IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,422,393
Granted Patent B2
US 11,422,393 · App. 16/512,758 · Granted Aug 23, 2022

Electro-optic device with wire embedded in an adhesive seal

Inventors: Joel A. Stray (Hudsonville, MI); William L. Tonar (Holland, MI); David A. Bender (Holland, MI); Luke W. Koops (Zeeland, MI); Christopher M. Derry (Allegan, MI); Tammy G. Morgan (Holland, MI)
Assignee: GENTEX CORPORATION
G02F1/0107E06B3/6722H01R4/04H01R4/58H01R4/70
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,422,393
App. No.
16/512,758
Granted
Aug 23, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

An electro-optic device comprises a first substrate having a first surface, a second surface, and an outer perimeter edge; a second substrate having a third surface, a fourth surface, and an outer perimeter edge, the third surface of the second substrate being opposed to the second surface of the first substrate; a chamber defined between the second surface of the first substrate and the opposed third surface of the second substrate; a first electrode coating disposed on the second surface of the first substrate; a second electrode coating disposed on the third surface of the second substrate; a first conductive or semi-conductive material disposed on and extending longitudinally along at least a portion of a peripheral area of the first substrate and in electrical communication with the first electrode coating; and a non-conductive material extending between the first conductive or semi-conductive material and the second electrode coating.

Claims (50)

1. An electro-optic device comprising:

a first substrate having a first surface, a second surface, and an outer perimeter edge;

a second substrate having a third surface, a fourth surface, and an outer perimeter edge, the third surface of the second substrate being opposed to the second surface of the first substrate;

a chamber defined between the second surface of the first substrate and the opposed third surface of the second substrate;

a first electrode coating disposed on the second surface of the first substrate;

a second electrode coating disposed on the third surface of the second substrate;

a first conductive or semi-conductive material disposed on and extending longitudinally along at least a portion of a peripheral area of the first substrate and in electrical communication with the first electrode coating, wherein the first conductive or semi-conductive material comprises a surface portion disposed on and extending along at least a portion of a peripheral area of the first electrode coating, and a perimeter portion extending longitudinally along at least a portion of the outer perimeter edge of the first substrate;

a non-conductive material extending between the first conductive or semi-conductive material and the second electrode coating; and

at least one first conductive wire embedded in at least one of the perimeter portion and the surface portion of the first conductive or semi-conductive material, the at least one first conductive wire extending longitudinally along at least a portion of the first conductive or semi-conductive material.

2. The electro-optic device of claim 1 , wherein the wire has a diameter less than about 0.006 inch.

3. The electro-optic device of claim 2 , wherein the wire has a diameter between 0.003 and 0.005 inch.

4. The electro-optic device of claim 1 , further comprising a second conductive or semi-conductive material disposed along at least a portion of a peripheral area of the second substrate and in electrical communication with the second electrode coating;

wherein the second conductive or semi-conductive material is at least partially opposed to the first conductive or semi-conductive material;

wherein the non-conductive material extends between the opposed parts of the first conductive or semi-conductive material and the second conductive or semi-conductive material, and is configured to electrically isolate the first conductive or semi-conductive material from the second conductive or semi-conductive material.

5. The electro-optic device of claim 4 , further comprising at least one first conductive wire embedded in the first conductive or semi-conductive material, the at least one first conductive wire extending generally longitudinally along at least a portion of the first conductive or semi-conductive material; and

at least one second conductive wire embedded in the second conductive or semi-conductive material, the at least one second conductive wire extending generally longitudinally along at least a portion of the second conductive or semi-conductive material.

6. The electro-optic device of claim 1 , wherein the non-conductive material comprises a narrow portion and a wider portion;

wherein the narrow portion extends between the first conductive or semi-conductive material and the second electrode coating and is configured to electrically isolate the first conductive or semi-conductive material from the second electrode coating;

wherein the wider portion extends beyond the first conductive or semi-conductive material toward the chamber; and

wherein the wider portion extends from the first electrode coating to the second electrode coating.

7. The electro-optic device of claim 6 , wherein the wider portion of the non-conductive material defines at least a portion of a sidewall of the chamber.

