Control device for at least one electrochromic window and method for activating the same

• US 8,526,094 B2
• Filed: 06/08/2011
• Issued: 09/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Saint-Gobain Glass France (Compagnie De Saint-Gobain)
• Original Assignee: Sage Electrochromics, Inc (Compagnie de Saint-Gobain SA)
• Inventors: Letocart, Philippe
• Primary Examiner(s): Ben, Loha
• Application Number:
  US13/156,237
• Publication Number:
  US 20110235152A1
• Time in Patent Office: 818 Days
• Field of Search: 359265-275, 359/257, 359/258, 359601-604, 359/608, 359/609, 340/550, 340/545.1, 340/545.4, 340/815.4, 156/107, 700/2, 700/3, 700/19, 700/20
• US Class Current: 359/265
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/163 Operation of electrochromic cells, e.g. electrodeposition cells; Circuit arrangements therefor

Abstract

The invention relates to a control device for at least one electrochromic window with—means for generating a charging current, to bring the window from a first state into a second state, wherein the window is darker in the second state than in the first state,—means for discharging the window, to bring the window from the second state into the first state, wherein the discharging of the window can be triggered by an emergency signal.

Claims

1. A control device for at least one electrochromic window, comprising:

means for generating a charging current, to bring the at least one electrochromic window from a first state into a second state, wherein the at least one electrochromic window is darker in the second state than in the first state; and

means for discharging the at least one electrochromic window, to bring the at least one electrochromic window from the second state into the first state, wherein the discharging of the at least one electrochromic window can be triggered by an emergency signal, wherein the means for discharging the at least one electrochromic window are configured to produce a short-circuit, by way of which a discharging current for discharging the at least one electrochromic window can flow.

6. The control device according to claim 1, wherein the means for discharging are configured to apply a discharging voltage source to the at least one electrochromic window, wherein direction of the discharging voltage is chosen to increase a resulting voltage for generating a discharging current for discharging the window.

7. The control device according to claim 1, wherein the means for discharging comprise switching means, in order to interconnect first and second window regions of the at least one electrochromic window electrically in such a way that a resulting voltage for generating a discharging current for discharging the first and second window regions is greater than charging voltages of the first and second window regions.

8. The control device according to claim 7, wherein the first and second window regions are on a same window or on different windows.

9. The control device according to claim 1, further comprising means for the emergency signal to be triggered by a user.

10. The control device according to claim 1, further comprising means for detecting an emergency situation, wherein the means for detecting an emergency situation are configured to generate the emergency signal.

11. A means of transport with at least one electrochromic window and at least one control device according to any of claims 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5.

12. The means of transport according to claim 11, wherein the window is a cockpit window.

13. The means of transport according to claim 12, with a number of electrochromic windows in a passenger area.

2. A control device for at least one electrochromic window, comprising:

means for generating a charging current, to bring the at least one electrochromic window from a first state into a second state, wherein the at least one electrochromic window is darker in the second state than in the first state; and

means for discharging the at least one electrochromic window, to bring the at least one electrochromic window from the second state into the first state, wherein the discharging of the at least one electrochromic window can be triggered by an emergency signal, wherein the means for discharging are configured to apply a discharging voltage source to the at least one electrochromic window, wherein direction of the discharging voltage is chosen to increase a resulting voltage for generating a discharging current for discharging the window.

3. A control device for at least one electrochromic window, comprising:

means for generating a charging current, to bring the at least one electrochromic window from a first state into a second state, wherein the at least one electrochromic window is darker in the second state than in the first state;

means for discharging the at least one electrochromic window, to bring the at least one electrochromic window from the second state into the first state, wherein the discharging of the at least one electrochromic window can be triggered by an emergency signal; and

means for detecting an emergency situation, wherein the means for detecting an emergency situation are configured to generate the emergency signal.

4. A control device for at least one electrochromic window, comprising:

means for generating a charging current, to bring the at least one electrochromic window from a first state into a second state, wherein the at least one electrochromic window is darker in the second state than in the first state;

means for discharging the at least one electrochromic window, to bring the at least one electrochromic window from the second state into the first state, wherein the discharging of the at least one electrochromic window can be triggered by an emergency signal; and

means for the emergency signal to be triggered by a user.

5. A control device for at least one electrochromic window, comprising:

means for generating a charging current, to bring the at least one electrochromic window from a first state into a second state;

wherein the at least one electrochromic window is darker in the second state than in the first state, and means for discharging the at least one electrochromic window, to bring the at least one electrochromic window from the second state into the first state, wherein the discharging of the at least one electrochromic window can be triggered by an emergency signal, wherein the means for discharging comprise switching means, in order to interconnect first and second window regions of the at least one electrochromic window electrically in such a way that a resulting voltage for generating a discharging current for discharging the first and second window regions is greater than charging voltages of the first and second window regions, and wherein the first and second window regions are on a same window or on different windows.

14. A control system for one or more electrochromic windows, comprising:

one or more control devices wherein the one or more control devices comprise;

means for generating a charging current, to bring the one or more electrochromic windows from a first state into a second state, wherein the one or more electrochromic windows are darker in the second state than in the first state; and

means for discharging the one or more electrochromic windows, to bring the one or more electrochromic windows from the second state into the first state, wherein the discharging of the one or more electrochromic windows can be triggered by an emergency signal, each of the one or more control devices being assigned to at least one of the one or more electrochromic windows; and

the control system further comprising a communication channel for connecting the one or more control devices to a control unit;

wherein the control unit is configured to send the emergency signal over the communication channel to the one or more control devices.

15. A method of activating an electrochromic window, wherein the electrochromic window can reversibly go over from a first state into a second state, wherein the electrochromic window is darker in the second state than in the first state, the method comprising:

receiving an emergency signal when the electrochromic window is in the second state, and discharging the electrochromic window to bring it into the first state, wherein the discharging is triggered by the emergency signal, wherein a discharging voltage source is applied to the window to obtain a voltage resulting from a charging voltage of the window and the discharging voltage which is greater than the charging voltage, wherein the resulting voltage brings about a discharging current for discharging the window.