VARIABLE TRANSMITTANCE WINDOW SYSTEM

• US 20150098121A1
• Filed: 10/03/2014
• Published: 04/09/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Inventors: Turnbull, Robert R., Driscoll, David I., Busscher, Bradley L., Ash, Kevin L., Kemperman, Christian M.
• Granted Patent: US 10,359,682 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/275
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 3/04 adjustable in transparency
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/163 Operation of electrochromic cells, e.g. electrodeposition cells; Circuit arrangements therefor

Abstract

A variable transmittance window system is provided and includes at least one variable transmittance window. At least one energy harvesting device generates electrical power. A power supply circuitry maximizes the electrical power. At least one energy storage device is charged by the electrical power. A slave control circuitry controls a transmittance state of the at least one variable transmittance window, the slave control circuitry being powered by at least one of the power supply circuitry and the at least one energy storage device. A master control circuitry monitors the slave control circuitry, wherein the master control circuitry is operable to issue a wireless override signal to the slave control circuitry such that the slave control circuitry changes the transmittance state of the at least one variable transmittance window to an override transmittance state.

Claims

1. A variable transmittance window system comprising:

at least one variable transmittance window;

at least one energy harvesting device for generating electrical power;

a power supply circuitry for maximizing the electrical power;

at least one energy storage device configured to be charged by the electrical power;

a slave control circuitry for controlling a transmittance state of the at least one variable transmittance window, the slave control circuitry being powered by at least one of the power supply circuitry and the at least one energy storage device; and

a master control circuitry configured to monitor the slave control circuitry, wherein the master control circuitry is operable to issue a wireless override signal to the slave control circuitry such that the slave control circuitry changes the transmittance state of the at least one variable transmittance window to an override transmittance state.

2. The variable transmittance window system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an energy recovery mechanism configured to store an electrical charge in the energy storage device when the variable transmittance window is powered down.

3. The variable transmittance window system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the power supply circuitry is further configured to provide a voltage adjustment to the electrical power, the voltage adjustment being performed by a synchronous converter.

4. The variable transmittance window system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a short range wireless transceiver configured to receive commands from a mobile device for controlling the transmittance state of the at least one variable transmittance window.

5. The variable transmittance window system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one energy harvesting device is one of a photovoltaic device, a thermoelectric device, a piezoelectric device, and an electromagnetic device.

6. The variable transmittance window system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the at least one energy harvesting device is a photovoltaic device of a transparent variety that is applied to at least a portion of a viewable window area of the at least one variable transmittance window.

7. A variable transmittance window system for use in a vehicle, comprising:

at least one variable transmittance window;

at least one energy harvesting device for generating electrical power;

at least one energy storage device configured to be charged by the electrical power;

a window control circuitry for controlling a transmittance state of the at least one variable transmittance window, the window control circuitry being powered by a power supply of the vehicle and at least one of the at least one energy harvesting device and the at least one energy storage device; and

a monitoring circuit communicatively coupled to the window control circuitry for monitoring the supply of power from the vehicle and for detecting that power is no longer being supplied from the vehicle power supply,

wherein the window control circuitry darkens the at least one variable transmittance window a predetermined time period after detection that power is no longer being supplied from the vehicle power supply.

8. The variable transmittance window system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the window control circuitry clears the at least one variable transmittance window upon detection that power is no longer being supplied from the vehicle power supply until the predetermined time period expires.

9. The variable transmittance window system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the window control circuitry maintains the at least one variable transmittance window in its current transmission state upon detection that power is no longer being supplied from the vehicle power supply until the predetermined time period expires.

10. The variable transmittance window system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the monitoring circuit issues a wireless override signal to the window control circuitry such that the window control circuitry changes the transmittance state of the at least one variable transmittance window to an override transmittance state.

11. The variable transmittance window system as claimed in claim 7, further comprising an energy recovery mechanism configured to store an electrical charge in the at least one energy storage device when the variable transmittance window is powered down.

12. The variable transmittance window system as claimed in claim 7, further comprising a short range wireless transceiver configured to receive commands from a mobile device for controlling the transmittance state of the at least one variable transmittance window.

13. The variable transmittance window system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the at least one energy harvesting device is one of a photovoltaic device, a thermoelectric device, a piezoelectric device, and an electromagnetic device.

14. The variable transmittance window system as claimed in claim 13, wherein the at least one energy harvesting device is a photovoltaic device of a transparent variety that is applied to at least a portion of a viewable window area of the at least one variable transmittance window.

15. A variable transmittance window system for use in a vehicle, comprising:

at least one variable transmittance window;

at least one energy harvesting device for generating electrical power;

a window control circuitry for controlling a transmittance state of the at least one variable transmittance window, the window control circuitry being powered by a power supply of the vehicle and the at least one energy harvesting device; and

a monitoring circuit communicatively coupled to the window control circuitry for monitoring the supply of power from the vehicle and for detecting that power is no longer being supplied from the vehicle power supply,

wherein the window control circuitry darkens the at least one variable transmittance window a predetermined time period after detection that power is no longer being supplied from the vehicle power supply.

16. The variable transmittance window system as claimed in claim 15, wherein the window control circuitry clears the at least one variable transmittance window upon detection that power is no longer being supplied from the vehicle power supply until the predetermined time period expires.

17. The variable transmittance window system as claimed in claim 15, wherein the window control circuitry maintains the at least one variable transmittance window in its current transmission state upon detection that power is no longer being supplied from the vehicle power supply until the predetermined time period expires.

18. The variable transmittance window system as claimed in claim 15, wherein the monitoring circuit issues a wireless override signal to the window control circuitry such that the window control circuitry changes the transmittance state of the at least one variable transmittance window to an override transmittance state.

19. The variable transmittance window system as claimed in claim 15, further comprising a power supply circuit for maximizing the electrical power and providing a voltage adjustment to the electrical power, the voltage adjustment being performed by a synchronous converter.

20. The variable transmittance window system as claimed in claim 15, further comprising an energy storing device configured to be charged by the electrical power.

21. The variable transmittance window system as claimed in claim 20, further comprising an energy recovery mechanism configured to store an electrical charge in the energy storage device when the variable transmittance window is powered down.

22. The variable transmittance window system as claimed in claim 15, wherein the at least one energy harvesting device is one of a photovoltaic device, a thermoelectric device, a piezoelectric device, and an electromagnetic device.

23. The variable transmittance window system as claimed in claim 22, wherein the at least one energy harvesting device is a photovoltaic device of a transparent variety that is applied to at least a portion of a viewable window area of the at least one variable transmittance window.