Control system for dimmable windows
First Claim
1. A dimmable aircraft window system, comprising:
- at least one window having electrically controllable opacity;
an electrical power storage device for supplying electrical power used to control the opacity of the window; and
,a control circuit coupled with the window and the storage device for controlling a level of opacity of the window;
said control circuit further comprises a first wireless transceiver onboard said aircraft, said first wireless transceiver adapted for two-way communication with a central controller onboard said aircraft, said central controller comprising a second wireless transceiver, said central controller operable to produce wireless control signals to remotely control the level of opacity of the window, said control circuit operable to transmit operational status and location information comprising an associated window to said central controller;
said control circuit further includes a programmable processor responsive to the wireless control signals for controlling the opacity of the window, said programmable processor programmed to temporarily power up said first transceiver to periodically check for said wireless control signals broadcast from said central controller, said programming comprising instructions stored in processor-readable memory.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Electrically dimmable windows for aircraft are powered by energy harvesting devices on-board the aircraft. The harvested energy is stored and used to control the opacity of the windows based on individual window opacity settings selected either by passengers or a cabin attendant. Each window has an associated control circuit that controls the electrical power applied to the window based on the selected opacity setting. The control circuit includes a low energy usage processor that remains in a sleep mode until a change in the opacity setting is detected. Each control circuit may include a radio transceiver that receives control signals from a transmitter operated by the cabin attendant in order to simultaneously remotely control the opacity settings of multiple windows.
102 Citations
32 Claims
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1. A dimmable aircraft window system, comprising:
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at least one window having electrically controllable opacity; an electrical power storage device for supplying electrical power used to control the opacity of the window; and
,a control circuit coupled with the window and the storage device for controlling a level of opacity of the window; said control circuit further comprises a first wireless transceiver onboard said aircraft, said first wireless transceiver adapted for two-way communication with a central controller onboard said aircraft, said central controller comprising a second wireless transceiver, said central controller operable to produce wireless control signals to remotely control the level of opacity of the window, said control circuit operable to transmit operational status and location information comprising an associated window to said central controller; said control circuit further includes a programmable processor responsive to the wireless control signals for controlling the opacity of the window, said programmable processor programmed to temporarily power up said first transceiver to periodically check for said wireless control signals broadcast from said central controller, said programming comprising instructions stored in processor-readable memory. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A dimmable window system for vehicles, comprising:
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a plurality of windows on a vehicle, each of the windows having electrically controllable opacity; at least one energy harvesting device for harvesting energy on-board the vehicle and generating electrical power; storage means for storing electrical power generated by the harvesting device; and
,a plurality of control circuits each coupled with a respective window, each of the control circuits being coupled with the storage means and operative for controlling a level of opacity of the associated window using electrical power from the storage means; at least certain ones of said plurality of control circuits includes a first wireless transceiver on-board the vehicle, said first wireless transceiver adapted for two-way full duplex wireless communication with a central controller comprising a second wireless transceiver on-board the vehicle, said central controller operable to generate wireless control signals to remotely control the level, of opacity of a respectively associated window, each control circuit operable to transmit operational status and location information comprising an associated window to said central controller; and at least certain ones of said plurality of control circuits includes a programmable processor responsive to the wireless control signals, said programmable processor programmed to temporarily power up said first transceiver to periodically check for said wireless control signals broadcast from said central controller, said programmable processor comprising instructions stored in processor-readable memory. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A dimmable aircraft window system, comprising:
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at least one window having electrically controllable opacity; an electrical power storage device for supplying electrical power used to control the opacity of the window; and
,a control circuit coupled with the window and the storage device for controlling the level of opacity of the window; said control circuit comprises a first wireless transceiver onboard said aircraft, said first wireless transceiver adapted for two-way full duplex wireless communication with a central controller onboard said aircraft, said central controller comprising a second wireless transceiver, said central controller operable to produce wireless control signals to remotely control the level of opacity of the window, said control circuit operable to transmit operational status and location information comprising an associated window to said central controller; and
,said control circuit further comprises a programmable processor responsive to the wireless control signals for controlling the opacity of the window, said programmable processor programmed to temporarily power up said first transceiver to periodically check for said wireless control signals from said central controller, said programmable processor comprising instructions stored in processor-readable memory. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32)
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Specification