Electrochromic glass control device

• US 7,375,871 B2
• Filed: 10/27/2005
• Issued: 05/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Company Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Company Incorporated
• Inventors: Ostrovsky, Michael, Libretto, John, Uftring, Edward, Frid, Eugene
• Primary Examiner(s): Dang; Hung X.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MARTINEZ, JOSEPH P
• Application Number:
  US11/260,764
• Publication Number:
  US 20070097484A1
• Time in Patent Office: 936 Days
• Field of Search: 359/265, 349/33, 345/49, 345/105, 348/817, 323/234, 315/291
• US Class Current: 359/265
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/163 Operation of electrochromic cells, e.g. electrodeposition cells; Circuit arrangements therefor

Abstract

A light control system having a full range of dimming for smart-glass by providing an interface between an off-the-shelf dimmer and a electrochromic glass device is disclosed herein. The light control system or electrochromic glass control device acts as an interface that converts an asymmetric alternating current (AC) power signal from the dimmer device into a symmetric, amplitude controlled AC output signal for controlling the tint of the smart-glass device. The electrochromic glass control device includes a powerline interface circuit that receives the asymmetric AC power signal from the dimmer. A controller connects to the powerline interface circuit to generate a control signal responsive to the asymmetric AC power signal. Connecting between the dimmer and the controller, an output stage generates the symmetrical AC output signal responsive to the control signal to control the electrochromic glass device.

Claims

1. An smart-glass control device for connecting between a dimmer and a smart-glass device, the smart-glass control device comprising:

an powerline interface circuit for receiving an asymmetric alternating current (AC) power signal from the dimmer;

a controller coupled to the powerline interface circuit for generating a control signal responsive to the asymmetric AC power signal; and

an output stage coupled between the dimmer and the controller for generating a symmetrical AC output signal responsive to the control signal.

2. An smart-glass control device as recited in claim 1, wherein the smart-glass is an electrochromic glass device.

3. An smart-glass control device as recited in claim 1, wherein the smart-glass is a liquid crystal glass device.

4. An smart-glass control device as recited in claim 1, wherein the smart-glass is a suspended particle device.

5. An smart-glass control device as recited in claim 1, wherein the smart-glass is a reflective hybrid device.

6. An electrochromic glass control device for connecting between a dimmer and an electrochromic glass device, the electrochromic glass control device comprising:

an powerline interface circuit for receiving an asymmetric alternating current (AC) power signal from the dimmer;

a controller coupled to the powerline interface circuit for generating a control signal responsive to the asymmetric AC power signal; and

an output stage coupled between the dimmer and the controller for generating a symmetrical AC output signal responsive to the control signal.

7. A electrochromic glass control device as recited in claim 6, wherein the powerline interface circuit, having a first and second input, comprises:

a full-wave bridge rectifier, having a first input, a second input, a first output, a second output, the first input coupled to form the first input of the powerline interface circuit, the second input coupled to form the second input of the powerline interface circuit;

a triode alternating current switch coupled between the first and second input of the powerline interface circuit;

a first resistor coupled to the first output of the full-wave bridge rectifier;

a first transistor, having a gate, a drain, and a source, the drain coupled to the first output of the full-wave bridge rectifier, the gate coupled to the first resistor;

a second transistor, having a gate, a drain, and a source, the drain coupled to the first output of the full-wave bridge rectifier, the gate coupled to the first resistor, the source coupled to the source of the first transistor;

a resistive network coupled to the source of the second transistor;

a first control device, having a first input, a second input, a first output, a second output, and a third output, the second input coupled to the resistive network, first and third output coupled to the second output of the full-wave bridge rectifier;

a Zener diode coupled between the second output of the full-wave bridge rectifier and first input of the first control device;

a second control device, having a first input, a second input, a first output, and a second output, the first input coupled to the second output of the first control device, the first output coupled to the second output of the full-wave bridge rectifier, the second output coupled to ground;

a second resistor coupled between the first input and first output of the second control device;

a third control device, having a first input, a second input, a first output, and a second output, the first input coupled to the resistive network, the first output coupled to the second output of the full-wave bridge rectifier, the second input coupled to form an output for the powerline interface circuit, the second output coupled to ground; and

a third resistor coupled between a power supply rail and the second input of the third control device.

8. A electrochromic glass control device as recited in claim 7, wherein the first control device is an opto-isolator, having a gate controlled switch and a light emitting diode, wherein the light emitted from the light emitting diode controls the gate controlled switch, the gate controlled switch having the first input, the first output and the second output, the light emitting diode having the second input, the third output.

9. A electrochromic glass control device as recited in claim 7, wherein the second control devices is an opto-isolator, having a n-type transistor and a light emitting diode, wherein the light emitted from the light emitting diode controls the n-type transistor, the n-type transistor having the first input and the first output, the light emitting diode having the second input and the second output.

10. A electrochromic glass control device as recited in claim 7, wherein the third control device is an opto-isolator, having a n-type transistor and a light emitting diode, wherein the light emitted from the light emitting diode controls the n-type transistor, the light emitting diode having the first input and the first output, the n-type transistor, having the second input and the second output.

11. A electrochromic glass control device as recited in claim 7, wherein the resistive network comprises:

a fourth resistor, a fifth resistor and a sixth resistor coupled to the source of the second transistor, the fourth resistor coupled to the first output of the first opto-isolator, the fifth resistor coupled to the second input of the first opto-isolator, the sixth resistor coupled to the first input of the third opto-isolator.

12. A electrochromic glass control device as recited in claim 6, wherein the controller is a programmable logic device.

13. A electrochromic glass control device as recited in claim 6, wherein the controller is a microprocessor.

14. A electrochromic glass control device as recited in claim 6, wherein the output stage comprises:

an operational amplifier, having an inverting, a non-inverting input, and an output, wherein the inverting input couples to the output;

a first resistive network coupled between the dimmer device and the non-inverting input;

a capacitor coupled between the inverting input and ground;

a resistor coupled to the output of the operational amplifier;

a transistor, having a gate a source and a drain, the gate coupled to the resistor; and

a full-wave bridge rectifier, having a first input, a second input, a first output, and a second output, the first input coupled to the source of the transistor, the second input coupled to the drain of the transistor, the first output coupled to the smart-glass device.

15. A electrochromic glass control device as recited in claim 14, wherein the first resistive network comprises:

a first resistor coupled between the dimmer device and the non-inverting input;

a second resistor coupled between the non-inverting input and ground; and

a second capacitor coupled in parallel with the second resistor.