Angled bus bar
This disclosure provides configurations, methods of use, and methods of fabrication for a bus bar of an optically switchable device. In one aspect, an apparatus includes a substrate and an optically switchable device disposed on a surface of the substrate. The optically switchable device has a perimeter with at least one corner including a first side, a second side, and a first vertex joining the first side and the second side. A first bus bar and a second bus bar are affixed to the optically switchable device and configured to deliver current and/or voltage for driving switching of the device. The first bus bar is proximate to the corner and includes a first arm and a second arm having a configuration that substantially follows the shape of the first side, the first vertex, and the second side of the corner.
1 . An apparatus comprising an electrochromic device, wherein the electrochromic device comprises:
a power supply;
a first terminal of the power supply electrically coupled to a first bus bar and to a second bus bar;
a first transparent conductive layer formed over a substrate, wherein the first and second bus bars are electrically coupled to the first transparent conductive layer;
a second terminal of the power supply electrically coupled to a third bus bar and to a fourth bus bar; and
a second transparent conductive layer, wherein the third and fourth bus bars are electrically coupled to the second transparent conductive layer;
wherein:
the power supply is configured to drive the first and second power supply terminals at opposite polarities; and
the power supply is configured to simultaneously power either the first and third bus bars or the second and fourth bus bars but not to simultaneously power the first and second bus bars nor the third and fourth bus bars.
2 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:
the substrate is rectangular;
the first and second bus bars are located along opposites sides of the rectangle of the substrate;
the third and fourth bus bars are located along opposites sides of the rectangle of the substrate; and
the sides of the rectangle of the substrate on which the first and second bus bars are located are distinct from the sides of the rectangle of the substrate on which the third and fourth bus bars are located.
3 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:
the substrate is rectangular;
the first and second bus bars are located along adjacent sides of the rectangle of the substrate;
the third and fourth bus bars are located along adjacent sides of the rectangle of the substrate; and
the sides of the rectangle of the substrate on which the first and second bus bars are located are distinct from the sides of the rectangle of the substrate on which the third and fourth bus bars are located.
4 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the substrate is polygonal.
5 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the electrochromic device is solid state and inorganic.
6 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first and second transparent conductive layers include transparent conductive oxide material.
7 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first, second, third, and fourth bus bars are made of a conductive ink patterned onto the first and second transparent conductive layers.
8 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the apparatus is integrated into an insulated glass unit.
9 . A method of operating an apparatus, the apparatus comprising an electrochromic device, the electrochromic device comprising a power supply, a first terminal of the power supply electrically coupled to a first bus bar and to a second bus bar, a first transparent conductive layer formed over a substrate, wherein the first and second bus bars are electrically coupled to the first transparent conductive layer, a second terminal of the power supply electrically coupled to a third bus bar and to a fourth bus bar, and a second transparent conductive layer, wherein the third and fourth bus bars are electrically coupled to the second transparent conductive layer, the method comprising:
driving the first and second power supply terminals at opposite polarities;
simultaneously powering the first and third bus bars but not the second and fourth bus bars; and
simultaneously powering the second and fourth bus bars but not the first and third bus bars.