Spacers and connectors for insulated glass units
This disclosure describes insulated glass units (IGUs) that incorporate electrochromic devices. More specifically, this disclosure focuses on different configurations available for providing an electrical connection to the interior region of an IGU. In many cases, an IGU includes two panes separated by a spacer. The spacer defines an interior region of the IGU and an exterior region of the IGU. Often, the electrochromic device positioned on the pane does not extend past the spacer, and some electrical connection must be provided to supply power from the exterior of the IGU to the electrochromic device on the interior of the IGU. In some embodiments, the spacer includes one or more holes (e.g, channels, mouse holes, other holes, etc.) through which an electrical connection (e.g., wires, busbar leads, etc.) may pass to provide power to the electrochromic device.
1. A spacer of an insulated glass unit, the spacer comprising:
a body having surfaces configured to bond to two panes of the insulated glass unit; and
at least one ribbon cable passing through or between the body of the spacer and one or both of the two panes, wherein the at least one ribbon cable comprises a plurality of wires running parallel to each other, wherein an end of the at least one ribbon cable includes one or more connectors.
2. The spacer of claim 1 , wherein:
the body comprises a hollow interior space, and
the at least one ribbon cable passes through the hollow interior space.
3. The spacer of claim 1 , wherein the at least one ribbon cable passes through a seal material between the two panes.
4. The spacer of claim 1 , wherein the body is configured to hold the at least one ribbon cable in place.
5. The spacer of claim 1 , wherein the at least one ribbon cable passes through an aperture in the body of the spacer.
6. The spacer of claim 5 , wherein the aperture is sealed with adhesive.
7. The spacer of claim 1 , wherein the at least one ribbon cable is in electrical communication with one or more of (i) a voltage source, (ii) a controller, and (iii) an optically switchable device disposed on one of the two panes of the insulated glass unit.
8. The spacer of claim 1 , wherein the one or more connectors are configured to connect to a window controller.
9. The spacer of claim 1 , wherein the at least one ribbon cable is in electrical communication with one or more bus bars of an electrochromic device disposed on one of the two panes of the insulated glass unit.
10. The spacer of claim 1 , wherein the at least one ribbon cable is configured to provide power and or communication signals to one or more devices disposed within, or on, the insulated glass unit.
11. The spacer of claim 1 , wherein the at least one ribbon cable enters the body of the spacer at a first location and passes within an interior of the body of the spacer before exiting the spacer at a second location.
12. The spacer of claim 11 , wherein the interior of the body of the spacer is hollow.
13. The spacer of claim 1 , wherein the at least one ribbon cable comprises at least one wire covered with insulation.
14. The spacer of claim 1 , wherein the body of the spacer is a unitary body.
15. The spacer of claim 1 , wherein the body of the spacer includes one or more tubular portions.
16. The spacer of claim 1 , wherein the body of the spacer comprises one or more metal portions.
17. The spacer of claim 16 , wherein at least one of the metal portions is bent.
18. The spacer of claim 1 , wherein the body of the spacer is a polymeric body.
19. The spacer of claim 1 , wherein the body of the spacer comprises an insulating coating.
20. The spacer of claim 1 , wherein the at one least ribbon cable is configured to transmit signals to two or more electrochromic panes of the insulated glass unit.
21. An insulated glass unit comprising:
a first substantially transparent substrate;
a second substantially transparent substrate;
an optically switchable device disposed on one substantially transparent substrate of the first and second substantially transparent substrates; and
a spacer between, and at a periphery of, the first and second substantially transparent substrates, wherein the spacer comprises at least one ribbon cable passing through the spacer, the least one ribbon cable configured to provide power and or communication signals to the optically switchable device, wherein the at least one ribbon cable comprises a plurality of wires running parallel to each other, wherein an end of the at least one ribbon cable includes one or more connectors.
22. The insulated glass unit of claim 21 , wherein the spacer comprises a body with a hollow interior space, and wherein the at least one ribbon cable passes through the hollow interior space.
23. The insulated glass unit of claim 21 , wherein the spacer comprises a body and the at least one ribbon cable passes between the body of the spacer and at least one substantially transparent substrate of the first and second substantially transparent substrates.
24. The insulated glass unit of claim 21 , wherein the at least one ribbon cable passes through a seal material between a body of the spacer and at least one substantially transparent substrate of the first and second substantially transparent substrates.
25. The insulated glass unit of claim 21 , wherein the at least one ribbon cable passes through a primary seal between a body of the spacer and the first substantially transparent substrate and the body of the spacer and the second substantially transparent substrate.
26. The insulated glass unit of claim 21 , wherein the spacer comprises a body configured to hold the at least one ribbon cable.
27. The insulated glass unit of claim 21 , wherein the spacer comprises a body with an aperture, and wherein the at least one ribbon cable passes through the aperture.
28. The insulated glass unit of claim 27 , wherein the aperture is sealed.
29. The insulated glass unit of claim 21 , wherein the at least one ribbon cable is in electrical communication with a voltage source and/or a controller.
30. The insulated glass unit of claim 21 , wherein the one or more connectors is configured to connect to a window controller.
31. The insulated glass unit of claim 21 , wherein the at least one ribbon cable enters a body of the spacer at a first location and passes within an interior of the spacer before exiting the spacer at a second location.
32. The insulated glass unit of claim 31 , wherein the interior of the spacer is hollow.
33. The insulated glass unit of claim 21 , wherein the at least one ribbon cable comprises at least one wire covered with insulation.
34. The insulated glass unit of claim 21 , wherein the spacer comprises a polymeric body.
35. The insulated glass unit of claim 21 , wherein the optically switchable device is an electrochromic device.
36. A spacer of an insulated glass unit, the spacer comprising:
a body having surfaces configured to bond to two panes of the insulated glass unit; and
at least one ribbon cable passing between the body of the spacer and one or both of the two panes of the insulated glass unit, wherein the at least one ribbon cable comprises a plurality of wires running parallel to each other, wherein an end of the at least one ribbon cable includes one or more connectors.
37. The spacer of claim 36 , wherein the at least one ribbon cable is in electrical communication with one or more of (i) a voltage source, (ii) a controller, and (iii) an optically switchable device disposed on one of the two panes of the insulated glass unit.
38. The spacer of claim 36 , wherein the one or more connectors are configured to connect to a window controller.
39. The spacer of claim 36 , wherein the at least one ribbon cable is in electrical communication with one or more bus bars of an electrochromic device disposed on one of the two panes of the insulated glass unit.
40. The spacer of claim 36 , wherein the at least one ribbon cable is configured to provide power and or communication signals to one or more devices disposed within, or on, the insulated glass unit.
41. The spacer of claim 36 , wherein the at least one ribbon cable enters the body of the spacer at a first location and passes within an interior of the body of the spacer before exiting the spacer at a second location.
42. The spacer of claim 41 , wherein the interior of the body of the spacer is hollow.
43. The spacer of claim 36 , wherein the at least one ribbon cable comprises at least one wire covered with insulation.
44. The spacer of claim 36 , wherein the at one least ribbon cable is configured to transmit signals to two or more electrochromic panes of the insulated glass unit.