Multi-nodal SPD controller networking

• US 9,658,509 B2
• Filed: 01/04/2016
• Issued: 05/23/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Global Glass Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: SPD Control Systems Corporation
• Inventors: Moskowitz, Jay
• Primary Examiner(s): CHOI, WILLIAM C
• Application Number:
  US14/987,089
• Publication Number:
  US 20160116819A1
• Time in Patent Office: 505 Days
• Field of Search: 359296, 345107, 430 32, 204600
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 2009/2417 Light path control; means to control reflection
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 2009/2464 featuring transparency control by applying voltage, e.g. LCD, electrochromic panels
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 9/24 Screens or other constructions affording protection against light, especially against sunshine; Similar screens for privacy or appearance; Slat blindsoperating, guiding or securing devices or arrangements for roll-type closures E06B9/56; free-hanging flexible screens A47H23/00
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/0121 Operation of devices; Circuit arrangements, not otherwise provided for in this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13306 Circuit arrangements or driving methods for the control of single liquid crystal cells G02F1/132, G02F1/133382 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/167 by electrophoresis
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/172 based on a suspension of orientable dipolar particles, e.g. suspended particles displays
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1423 controlling a plurality of local displays, e.g. CRT and flat panel display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1446 display composed of modules, e.g. video walls
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/147 using display panels
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/40 Remote control systems using repeaters, converters, gateways
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/24 Generation of individual character patterns

Abstract

A scalable apparatus and a network environment dynamically changes the light transparency of a single SPD device, a small number of SPD devices or thousands of such SPD devices installed in windows in automobiles, aircraft, trains, marine vehicles, residential homes, commercial buildings and skyscrapers. A scalable apparatus and a network environment dynamically changes the light transparency of a single SPD device or thousands of such SPD devices in the presentation of a multi-media special effects display. Textual messages, graphical images and simulated motion effects are driven. Such scalable apparatus being capable of driving and using several operational parameters of SPD'"'"'s such as frequency range, AC voltage and temperature so as to provide fine control of SPD characteristics such as switching speed and power consumption.

Claims

1. A multiplicity of controllers communicatively coupled to each other, one or more of which controls the opacity of at least one respective SPD, any one or more of the multiplicity of controllers capable of sending a message containing an opacity value to the one or more controllers controlling the opacity of at least one SPD, to cause the one or more controllers controlling the opacity of at least one SPD, to change the opacity value of the at least one SPD.

2. One of the multiplicity of controllers of claim 1 in which the controller acts as a gateway between an external network of computing devices capable of sending information that can be converted into a message containing an opacity value, the gateway controller sending the message containing an opacity value to the one or more controllers controlling the opacity of at least one SPD, to cause that one or more controllers controlling the opacity of at least one SPD, to change the opacity value of the at least one SPD.

3. The one of the multiplicity of controllers of claim 2 where the controller acts as a gateway between a network of devices on a CAN bus and the multiplicity of controllers.

4. The one of the multiplicity of controllers of claim 3 in which the gateway between a network of devices on a CAN bus, communicates with the multiplicity of controllers through a LIN bus.

5. The controller acting as a gateway in claim 2 in which the controller controls the opacity of at least one SPD that can be specified by any of the external computing devices.

6. The one of the multiplicity of controllers of claim 1 having an input means which delivers a value that is converted to the message containing the desired opacity value used to change the opacity value of the at least one SPD.

7. The input means of claim 6 being an input device which is directly wired or wirelessly communicative coupled to the one of the multiplicity of controllers.

8. The input means of claim 7 in which the input device is connected to a computing device which is communicative coupled to the one of the multiplicity of controllers.

9. The one or more controllers of claim 1 in which the communicative coupling is through a mesh network allowing any of the multiplicity of controllers to directly communicate with another one of the multiplicity of controllers or relay a message between two controllers through an intermediary one of the multiplicity of controllers.

10. The one or more controllers of claim 1 in which the communicative coupling is through a local area network.

11. The one or more controllers of claim 1 in which the communicative coupling is through a multi-drop communications network.

12. The one or more controllers controlling the opacity of at least one SPD of claim 1 having a first lookup table providing a mapping between an opacity value and drive parameters used by the controller to change the at least one SPD to the opacity value contained in the message.

13. The one or more controllers of claim 1 controlling the opacity of at least two SPDs having a first and second lookup table providing a mapping between an opacity value and drive parameters for each respective SPD used by the controller to change each respective SPD to the opacity value contained in the message.

14. A multiplicity of controllers communicatively coupled to each other, one or more of which controls the opacity of at least one respective SPD, in which at least one of the multiplicity of controllers is used to configure the operational parameters of one or more of the controllers which control the opacity of at least one respective SPD.

15. The at least one of the multiplicity of controllers of claim 14 in which the operational parameters are defined through the use of a web browser which communicates with a web server operating on the at least one of the multiplicity of controllers.

16. One of the operational parameters of claim 14 which allows a controller controlling the opacity of at least one SPD, to define a set of SPDs located at one or more controllers controlling the opacity of at least one respective SPD.

17. A multiplicity of controllers communicatively coupled to each other at least one of which controls the opacity of at least on SPD, one of the multiplicity of controllers having operational parameters which allow sets of SPDs which are to all be set to the same opacity to be defined, wherein the SPDs are located at one or more controllers having at least one respective SPD, and having an input means to specify the set of SPDs and a desired opacity value,

upon receiving from the input means the specification of the set of SPDs and the desired opacity value, sends a message to each controller controlling any of the SPDs which are part of that set, to set the respective SPD specified as part of that set, to the desired opacity.

18. The multiplicity of controllers of claim 17 wherein the input device is communicative coupled to any of the multiplicity of controllers.

19. The one of the multiplicity of controllers of claim 17 wherein the message sent to each controller is delivered to one or more directly coupled controllers or by relaying the message through at least one intermediary controller which is communicatively coupled to the one of the multiplicity of controllers.

20. The one of the multiplicity of controllers of claim 17 wherein it directly controls at least one SPD of the set of SPDs and sets its respective SPD to the desired opacity.