Electronic window shading system for houses, transport vehicles and the like

• US 8,102,586 B2
• Filed: 07/23/2007
• Issued: 01/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kuwait University
• Original Assignee: Kuwait University
• Inventors: Albahri, Tareq Abduljalil
• Primary Examiner(s): Mack, Ricky
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRA, TUYEN Q
• Application Number:
  US11/781,932
• Publication Number:
  US 20090027759A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,646 Days
• Field of Search: 359265-275, 359/601, 359/277, 359/361, 250/201.1, 250/203.4, 349/13, 349/14, 349/15, 349/16, 349/115, 349/116
• US Class Current: 359/265
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10036 comprising two outer glass sheets
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10513 Electrochromic layer
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 3/04 adjustable in transparency
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 2009/2464 featuring transparency control by applying voltage, e.g. LCD, electrochromic panels
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 2009/6827 sensing light
• 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 1/13318 Circuits comprising a photodetector
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/163 Operation of electrochromic cells, e.g. electrodeposition cells; Circuit arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 30/24 Structural elements or technologies for improving thermal insulation
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 80/00 Architectural or constructional elements improving the thermal performance of buildings

Abstract

There is disclosed an automatic electronic window shading (tinting) system for houses and transport vehicles such as automobiles, RV'"'"'s, trains, boats and the like, to provide shading for people to protect them from exposure to harmful direct sunlight, by providing the windows of said houses and transport vehicles with display elements and light (photocell/photovoltaic) sensors. The system comprises liquid crystal, electrochromic, suspended particle device (SPD), or NanoChromics display (NCD) element attached to a part of a transparent body (such as the windows) and a liquid crystal, electrochromic, suspended particle device (SPD), or NanoChromics display (NCD) controlling semiconductor element controlling the operation of the display element.

Claims

1. An automatic electronic shading system for an enclosure, comprising:

a plurality of light sensors adapted for mounting on an enclosure, each said light sensor detecting ambient light intensity from a unique direction with respect to the enclosure;

a plurality of automatically tinting windows, each said light sensor being associated a respective one of said automatically tinting windows, each said automatically tinting window including a transparent window body and a display element secured to, and at least partially covering, the transparent window body; and

means for at least partially tinting at least one of said plurality of automatically tinting windows responsive to the light sensor associated therewith detecting ambient light intensity from the unique direction associated therewith greater than a pre-set intensity threshold.

2. The automatic electronic shading system for an enclosure as recited in claim 1, wherein said plurality of light sensors are mounted on a roof of the enclosure.

3. The automatic electronic shading system for an enclosure as recited in claim 1, wherein said plurality of light sensors comprise:

a first light sensor for detecting ambient light intensity from a front of the enclosure;

a second light sensor for detecting ambient light intensity from a rear of the enclosure;

a third light sensor for detecting ambient light intensity from a first side of the enclosure; and

a fourth light sensor for detecting ambient light intensity from a second side of the enclosure.

4. The automatic electronic shading system for an enclosure as recited in claim 1, further comprising means for actuating said display element such that said display element selectively displays a pre-set tinting pattern.

5. The automatic electronic shading system for an enclosure as recited in claim 1, further comprising means for actuating said display element such that said display element selectively tints a portion of the transparent window body associated therewith.

6. The automatic electronic shading system for an enclosure as recited in claim 1, further comprising means for actuating said display element such that said display element selectively covers the transparent window body associated therewith with a degree of shading proportional to the measured ambient light intensity detected by the light sensor associated therewith.

7. The automatic electronic shading system for an enclosure as recited in claim 1, wherein each said display element is selected from the group consisting of:

a polymer dispersed liquid crystal display, an electrochromic display, a suspended particle device, a NanoChromics display, an organic electroluminescent display, and combinations thereof.

8. The automatic electronic shading system for an enclosure as recited in claim 7, further comprising means for manually adjusting a degree of shading generated by each said display element.

9. The automatic electronic shading system for an enclosure as recited in claim 8, further comprising a remote control for manually adjusting the degree of shading generated by each said display element.

10. The automatic electronic shading system for an enclosure as recited in claim 1, wherein each said display element has an ultraviolet-blocking layer formed thereon.

11. The automatic electronic shading system for an enclosure as recited in claim 1, wherein each said light sensor is mounted within the enclosure, behind a rear face of the automatically tinting window associated therewith.

12. The automotive accident alert system as recited in claim 1, further comprising at least one temperature sensor.

13. The automotive accident alert system as recited in claim 12, further comprising means for heating said display elements when the at least one temperature sensor measures a temperature below a pre-set temperature threshold.