US 2,012,026,573 · Filed 2010-11-08
The Smart Glass Patent That Turns Windows Into Dimming Filters
Imagine a window that can automatically darken or lighten to control how much sun comes through—without any curtains or blinds. This patent covers the factory process for making those electrochromic (smart) windows by cutting them precisely from larger glass sheets and adding the electrical connections that make the darkening magic work.
The plain-English version
What it protects
The claim covers the manufacturing method for creating electrochromic windows, specifically: identifying the best defect-free areas on a coated glass sheet, defining a cutting pattern based on those spots, adding laser-etched lines and electrical bus bars to enable the darkening effect, cutting out individual panes, and optionally strengthening them. What's protected here is the entire sequence of steps that turns raw coated glass into functional smart-window panes ready to be installed.
Why it matters
Electrochromic windows represent a major category in energy-efficient building technology—they reduce cooling and heating costs by controlling solar heat gain. This patent's value lies in making the manufacturing process reliable and scalable. By identifying defect-free zones first, manufacturers avoid wasting expensive coated glass and can produce larger batches of working panes. The method directly impacts yield rates and production cost, which determines whether smart windows stay a luxury product or become affordable for mainstream home and office use.
Real-world use
If you walk into a modern office building with windows that gradually dim on a hot afternoon without anyone touching a switch, those panes likely went through a process similar to what this patent describes.
Original USPTO abstract
Methods of manufacturing electrochromic windows are described. An electrochromic device is fabricated to substantially cover a glass sheet, for example float glass, and a cutting pattern is defined based on one or more low-defectivity areas in the device from which one or more electrochromic panes are cut. Laser scribes and/or bus bars may be added prior to cutting the panes or after. Edge deletion can also be performed prior to or after cutting the electrochromic panes from the glass sheet. Insulated glass units (IGUs) are fabricated from the electrochromic panes and optionally one or more of the panes of the IGU are strengthened.
Patent details
- Publication number
- US 2,012,026,573
- Filing date
- 2010-11-08
- Grant date
- Application — not yet granted
- Assignee
- Soladigm, Inc.
- Inventor(s)
- COLLINS MARK A., PARKER RONALD M., ROZBICKI ROBERT T., SHRIVASTAVA DHAIRYA
- CPC class
- B32B17/10055
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