claim 17 (depends on 15)

The coated article of claim 15, wherein off-axis haze is less than or equal to about 4 at an incidence of approximately 45°.

### Claim 18 (depends on 15)

The coated article of claim 15, wherein off-axis haze is less than or equal to about 3 at an incidence of approximately 45°.

### Claim 19 (depends on 15)

The coated article of claim 15, wherein off-axis haze is less than or equal to about 2 at an incidence of approximately 45°.

### Claim 20 (depends on 15)

The coated article of claim 15, wherein the liquid crystal inclusive layer is stable up to at least about 110° C.

### Claim 21 (depends on 15)

The coated article of claim 15, wherein the liquid crystal inclusive layer is stable up to at least about 120° C.