Methods for sealing electrochromic devices and devices manufactured thereby
AssigneeDonnelly Corporation
InventorsCraig A. Dornan, Desaraju V. Varaprasad, Niall R. Lynam
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Abstract
The method for sealing electrochromic devices disclosed in the present invention allows the cell cavity of a device to be established and filled with media at substantially the same time, without requiring spacer beads, fill holes and the like to complete the assembly. Moreover, the method of the present invention allows the cell cavity to be filled without accurately pre-measuring the media. Further, the sealing means used herein is constructed of a thermoplastic material that is inert to, and compatible with, the media commonly used and which forms an integral seal, even while in intimate contact with the media in the cell cavity.
Claims45
A method for sealing an electrochromic device, wherein said method comprises the steps of:
- (a) positioning a sealing means onto the interior face of a first substrate towards the peripheral edge thereof;
- (b) dispensing media onto said first substrate having said sealing means positioned thereon;
- (c) positioning a second substrate in spaced-apart relationship with said first substrate so that said sealing means is positioned therebetween and said media is contained within a cavity created thereby;
- (d) displacing said media throughout said cavity and filling said cavity therewith;
- (e) applying pressure to said first substrate and said second substrate such that said first substrate and said second substrate are pressed toward one another;
- and
- (f) heating the assembly created by steps (a)-(e) such that said sealing means adheres to the interior faces of said first substrate and said second substrates while sealingly containing said media within said cavity.
A method for using a thermoplastic sealing material to manufacture an electrochromic device, said method comprising the steps of:
- (a) positioning strips of a thermoplastic material toward the periphery of the face of a first substrate;
- (b) dispensing media onto said first substrate having said thermoplastic strips positioned thereon;
- (c) positioning a second substrate in spaced-apart relationship to said first substrate whereby said thermoplastic strips are integrally positioned therebetween and said media is contained within a cavity related thereby;
- (d) displacing said media throughout said cavity and filling said cavity therewith;
- (e) applying pressure onto said first substrate and said second substrate such that said first substrate and said second substrate are pressed toward one another;
- and
- (f) heating the assembly created by steps (a)-(e) such that said sealing means adheres to said first substrate and said second substrate while sealingly containing said media within said cavity contained within said device.
A method for using a thermoplastic sealing material to manufacture an electrochromic device, said method comprising the steps of:
- (a) positioning a sheet of thermoplastic material onto a first substrate;
- (b) trimming said sheet of thermoplastic material to substantially the same length and width as said first substrate;
- (c) trimming the interior portion of said sheet of thermoplastic material so that a border of said sheet of thermoplastic material remains at the peripheral edges of said first substrate;
- (d) dispensing media onto said first substrate having said trimmed sheet of thermoplastic material positioned thereon;
- (e) positioning a second substrate in spaced-apart relationship to said first substrate whereby said trimmed sheet of thermoplastic material is positioned therebetween and said media is contained within a cavity created thereby;
- (f) displacing said media throughout said cavity and filling said cavity therewith;
- (g) applying pressure onto said first substrate and said second substrate such that said first substrate and said second substrate are pressed toward one another;
- and
- (h) heating the assembly created by steps (a)-(g) such that said sealing means adheres to said first substrate and said second substrate while sealingly containing said media within said cavity contained within said device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.