Intelligent SPD control apparatus with scalable networking capabilities for window and multimedia applications
First Claim
1. A system comprising:
- a multiplicity of controllers, one or more controllers comprising means controlling the opacity of at least one respective suspended particle device;
each controller comprising a radio transceiver;
each radio transceiver in radio communication with at least one other radio transceiver but in radio communication with less than all of the other radio transceivers;
at least one master controller issuing commands to the controllers;
at least a first controller not in radio communication with the at least one master controller;
at least a second controller disposed to receive a message addressed to the first controller and not to itself, and to forward the message to the first controller.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A scalable apparatus and a network environment dynamically changes the light transparency of a single SPD device, a small number of SPD devices or thousands of such SPD devices installed in windows in automobiles, aircraft, trains, marine vehicles, residential homes, commercial buildings and skyscrapers. A scalable apparatus and a network environment dynamically changes the light transparency of a single SPD device or thousands of such SPD devices in the presentation of a multi-media special effects display. Textual messages, graphical images and simulated motion effects are driven. Such scalable apparatus being capable of driving and using several operational parameters of SPD materials such as frequency range, AC voltage and temperature so as to provide fine control of SPD characteristics such as switching speed and power consumption.
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Citations
113 Claims
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1. A system comprising:
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a multiplicity of controllers, one or more controllers comprising means controlling the opacity of at least one respective suspended particle device;
each controller comprising a radio transceiver;
each radio transceiver in radio communication with at least one other radio transceiver but in radio communication with less than all of the other radio transceivers;
at least one master controller issuing commands to the controllers;
at least a first controller not in radio communication with the at least one master controller;
at least a second controller disposed to receive a message addressed to the first controller and not to itself, and to forward the message to the first controller. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 106, 107, 110)
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- 28. A controller controlling the opacity of a suspended particle device, wherein there is stored within the controller a first lookup table providing a mapping between received commands and drive giving rise to various opacity values.
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35. (canceled)
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46. (canceled)
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47. A controller controlling the opacity of a suspended particle device;
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wherein the controller includes a sensor circuit to detect a drop in current flow through the SPD material, thereby detecting a break in the SPD material;
the controller further comprising means annunciating the detected event to equipment external to the controller. - View Dependent Claims (99, 100, 101)
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48. (canceled)
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49. (canceled)
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50. (canceled)
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51. A controller controlling the opacity of a suspended particle device (SPD);
- wherein the SPD is driven differently based upon external temperature.
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52. A controller controlling the opacity of a suspended particle device by applying a waveform thereto, in which the wave form driving the SPD material at a particular transparency level is continually changing in phase or in wave shape in order to avoid a resonance forming in the SPD material causing a “
- singing”
or “
hum”
.
- singing”
- 53. A controller controlling the opacity of a suspended particle device comprising SPD material, wherein a light source and photodetector combination is used to determine the absolute glass transparency of the SPD material and wherein the controller auto-adjusts operational parameters to bring the SPD material to the desired transparency level.
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55. A controller controlling the opacity of a suspended particle device comprising SPD material, wherein the switching time of the SPD material is held constant regardless of the exterior temperature of the SPD material.
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56. A controller controlling the opacity of a suspended particle device comprising SPD material, wherein the power generation circuitry is turned off for some number of cycles per second to maintain a particular level of transparency of SPD material at a lower power consumption than operating the SPD material continually.
- 57. A controller controlling the opacity of a suspended particle device comprising SPD material, wherein the controller applies a first operating frequency until the SPD-material switches to the desired transparency level and then switches to a second frequency to maintain the SPD-material at that transparency level.
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58. A controller controlling the opacity of a suspended particle device comprising SPD material, wherein the controller includes a sensor circuit to detect a drop in current flow through the SPD material, thereby detecting a break in the SPD material;
the controller disposed to reduce electrical power to the SPD material to prevent shocks to humans.
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59. A method for use with a system comprising a multiplicity of controllers, one or more controller comprising means controlling the opacity of at least one respective suspended particle device, each controller comprising a radio transceiver, each radio transceiver in radio communication with at least one other radio transceiver but in radio communication with less than all of the other radio transceivers, at least one master controller issuing commands to the controllers, at least a first controller not in radio communication with the at least one master controller, at least a second controller disposed to receive a message addressed to the first controller and not to itself, and to forward the message to the first controller, each controller further responsive to manual control information for controlling the opacity of its respective suspended particle device differently than indicated by the at least one master controller, the method comprising the step of:
modulating the frequency of applied potential through a variable range, or varying the voltage driving the SPD Device. - View Dependent Claims (60, 61)
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62. A method for use with a controller of SPD material, the controller comprising a sensor circuit to detect a drop in current flow through the SPD material, the method comprising the steps of:
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detecting a break in the SPD material; and
annunciating the detected event to equipment external to the controller.
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63. A method for use with a controller of SPD, the method comprising the step of:
driving the SPD differently based upon external temperature.
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64. A method for use with a controller of SPD and with respect to a particular desired transparency level, the method comprising the step of:
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imposing a wave form driving the SPD;
continually changing the wave form in phase or in wave shape in order to avoid a resonance forming in the SPD causing a “
singing”
or “
hum”
.
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65. A method for use with a controller of SPD, the controller comprising a light source and photodetector combination to determine the absolute glass transparency of the SPD, the method comprising the steps of:
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measuring the transparency of the SPD by means of the light source and the photodetector; and
auto-adjusting operational parameters to bring the SPD to the desired transparency level. - View Dependent Claims (66)
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67. A method for use with a controller of SPD, the method comprising the step of:
holding the switching time of the SPD constant regardless of the exterior temperature of the SPD.
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68. A method for use with a controller of SPD, the method comprising the step of:
turning off the power generation circuitry for some number of cycles per second to maintain a particular level of transparency of SPD at a lower power consumption than operating the SPD material continually.
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69. A method for use with a controller of SPD, the method comprising the step of:
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applying a first operating frequency until the SPD switches to the desired transparency level and then switching to a second frequency to maintain the SPD at that transparency level. - View Dependent Claims (105, 113)
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70. A method for use with a controller of SPD, the method comprising the steps of:
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detecting a drop in current flow through the SPD, and reducing electrical power to the SPD to prevent shocks to humans.
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71. A method for use with a controller controlling the opacity of an SPD;
- the method comprising the steps of;
detecting a drop in current flow through the SPD, thereby detecting a break in the SPD; and
thereafter;
reducing electrical power to the SPD to prevent shocks to humans.
- the method comprising the steps of;
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72. A system comprising:
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a multiplicity of controllers, one or more controllers comprising means controlling the opacity of at least one respective suspended particle device;
each controller comprising a network interface;
each network interface in communication with at least one other network interface;
at least one master controller issuing commands to the controllers;
- View Dependent Claims (73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98)
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Specification