Testing and tuning electrically dimmable windows

• US 7,505,136 B2
• Filed: 05/16/2006
• Issued: 03/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Gillette, Edward W., Romig, Emma
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham; Hoa Q
• Application Number:
  US11/383,703
• Publication Number:
  US 20070268120A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,036 Days
• Field of Search: 356432-440, 3562391-2398, 3562371-2375, 250/221, 359/493, 359/601, 359/512
• US Class Current: 356/432
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 1/1484 Windows B64C1/1492 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2011/0061 Windows displaying outside view, artificially generated
• 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

Abstract

A dimmable window testing system comprises a light source configured to emit a beam of known intensity through a dimmable element of an electrically dimmable window system. A light intensity sensor measures a light intensity of light emitted from the light source through the dimmable element.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a light source configured to emit a beam of known intensity at a dimmable element of an electrically dimmable window system;

a light intensity sensor configured to measure a measured light intensity of light passing through the dimmable element, and to output a first signal indicative of the measured light intensity;

an input configured to receive a second signal, wherein the second signal indicates the known intensity and a desired transmissivity of the dimmable element; and

a controller configured to;

calculate an actual transmissivity of the dimmable element from the known intensity of the light source and the measured light intensity;

compare the actual transmissivity to the desired transmissivity to generate a comparison; and

generate a third signal indicative of the comparison, wherein the controller is in communication with a control system of the electrically dimmable window system, and wherein the actual transmissivity of the dimmable element can be adjusted based on the intensity measured by the sensor.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the light source is positioned on one side of the dimmable element and the sensor is positioned on a side of the dimmable element opposite the light source.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a reflective surface positioned to reflect the beam back through the dimmable element, and wherein the sensor is positioned to measure the measured light intensity after the beam is reflected back through the dimmable element.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the reflective surface is embedded in the electrically dimmable window system.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the light source, the sensor, and the reflective surface are all embedded in the electrically dimmable window system.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor is embedded in the electrically dimmable window system.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the light source is embedded in the electrically dimmable window system.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising a display to display an output of at least one of the sensor and the controller.

9. A method comprising:

setting a dimmable element of an electrically dimmable window system to a desired transmissivity;

projecting a light beam of known intensity through the dimmable element;

measuring a measured intensity of the light beam after the light beam passes through the dimmable element;

calculating an actual transmissivity of the dimmable element based on the known intensity and the measured intensity;

comparing the actual transmissivity and the desired transmissivity, wherein a comparison is generated;

determining, based on the comparison, a difference between the actual transmissivity and the desired transmissivity;

generating a signal indicative of the difference;

transmitting the signal to a control system of the electrically dimmable window system; and

adjusting a setting of the dimmable element so that the actual transmissivity substantially equals the desired transmissivity.