Variable transmission window constructions

• US 20050063036A1
• Filed: 11/16/2004
• Published: 03/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: David L. Poll, Jon H. Bechtel
• Original Assignee: David L. Poll, Jon H. Bechtel
• Inventors: Poll, David L., Bechtel, Jon H.
• Granted Patent: US 7,085,609 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/275
• 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: G05B 19/0421 Multiprocessor system
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2231 Master slave
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/24024 Safety, surveillance
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2628 Door, window
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2642 Domotique, domestic, home control, automation, smart house
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2838 Distribution of signals within a home automation network, e.g. involving splitting/multiplexing signals to/from different paths adaptations of television systems for transmission by electric cable for domestic distribution H04N7/106; hybrid transport H04L12/6418; home network arrangements specially adapted for distribution of digital video signals H04N7/24
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/403 with centralised control, e.g. polling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2841 Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/285 Generic home appliances, e.g. refrigerators
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/4026 Bus for use in automation systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/18 Network protocols supporting networked applications, e.g. including control of end-device applications over a network

Abstract

An electrical control system is disclosed for controlling a plurality of variable transmittance windows. The electrical control system of the present invention comprises a master control circuit for supplying control signals representing transmittance levels for the variable transmission windows, and a plurality of window control circuits coupled to each of the master control circuit. Because the window control circuits can sense abnormal load conditions in the variable transmission windows, the system further includes an interface to a security system to inform of a potential intrusion. Each window control circuit controls the transmittance of at least one of the variable transmission windows in response to control signals received from the master control circuit.

Claims

1. A window having a transmittance that varies in response to an electrical signal, said window comprising:

a window frame;

a variable transmission window element;

a first electrical coupler mounted to said window frame and electrically coupled to a source of an electrical signal; and

a second electrical coupler electrically coupled to said variable transmission window element,

wherein said first and second electrical couplers have contact surfaces that engage one another to thereby enable the electrical signal to be transmitted from said window frame to the variable transmission window element.

2. The window of claim 1, wherein said window frame is stationary and said variable transmission window element and said second electrical coupler are mounted to said window frame.

3. The window of claim 1 and further including a sash mounted to said window frame so as to be movable relative to said window frame, where said variable transmission window element and said second electrical coupler are mounted to said sash.

4. A window having a transmittance that varies in response to an electrical signal, said window comprising:

a window frame assembly;

a variable transmission window element mounted in said window frame assembly;

a first electrical coupler mounted to said window frame assembly and electrically coupled to a source of an electrical signal; and

a second electrical coupler mounted to said variable transmission window element,

wherein said first electrical coupler includes a resilient contact member biased towards said second electrical coupler.

5. The window of claim 4, wherein said resilient contact member includes a helical spring.

6. The window of claim 4, wherein said resilient contact member includes a probe assembly having an electrical contact and a spring for biasing said electrical contact towards an electrical contact of said second electrical coupler.

7. The window of claim 6, wherein said spring is a helical spring.

8. The window of claim 7, wherein said electrical contact of said probe assembly includes a plunger slidably disposed in a sleeve, said sleeve having a first open end, and wherein said helical spring is disposed in said sleeve to bias said plunger outward through said first open end of said sleeve.

9. The window of claim 8, wherein said probe assembly further includes an electrically conductive ball disposed in said sleeve, said helical spring being disposed between said ball and said plunger so as to bias said ball outward and partially through a second opening in said sleeve so as to contact an electrical contact of second electrical coupler.

10. The window of claim 9, wherein said window assembly includes a window frame and a sash movably mounted in said window frame, said window further including an insulating sleeve disposed in a bore through said sash, wherein said probe assembly is disposed in said insulating sleeve.

11. The window of claim 4, wherein said resilient contact member includes a probe assembly having an electrical contact and a spring for biasing said electrical contact towards an electrical contact of said second electrical coupler.

12. The window of claim 11, wherein said spring is a helical spring and said probe assembly further includes a sleeve and an electrically conductive ball disposed in said sleeve, said helical spring being disposed in said sleeve so as to bias said ball outward and partially through an opening in said sleeve so as to contact an electrical contact of said second electrical coupler.

13. The window of claim 12, wherein said window frame assembly includes a window frame and a sash movably mounted to said window frame, said probe assembly is disposed in said sash such that said ball slides within said sleeve in the same direction in which said variable transmission window element is slid into said sash.

14. The window of claim 4, wherein said second electrical coupler includes an electrically conductive contact pad.

15. The window of claim 4, wherein said window frame assembly includes a window frame and a sash movably mounted to said window frame, said first electrical coupler includes a resilient leaf spring disposed in said sash and biased into contact with an electrical contact of said variable transmission window element.

16. The window of claim 15, wherein said second electrical coupler includes a plug that extends from said leaf spring and said sash in the same direction in which said sash moves relative to said window frame, said first electrical coupler includes a receptacle disposed on said window frame to receive said plug when said sash is in a closed position.

17. The window of claim 4, wherein said window frame assembly includes has a solid core.

18. The window of claim 4, wherein said window frame assembly has a hollow core.

19. The window of claim 4, wherein said window frame assembly includes a stationary window frame and a sash mounted to said window frame such that said sash is movable with respect to said window frame, said variable transmission window element is mounted in said sash.

20. The window of claim 19 and further including a circuit module mounted to said stationary window frame and coupled to said second electrical coupler.

