Power distribution networks for electrochromic devices

• US 10,253,558 B2
• Filed: 09/16/2016
• Issued: 04/09/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: View Incorporated
• Original Assignee: View Incorporated
• Inventors: Vigano, Jose, Brown, Stephen C., Shrivastava, Dhairya, Kaneshiro, Kevin Kazuo
• Primary Examiner(s): Barnie, Rexford
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ly, Xuan
• Application Number:
  US15/268,204
• Publication Number:
  US 20170082903A1
• Time in Patent Office: 935 Days
• Field of Search: 307115, 359275
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 2009/2464 featuring transparency control by applying voltage, e.g. LCD, electrochromic panels
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 9/24 Screens or other constructions affording protection against light, especially against sunshine; Similar screens for privacy or appearance; Slat blindsoperating, guiding or securing devices or arrangements for roll-type closures E06B9/56; free-hanging flexible screens A47H23/00
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/163 Operation of electrochromic cells, e.g. electrodeposition cells; Circuit arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/08 Three-wire systems; Systems having more than three wires
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/50 Photovoltaic [PV] energy

Abstract

Various embodiments herein relate to power distribution networks for optically switchable windows. A number of different topologies are provided. In many embodiments, a control panel may be connected with a trunk line, which is connected to a plurality of optically switchable windows. The plurality of optically switchable windows may be powered by the shared trunk line. This topology provides substantial improvements over topologies in which each optically switchable window is connected to the control panel via separate, individual lines. Further, certain embodiments herein relate to installation kits for installing power distribution networks for optically switchable windows.

Claims

1. A power distribution network for providing power to multiple optically switchable windows in a building, the power distribution network comprising:

a control panel comprising;

one or more power supplies connected to a main power supply for the building, and

one or more power ports connected to the one or more power supplies such that the one or more power supplies are configured to provide power to the one or more power ports, the power being suitable to power at least some of the optically switchable windows and drive optical transitions of those optically switchable windows;

a primary power insert line connected to the one or more power ports of the control panel;

a secondary power insert line connected to the one or more power ports of the control panel;

a trunk line connected to the primary power insert line at a first location of the trunk line and connected to the secondary power insert line at a second location of the trunk line, the second location being different from the first location, the trunk line comprising a plurality of conductors connected to multiple drop lines, the drop lines configured to provide power to a plurality of window controllers configured to control one or more of the optically switchable windows; and

a plurality of connectors connected between the drop lines and the conductors of the trunk line, each connector providing an electrical path between the trunk line and a respective one of the drop lines in a manner that does not sever the conductors of the trunk line.

2. The power distribution network of claim 1, wherein the trunk line comprises flat cable portions at the connectors.

3. The power distribution network of claim 1, wherein the trunk line is a flat cable.

4. The power distribution network of claim 1, wherein the connectors comprise insulation displacement connectors.

5. The power distribution network of claim 1, wherein the second location is downstream with respect to the first location and the second location is disposed between the first location and a location of a terminal optically switchable window.

6. The power distribution network of claim 5, wherein the network has fewer power insert lines than optically switchable windows.

7. The power distribution network of claim 1, further comprising the plurality of window controllers coupled between the optically switchable windows and the drop lines, wherein the window controllers comprise circuitry for delivering electrical power to the optically switchable windows and driving optical transitions of the optically switchable windows.

8. The power distribution network of claim 7, wherein the window controllers further comprise instructions for ramping and holding electrical power to the optically switchable windows to drive the optical transitions.

9. The power distribution network of claim 1, wherein the optically switchable windows comprise electrochromic devices on transparent substrates.

10. The power distribution network of claim 1, wherein the power delivered by the power distribution network is class 2.

11. The power distribution network of claim 1, wherein the one or more power supplies of the control panel are class 1 power supplies.

12. The power distribution network of claim 1, wherein the trunk line is located in channels of mullions and/or transoms.

13. The power distribution network of claim 12, wherein the trunk line is class 2 cable that carries class 1 electrical power during operation.

