ELECTROCHROMIC SYSTEMS AND CONTROLS COMPRISING UNIQUE IDENTIFIERS

• US 20120268803A1
• Filed: 03/30/2012
• Published: 10/25/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sage Electrochromics, Inc (Compagnie de Saint-Gobain SA)
• Original Assignee: Sage Electrochromics, Inc (Compagnie de Saint-Gobain SA)
• Inventors: Greer, Bryan D., Snyker, Mark O., Liebl, Troy, Lanphear, John
• Application Number:
  US13/435,719
• Publication Number:
  US 20120268803A1
• 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

Abstract

In one embodiment of the present invention, an EC device or IGU comprises an identification circuit which stores information regarding at least some of the properties of the EC device or its control requirements.

Claims

1. A system for modulating the transmission of light comprising an electrochromic glazing;

a control system; and

an identification circuit in communication with at least one of said electrochromic glazing or said control system, wherein said identification circuit comprises at least one parameter associated with said electrochromic device; and

where said control system monitors said identification circuit and applies said at least one stored parameter in operation of said electrochromic device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said parameter is a physical property of said electrochromic glazing.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein said physical property is a product model number, a product serial number, a manufacturing date, a glazing shape, a glazing size, a glazing surface area, glazing constituent materials, a number and size of independently-controllable glazing segments, and glazing installation location.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said parameter is an operational property selected from the group consisting of a voltage or current.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said parameter is a switching voltage.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said parameter is a current for tinting.

7. The system of claim 1, where said parameter is a current for clearing.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said parameter is a leakage current.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said parameter is a switching speed.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein said stored parameter is selected from the group consisting of internal series resistance, control parameters, electrical properties, and minimum and maximum tint levels with corresponding holding voltages.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein said identification circuit is in bidirectional communication with said controller.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein said control system is capable of self-configuring to operate said electrochromic glazing.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein said identification circuit monitors a voltage of said electrochromic glazing.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein said control system calculates a wire resistance from said monitored voltage.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein said identification circuit measures a temperature.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein said identification circuit measures light levels.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein said identification circuit comprises a microcontroller.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein said identification circuit shares wires with said electrochromic glazing and wherein said control system sends information to said identification circuit by modulating said applied voltage.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein said control system comprises means of sending information to said identification circuit.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein said identification circuit is embedded in an electrical connector.

21. The system of claim 1, wherein said identification circuit is embedded in an outer seal of said electrochromic glazing.

22. The system of claim 1, wherein said identification circuit is directly attached to at least one bus bar of said electrochromic glazing.

23. A method of powering a system comprising an electrochromic glazing comprising:

(a) setting said electrochromic glazing to a clear state;

(b) applying a predetermined voltage to said electrochromic glazing;

(c) measuring an actual voltage applied to said electrochromic glazing;

(d) calculating a wire resistance of said system; and

(e) adjusting subsequently applied voltages based on said calculated wire resistance.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein said method further comprises the step of determining whether an identification circuit is present in said system.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein said actual voltage is measured by said identification circuit.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein said identification circuit transmits stored parameters to said control system.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein said wire resistance and said stored parameters are stored in a memory of said control system.