Self-Powered Dimmable Windows with Integrated Controls

• US 20080230653A1
• Filed: 03/23/2007
• Published: 09/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Mitchell, Bradley J., Laib, Trevor M., Fletcher, Henry V.
• Granted Patent: US 8,632,034 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 244/129.3
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 3/04 adjustable in transparency
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 1/1484 Windows B64C1/1492 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 1/1492 Structure and mounting of the transparent elements in the window or windscreen
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2011/0061 Windows displaying outside view, artificially generated
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 27/353 using solar cells
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/163 Operation of electrochromic cells, e.g. electrodeposition cells; Circuit arrangements therefor

Abstract

An electrically controlled dimmable window for aircraft includes a controller and power that eliminates the need for wiring connections to on-board systems. The controller is integrated into the sidewall in which the window is mounted. Power for controlling the window is derived from an energy harvesting device that generates power by converting thermal gradients, motion/vibration or light energy present near the window. The integrated controller includes passenger controls for adjusting the opacity of the window, power conditioning circuitry, an electrical power storage device such as a battery, a processor and a radio receiver. The window can be remotely controlled by a cabin attendant from a central controller that transmits window control signals to the radio receiver.

Claims

1. A dimmable window system for vehicles, comprising:

a sidewall having at least one window opening;

a electrically dimmable window mounted in the window opening on the sidewall;

a device for harvesting energy on-board the vehicle; and

,

a controller mounted in proximity to the dimmable window for controlling the opacity of the dimmable window using the energy harvested by the energy harvesting device.

2. The dimmable window system of claim 1, wherein the controller includes a storage device for storing energy harvested by the energy harvesting device.

3. The dimmable window system of claim 2, wherein the controller includes:

a processor for controlling the operation of the window, and

an enclosure covering the processor and the energy storage device.

4. The dimmable window system of claim 1, wherein the controller includes a radio receiver for receiving radio signals for controlling the operation of the dimmable window.

5. The dimmable window system of claim 1, wherein the energy harvesting device includes a photovoltaic device mounted on the sidewall for converting light into electrical power.

6. The dimmable window system of claim 5, wherein the photovoltaic device is mounted in the window opening.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the sidewall includes:

an inboard face exposed to the interior of the vehicle

an outboard face,

openings through which light may pass, and

wherein the photovoltaic device is mounted on the outboard face of the sidewall and aligned with the openings such that the light may pass through the openings and onto the photovoltaic device.

8. The dimmable window system of claim 1, wherein the controller includes a window dimming adjustment control on the sidewall for selecting a level of opacity of the window.

9. The dimmable window system of claim 1, wherein:

the sidewall includes an inboard face exposed to the interior of the vehicle and an outboard face, and

the controller is mounted on the outboard face of the sidewall.

10. The dimmable window system of claim 1, wherein:

the sidewall includes openings therein for allowing light to pass through the sidewall, and

the energy harvesting device includes a photovoltaic device disposed on one side of the sidewall and aligned with the openings such that light passing through the openings impinges upon the photovoltaic device.

11. The dimmable window system of claim 10, wherein the openings are defined by louvers in the sidewall that block view of the photovoltaic device by passengers inside the vehicle.

12. The dimmable window system of claim 1, wherein the energy harvesting device includes a photovoltaic device formed on the dimmable window.

13. The dimmable window system of claim 1, wherein the energy harvesting device includes a photovoltaic device mounted on an edge of a window within the window opening.

14. The dimmable window system of claim 1, wherein:

a portion of the sidewall is transmissive to light, and

the energy harvesting device includes a photovoltaic device mounted beneath the transmissive portion of the sidewall such that light passes through the transmissive portion and impinges upon the photovoltaic device.

15. The dimmable window system of claim 1, wherein the energy harvesting device includes a photovoltaic device for converting light into electrical power and an optical device for concentrating the light converted by the photovoltaic device.

16. The dimmable window system of claim 1, wherein the controller is mounted on the sidewall.

17. A sidewall assembly for aircraft, comprising:

a sidewall panel;

an electrically dimmable window mounted on the sidewall panel; and

,

a control module connected with the sidewall panel for powering and controlling the operation of the dimmable window, the control module including a device for storing electrical energy used to control the dimmable window.

18. The sidewall assembly of claim 17, further comprising a device coupled with the control module for harvesting energy on-board the aircraft and converting the harvested energy into electrical power.

