Abstract:
An electrochromic device is provided. The device may be inserted within a frame. The device may include a substrate, an electrochromic coating, and a patterned layer. The electrochromic coating may overlie a portion of the substrate within a visible region of the substrate. The electrochromic coating may have an outer edge that is spaced from an outer boundary of the visible region of the substrate. The outer edge of the electrochromic coating and the outer boundary of the visible region may define a working region. The patterned layer may be deposited within the working region. The patterned layer may include a plurality of spaced apart shapes.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/619,719 filed Apr. 3, 2012, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates to switchable or active technology glazing devices, and in particular, relates to the obscuration of such devices. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Insulated glass units (IGUs) include opposing glass lite panels separated by a spacer along the edge in which the spacer and the glass sheets create a seal around a dead air space (or other gas, e.g., argon, nitrogen, krypton). A series of thin films, known as electrochromic glazings, are applied or deposited to one of the glass lite panels. Electrochromic glazings or coatings include electrochromic materials that are known to change their optical properties in response to the application of an electric potential which can create coloration or tinting within the electrochromic glazings. Common uses for these glazings include architectural windows, as well as windshields and mirrors of automobiles. Further details regarding the formation of IGUs can be found in, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,372,610; U.S. Pat. No. 7,593,154; and U.S. Pat. Appl. Publ. No. 2011/0261429 A1, the entire disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein. 
         [0004]    Current IGUs often have printed busbars and have non-active or non-coloring areas near edges of visible viewing regions within such IGUs that are generally perceived to be aesthetically undesirable features. Obscuration has been used to mask these undesirable features. Current edge obscuration however utilizes a straight solid line, i.e., “hard edge,” that cannot sufficiently disguise conspicuous or recognized misalignment. Precise alignment of the IGUs by a contractor, such as a glazing contractor, working on the installation or repair of IGUs may be difficult and expensive. 
         [0005]    Thus, there exists a need for obscuration that disguises recognized misalignment without incurring such labor-intensive costs. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    As used herein, the terms “width” and “length” refer to directions parallel to surfaces of a substrate. The term “thickness” is used to refer to a dimension measured in a direction perpendicular to the surfaces of such a substrate. 
         [0007]    To lessen the visual or actual impact of these often undesirable features, at least one side of an electrochromic device, such as an edge thereof, may include one or more obscuration patterns. An obscuration pattern desirably may be designed to disguise undesirable features along the visible edges of an electrochromic device and have a minimum width necessary to perform this function in order to maximize the unobstructed viewing area through an electrochromic device and to add the least amount of cost to the production of such devices. 
         [0008]    In some arrangements, an obscuration pattern may be printed. In some arrangements, the pattern may be formed using screen-printing of inorganic or organic inks, such as but not limited to an ink based on reactive acrylates, that bond to a substrate, such as but not limited to glass, after a heat treatment, such as but not limited to curing by ultraviolet light or other known curing methods. In some arrangements, the reactive acrylates preferably may be dark or pigmented, which may act to obscure a view of undesirable features. In some arrangements, an obscuration pattern is prepared by digital printing of organic inks, inorganic inks, or mixtures thereof. Such digital printing may be used to automatically and accurately print patterns, which may have any color, onto the substrate. In some arrangements, a pattern in accordance with the present invention may be formed onto glass, for example tempered glass used for vehicle windshields. In some arrangements, a screen-printed pattern may be printed on any of a series of attachable substrates such as but not limited to float glass, electrochromic glass, or a thin film material. In such arrangements, the pattern on each of these individual substrates may have approximately the same dimensions, each having approximately the same pattern. 
         [0009]    In some arrangements, a pattern may be applied using adhesive tape, which may be used to apply an obscuration band, an obscuration band being an opaque area in the glass, as used herein. In some such arrangements, straight lines or for shapes, such as but not limited to circular, rectangular, or triangular dots that may be formed on the adhesive tape, which may then be applied directly to a substrate. 
         [0010]    In some arrangements, the obscuration pattern may be applied to two sides, which may be two edges, of an electrochromic device. In some arrangements, the obscuration pattern may be applied to three sides, which may be three edges, of an electrochromic device. In some arrangements, the obscuration pattern may be applied to four sides, which may be four edges, of an electrochromic device. In some arrangements, the obscuration pattern may be predetermined over at least a portion of the electrochromic device. In some arrangements, the pattern may be repeating in a direction parallel to a given side of an electrochromic device. In some arrangements, the pattern may be repeating in a direction perpendicular to a given side of an electrochromic device. 
