VIEW, INC. Patent applications |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20160111260 | GLASS PALLET FOR SPUTTERING SYSTEMS - Pallets for transporting one or more glass substrates in a substantially vertical orientation through a sputtering system. In some cases, a pallet comprising a frame with an aperture and an adjustable grid array within the aperture. The adjustable grid array is configurable to hold a plurality of glass substrates of different shapes and/or sizes. In one case, the adjustable grid array comprises a system of vertical and horizontal support bars, wherein the vertical support bars configured to both support the plurality of glass substrates at their vertical edges, wherein the horizontal support bars are configured to support the plurality of glass substrates at their horizontal edges, wherein the ends of the horizontal support bars are slideably engaged with the vertical support bars. | 04-21-2016 |
20160109777 | PRETREATMENT OF TRANSPARENT CONDUCTIVE OXIDE (TCO) THIN FILMS FOR IMPROVED ELECTRICAL CONTACT - Certain embodiments relate to optical devices and methods of fabricating optical devices that pre-treat a sub-layer to enable selective removal of the pre-treated sub-layer and overlying layers. Other embodiments pertain to methods of fabricating an optical device that apply a sacrificial material layer. | 04-21-2016 |
20160097960 | ELECTROCHROMIC DEVICES ON NON-RECTANGULAR SHAPES - This present invention relates to bus bar configurations and fabrication methods of non-rectangular shaped (e.g., triangular, trapezoidal, circular, pentagonal, hexagonal, arched, etc.) optical devices. The optical device comprises a first side, a second side, and a third side adjacent to the second side and two bus bars spanning a portion of the optical device. | 04-07-2016 |
20160089869 | PRESSURE COMPENSATED INSULATED GLASS UNITS - Methods and apparatus for fabricating pressure compensated insulated glass units (IGUs). In one example, a method assembles an IGU from a first lite, a second lite and a spacer registered with and between the first and second lite, while at least the space between the first and second lites and within the perimeter of the spacer contains a heated or cooled inert gas. In another example, a method provides a vented IGU, heats or cools the vented IGU, introduces inert gas into the interior volume of the vented IGU, and seals vent ports before the IGU comes to ambient temperature. In another example, a method introduces or removes inert gas from an IGU by penetrating a seal of the IGU and then reseals the IGU. In another example, an apparatus for fabricating an IGU comprises a temperature control unit configured to heat or cool an inert gas and an IGU press wherein the apparatus is configured to introduce a heated inert gas or a cooled inert gas into the IGU as the hermetic seal of the IGU is formed. | 03-31-2016 |
20160076139 | SUSTAINED SELF-SPUTTERING OF LITHIUM FOR LITHIUM PHYSICAL VAPOR DEPOSITION - A method of sustained self-sputtering of lithium in a sputtering station having a lithium metal target, the method comprising initiating a lithium sputtering reaction in the sputtering station by igniting an initial plasma comprising a majority fraction of inert gas ions and inducing a sustained lithium self-sputtering reaction by reducing supply of an inert gas to the sputtering station under conditions that provide a sustained self-sputtering lithium plasma comprising a majority fraction of lithium ions. | 03-17-2016 |
20150338713 | MULTI-PANE WINDOWS INCLUDING ELECTROCHROMIC DEVICES AND ELECTROMECHANICAL SYSTEMS DEVICES - Multi-pane laminates having electrochromic devices and electromechanical systems, multi-pane window units having electrochromic devices and electromechanical systems, single panes with electrochromic devices and electromechanical systems, and methods of fabricating components thereof. | 11-26-2015 |
20150108102 | CIRCUMSCRIBING DEFECTS IN OPTICAL DEVICES - Methods of circumscribing defects in optical devices are described. A perimeter is formed about a defect by laser ablation, where the perimeter electrically isolates the defect. The perimeter does not have damage due to excess energy from the laser and thus does not create new electrical shorts. | 04-23-2015 |
20150103389 | PORTABLE POWER SUPPLIES AND PORTABLE CONTROLLERS FOR SMART WINDOWS - A portable controller having a portable power supply for transitioning tint of an optical device such as an electrochromic device. The portable power supply has at least one battery located within a housing and a support structure for supporting the battery. The portable controller has circuitry with logic for controlling power to the optical device. In some cases, the portable power supply may provide a higher than normal drive voltage to the optical device to accelerate transition to the tint state and then may reduce the drive voltage to a normal level. | 04-16-2015 |
