Dimming control system for an array of electrochromic devices

• US 20050200934A1
• Filed: 10/27/2004
• Published: 09/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Callahan, Kevin S., Schafer, Roland L. Jr.
• Application Number:
  US10/974,240
• Publication Number:
  US 20050200934A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/265
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 1/1484 Windows B64C1/1492 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2011/0061 Windows displaying outside view, artificially generated
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1506 caused by electrodeposition, e.g. electrolytic deposition of an inorganic material on or close to an electrode
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1516 comprising organic material
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/15165 Polymers
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1525 characterised by a particular ion transporting layer, e.g. electrolyte
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/153 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1533 structural features not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/163 Operation of electrochromic cells, e.g. electrodeposition cells; Circuit arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2001/164 the electrolyte is made of polymers

Abstract

Electrochromic device control systems and methods are disclosed. In one embodiment, a window system includes a plurality of transparent windows, a plurality of electrochromic devices, a plurality of control modules, and a main controller. Each transparent window has an electrochromic device operatively associated therewith. A control module is operatively coupled to each electrochromic device and is adapted to controllably adjust an electric field to activate and de-activate the electrochromic device. Finally, the main controller is operatively coupled to the plurality of control modules and adapted to simultaneously adjust the electric fields of the plurality of electrochromic devices to activate and de-activate the plurality of electrochromic devices in unison. In one particular embodiment, a window dimming control system in accordance with the present invention may advantageously be incorporated into an existing cabin services system of a passenger aircraft.

Claims

1. An electrochromic system, comprising:

a plurality of electrochromic devices;

a plurality of control modules, each control module being operatively coupled to at least one electrochromic device and adapted to controllably adjust an electric field to activate and de-activate the device; and

at least one main controller operatively coupled to the devices and adapted to simultaneously adjust the electric fields of a selected set of the devices to activate and de-activate the set.

2. The electrochromic system of claim 1, wherein at least one electrochromic device is disposed adjacent to a transparent window.

3. The electrochromic system of claim 1, wherein at least one electrochromic device is integrally formed with the transparent window.

4. The electrochromic system of claim 1, wherein at least one electrochromic device includes:

a first transparent electrode;

a second transparent electrode operatively positioned with and spaced apart from the first transparent electrode;

an electrochromic layer disposed between the first and second transparent electrodes; and

an electrolyte layer disposed between the first and second transparent electrodes and adjacent the electrochromic layer.

5. The electrochromic system of claim 1, further comprising a power source operatively coupled to at least one of the main controller, the plurality of control modules, and the plurality of electrochromic devices.

6. The electrochromic system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of electrochromic devices includes at least one polychromatic electrochromic device.

7. A window system, comprising:

a main controller operatively coupled to first and second zones, respectively, wherein the first zone includes;

a first plurality of window assemblies, each window assembly having an operative electrochromic device;

at least one control module operatively coupled to at least one electrochromic device and adapted to controllably adjust an electric field to control the device;

and wherein the second zone includes;

a second plurality of window assemblies, each window assembly having an operative electrochromic device;

at least one control module operatively coupled to at least one electrochromic device and adapted to controllably adjust an electric field to control the device;

and wherein the main controller is adapted to adjust the electric fields of the plurality of electrochromic devices of the first and second zones to provide zonal control of the electrochromic devices.

8. The window system of claim 7, wherein at least one electrochromic device is integrally formed with the window assembly.

9. The window system of claim 7, wherein at least one electrochromic device includes:

a first transparent electrode;

a second transparent electrode operatively positioned with and spaced apart from the first transparent electrode;

an electrochromic layer disposed between the first and second transparent electrodes; and

an electrolyte layer disposed between the first and second transparent electrodes and adjacent the electrochromic layer.

10. The window system of claim 7, further comprising a power source operatively coupled to at least one of the main controller, the first zone, and the second zone.

11. The window system of claim 7, wherein at least one zone further comprises a plurality of overhead electronic units coupled between the zone switch and at least one control module.

12. The window system of claim 11, further comprising at least one light operatively coupled to each overhead electronic unit.

13. The window system of claim 11, wherein the first plurality of window assemblies are arranged in a first area of an aircraft passenger cabin, and wherein the second plurality of window assemblies are arranged in a second area of an aircraft passenger cabin.

