US 8,199,264 B2Granted

Ruggedized switchable glazing comprising a liquid crystal inclusive layer and a multi-layer low-E ultraviolet blocking coating

AssigneeGuardian Industries Corp.

InventorVijayen S. Veerasamy

Life of this patent

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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.

Claims25

Dependent claims

A window comprising:

an inner substrate and an outer substrate, the inner and outer substrates being substantially parallel to one another;
a multi-layer low-E ultraviolet (UV) blocking coating supported by an inner surface of the outer substrate, the low-E UV blocking coating blocking significant amounts of UV in the range of from about 380-400 nm;
a liquid crystal inclusive layer disposed between at least the inner and outer substrates, the liquid crystal inclusive layer including liquid crystals whose alignment is dependent upon an electric field, one or more grooves or channels being formed in the liquid crystal inclusive layer so as to attenuate a z-component of compressive stress therein to below 100 MPa;
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 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 substrate and the second laminating layer provided between at least the liquid crystal inclusive layer and the inner substrate;
at least one bus bar in electrical communication with at least one of the first and 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 window has a visible transmission of at least about 55% when the liquid crystal inclusive layer is activated.

6 more elements

An insulating glass window unit, comprising:

at least first, second and third substantially parallel substrates;
a multi-layer low-E UV blocking coating supported by a surface of the second substrate facing the third substrate;
a liquid crystal inclusive layer disposed between the second and third substrates, the liquid crystal inclusive layer including liquid crystals whose alignment is dependent upon an electric field, one or more grooves or channels being formed in the liquid crystal inclusive layer so as to attenuate a z-component of compressive stress therein to below 100 MPa;
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 substrates, respectively;
first and second laminating layers, the first laminating layer being provided between at least the liquid crystal inclusive layer and the second substrate and the second laminating layer provided between at least the liquid crystal inclusive layer and the third substrate;
at least one bus bar electrically connected to at least one of the first and 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;
and
a polymer barrier, separate from the first and second laminating layers, located proximate to peripheral edges of the liquid crystal inclusive layer only, so as to reduce migration of one or both laminating layers over time, as well as inward movement of the liquid crystal inclusive layer,
wherein the first and second 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.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 11/987,005Filed 26 Nov 2007
Published: US 2009/0135319 A128 May 2009
Granted: 12 Jun 2012
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification17 codes

G02F 1/1334
Constructional arrangements; Manufacturing methods: based on polymer dispersed liquid crystals, e.g. microencapsulated liquid crystals
B32B 17/10036
Characterized by the number, the constitution or treatment of glass sheets: comprising two outer glass sheets
B32B 17/10055
With at least one intermediate layer consisting of a glass sheet: with at least one intermediate air space
B32B 17/10229
Metallic coatings: metallic layers sandwiched by dielectric layers