20140349497 | CONNECTORS FOR SMART WINDOWS - This disclosure provides connectors for smart windows. A smart window may incorporate an optically switchable pane. In one aspect, a window unit includes an insulated glass unit including an optically switchable pane. A wire assembly may be attached to the edge of the insulated glass unit and may include wires in electrical communication with electrodes of the optically switchable pane. A floating connector may be attached to a distal end of the wire assembly. The floating connector may include a flange and a nose, with two holes in the flange for affixing the floating connector to a first frame. The nose may include a terminal face that present two exposed contacts of opposite polarity. Pre-wired spacers improve fabrication efficiency and seal integrity of insulated glass units. Electrical connection systems include those embedded in the secondary seal of the insulated glass unit. | 11-27-2014 |
20140340731 | THIN-FILM DEVICES AND FABRICATION - Thin-film devices, for example electrochromic devices for windows, and methods of manufacturing are described. Particular focus is given to methods of patterning optical devices. Various edge deletion and isolation scribes are performed, for example, to ensure the optical device has appropriate isolation from any edge defects. Methods described herein apply to any thin-film device having one or more material layers sandwiched between two thin film electrical conductor layers. The described methods create novel optical device configurations. | 11-20-2014 |
20140329006 | OPTICAL DEVICE FABRICATION - Transparent conductive coatings are polished using particle slurries in combination with mechanical shearing force, such as a polishing pad. Substrates having transparent conductive coatings that are too rough and/or have too much haze, such that the substrate would not produce a suitable optical device, are polished using methods described herein. The substrate may be tempered prior to, or after, polishing. The polished substrates have low haze and sufficient smoothness to make high-quality optical devices. | 11-06-2014 |
20140320947 | MULTI-PANE DYNAMIC WINDOW AND METHOD FOR MAKING SAME - A window assembly comprises a plurality of dynamic electrochromic zones formed on a single transparent substrate in which at least two electrochromic zones are independently controllable. In one exemplary embodiment, the window assembly comprises an Insulated Glass Unit (IGU), and at least one transparent substrate comprises a lite. In another exemplary embodiment, the IGU comprises at least two lites in which at least one lite comprises a plurality of independently controllable dynamic zones. | 10-30-2014 |
20140318947 | SPUTTER TARGET AND SPUTTERING METHODS - The present disclosure concerns sputter targets and sputtering methods. In particular, sputter targets and methods of sputtering using conventional sputter targets as well as sputter targets described herein, for highly uniform sputter deposition, are described. | 10-30-2014 |
20140313561 | ELECTROCHROMIC DEVICES - Conventional electrochromic devices frequently suffer from poor reliability and poor performance. Improvements are made using entirely solid and inorganic materials. Electrochromic devices are fabricated by forming an ion conducting electronically insulating interfacial region that serves as an IC layer. In some methods, the interfacial region is formed after formation of an electrochromic and a counter electrode layer, which are in direct contact with one another. The interfacial region contains an ion conducting electronically insulating material along with components of the electrochromic and/or the counter electrode layer. Materials and microstructure of the electrochromic devices provide improvements in performance and reliability over conventional devices. In addition to the improved electrochromic devices and methods for fabrication, integrated deposition systems for forming such improved devices are also disclosed. | 10-23-2014 |
20140307301 | MULTI-PANE ELECTROCHROMIC WINDOWS - Window units, for example insulating glass units (IGU's), that have at least two panes, each pane having an electrochromic device thereon, are described. Two optical state devices on each pane of a dual-pane window unit provide window units having four optical states. Window units described allow the end user a greater choice of how much light is transmitted through the electrochromic window. Also, by using two or more window panes, each with its own electrochromic device, registered in a window unit, visual defects in any of the individual devices are negated by virtue of the extremely small likelihood that any of the visual defects will align perfectly and thus be observable to the user. | 10-16-2014 |
