Photo-electrochromic window tinter

• US 8,781,676 B2
• Filed: 12/16/2011
• Issued: 07/15/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc. (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc. (Continental AG)
• Inventors: McIntyre, William E. Jr., Anderson, Jerremy H., Whitmore, Tod R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Dalena
• Application Number:
  US13/327,893
• Publication Number:
  US 20130158790A1
• Time in Patent Office: 942 Days
• Field of Search: 701/36, 359/227, 359/228, 359/244, 359601-605, 359/738, 359/885, 296211-215, 296/96.19
• US Class Current: 701/36
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 3/04 adjustable in transparency
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/163 Operation of electrochromic cells, e.g. electrodeposition cells; Circuit arrangements therefor

Abstract

An electrically-adjustable light transmitter changes its light transmissivity responsive to an electric signal. By applying the electrically-adjustable light transmitter to a window and thereafter changing the electric signal to it, a window can be tinted and un-tinted. Jurisdictions that prohibit tinted vehicle windows are listed in a data base. A current location determined by a GPS is compared to data base entries. If the location is within an area where tinted windows are prohibited, a controller automatically un-tints the windows, or reduces the window tint to comply with applicable local laws.

Claims

1. A window comprising:

an electrochromic device attached to a side of at least one glass panel, the electrochromic device being configured to change a light transmissivity responsive to an electric signal provided to the electrochromic device; and

a controller coupled to the electrochromic device, the controller being configured to control the electric signal provided to the, electrochromic device responsive to a geographic location of the window.

2. The window of claim 1, wherein the electrochromic device is sandwiched between two glass panels.

3. The window of claim 1, further comprising:

a navigation system coupled to the controller and, configured to provide a determined geographic location to the controller.

4. The window of claim 3, wherein the navigation system is a satellite positioning system.

5. The window of claim 3, wherein the navigation system is configured to determine location by triangulation of received radio frequency signals.

6. The window of claim 3, further comprising:

a data base of window tinting rules, the data base being accessible to the controller and used by said controller to determine whether to change the electric signal provided to said electrochromic device.

7. The window of claim 6, further comprising:

a. wherein the controller is configured to;

obtain a location from the navigation system;

locate a rule in the data base, governing window tinting for the geographic location obtained from the navigation system; and

adjust the electric signal provided to the electrochromic device responsive to the identified rule such that the transmissivity of the electrochromic device effectuates a window tinting that is at least substantially compliant with the located rule.

8. The window of claim 1, further comprising:

photo sensor coupled to the controller and configured to determine an ambient light level; and

wherein the controller is additionally configured to

adjust the electric signal provided to the electrochromic device responsive to the determined ambient light level.

9. The window of claim 1, further comprising:

temperature sensor coupled to the controller and configured to determine an ambient temperature; and

wherein the controller is configured to adjust the electric signal provided to the electrochromic device responsive to the ambient temperature.

10. The window of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to receive a user input signal and adjust the electric signal responsive to the received input.

11. A geographic location-responsive tinting window comprising:

navigation system, configured to determine a geographic location;

a controller coupled to the navigation system;

a glass window panel;

an electrochromic device applied to the glass window and coupled to the controller, the electrochromic device being configured to change light transmissivity responsive to an electric signal received from the controller, the electric signal received by the electrochromic device being determined responsive to a geographic location received by the controller; and

a data base of window tinting rules for a plurality of jurisdictions, the data base being accessible to the controller;

wherein the controller is configured to receive a location from the navigation system, determine whether the location is within a jurisdiction having a window tinting rule, and, if a window tinting rule for the jurisdiction is located in the data base, adjust the electric signal provided to the electrochromic device responsive to the window tinting rule for the jurisdiction.

12. The window of claim 11, wherein the electrically-adjustable light transmitter is an electrochromic device sandwiched between two glass window panels.

13. The window of claim 11, wherein the navigation system is a satellite positioning system.

14. The window of claim 11, wherein the navigation system is configured to determine location by triangulation of received radio frequency signals.

15. The window of claim 11, wherein the controller is configured to receive a user input signal and, adjust the electric signal responsive to the received input.

16. The window of claim 11, further comprising:

a. photo sensor coupled to the controller and configured to determine an ambient light level; and

b. wherein the controller is configured to

i. adjust the electric signal provided to the electrochromic device responsive to the ambient light level.

17. A method of adjusting a window tint responsive to a geographic location, the method comprising:

obtaining a geographic location;

providing a first electrical signal to an electrochromic device which is attached to at least one glass panel and which is configured to change a light transmissivity responsive to the provided electric signal, the first electrical signal being received from a controller, which receives data corresponding to the geographic location;

obtaining a window tinting rule, from a data base of window tinting rules for a plurality of jurisdictions, the data base being accessible to the controller.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of providing a first electrical signal is comprised of providing the first electrical signal to an electrochromic device sandwiched between two glass window panels.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of obtaining a geographic location is comprised of at least one of:

receiving the location from a satellite positioning system; and

triangulation of received radio frequency signals.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of:

providing a second electrical signal to the electrochromic device responsive to an input to the controller by a user.

21. The window of claim 17, further comprising the steps of:

receiving a signal from a photo sensor and which corresponds to an ambient light level measured by the photo sensor; and

adjusting the source of electric charge provided to the electrochromic device responsive to the signal from the photo sensor.

22. An electrically-powered vehicle comprising:

an electrochromic device attached to a window of the electrically-powered vehicle, the electrochromic device configured to change a light transmissivity responsive to an electric signal; and

a controller coupled to the electrochromic device and configured to control the electric signal provided to the electrochromic device responsive to at least one of;

a geographic location of the vehicle and an interior cabin temperature of the vehicle.