Multi-zone EC windows
Thin-film devices, for example, multi-zone electrochromic windows, and methods of manufacturing are described. In certain cases, a multi-zone electrochromic window comprises a monolithic EC device on a transparent substrate and two or more tinting zones, wherein the tinting zones are configured for independent operation.
1. An electrochromic (EC) window comprising:
an EC device on a transparent substrate, the EC device comprising bus bars;
a region of the transparent substrate that is not covered by the EC device, the region capable of providing, when not mitigated, a bright spot or bright region when the EC device is tinted; and
an obscuring material over the region, wherein the obscuring material has a lower transmittance than the transparent substrate,
wherein the obscuring material comprises a thermochromic material.
2. The electrochromic window of claim 1 , wherein the region is a pinhole, a scribe line, or an edge line.
3. The electrochromic window of claim 1 , wherein the obscuring material has an opacity of at least about 50% of the maximum transmittance of the electrochromic device.
4. The electrochromic window of claim 1 , wherein the obscuring material has a color selected from a group consisting of white, black, gray, green, brown and blue.
5. The electrochromic window of claim 1 , wherein the obscuring material comprises light scattering particles.
6. The electrochromic window of claim 1 , wherein the obscuring material comprises an adhesive.
7. The electrochromic window of claim 1 , wherein the thermochromic material comprises a leuco dye, an ink, a paint, a polymer, or a metal oxide.
8. The electrochromic window of claim 7 , wherein the metal oxide comprises titanium dioxide, zinc oxide or vanadium oxide.
9. The electrochromic window of claim 1 , wherein the EC device comprises a solid state and inorganic EC device.
10. The electrochromic window of claim 1 , wherein the EC device comprises a first transparent conducting oxide (TCO) and a second TCO.
11. The electrochromic window of claim 1 , wherein the EC device comprises two or more tinting zones.
12. The electrochromic windows of claim 1 , wherein the bus bars are disposed along opposing edges of the EC device.
13. A method of obscuring a bright area produced by a region of a transparent substrate that is not covered by an EC device, the method comprising:
i. providing an electrochromic lite having the EC device on a substrate;
ii. identifying a site of the bright area on the substrate; and
iii. applying an obscuring material over the site, wherein the obscuring material has a lower transmittance than the substrate,
wherein the obscuring material comprises a thermochromic material.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the region is a pinhole, a scribe line, or an edge line.
15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the obscuring material is applied via an ink jet dispenser.
16. The method of claim 13 , wherein the obscuring material has an opacity of about 50% of the maximum transmittance of the electrochromic device.
17. The method of claim 13 , wherein the obscuring material has a color selected from a group consisting of white, black, gray, green, brown and blue.
18. The method of claim 13 , wherein the obscuring material comprises light scattering particles.
19. The method of claim 13 , wherein the obscuring material comprises an adhesive.
20. The method of claim 13 , wherein the thermochromic material comprises a leuco dye, an ink, a paint, a polymer or a metal oxide.
21. The method of claim 20 , wherein the metal oxide comprises titanium dioxide, zinc oxide or vanadium oxide.
22. The method of claim 13 , wherein the EC device comprises a solid state and inorganic EC device.
23. The method of claim 13 , wherein the EC device comprises a first transparent conducting oxide (TCO) and a second TCO.
24. The method of claim 13 , wherein the EC device comprises two or more tinting zones.
25. The method of claim 13 , wherein the bus bars are disposed along opposing edges of the EC device.