Controller configured for an electro-optic device and method thereof

• US 9,405,165 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2013
• Issued: 08/02/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Inventors: Eaton, David L., Guarr, Thomas F., Ash, Kevin L., Theiste, David A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jones, James
• Application Number:
  US13/804,561
• Publication Number:
  US 20130258440A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,237 Days
• Field of Search: 359/275, 359/265
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/163 Operation of electrochromic cells, e.g. electrodeposition cells; Circuit arrangements therefor

Abstract

A controller system configured to control an electrochromic device and method thereof are provided, wherein the controller system includes an electrochromic device having a first substantially transparent substrate, a second substantially transparent substrate approximately parallel to the first substantially transparent substrate such that a chamber is defined by the first and second substantially transparent substrates, and an electrochromic medium between the first and second substantially transparent substrates, and a controller in communication with the electrochromic device, wherein the controller is configured to monitor electrical power supplied to the electrochromic device and adjust the electrical power supplied to the electrochromic device to maintain the electrochromic device in an approximately minimum transmission state.

Claims

1. A controller system configured to control an electro-optic device, said controller system comprising:

an electro-optic device comprising;

a first substantially transparent substrate;

a second substantially transparent substrate approximately parallel to said first substantially transparent substrate such that a chamber is defined by said first and second substantially transparent substrates; and

an electro-optic medium between said first and second substantially transparent substrates; and

a controller in communication with said electro-optic device, wherein said controller is configured to;

monitor electrical power supplied to said electro-optic device;

determine at least one of an approximate minima and an approximate maxima based on the monitoring; and

adjust said electrical power supplied corresponding to at least one of the approximate minima and the approximate maxima, such that approximately a minimum potential is applied to said electro-optic device to maintain said electro-optic device in an approximately minimum transmission state.

2. The controller system of claim 1, wherein said controller is further configured to maintain said electro-optic device in said approximately minimum transmission state independent of a measurement of temperature of said electro-optic device.

3. The controller system of claim 1, wherein said controller is further configured to calculate a first derivative and a second derivative of electrical current across said electro-optic device and determine the approximate maxima and minima of said first and second derivatives, such that said potential to be supplied to maintain said approximately minimum transmission state can be determined based upon said maxima and minima.

4. The controller system of claim 1, wherein said controller is further configured for reverse potential monitoring and reverse potential control of said electrical power supplied to said electro-optic device.

5. The controller system of claim 4, wherein said reverse potential monitoring and reverse potential control comprises said electro-optic device operating as an open circuit, such that an open circuit voltage potential that a non-equilibrium state of said electro-optic device produces is monitored.

6. The controller system of claim 5, wherein said controller is configured to use a magnitude of said open circuit voltage potential to determine a counter-potential that is applied in order to clear the electro-optic device.

7. The controller system of claim 1, wherein said controller is further configured for current monitoring and reverse potential control.

8. The controller system of claim 7, wherein said current monitoring and reverse potential control comprise applying a reverse potential to said electro-optic device while reducing a current flowing in a reverse direction.

9. The controller system of claim 1, wherein said controller is further configured to monitor reverse current and dynamically adjust a potential to maintain a substantially maximized current magnitude and reduce current flow that otherwise results in reverse coloring.

10. The controller system of claim 1, wherein said controller is further configured to control transitions of said electro-optic device from a substantially clear state to a substantially dark state without substantially pulsing.

11. The controller system of claim 1, wherein said controller is further configured to control said electro-optic device, such that a transmittance of said electro-optic device monitonically increases.

12. The controller system of claim 1, wherein said controller is further configured to increase a transmittance of said electro-optic device devoid of any periodic reduction in transmission being less than about 0.5% of the current transmission.

18. The controller system of claim 1, wherein said controller is further configured to determine the approximate maxima and minima of an electrical current across said electro-optic device to determine said electrical power to be supplied to maintain said approximately minimum transmission state based upon said maxima and minima.

19. The controller system of claim 1, wherein said controller is further configured to determine at least one rate of change corresponding to the electrical power, and wherein the at least one of the minima and the maxima are determined from the rate of change.

20. The controller system of claim 19, wherein the at least one rate of change corresponds to a first derivative and a second derivative of electrical current across said electro-optic device.

13. A method for maintaining an electro-optic device at a substantially dark state, said method comprising the steps of:

supplying electrical power to said electro-optic device;

determining an approximate maxima and minima of an electrical current across said electro-optic device; and

adjusting said supplied electrical power to maintain said electro-optic device in an approximately minimum transmission state based on the approximate maxima and minima of the electrical current independent of a measurement of temperature of said electro-optic devices.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising the steps of:

calculating a first derivative of electrical current across said electro-optic device;

calculating a second derivative of electrical current across said electro-optic device; and

determining the approximate maxima and minima of said first and second derivatives.

15. A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon software instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to generate control signals to control an electro-optic device, by executing the steps comprising:

supplying electrical power to said electro-optic device; and

adjusting said supplied electrical power to maintain said electro-optic device in an approximately minimum transmission state independent of a measurement of temperature of said electro-optic device and based on an approximate maxima and minima of a current corresponding to the electrical power.

16. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15 further executing the steps comprising:

calculating a first derivative of electrical current across said electro-optic device;

calculating a second derivative of electrical current across said electro-optic device; and

determining the approximate maxima and minima of said first and second derivatives.

17. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15 further executing the steps comprising:

monitonically increasing a transmittance of said electro-optic device.