Variable transmittance window system
First Claim
1. A variable transmittance window system of a vehicle, comprising:
- at least one variable transmittance window;
at least one energy harvesting device configured to generate electrical power;
at least one energy storage device configured to be charged by the electrical power;
window control circuitry configured to be powered by a power supply of the vehicle and at least one of the at least one energy harvesting device and the at least one energy storage device, the window control circuitry having processing circuitry and driver circuitry, the driver circuitry configured to receive control information from the processing circuitry to control a transmittance state of the at least one variable transmittance window;
timer circuitry configured to control the supply of electrical power from at least one of the at least one energy harvesting device and the at least one energy storage device to the driver circuit until the expiration of a predetermined time period, wherein the timer circuitry is triggered to start timing of the predetermined time period upon the window control circuitry detecting that power is no longer being supplied from the power supply of the vehicle, and wherein the timer circuitry is configured to direct the driver circuitry to maintain the at least one variable transmittance window in at least a partially darkened state for the predetermined time period after power is no longer supplied by the vehicle;
dropout detection circuitry for storing a charge on a dropout energy storage device while power is being supplied to the window control circuitry; and
master control circuitry to monitor the window control circuitry.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A variable transmittance window system is provided and includes at least one variable transmittance window. At least one energy harvesting device generates electrical power. A power supply circuitry maximizes the electrical power. At least one energy storage device is charged by the electrical power. A slave control circuitry controls a transmittance state of the at least one variable transmittance window, the slave control circuitry being powered by at least one of the power supply circuitry and the at least one energy storage device. A master control circuitry monitors the slave control circuitry, wherein the master control circuitry is operable to issue a wireless override signal to the slave control circuitry such that the slave control circuitry changes the transmittance state of the at least one variable transmittance window to an override transmittance state.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A variable transmittance window system of a vehicle, comprising:
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at least one variable transmittance window; at least one energy harvesting device configured to generate electrical power; at least one energy storage device configured to be charged by the electrical power; window control circuitry configured to be powered by a power supply of the vehicle and at least one of the at least one energy harvesting device and the at least one energy storage device, the window control circuitry having processing circuitry and driver circuitry, the driver circuitry configured to receive control information from the processing circuitry to control a transmittance state of the at least one variable transmittance window; timer circuitry configured to control the supply of electrical power from at least one of the at least one energy harvesting device and the at least one energy storage device to the driver circuit until the expiration of a predetermined time period, wherein the timer circuitry is triggered to start timing of the predetermined time period upon the window control circuitry detecting that power is no longer being supplied from the power supply of the vehicle, and wherein the timer circuitry is configured to direct the driver circuitry to maintain the at least one variable transmittance window in at least a partially darkened state for the predetermined time period after power is no longer supplied by the vehicle; dropout detection circuitry for storing a charge on a dropout energy storage device while power is being supplied to the window control circuitry; and master control circuitry to monitor the window control circuitry. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A variable transmittance window system of a vehicle, comprising:
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at least one variable transmittance window; at least one energy harvesting device configured to generate electrical power; at least one energy storage device configured to be charged by the electrical power; window control circuitry configured to control a transmittance state of the at least one variable transmittance window, the window control circuitry being powered by a power supply of the vehicle and at least one of the at least one energy harvesting device and the at least one energy storage device; and monitoring circuitry and timer circuitry communicatively coupled to the window control circuitry, wherein the monitoring circuitry is configured to monitor the supply of power from the power supply of the vehicle and trigger the timer circuitry to start timing of a predetermined time period upon detecting that power is no longer being supplied from the power supply of the vehicle, and wherein the window control circuitry responds to the triggering of the timer circuitry by maintaining the at least one variable transmittance window in at least a partially darkened state for the predetermined time period after power is no longer supplied by the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A variable transmittance window system of a vehicle, comprising:
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at least one variable transmittance window; at least one energy harvesting device configured to generate electrical power; at least one energy storage device configured to be charged by the electrical power; window control circuitry configured to control a transmittance state of the at least one variable transmittance window, the window control circuitry being powered by a power supply of the vehicle and at least one of the at least one energy harvesting device and the at least one energy storage device; monitoring circuitry and timer circuitry communicatively coupled to the window control circuitry, wherein the monitoring circuitry is configured to monitor the supply of power from the power supply of the vehicle and trigger the timer circuitry to start timing of a predetermined time period upon detecting that power is no longer being supplied from the power supply of the vehicle, and wherein the window control circuitry responds to the triggering of the timer circuitry by maintaining the at least one variable transmittance window in a current transmittance state for the predetermined time period after power is no longer supplied by the vehicle and then darkens the at least one variable transmittance window after expiration of the predetermined time period. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification