Self-powered dimmable windows with integrated controls

• US 8,632,034 B2
• Filed: 03/23/2007
• Issued: 01/21/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Mitchell, Bradley J., Laib, Trevor M., Fletcher, Henry V.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dinh, Tien
• Assistant Examiner(s): Green, Richard R
• Application Number:
  US11/690,316
• Publication Number:
  US 20080230653A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,496 Days
• Field of Search: 244/129.3, 244/1.R, 527/861.1, 521/733
• US Class Current: 244/129.3
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 3/04 adjustable in transparency
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 1/1484 Windows B64C1/1492 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 1/1492 Structure and mounting of the transparent elements in the window or windscreen
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2011/0061 Windows displaying outside view, artificially generated
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 27/353 using solar cells
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/163 Operation of electrochromic cells, e.g. electrodeposition cells; Circuit arrangements therefor

Abstract

An electrically controlled dimmable window for aircraft includes a controller and power that eliminates the need for wiring connections to on-board systems. The controller is integrated into the sidewall in which the window is mounted. Power for controlling the window is derived from an energy harvesting device that generates power by converting thermal gradients, motion/vibration or light energy present near the window. The integrated controller includes passenger controls for adjusting the opacity of the window, power conditioning circuitry, an electrical power storage device such as a battery, a processor and a radio receiver. The window can be remotely controlled by a cabin attendant from a central controller that transmits window control signals to the radio receiver.

Claims

1. A dimmable window system for a vehicle, comprising:

a sidewall panel assembly having at least one window opening;

an electrically dimmable window mounted in the window opening on the sidewall panel;

an inner window mounted within the window opening, inside of the dimmable window;

a pair of photovoltaic energy harvesting devices for converting ambient light into electrical power;

a seal comprising a boot surrounding the window opening and configured to seal an air gap between the dimmable window and an outer window of the vehicle, wherein the pair of photovoltaic energy harvesting devices are placed within folds of the boot within the air gap and substantially hidden from a line of sight of a person in an interior of the vehicle; and

,

a controller mounted in proximity to the dimmable window for controlling the opacity of the dimmable window using only the energy harvested by the energy harvesting device;

all wiring associated with powering and controlling said dimmable window is internal to said sidewall panel assembly.

2. The dimmable window system of claim 1, wherein the controller includes a storage device for storing energy harvested by the energy harvesting device.

3. The dimmable window system of claim 2, wherein the controller includes:

a processor for controlling the operation of the window, and

an enclosure covering the processor and the energy storage device.

4. The dimmable window system of claim 1, wherein the controller includes a radio receiver for receiving radio signals for controlling the operation of the dimmable window.

5. The dimmable window system of claim 1, wherein the controller includes a window dimming adjustment control on the sidewall for selecting a level of opacity of the window.

6. The dimmable window system of claim 1, wherein:

the sidewall includes an inboard face exposed to the interior of the vehicle and an outboard face, and

the controller is mounted on the outboard face of the sidewall.

7. The dimmable window system of claim 1, wherein the controller is mounted on the sidewall.

8. A sidewall assembly for aircraft, comprising:

a sidewall panel having a window opening;

an electrically dimmable window mounted in the window opening on the sidewall panel;

an inner window mounted within the window opening, inside of the dimmable window;

a seal comprising a boot surrounding the window opening and configured to seal an air gap between the dimmable window and an outer window of the aircraft;

a pair of photovoltaic energy harvesting devices, placed within folds of the boot within the air gap and substantially hidden from a line of sight of a person in an interior of the aircraft, configured for converting ambient light into electrical power; and

a control module connected with the sidewall panel for powering and controlling the operation of the dimmable window, the control module including a device for storing electrical energy used to control the dimmable window, said dimmable window controlled by using only energy harvested by the photovoltaic energy harvesting device;

all wiring associated with powering and controlling said dimmable window is internal to said sidewall panel assembly.

9. The sidewall assembly of claim 8, further comprising said energy harvesting device coupled with the control module for harvesting energy on-board the aircraft and converting the harvested energy into electrical power.

10. The sidewall assembly system of claim 8, wherein the control module includes a processor for controlling the application of electrical power to the dimmable window from the storage device.

11. The sidewall assembly of claim 8, wherein the control module includes a circuit for conditioning electrical power delivered to the dimmable window from the storage device.

12. The sidewall assembly of claim 8, wherein the control module includes a radio receiver for wirelessly receiving control signals used to control the operation of the dimmable window.

13. The sidewall assembly of claim 8, wherein:

the sidewall panel includes an inboard face exposed to the interior of the aircraft, and an outboard face, and

the control module is mounted on the outboard face of the sidewall panel.

14. A self-powered, electrically dimmable window assembly for aircraft, comprising:

a dimmable window having electrically controlled opacity;

outer and inner windows mounted on opposite sides of the dimmable window;

a seal comprising a boot that seals an air gap between the dimmable window and the outer window;

a photovoltaic energy harvesting device placed within folds of the boot in the air gap and substantially hidden from a line of sight of a person in an interior of the aircraft, configured for harvesting energy on-board the aircraft and converting the harvested energy to electrical power;

a device for storing the electrical power harvested by the energy harvesting device; and

,

a controller for controlling the opacity of the dimmable window using only said harvested electrical power stored in the storage device;

said dimmable window comprises a sidewall panel assembly and all wiring associated with powering and controlling said dimmable window is associated only with said dimmable window and internal to said sidewall panel assembly.

15. The dimmable window assembly of claim 14, wherein the storage device includes one of:

a battery, and

an electrical capacitor.

16. The dimmable window assembly of claim 14, further comprising a housing for containing the energy storage device and the controller.

17. The dimmable window assembly of claim 14, further comprising a radio receiver for receiving wireless control signals used by the controller for controlling the opacity of the dimmable window.

18. The dimmable window assembly of claim 14, further comprising a set of passenger controls for generating control signals used by the controller to control the opacity of the dimmable window.

19. A sidewall panel assembly for aircraft, comprising:

a sidewall panel assembly having at least one window opening therein;

an electrically dimmable window mounted on the sidewall panel within the window opening;

a seal comprising a boot surrounding the window opening and configured to seal an air gap between the dimmable window and an outer window of the aircraft;

a pair of photovoltaic devices for converting ambient light into electrical power, placed in folds of the boot in the air gap; and

,

a controller for controlling the operation of the dimmable window using only electrical power produced by the photovoltaic device;

all wiring associated with powering and controlling said dimmable window is associated only with said dimmable window and internal to said sidewall panel assembly.

20. The sidewall assembly of claim 19, further comprising a device for storing electrical power produced by the photovoltaic device.

21. The sidewall assembly of claim 19, wherein the controller includes:

a set of manually operable passenger switches for selecting a dimming setting for the dimmable window, and

a processor for controlling the electrical power delivered to the window based on the dimming setting selected by the passenger.

22. The sidewall assembly of claim 21, further comprising a radio receiver for wirelessly receiving remote control signals used by the processor to control the dimmable window.

23. The sidewall assembly of claim 19, further comprising:

an inner window mounted within the window opening, inside of the dimmable window; and

wherein at least one of the photovoltaic devices are placed on a non-vertical portion of the boot and substantially hidden from a line of sight of a person in an interior of the aircraft.

24. The sidewall assembly of claim 19, wherein the controller is mounted in a space between the sidewall panel and an outer skin of an aircraft.