Variable transmission window constructions

• US 7,542,809 B2
• Filed: 07/31/2006
• Issued: 06/02/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Inventors: Poll, David L., Bechtel, Jon H.
• Primary Examiner(s): VON BUHR, MARIA N
• Application Number:
  US11/461,098
• Publication Number:
  US 20070067048A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,037 Days
• Field of Search: 700/2, 700/3, 700/9, 700/19, 700/20, 700/33, 700/80, 700/293, 359/265, 359/275, 521/733
• US Class Current: 700/19
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0421 Multiprocessor system
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2231 Master slave
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/24024 Safety, surveillance
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2628 Door, window
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2642 Domotique, domestic, home control, automation, smart house
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2838 Distribution of signals within a home automation network, e.g. involving splitting/multiplexing signals to/from different paths adaptations of television systems for transmission by electric cable for domestic distribution H04N7/106; hybrid transport H04L12/6418; home network arrangements specially adapted for distribution of digital video signals H04N7/24
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/403 with centralised control, e.g. polling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2841 Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/285 Generic home appliances, e.g. refrigerators
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/4026 Bus for use in automation systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/18 Network protocols supporting networked applications, e.g. including control of end-device applications over a network

Abstract

An electrical control system is disclosed for controlling a plurality of variable transmittance windows. The electrical control system of the present invention comprises a master control circuit for supplying control signals representing transmittance levels for the variable transmission windows, and a plurality of window control circuits coupled to each of the master control circuits. Because the window control circuits can sense abnormal load conditions in the variable transmission windows, the system further includes an interface to a security system to inform of a potential intrusion. Each window control circuit controls the transmittance of at least one of the variable transmission windows in response to control signals received from the master control circuit.

Claims

1. An electrical control system for controlling the transmittance of a plurality of variable transmission windows including at least a first variable transmission window and a second variable transmission window, said control system comprising:

a master control circuit for supplying control signals representing transmittance levels for the first and second variable transmission windows;

a first window control circuit coupled to said master control circuit and to the first variable transmission window; and

a second window control circuit coupled to said master control circuit and to the second variable transmission window,

wherein said first window control circuit is configured to control the transmittance of the first variable transmission window, and wherein said second window control circuit is configured to control the transmittance of the second variable transmission window.

2. The electrical control system of claim 1, wherein at least one of said first window control circuit and said second window control circuit is further configured to control the transmittance in response to control signals received from said master control circuit.

3. The electrical control system of claim 1, further comprising an input device coupled to at least one of said first window control circuit and said second window control circuit.

4. The electrical control system of claim 3, wherein said input device comprises one of a touch panel and key pad.

5. The electrical control system of claim 1, further comprising an input device coupled to said master control circuit.

6. The electrical control system of claim 5, wherein said input device comprises one of a touch panel and key pad.

7. The electrical control system of claim 1, further comprising a visual indicator coupled to at least one of said first window control circuit and said second window control circuit, said visual indicator configured to indicate a status of at least one of said first window control circuit and said second window control circuit.

8. The electrical control system of claim 7, wherein said visual indicator comprises one of a display and a light emitting diode.

9. The electrical control system of claim 3, further comprising a visual indicator coupled to said input device, said visual indicator configured to indicate a status of at least one of said first window control circuit, said second window control circuit, and said input device.

10. The electrical control system of claim 1, further comprising a visual indicator coupled to said master control circuit, said visual indicator configured to indicate a status of said master control circuit.

11. The electrical control system of claim 10, wherein said visual indicator comprises one of a display and a light emitting diode.

12. The electrical control system of claim 1, wherein at least one of said first and second window control circuits is configured to monitor at least one of the voltage and current provided to a variable transmission window.

13. The electrical control system of claim 1, further comprising over-voltage protection circuitry coupled to a variable transmission window and at least one of said first and second window control circuits, said over-voltage protection circuitry configured to protect said variable transmission window from an over-voltage condition.

14. An electrical control system for controlling the transmittance of a plurality of variable transmission windows, said control system comprising:

a plurality of window control circuits coupled to each of said plurality of variable transmission windows and to a master control circuit, each window control circuit configured to control the transmittance of the variable transmission window to which it is coupled; and

an input device coupled to each of said window control circuits and configured to provide an input signal to the window control circuit to which it is coupled.

