Variable transmission window constructions

• US 7,822,490 B2
• Filed: 04/24/2009
• Issued: 10/26/2010
• 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:
  US12/429,259
• Publication Number:
  US 20090204269A1
• Time in Patent Office: 550 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 at least one variable transmission window having a removable window unit, a variable transmittance medium, and first and second electrodes electrically coupled to one another through the variable transmittance medium, the variable transmittance medium having a transmittance that varies in response to electrical energy applied thereto via the first and second electrodes, said electrical control system comprising:

a control circuit coupled to the first and second electrodes of the at least one variable transmission window for selectively varying the electrical energy applied across the first and second electrodes to vary the transmittance of the variable transmission window; and

a sensing circuit for sensing an abnormal electrical load condition across the first electrode, the variable transmittance medium, and the second electrode of the variable transmission window, wherein the removable window unit is configured to be removed when said sensing circuit senses said abnormal electrical load condition.

2. The electrical control system of claim 1, wherein said abnormal electrical load condition is a near short or near open circuit.

3. The electrical control system of claim 1, wherein said control circuit comprises a window control circuit coupled to a master control circuit, said window control circuit controls the transmittance of the variable transmission window in response to control signals received from the master control circuit.

4. The electrical control system of claim 3, wherein said window control circuit includes a memory device in which an address is stored that uniquely identifies said window control circuit to the master control circuit.

5. The electrical control system of claim 1 further comprising a device coupled to said control circuit for supplying information to said control circuit.

6. The electrical control system of claim 5, wherein said device includes a temperature sensor.

7. The electrical control system of claim 5, wherein said device includes a light sensor.

8. The electrical control system of claim 1, wherein the variable transmission window is an electrochromic window.

9. The electrical control system of claim 1, wherein at least one of said control circuit includes a micro controller and a switching regulator circuit for supplying power to the variable transmission window, said switching regulator circuit is coupled to said micro controller and is responsive to signals received from said micro controller to selectively vary the power supplied to the variable transmission window.

10. The electrical control system of claim 9 further comprising an over-voltage protection circuit coupled to an output of said switching regulator circuit for protecting the variable transmission window from over-voltage conditions.

11. The electrical control system of claim 9 further comprising a current limiting circuit coupled to said switching regulator circuit for preventing excessive current from flowing through the variable transmission window.

12. The electrical control system of claim 9 further comprising a temperature sensor coupled to said micro controller for supplying a temperature signal indicative of an internal air temperature proximate the variable transmission window, wherein said micro controller responds to said temperature signal by controlling said switching regulator circuit to vary the transmission of the variable transmission window.

13. The electrical control system of claim 9 further comprising a light sensor coupled to said micro controller for supplying a light level signal indicative of a light level on the inside of the variable transmission window, wherein said micro controller responds to said light signal by controlling said switching regulator circuit to vary the transmission of the variable transmission window.

14. The electrical control system of claim 9 further comprising an input device coupled to said micro controller for receiving input from a user and supplying the input to said micro controller.

15. The electrical control system of claim 9 further comprising a display coupled to said micro controller for displaying status information to a user.

16. The electrical control system of claim 9 further comprising a receiver for receiving a command from a remote control device via a wireless communication link, said receiver is coupled to said micro controller to supply a control signal representing the received command, wherein said micro controller responds to the receipt of a control signal by causing said switching regulator circuit to vary the transmittance of the variable transmission window.

17. The electrical control system of claim 1, wherein said sensing circuit is electrically coupled to the first electrode and the second electrode of the variable transmission window.

18. The electrical control system of claim 1, wherein the variable transmittance medium is defined by a pair of spaced glass panes.

19. A system comprising:

a plurality of variable transmission windows, at least a portion of said plurality of variable transmission windows comprising;

a variable transmission medium;

a pair of electrodes to which signals may be applied to said variable transmission medium to vary the transmission of said variable transmission medium; and

a removable window unit;

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

a sensing circuit for sensing an abnormal electrical load condition across the pair of electrodes and the variable transmission medium of at least one of the variable transmission windows, wherein said removable window unit is configured to be removed when said sensing circuit senses said abnormal electrical load condition.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein said master control unit polls each of said window control units to signal changes which indicate said abnormal electrical load condition.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein said window control circuits each include a memory device in which an address is stored that uniquely identifies said window control circuit to said master control circuit.

22. The system of claim 19, wherein said master control circuit and said window control circuits are coupled via a two-way data link.

23. The system of claim 19, wherein said master control circuit and said window control circuits are coupled via a low voltage power line pair.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein said master control circuit supplies power to said window control circuits over said low voltage power line pair.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein said master control circuit and said window control circuits perform bi-directional communication over said low voltage power line pair.

26. The system of claim 19, wherein said variable transmission windows are electrochromic windows.

27. The system of claim 19, wherein said sensing circuit is electrically coupled to both of said pair of electrodes of at least one of said variable transmission windows.

28. An electrical control system for controlling the transmittance of at least one variable transmission window having a window unit, a variable transmittance medium, and first and second electrodes electrically coupled to one another through the variable transmittance medium, the variable transmittance medium having a transmittance that varies in response to electrical energy applied thereto via the first and second electrodes, said electrical control system comprising:

a control circuit coupled to the first and second electrodes of the at least one variable transmission window for selectively varying the electrical energy applied across the electrodes to vary the transmittance of the variable transmission window;

a sensing circuit for sensing an abnormal electrical load condition across the first electrode, the variable transmittance medium, and the second electrode of the variable transmission window; and

a receiver in communication with said control circuit and configured to receive a command from a remote control device via a wireless communication link, wherein said control circuit varies the electrical energy applied across the electrodes to vary the transmittance of the variable transmission window in response a command received by the receiver.

29. The electrical control system of claim 28, wherein the window unit is a removable window unit that is configured to be removed when said sensing circuit senses said abnormal electrical load condition.

30. The electrical control system of claim 28, wherein said wireless communication link is a radio frequency (RF) signal.