         [0011]    In some arrangements, an obscuration pattern may be formed from a single layer or coating of repeating shapes. In other arrangements, a final pattern may be the result of forming multiple overlapping shapes or patterns, which may be formed from single or multiple coatings. In other arrangements, single layers of single layer or multiple layer patterns or even separate layers of a multiple layer pattern may include the same or different colors. In some arrangements, the pattern may include a sequence of dots of the same size. In other embodiments, the pattern may include dots of varying sizes. In other embodiments, the dots may have different sizes in which radii of a sequence of the dots decrease in a direction away from an initial solid pattern. In some arrangements, the pattern may include a series of lines having either or both of various thicknesses and opacities. In some such arrangements, the series of lines may be parallel while in other such arrangements, the series of lines may be skewed or even perpendicular to other lines of the series of lines. 
         [0012]    In some arrangements, the obscuration pattern may be placed onto other fixtures or coatings or other layers already on a substrate such as but not limited to a reflective coating, a solar control coating, or a photocatalytic layer coating that may make cleaning of a substrate easier. 
         [0013]    In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, an electrochromic device may be provided that includes a substrate, an electrochromic coating, and at least one patterned layer. The electrochromic coating may overlie a portion of the substrate within a visible region of the substrate. The electrochromic coating may have an outer edge spaced from an outer boundary of the visible region of the substrate. The outer edge of the electrochromic coating and the outer boundary of the visible region may define a working region. The patterned layer may be deposited within the working region. The patterned layer may include a plurality of spaced apart shapes. 
         [0014]    In some arrangements, the electrochromic device may be inserted within a frame. The shapes may run parallel to at least one of (i) the outer edge of the electrochromic coating, an inner edge of a seal between the device and the frame, and (iii) and an inner rim of the frame. In some arrangements, the shapes may be lines. In some such arrangements, the shapes may be parallel. In some arrangements, the shapes may be dots. 
         [0015]    In some arrangements, the dots may include at least a first plurality of dots arranged along a first line and a second plurality of dots arranged along a second line. In some such arrangements, the first plurality of dots may be parallel to the second plurality of dots. In some arrangements, each dot of the first plurality of dots may have a first size and each dot of the second plurality of dots may have a second size in which the first size is different than the second size. In some arrangements, the dots may include at least a third plurality of dots arranged along a third line. In some such arrangements, the third plurality of dots may be parallel to the first and second pluralities of dots. In some such arrangements, each dot of the first, second, and third pluralities of dots may have first, second, and third radii, respectively. In some such arrangements, the second pluralities of dots may be between the first and third pluralities of dots. In some such arrangements, the first radii of the first plurality of dots may be greater than the second radii of the second plurality of dots. In some such arrangements, the second radii of the second plurality of dots may be greater than the third radii of the third plurality of dots. 
         [0016]    In some arrangements, at least some of the shapes may have at least one of different widths and different thicknesses. In some arrangements, the device may be inserted within a frame. In some arrangements, the visible region may be defined by one of an inner edge of a seal between the device and the frame and an inner rim of the frame. In some arrangements, some of the spaced apart shapes may have a different shape than other ones of the spaced apart shapes. In some such arrangements, the shapes may include any of circles, triangles, and rectangles. In some arrangements, the patterned layer may have a thickness in the range between about 1 micrometers and 50 micrometers. 
         [0017]    In some arrangements, the substrate may include at least one of a reflective coating, a solar control coating, and a photocatalytic coating. In some such arrangements, the patterned layer may be deposited onto any one or more of these coatings. In some arrangements, the substrate may have four sides. In some such arrangements, the patterned layer may be applied to one of (i) only one side, (ii) only two sides, (iii) only three sides, and (iv) all four sides of the substrate. In some arrangements, at least a portion of the patterned layer may be formed of a plurality of overlapping layers. In some arrangements, at least one layer of the plurality of overlapping layers may have a different color than another of the plurality of overlapping layers. In some arrangements, at least one of the spaced apart shapes may have a different color than another one of the spaced apart shapes. In some arrangements, the patterned layer may be deposited onto the outer edge of the electrochromic coating. In some arrangements, the patterned layer may be deposited onto the substrate such that it overlaps a projection on the substrate of the outer edge of the electrochromic coating within said visible region. 