21. The window of claim 20, wherein said second electrical coupler includes a conductive pad mounted to said sash and a flexible cable coupled between said conductive pad and said circuit module.

22. The window of claim 4, wherein said window frame assembly includes a stationary window frame and said variable transmission window element is mounted in said stationary window frame.

23. The window of claim 4, wherein said variable transmission window element is an electrochromic element.

24. A window having a transmittance that varies in response to an electrical signal, said window comprising:

a window frame;

a sash mounted to said window frame so as to be movable relative to said window frame;

a variable transmission window element mounted in said sash;

a first electrical coupler mounted to said window frame and electrically coupled to a source of an electrical signal; and

a second electrical coupler mounted to said sash and electrically coupled to said variable transmission window element, said second electrical coupler moves relative to said first electrical coupler and contacts said first electrical coupler to thereby enable the electrical signal to be transmitted from said window frame to the variable transmission window element.

25. The window of claim 24, wherein said first and second electrical couplers contact one another when said sash is in a predetermined position relative to said window frame.

26. The window of claim 24, wherein said second electrical coupler includes probe assembly having an electrical contact and a spring for biasing said electrical contact towards an electrical contact of said first electrical coupler.

27. The window of claim 26, wherein said spring is a helical spring.

28. The window of claim 27, wherein said electrical contact of said probe assembly includes a plunger slidably disposed in a sleeve, said sleeve having a first open end, and wherein said helical spring is disposed in said sleeve to bias said plunger outward through said first open end of said sleeve.

29. The window of claim 28, wherein said second electrical coupler further includes a plunger assembly disposed in said window sash in contact with said variable transmission window element, said probe assembly further including an electrically conductive ball disposed in said sleeve, said helical spring being disposed between said ball and said plunger so as to bias said ball outward and partially through a second opening in said sleeve so as to contact said plunger assembly.

30. The window of claim 29, wherein said plunger assembly includes a sleeve, a plunger slidably disposed in said sleeve, and a helical spring disposed in said sleeve for biasing said plunger against an electrical contact of said variable transmission window element.

31. The window of claim 28, wherein said probe assembly further includes an electrically conductive ball disposed in said sleeve, said helical spring being disposed between said ball and said plunger so as to bias said ball outward and partially through a second opening in said sleeve so as to contact an electrical contact of said variable transmission window element.

32. The window of claim 31 and further including an insulating sleeve disposed in a bore through said sash, wherein said probe assembly is disposed in said insulating sleeve.

33. The window of claim 31, wherein said probe assembly is disposed in said sash such that said plunger slides within said sleeve in the same direction in which said sash moves within said window frame.

34. The window of claim 24, wherein said first electrical coupler includes an electrically conductive contact pad.

35. The window of claim 24, wherein said second electrical coupler includes a plug that extends from said sash in the same direction in which said sash moves relative to said window frame, said first electrical coupler includes a receptacle disposed on said window frame to receive said plug when said sash is in a closed position.

36. The window of claim 24 and further including a magnet mounted on said sash and a magnetic sensor mounted on said window frame, said magnet and said magnetic sensor being mounted such that said magnet changes the state of said magnetic sensor when the sash is moved into a predetermined position relative to said window frame.

37. The window of claim 36, wherein said magnetic sensor is a reed switch.

38. The window of claim 36, wherein said magnetic sensor is a hall effect sensor.

39. The window of claim 24, wherein said source of an electrical signal is a circuit module mounted in said window frame and electrically coupled to said first electrical coupler.

40. The window of claim 24, wherein said variable transmission window element is an electrochromic element.

41. The window of claim 24, wherein said window is a casement window and said sash is hinged to one side of said window frame.

42. The window of claim 24, wherein said window is a double-hung window and said sash is vertically slidable within said window frame.

43. A window having a transmittance that varies in response to an electrical signal, said window comprising:

a window frame;

a sash mounted to said window frame so as to be movable relative to said window frame;

a variable transmission window element mounted in said sash;

a first electrical coupler mounted to said window frame and electrically coupled to a source of an electrical signal;

a second electrical coupler mounted to said sash and electrically coupled to said variable transmission window element; and

a flexible cable coupled between said first and second electrical couplers to thereby enable the electrical signal to be transmitted from said window frame to the variable transmission window element, said flexible cable having a length sufficient to permit movement of said sash between open and closed positions.

44. The window of claim 43, wherein said flexible cable has a sharp fold with a strain relief.

45. The window of claim 43 and further comprising:

a control circuit electrically coupled to the variable transmission window element for selectively varying the electrical energy applied to the variable transmission window element; and

a receiver for receiving a command from a remote control device via a wireless communication link, said receiver is coupled to said control circuit to supply a control signal representing the received command,

wherein said control circuit responds to the receipt of a control signal by varying the transmittance of the variable transmission window element.

46. The electrical control system of claim 45, wherein said receiver is an infrared receiver.

47. The electrical control system of claim 45, wherein said control circuit includes a master control circuit and a window control circuit, said receiver is coupled to one of said master control circuit and said window control circuit, said window control circuit is coupled to the variable transmission window and controls the transmittance of said window element in response to signals from said master control circuit.

48. The electrical control system of claim 47, wherein said receiver is coupled to said master control circuit.

49. The electrical control system of claim 47, wherein said receiver is coupled to said window control circuit.