14. The power distribution network of claim 1, further comprising a remote power panel disposed closer to the one or more optically switchable windows than the control panel.

15. The power distribution network of claim 1, wherein the one or more power supplies of the control panel are DC power supplies.

16. The power distribution network of claim 1, wherein the control panel comprises a control panel monitor configured to sense voltage and/or current in one or more conductors and connected to the trunk line.

17. The power distribution network of claim 16, wherein the control panel monitor is configured to detect a voltage difference between an input conductor and an output conductor in the trunk line at the control panel.

18. The power distribution network of claim 16, wherein the control panel monitor is configured to detect a current difference between an input conductor of the trunk line and an output conductor of the trunk line at the control panel.

19. The power distribution network of claim 16, wherein the control panel monitor comprises a bus adapter configured to communicate with a communication network comprising a network controller and/or a master controller.

20. The power distribution network of claim 1, wherein the control panel comprises a protection module configured to limit current output by the control panel.

21. A kit for installing a power distribution network for providing power to multiple optically switchable windows in a building, the kit comprising:

a control panel comprising;

one or more power supplies configured to be connected to a main power supply for the building, and

one or more power ports connected to the one or more power supplies such that the one or more power supplies are configured to provide power to the one or more power ports;

a primary power insert line connected to the one or more power ports of the control panel;

a secondary power insert line connected to the one or more power ports of the control panel;

a trunk line configured to be connected to the primary power insert line at a first location of the trunk line and connected to the secondary power insert line at a second location of the trunk line, the second location being different from the first location, the trunk line comprising a plurality of conductors configured to be connected to multiple drop lines;

the drop lines, each drop line configured to be connected to a window controller configured to control an optically switchable window to provide power to the window controller for driving transitions of the optically switchable window; and

a plurality of connectors configured to be connected between the drop lines and the conductors of the trunk line, each connector configured to provide an electrical path between the trunk line and a respective one of the drop lines in a manner that does not sever the conductors of the trunk line.

22. The kit of claim 21, wherein the trunk line comprises flat cable portions at locations where the connectors can be attached.

23. The kit of claim 21, wherein the trunk line is a flat cable.

24. The kit of claim 21, wherein the connectors comprise insulation displacement connectors.

25. The kit of claim 21, wherein the control panel has no side with a dimension greater than about 30 inches.

26. The kit of claim 21, wherein the one or more power supplies of the control panel are class 2 power supplies.

27. The kit of claim 21, further comprising one or more optically switchable windows.

28. The kit of claim 27, wherein the one or more optically switchable windows comprise electrochromic devices on transparent substrates.

29. The kit of claim 21, further comprising a plurality of window controllers configured to be coupled between the optically switchable windows and the drop lines, wherein the window controllers comprise circuitry for delivering electrical power to the optically switchable windows and driving optical transitions of the optically switchable windows.

30. The kit of claim 29, wherein the window controllers further comprise instructions for ramping and holding electrical power to the optically switchable windows to drive the optical transitions.

31. The kit of claim 21, further comprising a remote power panel configured to receive power from the building'"'"'s main power supply and deliver class 2 rated power to the power distribution network.

32. The kit of claim 21, wherein the one or more power supplies of the control panel are class 2 power supplies.

33. The kit of claim 21, wherein the trunk line is class 2 cable.

34. The kit of claim 21, wherein the control panel comprises a control panel monitor configured to sense voltage and/or current in one or more conductors.

35. The kit of claim 34, wherein the control panel monitor is configured to detect a voltage difference between an input conductor and an output conductor in a power insert line or in a trunk line at the control panel.

36. The kit of claim 34, wherein the control panel monitor is configured to detect a current difference between an input conductor and an output conductor in a power insert line or in a trunk line at the control panel.

37. The kit of claim 34, wherein the control panel monitor comprises a bus adapter configured to communicate with a communication network comprising a network controller and/or a master controller.

38. The kit of claim 21, wherein the control panel comprises a protection module configured to limit current output by the control panel.