         [0018]    In accordance with another embodiment, an electrochromic device including a substrate, an electrochromic coating, and at least one patterned layer. The electrochromic device may be inserted within a frame. The electrochromic coating may cover a portion of the substrate within a visible region of the substrate. The visible region may be defined by one of an inner edge of a seal and an inner rim of the frame. The electrochromic coating may have an outer edge spaced from an outer boundary of the visible region of the substrate. The outer edge of the electrochromic coating and the outer boundary of the visible region may define a working region. The patterned layer may be deposited within the working region. The patterned layer may include at least one of (i) a plurality of lines spaced apart from each other and (ii) a plurality of dots spaced from one another. 
         [0019]    In accordance with another embodiment, a substrate may include a stack of thin films having at least one edge. The substrate may further include at least one patterned layer deposited on top of the thin film edge. The patterned layer may run approximately the length of the edge. The patterned layer may include at least one of (i) a series of lines and (ii) a series of dots. 
         [0020]    In some arrangements, the stack of thin films may include at least one electrochromic material. In some arrangements, the electrochromic material may comprise a mixed tungsten-nickel oxide. In some arrangements, the electrochromic material may be a tungsten oxide. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0021]      FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional elevation view of a portion of an electrochromic device installed within a frame in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0022]    FIGS.  2 (A)-(C) are plan views of examples of different obscuration patterns in accordance with various arrangements of the invention. 
           [0023]    FIGS.  3 (A)-(B) are plan views of examples showing the edge of the glass, an unprinted band, the printed band, and the visible region. 
           [0024]      FIG. 4  is a process flow diagram of an arrangement for fabricating an electrochromic device with an obscuration pattern in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0025]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , in accordance with an embodiment, an electrochromic device may be an insulated glass unit (IGU)  5  having an inboard glass lite  9  and an outboard glass lite  10 . As shown, the inboard glass lite  9  may be made clear float glass. As further shown, the outboard glass lite  10  may include an outer ply layer  16  between and defined by an exterior surface  11  and an interior surface  12 , which may be made of clear float glass. The outboard glass lite  10  may include an inner ply layer  18  between and defined by an inner surface  13  and an inside surface  14 . In some arrangements, the inner ply layer  18  may include a clear float glass. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the inside surface  14  of the inner ply layer  18  may be coated with an electrochromic coating  15 , which may be various oxide thin films known to those of ordinary skill. The outboard glass lite  10  may include an interlayer  17  between the outer ply layer  16  and the inner ply layer  18 , which may be a clear layer. Electrochromic coatings are composed of stacks of thin-films and are, for example, disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,372,610 and 7,593,154, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein. Of course, the electrochromic coatings are not limited to those disclosed above and may include other types of coatings, such as but not limited to thermochromic coatings. 
         [0026]    As further illustrated in  FIG. 1 , in some arrangements, the IGU  5  may include a spacer  30  which may be inserted between outer and inner spacer seals  38 ,  39 , respectively. The outer and inner spacer seals  38 ,  39  in turn may be inserted between, and may be sealingly engaged with, the spacer  30  and the inside surface  14  and the spacer  30  and an interiorly facing surface of the inboard glass lite  9 , respectively. In some arrangements, the spacer  30  and the outer and inner spacer seals  38 ,  39  may circumscribe a perimeter (not shown) of the IGU  5  between the inboard glass lite  9  and the outboard glass lite  10 . In this manner, the spacer  30  and the outer and inner spacer seals  38 ,  39  may surround a visible region  90  as discussed further herein. 
         [0027]    Exterior to the IGU  5  may be an architectural building frame  1 . Inner frame seal  19  may be inserted between, and may be sealingly engaged with, the frame  1  and the exterior surface  11  and outer frame seal  20  may be inserted between, and may be sealingly engaged with, the frame  1  and an exteriorly facing surface of the inboard glass lite  9 . In some arrangements, the frame  1  and the inner and outer frame seals  19 ,  20  may circumscribe inner and outer perimeters (not shown) of the IGU  5  interior to and exterior to the IGU  5 , respectively. In this manner, either or both of the frame  1  and the inner and outer frame seals  19 ,  20  may surround, and further may define, at least a portion of the visible region  90 , as discussed further herein. 