14. A structure, comprising:

a plurality of windows,

a window control assembly operatively associated with the windows, the window control assembly including;

a plurality of electrochromic devices, each electrochromic device being operatively associated with a respective window;

a plurality of control modules, each control module being operatively coupled to at least one electrochromic device and adapted to controllably adjust an electric field to activate and de-activate the device; and

a main controller operatively coupled to the devices and adapted to adjust the electric fields of the devices to activate and de-activate the devices in a selected manner.

15. The structure of claim 14, wherein each electrochromic device operatively forms a shade for a window.

16. The structure of claim 15, wherein each control module is positioned to be accessible to a seated user.

17. The structure of claim 14, wherein the main controller is spaced apart from the control modules

18. An aircraft, comprising:

a fuselage operatively coupled to an airframe;

a plurality of window assemblies formed within at least one of the fuselage and the airframe; and

a services system disposed within the fuselage, the services system including;

a plurality of lighting assemblies;

a plurality of control modules, each control module being operatively coupled to at least one of the lighting assemblies;

a window control system including a plurality of electrically operated shades, each shade being operatively associated with a respective one of the window assemblies and operatively coupled to at least one control module, wherein the control module is adapted to controllably activate and de-activate the shade; and

a main controller operatively coupled to the shades and adapted to adjust the shades to activate and de-activate the plurality of shades in a selected manner.

19. The aircraft of claim 18, wherein each shade is operatively disposed adjacent to a window assembly.

20. The aircraft of claim 18, wherein each shade is a component of a window assembly.

21. The aircraft of claim 18, wherein at least one of the electrically operated shades includes:

a first transparent electrode;

a second transparent electrode operatively positioned with and spaced apart from the first transparent electrode;

an electrochromic layer disposed between the first and second transparent electrodes; and

an electrolyte layer disposed between the first and second transparent electrodes and adjacent the electrochromic layer.

22. A method of controlling light through a plurality of windows, comprising:

providing at least one electrochromic device operatively associated with each window;

providing a plurality of control modules, each control module being operatively coupled to at least one electrochromic device and adapted to controllably activate and de-activate at least one device;

providing a main controller operatively coupled to the devices and adapted to control the devices in a selected manner.

adjusting a characteristic color of at least some of the devices.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein adjusting the characteristic color of at least some of the devices includes adjusting the devices using the main controller.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein adjusting the devices using the main controller includes overriding a control signal from at least one control module.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein the devices function as a shade for a window.

26. The method of claim 22, wherein the control modules are arranged in rows and are associated with aircraft seats to be accessible to seated passengers.

27. The method of claim 22, wherein the main controller is accessible to an aircraft passenger attendant.

29. The system of claim 27, further comprising a window member operatively associated with the electrochromic device.

31. The method of claim 29, wherein the electrochromic device operates as a shade for the window.

32. The method of claim 29, wherein adjusting a characteristic of the electrochromic device includes adjusting opacity.

33. The method of claim 29, wherein adjusting a characteristic of the electrochromic device includes adjusting an electric field coupled to the device.

28. An electrochromic system, comprising:

an electrochromic device;

a control module operatively coupled to the electrochromic device and adapted to controllably activate and de-activate the electrochromic device; and

a main controller operatively coupled to the device and adapted to override the control module to controllably activate and de-activate the device.

30. A method of adjusting a lighting level in a passenger cabin of a vehicle, comprising:

providing an electrochromic device operatively associated with a window of the vehicle;

providing a control module operatively coupled to the electrochromic device and adapted to controllably activate and de-activate the electrochromic device;

providing a main controller operatively coupled to at least one of the control module and the electrochromic device;

adjusting a characteristic of the electrochromic device by controllably adjusting the control module; and

adjusting the characteristic of the electrochromic device by overriding the control module using the main controller.

34. A system for controlling the environment in a passenger cabin of a vehicle, comprising:

at least one individual environment control located near a seat in the cabin;

a crew-control override arranged to override the control; and

;

a processor arranged to automatically override the control in response to a selected flight/trip condition.

35. The system of claim 34, wherein the control operates a shade for a window.

36. The system of claim 34, wherein the control operates an electrochromic device.

37. An aircraft passenger cabin, comprising:

at least one window;

at least one shade arranged to operatively shade the window;

at least one seat control arranged to operate the shade;

at least one override, arranged to allow a crew member to override the seat control; and

at least one processor arranged to automatically set the shade based upon a flight/trip condition.

38. The system of claim 37, wherein the shade includes an electrochromic device.