20140300945 | MITIGATING THERMAL SHOCK IN TINTABLE WINDOWS - Tintable optical components such as windows are provided with a controller designed or configured to control the tinting in a manner that resists exposure to damaging thermal shock. The controller determines that a trigger condition for thermal shock is occurring or is about to occur and takes steps to avoid damaging thermal shock. In some cases, these steps include increasing the transmissivity of the optical component or holding the component in a highly transmissive state. In some cases, the steps involve heating the component. | 10-09-2014 |
20140268287 | CONTROLLING TRANSITIONS IN OPTICALLY SWITCHABLE DEVICES - This disclosure provides systems, methods, and apparatus for controlling transitions in an optically switchable device. In one aspect, a controller for a tintable window may include a processor, an input for receiving output signals from sensors, and instructions for causing the processor to determine a level of tint of the tintable window, and an output for controlling the level of tint in the tintable window. The instructions may include a relationship between the received output signals and the level of tint, with the relationship employing output signals from an exterior photosensor, an interior photosensor, an occupancy sensor, an exterior temperature sensor, and a transmissivity sensor. In some instances, the controller may receive output signals over a network and/or be interfaced with a network, and in some instances, the controller may be a standalone controller that is not interfaced with a network. | 09-18-2014 |
20140236323 | CONTROL METHOD FOR TINTABLE WINDOWS - A method of controlling tint of a tintable window to account for occupant comfort in a room of a building. The tintable window is between the interior and exterior of the building. The method predicts a tint level for the tintable window at a future time based on a penetration depth of direct sunlight through the tintable window into the room at the future time and space type in the room. The method also provides instructions over a network to transition tint of the tintable window to the tint level. | 08-21-2014 |
20140192393 | SPACERS FOR INSULATED GLASS UNITS - This disclosure provides spacers for smart windows. In one aspect, a window assembly includes a first substantially transparent substrate having an optically switchable device on a surface of the first substrate. The optically switchable device includes electrodes. A first electrode of the electrodes has a length about the length of a side of the optically switchable device. The window assembly further includes a second substantially transparent substrate a metal spacer between the first and the second substrates. The metal spacer has a substantially rectangular cross section, with one side of the metal spacer including a recess configured to accommodate the length of the first electrode such that there is no contact between the first electrode and the metal spacer. A primary seal material bonds the first substrate to the metal spacer and bonds the second substrate to the metal spacer. | 07-10-2014 |
20140182125 | TEMPERABLE ELECTROCHROMIC DEVICES - This disclosure provides systems, methods, and apparatus for tempering or chemically strengthening glass substrates having electrochromic devices fabricated thereon. In one aspect, an electrochromic device is fabricated on a glass substrate. The glass substrate is then tempered or chemically strengthened. The disclosed methods may reduce or prevent potential issues that the electrochromic device may experience during the tempering or the chemical strengthening processes, including the loss of charge carrying ions from the device, redistribution of charge carrying ions in the device, modification of the morphology of materials included in the device, modification of the oxidation state of materials included in the device, and the formation of an interfacial region between the electrochromic layer and the counter electrode layer of the device that impacts the performance of the device. | 07-03-2014 |
20140177028 | 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. | 06-26-2014 |
20140177027 | ELECTROCHROMIC DEVICES - Conventional electrochromic devices frequently suffer from poor reliability and poor performance. Improvements are made using entirely solid and inorganic materials. Electrochromic devices are fabricated by forming an ion conducting electronically insulating interfacial region that serves as an IC layer. In some methods, the interfacial region is formed after formation of an electrochromic and a counter electrode layer. The interfacial region contains an ion conducting electronically insulating material along with components of the electrochromic and/or the counter electrode layer. Materials and microstructure of the electrochromic devices provide improvements in performance and reliability over conventional devices. | 06-26-2014 |