         [0028]    Still referring to  FIG. 1 , in some arrangements, an outer edge  25  of the electrochromic coating  15  may be formed along the inside surface  14  at a distance D+x from an edge  21  of the outboard glass lite  10 . In such arrangements, as shown, the distance D may be a distance from the edge  21  to a line through an inner tip  22  of the outer frame seal  20  perpendicular to the inside surface  14 . In the example shown, the distance x may be a distance from the line through the inner tip  22  of the outer frame seal  20  perpendicular to the inside surface  14  to the outer edge  25  of the electrochromic coating  15 . Such a distance is representative of what is typically considered to be the visible region of the IGU  5  through which a person  45  will view the environment  50  which is not coated with electrochromic coating. Accordingly, this region is not subject to a change in optical properties and, as such, may not be able to be tinted in contrast to the region having a layer coated with the electrochromic coating. 
         [0029]    As further illustrated in  FIG. 1 , an obscuration pattern  99 , as described further herein, preferably may be formed on and along the interior surface  12  of the glass lite  10 , although in alternative arrangements, it may be formed on and along other surfaces of the glass lite  10 , such as but not limited to the inside surface  14 . The obscuration pattern  99 , as in the example of  FIG. 1 , preferably may be formed over a minimum distance to cover the portion of the region designated as having a distance x along at least a portion of the outer perimeter of the IGU  5 . In some arrangements, the obscuration pattern  99  may extend a distance x+y, as further shown in  FIG. 1 , in which the distance y may correspond to a distance from the outer spacer seal  38  to the tip  22  of the outer frame seal  20 , as in this example, or to an analogous obstruction at the exterior surface  11 . Such a distance y represents a region that may also be visible to a person looking through an IGU, which is typically called the “clear edge” of the glass lites of an IGU. In other arrangements, the obscuration pattern  99  may extend a distance D+x in which no spacer is used. As shown, the obscuration pattern  99  may be formed around all or only a portion of the outer perimeter of the interior surface  12  so as to provide obscuration at all sides. In other arrangements, the obscuration pattern may be formed around only some of the sides or only a portion of some of the sides of the IGU. 
         [0030]    In some such arrangements, the distance D+x preferably may be in the range between about 1 mm to about 30 mm, and more preferably in the range between about 5 mm to about 15 mm. In some such arrangements, the distance x preferably may overlap a projection of the electrochromic coating in a range between about 1 mm and about 10 mm, more preferably in a range between about 2 mm and about 5 mm, and most preferably in a range between about 2 mm and about 3 mm. In some such arrangements, the distance x+y preferably may be in the range between about 1 mm and about 20 mm and more preferably in the range between about 2 mm to 10 mm. 
         [0031]    In some alternative arrangements, an obscuration pattern may be located along any of the exterior surface  11 , the interior surface  12 , and the inner surface  13 . In some such arrangements, the obscuration pattern preferably may have a width that covers at least the distance x, as described previously herein with respect to the obscuration pattern  99 . Moreover, in some such arrangements, the obscuration pattern preferably may have a width that covers a maximum of the distance x+y in instances in which a spacer is used, as further described previously herein with respect to the obscuration pattern  99 , and a maximum of the distance D+x in instances in which a spacer is not used. 
         [0032]    In some alternative arrangements, the obscuration pattern may be combined with other fixtures or coatings, such as but not limited to a reflective coating, which may be placed along the exterior surface  11 , the interior surface  12 , and optionally the inner surface  13 , a solar control coating which may be placed along interior surface  12 , or a photocatalytic coating, which may be deposited onto the exterior surface  11  or the inner surface  13 . (See  FIG. 1 ). 
         [0033]    Referring now to FIGS.  2 (A)-(C), an obscuration pattern in accordance with an embodiment may come in a variety of forms. As shown in  FIG. 2(A) , an obscuration pattern  100  may include a solid line  101 . The solid line  101  may have a width that fully covers the portion of a visible region of an IGU over a distance x as described previously with respect to  FIG. 1 . As shown, the obscuration pattern  100  may include a series of lines  111 - 113  parallel to one another and to the solid line  101 , although in some arrangements, the lines may be parallel in a direction perpendicular to the solid line  101 , skew to one another or even cross-hatched, or may be in other repeating, aesthetically pleasing, patterns. As shown, the line  111  may be wider than the line  112  which may be wider than the line  113 . However, in alternative arrangements, each of these lines may have the same width as at least one other of the lines. In some alternative arrangements, there may be a fewer or a greater number of lines in addition to the solid line  101 . 