8. An electro-optic device comprising:

a first substrate having a first surface and a second surface, and a second substrate having a third surface and a fourth surface, the third surface being opposed to the second surface;

a chamber defined between the second surface of the first substrate and the opposed third surface of the second substrate;

a first electrode coating disposed on the second surface of the first substrate;

a second electrode coating disposed on the third surface of the second substrate;

a first conductive or semi-conductive material disposed on and extending along at least a portion of a peripheral area of the first electrode coating;

a second conductive or semi-conductive material disposed on and extending along at least a portion of a peripheral area of the second electrode coating, wherein at least part of the first conductive or semi-conductive material is opposed to at least part of the second conductive or semi-conductive material;

a non-conductive material extending between the first conductive or semi-conductive material and the second electrode coating;

at least one first conductive wire, the at least one first conductive wire disposed in the first conductive or semi-conductive material, wherein the at least one first conductive wire extends longitudinally along at least a part of the first conductive or semi-conductive material; and

at least one second conductive wire, the at least one second conductive wire disposed in the second conductive or semi-conductive material, wherein the at least one second conductive wire extends longitudinally along at least a part of the second conductive or semi-conductive material;

wherein the non-conductive material is configured to electrically isolate the first conductive or semi-conductive material from the second electrode coating.

9. The electro-optic device of claim 8 , wherein the non-conductive material extends between the opposed parts of the first conductive or semi-conductive material and the second conductive or semi-conductive material; and

wherein the non-conductive material is configured to electrically isolate the first conductive or semi-conductive material from the second conductive or semi-conductive material.

10. A bus bar assembly for an electro-optic device comprising:

a first conductive or semi-conductive material disposed along a peripheral area of a first electrode coating of a first substrate of the electro-optic device;

at least one first wire embedded in and extending longitudinally along at least a portion of the first conductive or semi-conductive material; and

a non-conductive material extending between the first conductive or semi-conductive material and a second electrode coating of a second substrate of the electro-optic device;

wherein the second electrode coating is opposed to the first electrode coating.

11. The bus bar assembly for an electro-optic device of claim 10 , wherein the non-conductive material is configured to electrically isolate the first conductive or semi-conductive material from the second electrode coating.

12. The bus bar assembly of claim 10 , further comprising a second conductive or semi-conductive material disposed along a peripheral area of the second electrode coating of the electro-optic device;

and at least one second wire embedded in and extending longitudinally along at least a portion of the second conductive or semi-conductive material;

wherein the non-conductive material is configured to electrically isolate the first conductive or semi-conductive material from the second conductive or semi-conductive material.

13. The bus bar assembly of claim 12 , further comprising at least one second wire, the at least one second wire embedded in and extending longitudinally along at least a portion of the second conductive or semi-conductive material.

14. The bus bar assembly of claim 12 , wherein at least a portion of the first conductive or semi-conductive material is opposed to at least a portion of the second conductive or semi-conductive material; and

wherein the non-conductive material extends between the opposed portions of the first and second conductive or semi-conductive materials, electrically isolating them from one another.

15. The bus bar assembly of claim 12 , wherein the non-conductive material extends beyond the first and second conductive or semi-conductive materials and toward a chamber of the electro-optic device; and

wherein the portion of the non-conductive material that extends beyond the first and second conductive or semi-conductive materials extends from the first electrode coating to the second electrode coating, defining at least a portion of a sidewall of the chamber.

16. The bus bar assembly of claim 12 , wherein the first conductive or semi-conductive material has a portion extending along a portion of an outer perimeter edge of the first substrate; and

wherein the second conductive or semi-conductive material has a portion extending along a portion of an outer perimeter edge of the second substrate.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 17, 2019
From: STRAY, JOEL A.; TONAR, WILLIAM L.; BENDER, DAVID A.; KOOPS, LUKE W.; DERRY, CHRISTOPHER M.; MORGAN, TAMMY G.
To: GENTEX CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 049772/0148 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62699757 · Jul 18, 2018
Related Publication 20200026102A1 · Jan 23, 2020
Cited By (6)
US 12,229,735 US 12,254,463 US 12,265,958 US 12,536,530 US 12,664,531 US 12,711,485