Granted Patent B2

US 10,088,731 · App. 14/796,819 · Granted Oct 2, 2018

Abstract

Claims (42)

1. A window unit comprising:

a. a first substantially transparent substrate with an electrochromic device disposed thereon, the electrochromic device comprising a first conductive layer, an electrochromic layer, an ion conducting layer, a counter electrode layer, and a second conductive layer; and

b. a second substantially transparent substrate with a heatable transparent conductive oxide layer disposed thereon, and wherein the heatable transparent conductive oxide layer is configured to be heated by application of electricity;

wherein the electrochromic device is solid state and inorganic.

2. The window unit of claim 1 , wherein the window unit is in the form of an insulating glass unit (IGU) comprising a sealing separator between the first and second substantially transparent substrates forming a thermally insulating interior region therebetween, and wherein the thermally insulating interior region contains a gas.

3. The window unit of claim 2 , wherein the electrochromic device and the heatable transparent conductive oxide layer face the thermally insulating interior region of the insulated glass unit.

4. The window unit of claim 1 , wherein a transparent conductive oxide of the electrochromic device can also be heated, independently of operation of the electrochromic device tinting function.

5. The window unit of claim 2 , wherein the thermally insulating interior region contains an inert gas.

6. The window unit of claim 1 , wherein the electrochromic device comprises a tungsten oxide or a doped tungsten oxide electrochromic layer and a nickel tungsten oxide counter electrode layer, optionally doped with tantalum.

7. The window unit of claim 1 , wherein the second substantially transparent substrate further comprises a UV absorbing and/or reflecting coating and/or an IR absorbing and/or reflecting coating and/or a low-E coating.

8. A window unit comprising:

a. a first substantially transparent substrate with a first electrochromic device disposed thereon; and

b. a second substantially transparent substrate with a second electrochromic device disposed thereon;

wherein each of the first and second electrochromic devices comprises a tungsten oxide or doped tungsten oxide electrochromic layer and a nickel tungsten oxide counter electrode layer, optionally doped with tantalum,

wherein the window unit is in the form of an insulating glass unit comprising a sealing separator between the first and second substantially transparent substrates forming a thermally insulating interior region therebetween,

wherein the thermally insulating interior region contains a gas; and

wherein the ratio of the tungsten oxide or doped tungsten oxide electrochromic layer to the nickel tungsten oxide counter electrode layer, optionally doped with tantalum, is between about 1.7:1 and about 2.3:1.

9. The window unit of claim 8 , wherein at least one of the first and second electrochromic devices has intermediate state capability.

10. The window unit of claim 8 , wherein the first and second electrochromic devices face the thermally insulating interior region of the insulated glass unit.

11. The window unit of claim 8 , further comprising a third substantially transparent substrate to form of a three-pane insulating glass unit.

12. The window unit of claim 11 , wherein the third substantially transparent substrate comprises a heatable transparent conductive oxide thereon.

13. The window unit of claim 8 , wherein the first electrochromic device faces the thermally insulating interior region of the insulated glass unit.

14. The window unit of claim 8 , wherein each of the first and second electrochromic devices does not tint to less than 10% transmissivity.

15. A window unit comprising:

a. a first substantially transparent substrate with a first electrochromic device disposed thereon; and

b. a second substantially transparent substrate with a second electrochromic device disposed thereon;

wherein each of the first and second electrochromic devices comprises a tungsten oxide or doped tungsten oxide electrochromic layer and a nickel tungsten oxide counter electrode layer, optionally doped with tantalum,

wherein each of the first and second electrochromic devices are two-state devices and the window unit has at least four optical states, wherein the at least four optical states are:

overall transmittance of between about 60% and about 90%;

overall transmittance of between about 15% and about 30%;

overall transmittance of between about 5% and about 10%; and

overall transmittance of between about 0.1% and about 5%.

16. The window unit of claim 1 , wherein the heatable transparent conductive oxide layer is configured to be heated in order to aid transitioning of the electrochromic device.

17. The window unit of claim 1 , wherein the heatable transparent conductive oxide layer is separate from the electrochromic device.

18. A window unit comprising:

a. a first substantially transparent substrate with a first electrochromic device disposed thereon;

b. a second substantially transparent substrate with a second electrochromic device disposed thereon; and

c. a third substantially transparent substrate,

wherein the second electrochromic device faces the third substantially transparent substrate and the third substantially transparent substrate comprises a heatable transparent conductive oxide thereon, wherein the heatable transparent conductive oxide faces the second electrochromic device;

wherein each of the first and second electrochromic devices comprises a tungsten oxide or doped tungsten oxide electrochromic layer and a nickel tungsten oxide counter electrode layer, optionally doped with tantalum,

wherein the window unit is in the form of a three-pane insulating glass unit comprising a sealing separator between the first and second substantially transparent substrates forming a thermally insulating interior region therebetween, and

wherein the thermally insulating interior region contains a gas.

Assignments (8)