         [0034]    As shown in  FIG. 2(B) , an obscuration pattern  200  may include a solid line  101 . The line  101  may have a width that fully covers the portion of a visible region of an IGU over a distance x as described previously with respect to  FIG. 1 . As shown, the obscuration pattern  200  may include a series of dots along lines  211 - 213  parallel to one another, although in some arrangements, the dots may be parallel to one another in a direction perpendicular to the solid line  101  or may be in other repeating, aesthetically pleasing, patterns. As shown, the dots within the line of dots  211  may be wider than the dots within the line of dots  212  which may be wider than the dots within the line of dots  213 . However, in alternative arrangements, the dots of any of these lines may have the same width as the dots of any other line of dots. In some alternative arrangements, there may be a fewer or a greater number of lines of dots in addition to the solid line  101 . 
         [0035]    As shown in  FIG. 2(C) , an obscuration pattern  300  may have a solid line  101  and parallel lines of dots  311 - 313  in a similar configuration to the lines of dots  211 - 213  of  FIG. 2(B) . However, in this example, the lines of dots  211 - 213  in  FIG. 2(B)  may all have a greater width than the counterpart lines of dots  311 - 313  shown in  FIG. 2(C) . As further shown in the examples of  FIGS. 2(B) and 2(C) , the lines of dots  211  may intersect with the solid line  101  whereas the lines of dots  311  may not intersect with the solid line  101 . Such options may be design choices in which greater obscuration may be accomplished through the intersection of shapes of an obscuration pattern with the solid line but at a loss of some of the visible region through which a person may view the environment. 
         [0036]    In some alternative arrangements, at least a portion of the obscuration pattern may formed of a variety of shapes, such as but not limited to lines of triangles, circles, or rectangles. In some alternative arrangements, such shapes may have holes in the middles thereof. In some alternative arrangements, such shapes may be evenly spaced apart within at least a portion of the obscuration pattern. 
         [0037]    As illustrated in the examples of  FIGS. 3(A)  and (B), an obscuration pattern may be formed on different types of reflective coatings. As shown in  FIG. 3(A) , a solid line  401  may be formed on a glass lite  410  to define a clear edge  402  around an outer perimeter of the glass lite  410 . As shown in  FIG. 3(B) , the solid line  401  may be formed on a glass lite  450  to define the clear edge  402 . As shown, a series of lines of dots  411 - 414  may also be formed on the glass lite  450 . Such lines of dots  411 - 414  may have a shape and configuration that are a combination of the lines of dots  211 - 213  and  311 - 313 , as discussed with respect to  FIGS. 2(A)  and (B). As shown the example of  FIG. 3(B) , each of the solid line  401  and the lines of dots  411 - 414  may be formed with any reflective coating (e.g., Si 3 N 4 , low E coatings, and pyrolytic coatings). 
         [0038]    Referring now to the process flow diagram illustrated in  FIG. 4 , an obscuration pattern, such as those described previously herein, may be formed by a digital printing process  500 . In this manner, it is believed that such a process provides a flexible way to automatically and accurately print patterns onto a substrate, such as a glass lite of an IGU. It is believed that such patterns may be of any color as well as of any shape when viewed in a plan view substantially perpendicular to the substrate and that the substrate may include any of convex and concave surfaces. 
