WINDOW ANTENNAS FOR EMITTING RADIO FREQUENCY SIGNALS

• US 20180090992A1
• Filed: 09/19/2017
• Published: 03/29/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: View Incorporated
• Original Assignee: View Incorporated
• Inventors: Shrivastava, Dhairya, Brown, Stephen Clark
• Granted Patent: US 11,205,926 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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 1/153 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/163 Operation of electrochromic cells, e.g. electrodeposition cells; Circuit arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/20 using microwaves or radio frequency waves
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/30 using light, e.g. lasers

Abstract

In one aspect, an apparatus is described that includes a transparent pane having a first surface and a second surface. An electrochromic device is arranged over the second surface that includes a first conductive layer adjacent the second surface, a second conductive layer, and an electrochromic layer between the first and the second conductive layers. The apparatus further includes at least one conductive antenna structure arranged over the second surface.

Claims

1. A window configured to be installed between an interior environment and an exterior environment, the window comprising:

(a) one or more lites, each lite having two surfaces, wherein the one or more lites are configured to provide a view through the window;

(b) a plurality of antennas disposed on one or more of the surfaces of the lites, wherein the antennas are configured to emit radio frequency (RF) signals to the interior environment and/or the exterior environment; and

(c) a controller configured to control emission of the RF signals from the plurality of antennas.

2. The window of claim 1, wherein the plurality of antennas is configured to emit RF signals having different radiation patterns or different frequencies.

3. The window of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to control the emission of the RF signals from the plurality of antennas by being configured to independently control the emission of the RF signals from each of the antennas.

4. The window of claim 3, wherein the controller is further configured to control the frequency, the power, the polarization and/or the phase of the RF signals emitted from each of the antennas.

5. The window of claim 1, wherein the controller configured to control the emission of the RF signals from the plurality of antennas by being configured to independently control the phase of the emitted RF signals so that the RF signals constructively and/or destructively interfere to provide directionality and/or gain to the RF signals when considered as a whole.

6. The window of claim 1, wherein the controller configured to control the emission of the RF signals from the plurality of antennas is configured to independently control the frequency of the emitted RF signals so that the RF signals constructively and/or destructively interfere to provide directionality and/or gain to the RF signals when considered as a whole.

7. The window of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to map the exterior environment or the interior environment by independently controlling phase and/or frequency of the RF signals emitted from the plurality of antennas.

8. The window of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of antennas is a strip line or a patch.

9. The window of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of antennas is a monopole antenna.

10. The window of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of antennas is a fractal antenna.

11. The window of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of antennas is a Yagi antenna or a log periodic antenna.

12. The window of claim 1, wherein the plurality of antennas is patterned from a substantially transparent conductive material layer.

13. The window of claim 12, wherein the substantially transparent conductive material layer comprises indium tin oxide (ITO).

14. The window of claim 1, wherein the plurality of antennas is patterned using conductive material nano-printing.

15. The window of claim 1, wherein the plurality of antennas is disposed in or on a transparent conductor layer.

16. The window of claim 1, further comprising an electrochromic device disposed on one of the surfaces of the lites.

17. The window of claim 16, wherein the controller is also configured to drive an optical transition of the electrochromic device.

18. The window of claim 16, wherein the electrochromic device comprises a transparent conductor layer, and wherein the plurality of antennas is in or on the transparent conductor layer.

19. The window of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to receive RF signals from the interior environment or the exterior environment via the plurality of antennas.

20. The window of claim 1, further comprising a ground plane disposed on one of the surfaces of the lites.

21. The window of claim 20, wherein the ground plane is configured to block transmission of RF signals through the surface on which the ground plane is disposed.

22. The window of claim 1, wherein the plurality of antennas is configured to emit the RF signals at an industrial, scientific and medical (ISM) radio band.

23. The window of claim 1, wherein the window has the form of an insulated glass unit.

24. A building comprising:

(a) a plurality of windows;

(b) a plurality of antennas disposed in or on the plurality of windows, each antenna configured to emit radio frequency (RF) signals into and/or out of the building; and

(c) one or more controllers, wherein the one or more controllers are configured to control the emission of RF signals by the plurality of antennas.

25. The building of claim 24, wherein the one or more controllers are further configured to independently control the frequencies and/or phases of the emitted RF signals, so that emitted RF signals constructively and/or destructively interfere to provide directionality of the RF signals when considered as a whole.

26. The building of claim 25, further comprising at least one additional antenna that is configured to receive RF signals.

27. The building of claim 26, wherein the one or more controllers are further configured to map an exterior environment or an interior environment of the building based on RF signals received by the plurality of antennas.

28. The building of claim 24, wherein at least one window of the plurality of windows is configured to block the transmission of RF signals through the at least one window.

29. The building of claim 24, wherein at least one of the plurality of windows comprises an electrochromic device.