US 12,110,251 B2
High spring force shutter for dynamic shade, and/or associated methods
Jason Blush, Milford, MI (US); Lindsay Horn, Auburn Hills, MI (US); Rudolph H. Petrmichl, Ann Arbor, MI (US); and Joshua Finch, Auburn Hills, MI (US)
Assigned to Guardian Glass, LLC, Auburn Hills, MI (US)
Filed by GUARDIAN GLASS, LLC, Auburn Hills, MI (US)
Filed on Apr. 16, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/232,406.
Prior Publication US 2022/0333434 A1, Oct. 20, 2022
Int. Cl. G02B 26/02 (2006.01); B32B 17/10 (2006.01); C03C 17/06 (2006.01); C03C 17/34 (2006.01); C03C 17/36 (2006.01); E06B 9/264 (2006.01); B32B 7/12 (2006.01); B32B 27/26 (2006.01)
CPC C03C 17/3649 (2013.01) [B32B 17/10045 (2013.01); B32B 17/10495 (2013.01); C03C 17/06 (2013.01); C03C 17/34 (2013.01); C03C 17/3639 (2013.01); E06B 9/264 (2013.01); B32B 7/12 (2013.01); B32B 17/10 (2013.01); B32B 27/26 (2013.01); B32B 2419/00 (2013.01); C03C 2217/94 (2013.01); E06B 2009/2643 (2013.01)] 22 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An insulating glass (IG) unit, comprising:
first and second substrates, each having interior and exterior major surfaces, the interior major surface of the first substrate facing the interior major surface of the second substrate;
a spacer system helping to maintain the first and second substrates in substantially parallel spaced apart relation to one another and to define a gap therebetween;
a dynamically controllable shade interposed between the first and second substrates, the shade including:
a first conductive layer provided, directly or indirectly, on the interior major surface of the first substrate;
a first dielectric layer provided, directly or indirectly, on the first conductive layer on a side thereof opposite the first substrate; and
a shutter including a flexible substrate having a first modulus of elasticity, the flexible substrate including first and second sides and having a first thickness, the first side of the flexible substrate supporting a first layer stack comprising one or more layers and including at least a second conductive layer, the first layer stack having a second thickness and a second modulus of elasticity, the second side of the flexible substrate supporting a second layer stack comprising one or more layers, the second layer stack collectively having a third thickness and a third modulus of elasticity, the second modulus and the third modulus each being greater than the first modulus, the shutter being extendible from a shutter open position to a shutter closed position and being retractable from the shutter closed position to the shutter open position; and
a control circuit configured to provide a voltage to create electrostatic forces that drive the flexible substrate to the shutter closed position,
wherein the ratio of the lower of the second and third modulus and the first modulus is at least 10, and
wherein (a) the lower of a product of the second modulus and the second thickness and a product of the third modulus and the third thickness, divided by (b) a product of the first modulus and the first thickness, is at least 0.2.