         [0039]    Such digital printing technology may be called a “drop on demand technology.” As shown in a step  510  of  FIG. 4A , a pattern model may be created using production software, such as but not limited to MES from LISEC. In a step  520 , the pattern model created may be sent to an ink printer, such as but not limited to a RS35 Polytype. In other arrangements, the printer may be a GlassJet printer from DIPTECH. In a step  530 , a glass sheet, which may be a glass lite such as those described previously herein, or other substrate having any variety of known shapes and dimensions, may be conveyed to an inlet of the ink printer. In alternative arrangements, the glass sheet may be moved to the inlet of the printer through other processes known to those of ordinary skill in the art, such as by a manual movement of the sheet or through the use of a fork lift. In a step  540 , a first layer of ink, which may be made of materials such as but not limited to reactive and unreactive acrylates (even those that may be UV cured) may be dispensed, which may be by a jetting, onto a surface of the glass sheet through printhead of the printer. The reactive acrylates preferably may be dark or pigmented to act as obscuration. Also, the inks may be silicon based inks. Using a piezoelectric membrane in the printhead to dispense the ink, the amount of ink jetted may be controlled to accurately dispense consistent amounts of ink. Moreover, using such printers, the print heads may be translated over the glass sheet and dispense ink drops in predetermined positions on the glass sheet only when needed. In this manner, the obscuration pattern may be deposited and formed onto the glass sheet. For example, the obscuration patterns  99 ,  100 ,  200 , and  300 , described previously herein, may all be formed in this manner. 
         [0040]    In some arrangements, as shown in a step  535 , to increase the adhesion of the ink to the glass sheet, a primer optionally may be applied onto a surface of the glass sheet. Such a primer may be applied by any number of processes such as vapor deposition, spray, pad printing, screen printing, or other methods known to those of ordinary skill in the art. In some arrangements, the primer optionally may be applied prior to step  540  in which the obscuration pattern may be printed. As further shown in step  535 , the primer may be applied by a printer at the same time as the ink printing. In some instances, the primer may be dispensed by the same printer dispensing the ink. 
         [0041]    In a step  550 , ultraviolet (UV) lamps may be turned on and used to cure the first layer of ink after the ink has been deposited. The lamps preferably may be turned on in a range of approximately 15 seconds at the normal operating temperature of such lamps before the printing process starts. In some arrangements, such lamps may be located on both sides of the printheads of the printer such that the ink may be cured during the ink printing step  540  (as well as during the ink printing step  570  described further herein). In such a curing process, the ink may be cured at a rate of approximately 200 W/cm. In alternative arrangements, the ink may fired in an IR oven after some or preferably all ink printing steps, such as the steps  540  and  570 . It should be noted that this curing step is, in some embodiments, not used to replace thermal heat treatment steps used to enhance thin film layers or a stack of thin film layers (as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,372,610, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein) or heat treatment steps used in the production of electrochromic device laminates (as disclosed in copending U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 13/040,787 and 13/178,065, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference). 
         [0042]    In a step  560 , the printheads may be translated one step forward such that the one or more nozzles on the printheads partially overlies the first layer of ink on the glass sheet. The step that the printheads are translated may depend on one or both of the spacing to be applied between different layers of ink and a thickness desired for portions of the obscuration pattern. 
         [0043]    In a step  570 , a subsequent layer of ink may be dispensed, which may be by jetting such as described with respect to step  540 . During such a step, the subsequent layer may be dispensed partially over the first layer and partially over an area of the glass in which no ink has been deposited, i.e., a clear area of the glass. In a step  580 , the UV lamps may be reactivated to cure the subsequent layer of ink. In alternative arrangements, such subsequent layer of ink may be fired in an IR oven as described previously herein with respect to the first layer of ink. 
         [0044]    In a step  585 , each of steps  560  to  580  may be repeated to dispense and cure another subsequent layer of ink. During any of the ink printing steps  540 ,  570 , and  585 , the thickness of each layer of ink preferably may be in the range between 10 and 200 microns, and more preferably may be in the range between 40 and 100 microns. 
         [0045]    In a step  590 , following the deposition of all intended layers of ink, the glass sheet may be moved to an outlet conveyer which may move the glass sheet to a new location for further processing, such as to form an IGU. In alternative arrangements, the glass sheet may be moved by other well-known processes. As shown in a step  595 , the glass sheet may be conveyed or otherwise moved to be laminated. When laminating the glass sheet, the thickness of the obscuration pattern may be monitored to avoid potential undesirable lamination issues. Accordingly, the thickness of the obscuration pattern preferably may have a thickness in the range of less than about 100 micrometers, and more preferably between about 1 to about 50 μm, to obtain the desired optical density to avoid stress and optical distortion of the laminate when printed on either of surfaces of a glass lite such as the interior surface  12  and the inner surface  13  of the glass lite  10 .