20140170863 | CONNECTORS FOR SMART WINDOWS - This disclosure provides connectors for smart windows. A smart window may incorporate an optically switchable pane. In one aspect, a window unit includes an insulated glass unit including an optically switchable pane. A wire assembly may be attached to the edge of the insulated glass unit and may include wires in electrical communication with electrodes of the optically switchable pane. A floating connector may be attached to a distal end of the wire assembly. The floating connector may include a flange and a nose, with two holes in the flange for affixing the floating connector to a first frame. The nose may include a terminal face that present two exposed contacts of opposite polarity. | 06-19-2014 |
20140160550 | MULTIPURPOSE CONTROLLER FOR MULTISTATE WINDOWS - “Smart” controllers for windows having controllable optical transitions are described. Controllers with multiple features can sense and adapt to local environmental conditions. Controllers described herein can be integrated with a building management system (BMS) to greatly enhance the BMS's effectiveness at managing local environments in a building. The controllers may have one, two, three or more functions such as powering a smart window, determining the percent transmittance, size, and/or temperature of a smart window, providing wireless communication between the controller and a separate communication node, etc. | 06-12-2014 |
20140138242 | LITHIUM SPUTTER TARGETS - Described are methods of fabricating lithium sputter targets, lithium sputter targets, associated handling apparatus, and sputter methods including lithium targets. Various embodiments address adhesion of the lithium metal target to a support structure, avoiding and/or removing passivating coatings formed on the lithium target, uniformity of the lithium target as well as efficient cooling of lithium during sputtering. Target configurations used to compensate for non-uniformities in sputter plasma are described. Modular format lithium tiles and methods of fabrication are described. Rotary lithium sputter targets are also described. | 05-22-2014 |
20140022621 | DEFECT-MITIGATION LAYERS IN ELECTROCHROMIC DEVICES - Electrochromic devices and methods may employ the addition of a defect-mitigating insulating layer which prevents electronically conducting layers and/or electrochromically active layers from contacting layers of the opposite polarity and creating a short circuit in regions where defects form. In some embodiments, an encapsulating layer is provided to encapsulate particles and prevent them from ejecting from the device stack and risking a short circuit when subsequent layers are deposited. The insulating layer may have an electronic resistivity of between about 1 and 10 | 01-23-2014 |
20130306615 | PORTABLE DEFECT MITIGATORS FOR ELECTROCHROMIC WINDOWS - Portable apparatus for identifying and mitigating defects in electronic devices disposed on substrates or windows are disclosed herein. Such defects can be visually perceived by the end user. The substrates or windows may include flat panel displays, photovoltaic windows, electrochromic devices, and the like, particularly electrochromic windows. | 11-21-2013 |
20130301104 | MULTI-PANE DYNAMIC WINDOW AND METHOD FOR MAKING SAME - A window assembly comprises a plurality of dynamic electrochromic zones formed on a single transparent substrate in which at least two electrochromic zones are independently controllable. In one exemplary embodiment, the window assembly comprises an Insulated Glass Unit (IGU), and at least one transparent substrate comprises a lite. In another exemplary embodiment, the IGU comprises at least two lites in which at least one lite comprises a plurality of independently controllable dynamic zones. | 11-14-2013 |
20130278988 | 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. | 10-24-2013 |
20130271815 | DRIVING THIN FILM SWITCHABLE OPTICAL DEVICES - Controllers and control methods apply a drive voltage to bus bars of a thin film optically switchable device. The applied drive voltage is provided at a level that drives a transition over the entire surface of the optically switchable device but does not damage or degrade the device. This applied voltage produces an effective voltage at all locations on the face of the device that is within a bracketed range. The upper bound of this range is associated with a voltage safely below the level at which the device may experience damage or degradation impacting its performance in the short term or the long term. At the lower boundary of this range is an effective voltage at which the transition between optical states of the device occurs relatively rapidly. The level of voltage applied between the bus bars is significantly greater than the maximum value of the effective voltage within the bracketed range. | 10-17-2013 |