15. The electrical control system of claim 14, wherein said window control circuits are further configured to control the transmittance of said plurality of variable transmission windows in response to control signals received from the master control circuit.

16. A control system for varying the light entering or leaving a structure, comprising

a structure comprising a plurality of variable transmission windows, said structure configured to be occupied by humans;

a master control circuit for supplying control signals representing transmittance levels for said plurality of variable transmission windows;

a plurality of window control circuits coupled to each of said plurality of variable transmission windows and to said master control circuit, each window control circuit configured to control the transmittance of the variable transmission window to which it is coupled; and

an input device coupled to each of said window control circuits and configured to provide an input signal to the window control circuit to which it is coupled.

17. The control system of claim 16, wherein said window control circuits are further configured to control the transmittance of said plurality of variable transmission windows in response to control signals received from said master control circuit.

18. An electrical control system for controlling the transmittance of a plurality of variable transmission windows, said control system comprising:

a plurality of window control circuits coupled to each of said plurality of variable transmission windows and to a master control circuit, each window control circuit configured to control the transmittance of the variable transmission window to which it is coupled; and

a visual indicator coupled to at least one of said window control circuits, said visual indicator configured to indicate a status of said at least one of said window control circuits.

19. The electrical control system of claim 18, wherein said visual indicator comprises one of a display and a light emitting diode.

20. The electrical control system of claim 18, further comprising a second visual indicator coupled to the master control circuit, said second visual indicator configured to indicate a status of the master control circuit.

21. The electrical control system of claim 20, wherein said second visual indicator comprises one of a display and a light emitting diode.

22. An electrical control system for controlling the transmittance of a plurality of variable transmission windows, said control system comprising:

a plurality of window control circuits coupled to each of said plurality of variable transmission windows and to a master control circuit, each window control circuit configured to control the transmittance of the variable transmission window of the plurality of transmission windows to which it is coupled; and

a sensing circuit for sensing an abnormal electrical load condition in the variable transmission window.

23. The electrical control system of claim 22, wherein said abnormal electrical load condition is a near short or near open circuit.

24. The electrical control system of claim 22, wherein said window control circuits each include a memory device in which an address is stored that uniquely identifies said window control circuits to the master control circuit.

25. The electrical control system of claim 22, wherein the variable transmission windows are electrochromic windows.

26. The electrical control system of claim 22, wherein each of said window control circuits includes a microcontroller and a switching regulator circuit for supplying power to the variable transmission window, said switching regulator circuit is coupled to said microcontroller and is responsive to signals received from said microcontroller to selectively vary the power supplied to the corresponding variable transmission window.

27. The electrical control system of claim 26, wherein each window control circuit further includes an over-voltage protection circuit coupled to an output of said switching regulator circuit for protecting the corresponding variable transmission window from over-voltage conditions.

28. The electrical control system of claim 26, wherein each window control circuit further includes a current limiting circuit coupled to said switching regulator circuit for preventing excessive current from flowing through the corresponding variable transmission window.

29. The electrical control system of claim 22, wherein at least one of said control circuits includes a microcontroller.

30. The electrical control system of claim 29 and further including an input device coupled to said microcontroller for receiving input from a user and supplying the input to said microcontroller.

31. The electrical control system of claim 29 and further including a display coupled to said microcontroller for displaying status information to a user.

32. A structure comprising:

a plurality of variable transmission windows;

a master control circuit for supplying control signals representing transmittance levels for said variable transmission windows;

a plurality of window control circuits coupled to said master control circuit, each window control circuit controlling the transmittance of at least one of said variable transmission windows in response to control signals received from said master control circuit;

a sensing circuit for sensing an abnormal electrical load condition in at least one of the variable transmission windows and for providing an indication that an abnormal electrical load condition exists in one of the variable transmission windows.

33. The structure of claim 32, wherein said window control circuits each include a memory device in which an address is stored that uniquely identifies the window control circuit to said master control circuit.

34. The structure of claim 32, wherein said master control circuit and said window control circuits are coupled via a two-way data link.

35. The structure of claim 32, wherein said variable transmission windows are electrochromic windows.