19. The sidewall assembly system of claim 17, wherein the control module includes a processor for controlling the application of electrical power to the dimmable window from the storage device.

20. The sidewall assembly of claim 17, wherein the control module includes a circuit for conditioning electrical power delivered to the dimmable window from the storage device.

21. The sidewall assembly of claim 17, wherein the control module includes a radio receiver for wirelessly receiving control signals used to control the operation of the dimmable window.

22. The sidewall assembly of claim 18, wherein the energy harvesting device includes at least one of:

a device for converting a temperature gradient to electrical power,

a device for converting light into electrical power,

a device for converting vibration into electrical power.

23. The sidewall assembly of claim 17, wherein:

the sidewall panel includes an inboard face exposed to the interior of the aircraft, and an outboard face, and

the control module is mounted on the outboard face of the sidewall panel.

24. A self-powered, electrically dimmable window assembly for aircraft, comprising:

a dimmable window having electrically controlled opacity;

an energy harvesting device for harvesting energy on-board the aircraft and converting the harvested energy to electrical power;

a device for storing the electrical power harvested by the energy harvesting device; and

,

a controller for controlling the opacity of the dimmable window using electrical power stored in the storage device.

25. The dimmable window assembly of claim 24, wherein the energy harvesting device includes at least one of:

a device for converting a temperature gradient to electrical power,

a device for converting light into electrical power, and

a device for converting vibration into electrical power.

26. The dimmable window assembly of claim 24, wherein the energy harvesting device is a photovoltaic device for converting light into electrical power.

27. The dimmable window assembly of claim 24, wherein the storage device includes one of:

a battery, and

an electrical capacitor.

28. The dimmable window assembly of claim 24, further comprising a housing for containing the energy storage device and the processor.

29. The dimmable window assembly of claim 24, further comprising a radio receiver for receiving wireless control signals used by the controller for controlling the opacity of the dimmable window.

30. The dimmable window assembly of claim 24, further comprising a set of passenger controls for generating control signals used by the controller to control the opacity of the dimmable window.

31. A sidewall panel assembly for aircraft, comprising:

a sidewall panel having at least one window opening therein;

an electrically dimmable window mounted on the sidewall panel within the window opening;

a photovoltaic device for converting ambient light into electrical power; and

,

a controller for controlling the operation of the dimmable window using electrical power produced by the photovoltaic device.

32. The sidewall assembly of claim 31, further comprising a device for storing electrical power produced by the photovoltaic device.

33. The sidewall assembly of claim 31, wherein the controller includes:

a set of manually operable passenger switches for selecting a dimming setting for the dimmable window, and

a processor for controlling the electrical power delivered to the window based on the dimming setting selected by the passenger.

34. The sidewall assembly of claim 33, further comprising a radio receiver for wirelessly receiving remote control signals used by the processor to control the dimmable window.

35. The sidewall assembly of claim 31, wherein:

the sidewall panel includes a portion through which light may pass, and

the photovoltaic device is disposed behind the sidewall panel beneath the sidewall portion so that light passing through the sidewall portion impinges upon the photovoltaic device.

36. The sidewall assembly of claim 31, wherein:

the sidewall panel includes a window reveal surrounding the dimmable window, and

the sidewall portion is formed in the window reveal.

37. The sidewall assembly of claim 31, further comprising:

an inner window mounted within the window opening in-board of the dimmable window, the inner window including a light guide for guiding light to an edge of the inner window, and,

wherein the photovoltaic device is disposed along the inner window edge in the path of light guided to the edge by the light guide.

38. The sidewall assembly of claim 31, further comprising:

an inner window mounted within the window opening in-board of the dimmable window, and

wherein the photovoltaic device is formed on a face of the inner window.

39. The sidewall assembly of claim 31, further comprising:

cuter and inner windows mounted within the window opening, respectively on opposite sides of the dimmable window; and

,

a seal disposed between the dimmable window and the outer window and surrounding the window opening, and wherein the photovoltaic device is formed on the seal.

40. The sidewall assembly of claim 31, wherein the photovoltaic device is mounted on an in-board face of the sidewall panel adjacent a source of artificial light within the aircraft.

41. The sidewall assembly of claim 31, wherein the controller is mounted in a space between the sidewall panel and an outer skin of the aircraft.