Multi-zone ec windows
AssigneeView, Inc.
InventorsDhairya Shrivastava, Robin Friedman, Vinod Khosla, Rao Mulpuri, Anshu A. Pradhan
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Thin-film devices, for example, multi-zone electrochromic windows, and methods of manufacturing are described. In certain cases, a multi-zone electrochromic window comprises a monolithic EC device on a transparent substrate and two or more tinting zones, wherein the tinting zones are configured for independent operation.
Claims57
1-28. (canceled)
An electrochromic window comprising:
- a monololithic electrochromic device disposed on a transparent substrate, and comprising a first transparent conductor layer, a second transparent conductor layer, and one or more material layers sandwiched between the first and second transparent conductor layers;
- and
- a pair of bus bars disposed on opposing sides of the electrochromic device, one of the bus bars in electrical communication with the first transparent conductor layer and the other in electrical communication with the second transparent conductor layer;
- a powering mechanism comprising one or more wires attached to each of the pair of bus bars and one or more powering algorithms for delivering power to the pair of bus bars;
- wherein the bus bars and the powering mechanism are configured to establish and maintain both of:
- 1) a tint gradient along the length of the electrochromic window, and, 2) a uniform tint across the electrochromic device, in the alternative.
An electrochromic window comprising:
- an electrochromic device disposed on a transparent substrate, and comprising a first transparent conductor layer, a second transparent conductor layer, and one or more material layers sandwiched between the first and second transparent conductor layers;
- and
- a bus bar disposed on and in electrical communication with one of the first transparent conductor layer and the second transparent conductor layer, the bus bar comprising a pair of power leads;
- and
- a powering mechanism comprising one or more powering algorithms configured to control power delivered to the pair of power leads;
- wherein the bus bar and the powering mechanism are configured to establish and maintain either a tint gradient along the length of the electrochromic window, or, a uniform tint across the electrochromic device.
An electrochromic window, comprising:
- a transparent substrate;
- an electrochromic device disposed on the transparent substrate, the electrochromic device comprising two transparent conductive layers and one or more material layers disposed between the transparent conductive layers;
- and
- a pair of bus bars disposed lengthwise along opposing edges of the electrochromic device, one bus bar of the pair bus bars in electrical communication with one of the two transparent conductive layers and the other bus bar of the pair bus bars in electrical communication with the other of the two transparent conductive layers;
- each bus bar configured to apply a voltage gradient to its respective transparent conductive layer when energized and thereby establish a tint gradient along the length of the electrochromic device.
An electrochromic window comprising:
- a monolithic electrochromic device disposed on a transparent substrate, and comprising a first transparent conductor layer, a second transparent conductor layer, and one or more material layers sandwiched between the first and second transparent conductor layers;
- and
- a powering mechanism comprising two or more power leads in electrical communication with the first and second transparent conductor layers via one or more bus bars disposed on each of the first and second transparent conductor layers and along the length of the monolithic electrochromic device;
- wherein the monolithic electrochromic device is configured to both maintain a tint gradient along its length and maintain a uniform tint across its area, alternatively, only via the powering mechanism and/or the one or more bus bars.
An electrochromic window comprising:
- a monolithic electrochromic device disposed on a transparent substrate, and comprising a first transparent conductor layer, a second transparent conductor layer, and one or more material layers sandwiched between the first and second transparent conductor layers;
- and
- a powering mechanism comprising two or more power leads in electrical communication with the first and second transparent conductor layers via one or more bus bars on each of the first and second transparent conductor layers and along the length of the monolithic electrochromic device;
- wherein the monolithic electrochromic device is configured into two or more tint zones, each of the two or more tint zones configured to both maintain a tint gradient and maintain a uniform tint across its area, alternatively, only via the powering mechanism and/or the one or more bus bars.
A method of controlling tint of an electrochromic device of an electrochromic window, the electrochromic device disposed on a transparent substrate, and comprising a first transparent conductor layer, a second transparent conductor layer, and one or more material layers sandwiched between the first and second transparent conductor layers, the method comprising:
- delivering power to a pair of bus bars disposed on opposing sides of the electrochromic device, one of the bus bars in electrical communication with the first conductor layer, the other one in electrical communication with the second transparent conductor layer;
- and
- establishing and maintaining a tint gradient along the length of the electrochromic window or alternatively a uniform tint across the electrochromic device.
A method of controlling tint of an electrochromic device of an electrochromic window, the electrochromic device disposed on a transparent substrate, and comprising a first transparent conductor layer, a second transparent conductor layer, and one or more material layers sandwiched between the first and second transparent conductor layers, the method comprising:
- delivering power to a pair of power leads of a bus bar in electrical communication with one of the first conductor layer and the second conductor layer;
- and
- establishing and maintaining a tint gradient along the length of the electrochromic window or alternatively, a uniform tint across the electrochromic device.
A method of controlling tint of a monolithic electrochromic device configured into two or more tint zones, the monolithic electrochromic device disposed on a transparent substrate, and comprising a first transparent conductor layer, a second transparent conductor layer, and one or more material layers sandwiched between the first and second transparent conductor layers, the method comprising:
- delivering power to two or more power leads in electrical communication with the first and second transparent conductor layers via one or more bus bars;
- establishing and maintaining in one or more of the tint zones a tint gradient along the length of the electrochromic window, or alternatively, a uniform tint across the electrochromic device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.