20130271814 | CONTROLLER FOR OPTICALLY-SWITCHABLE WINDOWS - This disclosure provides a window controller that includes a command-voltage generator configured to generate a command voltage signal. The window controller also includes a power-signal generator configured to generate a power signal based on the command voltage signal. The power signal is configured to drive an optically-switchable device on a substantially transparent substrate. In some embodiments, the power-signal generator is configured to generate a power signal having a power profile that includes one or more power profile portions, each power profile portion having one or more voltage or current characteristics. | 10-17-2013 |
20130271813 | CONTROLLER FOR OPTICALLY-SWITCHABLE WINDOWS - This disclosure provides a window controller that includes a command-voltage generator that generates a command voltage signal, and a pulse-width-modulated-signal generator that generates a pulse-width-modulated signal based on the command voltage signal. The pulse-width-modulated signal drives an optically-switchable device. The pulse-width-modulated signal comprises a first power component having a first duty cycle and a second power component having a second duty cycle. The first component delivers a first pulse during each active portion of the first duty cycle, and the second component delivers a second pulse during each active portion of the second duty cycle. The first pulses are applied to a first conductive layer and the second pulses are applied to a second conductive layer. The relative durations of the active portions and the relative durations of the first and second pulses are adjusted to result in a change in an effective DC voltage applied across the optically-switchable device. | 10-17-2013 |
20130271812 | CONTROLLING TRANSITIONS IN OPTICALLY SWITCHABLE DEVICES - This disclosure provides systems, methods, and apparatus for controlling transitions in an optically switchable device. In one aspect, a controller for a tintable window may include a processor, an input for receiving output signals from sensors, and instructions for causing the processor to determine a level of tint of the tintable window, and an output for controlling the level of tint in the tintable window. The instructions may include a relationship between the received output signals and the level of tint, with the relationship employing output signals from an exterior photosensor, an interior photosensor, an occupancy sensor, an exterior temperature sensor, and a transmissivity sensor. In some instances, the controller may receive output signals over a network and/or be interfaced with a network, and in some instances, the controller may be a standalone controller that is not interfaced with a network. | 10-17-2013 |
20130270105 | ELECTROCHROMIC DEVICES - Conventional electrochromic devices frequently suffer from poor reliability and poor performance. Improvements are made using entirely solid and inorganic materials. Electrochromic devices are fabricated by forming an ion conducting electronically insulating interfacial region that serves as an IC layer. In some methods, the interfacial region is formed after formation of an electrochromic and a counter electrode layer. The interfacial region contains an ion conducting electronically insulating material along with components of the electrochromic and/or the counter electrode layer. Materials and microstructure of the electrochromic devices provide improvements in performance and reliability over conventional devices. | 10-17-2013 |
20130256285 | COAXIAL DISTANCE MEASUREMENT VIA FOLDING OF TRIANGULATION SENSOR OPTICS PATH - This disclosure provides apparatus and methods for scribing a substrate. In one aspect, an apparatus includes optics for focusing a scribe beam onto a substrate and a beam focus adjustment mechanism for adjusting the optics. A triangulation-based distance sensor determines a distance between the triangulation-based distance sensor and the substrate, with the triangulation-based distance sensor being positioned at a location offset from the scribe beam. Reflecting elements are positioned to reflect an incident beam from the triangulation-based distance sensor's source to the substrate and then back to the triangulation-based distance sensor's detector. The beam focus adjustment mechanism adjusts the optics based on the distance between the triangulation-based distance sensor and the substrate so that the scribe beam is focused at a desired position on the substrate. | 10-03-2013 |
20130107345 | FABRICATION OF LOW DEFECTIVITY ELECTROCHROMIC DEVICES | 05-02-2013 |