Variable Transmission Window Constructions
First Claim
1. An electrical control system for controlling the transmittance of at least one variable transmission window having a removable window unit, a variable transmittance medium, and first and second electrodes electrically coupled to one another through the variable transmittance medium, the variable transmittance medium having a transmittance that varies in response to electrical energy applied thereto via the first and second electrodes, said electrical control system comprising:
- a control circuit coupled to the first and second electrodes of the at least one variable transmission window for selectively varying the electrical energy applied across the first and second electrodes to vary the transmittance of the variable transmission window; and
a sensing circuit for sensing an abnormal electrical load condition across the first electrode, the variable transmittance medium, and the second electrode of the variable transmission window, wherein the removable window unit is configured to be removed when said sensing circuit senses said abnormal electrical load condition.
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Accused Products
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 circuits. 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.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. An electrical control system for controlling the transmittance of at least one variable transmission window having a removable window unit, a variable transmittance medium, and first and second electrodes electrically coupled to one another through the variable transmittance medium, the variable transmittance medium having a transmittance that varies in response to electrical energy applied thereto via the first and second electrodes, said electrical control system comprising:
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a control circuit coupled to the first and second electrodes of the at least one variable transmission window for selectively varying the electrical energy applied across the first and second electrodes to vary the transmittance of the variable transmission window; and a sensing circuit for sensing an abnormal electrical load condition across the first electrode, the variable transmittance medium, and the second electrode of the variable transmission window, wherein the removable window unit is configured to be removed when said sensing circuit senses said abnormal electrical load condition. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A system comprising:
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a plurality of variable transmission windows, at least a portion of said plurality of variable transmission windows comprising; a variable transmission medium; a pair of electrodes to which signals may be applied to said variable transmission medium to vary the transmission of said variable transmission medium; and a removable window unit; a master control circuit for supplying control signals representing transmittance levels for said variable transmission windows; a plurality of window control circuits coupled to said master control circuit, at least a portion of said plurality of window control circuits coupled to said pair of electrodes of at least one of said variable transmission windows for controlling the transmittance of at least one of said variable transmission windows in response to control signals received from said master control circuit; and a sensing circuit for sensing an abnormal electrical load condition across the pair of electrodes and the variable transmission medium of at least one of the variable transmission windows, wherein said removable window unit is configured to be removed when said sensing circuit senses said abnormal electrical load condition. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. An electrical control system for controlling the transmittance of at least one variable transmission window having a window unit, a variable transmittance medium, and first and second electrodes electrically coupled to one another through the variable transmittance medium, the variable transmittance medium having a transmittance that varies in response to electrical energy applied thereto via the first and second electrodes, said electrical control system comprising:
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a control circuit coupled to the first and second electrodes of the at least one variable transmission window for selectively varying the electrical energy applied across the electrodes to vary the transmittance of the variable transmission window; a sensing circuit for sensing an abnormal electrical load condition across the first electrode, the variable transmittance medium, and the second electrode of the variable transmission window; and a receiver in communication with said control circuit and configured to receive a command from a remote control device via a wireless communication link, wherein said control circuit varies the electrical energy applied across the electrodes to vary the transmittance of the variable transmission window in response a command received by the receiver. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30)
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Specification