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US 6,446,402 B1Granted
Thermochromic devices
AssigneePleotint, L.L.C.
InventorsHarlan J. Byker, Paul H. Ogburn
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The invention is an energy efficient, thermochromic device that may be used to allow sunlight or solar radiation into a building or structure when the ambient temperature is low and substantially blocks solar radiation when the ambient temperature is high, especially when sunlight is directly on the window.
Claims156
A thermochromic device comprising:
- a light transmitting substrate;
- at least one thermochromic material which changes reversibly from less light energy absorbing to more light energy absorbing as its temperature increases;
- and
- at least one material with static light energy absorbing character;
- wherein the thermochromic material is present in the substrate or in a layer carried on the substrate at a level of from 0.1 weight % to 20 weight % of the substrate or the layer, and the material with static light energy absorbing character may be present in the same layer or in a different layer than the thermochromic material.
2 more elements
A thermochromic device comprising:
- a light transmitting substrate;
- and
- at least one thermochromic material which changes reversibly from less light energy absorbing to more light energy absorbing as its temperature increases;
- wherein the absorbance of said thermochromic material is continuously variable over a wide range of temperatures.
1 more element
A thermochromic device comprising:
- a light transmitting substrate;
- and
- at least one thermochromic material which changes reversibly from less light energy absorbing to more light energy absorbing as its temperature increases;
- wherein the substrate provides static light energy absorbing character and the thermochromic material is present in the substrate or in a layer carried on the substrate.
1 more element
A thermochromic window comprising:
- two or more light transmitting substrates;
- at least one thermochromic material which changes reversibly from less light energy absorbing to more light energy absorbing as its temperature increases;
- and
- at least one material with residual light energy absorbing character;
- wherein the two or more substrates are spaced apart by one or more than one gas space.
2 more elements
A thermochromic device comprising:
- a light transmitting substrate;
- at least one thermochromic material which changes reversibly from less light energy absorbing to more light energy absorbing as its temperature increases;
- and at least one material with residual light energy absorbing character;
- wherein the thermochromic material is present in the substrate, in a layer carried on the substrate, or on a layer carried on the substrate, and the material with residual light energy absorbing character may be the same or different than the thermochromic material and may be present in the same layer or in a different layer than the thermochromic material.
1 more element
A thermochromic device comprising:
- a light transmitting substrate;
- at least one thermochromic material capable of reversibly increasing in light absorption as the temperature of the thermochromic material increases;
- and
- at least one material capable of absorbing incident sunlight and causing a temperature increase in the thermochromic material when the device is exposed to sunlight wherein the thermochromic material is present in the substrate, in a layer carried on the substrate, or on a layer carried on the substrate, and the material capable of absorbing incident sunlight and causing a temperature increase in the thermochromic material may be the same or different than the thermochromic material and may be present in the same layer or in a different layer than the thermochromic material.
1 more element
A thermochromic window comprising:
- a first light transmitting substrate;
- a second light transmitting substrate;
- at least one thermochromic material which changes reversibly from less light energy absorbing to more light energy absorbing as its temperature increases;
- and at least one material with residual light energy absorbing character;
- wherein the thermochromic material is present in the first substrate, in a layer carried on the first substrate, or on a layer carried on the first substrate, and the material with residual light energy absorbing character may be the same or different than the thermochromic material and may be present in the same layer or in a different layer than the thermochromic material.
2 more elements
A thermochromic window comprising:
- a first light transmitting substrate;
- a second light transmitting substrate;
- at least one thermochromic material capable of reversibly increasing in light absorption as the temperature of the thermochromic material increases;
- and at least one material capable of absorbing incident sunlight and causing a temperature increase in the thermochromic materials present when the device is exposed to sunlight;
- wherein the thermochromic material is present in the first substrate, in a layer carried on the first substrate, or on a layer carried on the first substrate, and the material capable of absorbing incident sunlight and causing a temperature increase in the thermochromic material may be the same or different than the thermochromic material and may be present in the same layer or in a different layer than the thermochromic material.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.