Controller for optically-switchable windows

• US 10,809,589 B2
• Filed: 01/29/2018
• Issued: 10/20/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: View Incorporated
• Original Assignee: View Incorporated
• Inventors: Brown, Stephen Clark
• Primary Examiner(s): Fennema, Robert E
• Assistant Examiner(s): Siddiquee, Tameem D
• Application Number:
  US15/882,719
• Publication Number:
  US 20190049812A1
• Time in Patent Office: 995 Days
• 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 1/163 Operation of electrochromic cells, e.g. electrodeposition cells; Circuit arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 13/024 in which a parameter or coefficient is automatically adjusted to optimise the performance

Abstract

This disclosure provides a window controller that includes a command-voltage generator that generates a command voltage signal, and a pulse-width-modulated-signal generator that generates a pulse-width-modulated signal based on the command voltage signal. The pulse-width-modulated signal drives an optically-switchable device. The pulse-width-modulated signal comprises a first power component having a first duty cycle and a second power component having a second duty cycle. The first component delivers a first pulse during each active portion of the first duty cycle, and the second component delivers a second pulse during each active portion of the second duty cycle. The first pulses are applied to a first conductive layer and the second pulses are applied to a second conductive layer. The relative durations of the active portions and the relative durations of the first and second pulses are adjusted to result in a change in an effective DC voltage applied across the optically-switchable device.

Claims

1. An apparatus for powering an optically switchable device comprising a window controller that is configured to operatively couple to the optically switchable device, which window controller comprises:

(I) a memory configured to store a plurality of power profiles, each including a plurality of portions, each portion comprises;

(i) an electrical characteristic associated with power, and

(ii) a time duration during which the electrical characteristic is applied to the optically switchable device,

wherein each power profile of the plurality of power profiles includes a first portion during which a first voltage ramp is applied and a second portion during which a first voltage hold is applied, wherein the plurality of power profiles include a first power profile and a second power profile, wherein (iii) the first voltage ramp of the first power profile has a different voltage ramp rate as compared with that of the first voltage ramp of the second power profile and/or (iv) the first voltage hold of the first power profile has a different duration as compared with that of the first voltage hold of the second power profile;

(II) a command generator configured to;

(A) receive a plurality of received drive parameters including a present tran smissivity value of the optically switchable device and a target transmissivity value of the optically switchable device,

(B) compare the plurality of received drive parameters with sets of stored drive parameters arranged in a data structure of data elements, each data element of the data elements corresponding to one of the sets of stored drive parameters, each data element further corresponding to a power profile of the plurality of power profiles,

(C) by utilizing a comparison of the plurality of received drive parameters with the sets of the stored drive parameters, identify one of the data elements of the data structure as corresponding to the plurality of received drive parameters,

(D) identify the power profile corresponding to the one of the data elements identified, and

(E) generate a command signal by utilizing the power profile identified,

wherein;

(a) the data structure has at least three dimensions including a first dimension corresponding to target transmissivity values, a second dimension corresponding to current transmissivity values, and a third dimension, and/or

(b) each power profile includes (1) a third portion during which a second voltage hold is applied, wherein a duration of the second portion during which the first voltage hold is applied differs from a duration of the third portion during which the second voltage hold is applied and/or (2) a fourth portion during which a second voltage ramp is applied. wherein (3) the first voltage ramp is increasing and the second voltage ramp is decreasing or (4) the first voltage ramp is decreasing and the second voltage ramp is increasing; and

(III) a power signal generator configured to generate a power signal, by utilizing the command signal that applies the power profile identified to the optically switchable device.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the window controller is configured to modify at least one power profile of the plurality of power profiles using a control signal received at the window controller from a network controller.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the command generator comprises a microcontroller configured to at least generate the command signal, which microcontroller is configured to perform:

(a) generating the command signal further based at least in part on a voltage feedback signal that uses an effective DC voltage applied across the optically switchable device, (b) modifying the command signal based at least in part on a further voltage feedback signal that uses a detected actual level of the effective DC voltage applied across the optically switchable device, (c) generating or modifying the command signal further based at least in part on a current feedback signal that utilizes a detected current transmitted through the optically switchable device, and/or (d) modifying the command signal by utilizing one or more other input, feedback, and/or control signals received from a network controller external to the window controller.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of received drive parameters are received from:

(a) the optically switchable device, (b) a frame, (c) an electrical connection assembly wired to the frame or to the optically switchable device, and/or (d) a plug-in component configured to interface with the optically switchable device, and wherein the window controller is configured to cause the plurality of received drive parameters to be loaded into the memory responsive to a signal indicating;

connecting a plug-in component with the optically switchable device, and/or activating the window controller.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the window controller is configured to cause the plurality of received drive parameters to be loaded into the memory responsive at least in part to polling for and detecting an external memory storing the plurality of received drive parameters.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of received drive parameters comprise a present outside temperature, a present inside temperature, or a transition rate.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein (i) the first voltage ramp of the first power profile has a different voltage ramp rate as compared with that of the first voltage ramp of the second power profile and (ii) the first voltage hold of the first power profile has a different duration as compared with that of the first voltage hold of the second power profile.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first power profile and the second power profile have different voltage ramp rates of their respective first voltage ramps.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first power profile and the second power profile have different durations of their respective first voltage holds.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each power profile of the plurality of power profiles comprises a pre-determined power profile associated with a respective set of the sets of stored drive parameters.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each power profile of the plurality of power profiles includes (a) the third portion during which the second voltage hold is applied, wherein the duration of the second portion during which the first voltage hold is applied differs from the duration of the third portion during which the second voltage hold is applied and/or (b) the fourth portion during which the second voltage ramp is applied, wherein (1) the first voltage ramp is increasing and the second voltage ramp is decreasing or (2) the first voltage ramp is decreasing and the second voltage ramp is increasing.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein each power profile includes the third portion during which the second voltage hold is applied, wherein the duration of the second portion during which the first voltage hold is applied differs from the duration of the third portion during which the second voltage hold is applied.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein each power profile includes the fourth portion during which the second voltage ramp is applied, and wherein:

(1) the first voltage ramp is increasing and the second voltage ramp is decreasing or (2) the first voltage ramp is decreasing and the second voltage ramp is increasing.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the second portion occurs after the first portion and before the third portion.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the plurality of power profiles vary amongst each other in:

(i) ramp rates for their respective first voltage ramps, (ii) durations for their respective second portions during which their respective first voltage holds are applied, (iii) voltage values of their respective first voltage holds, durations for their respective third portions during which their respective second voltage holds are applied, (iv) voltage values of their respective second voltage holds, and/or (v) ramp rates for their respective second voltage ramps.

16. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein an absolute value of the voltage of the first voltage hold is greater than that of the second voltage hold.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the data structure has at least three dimensions including the first dimension corresponding to target transmissivity values, the second dimension corresponding to current transmissivity values, and the third dimension.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the data structure comprises a property of the optically switchable device, wherein the third dimension of the data structure corresponds to the property of the optically switchable device.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the property of the optically switchable device comprises a thickness or a surface area, of the optically switchable device.

20. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the third dimension of the data structure corresponds to temperature.

21. A system for powering optically switchable devices, comprising:

a plurality of windows, each window comprising a respective one of the optically switchable devices;

a plurality of window controllers, each comprising a windowcontroller configured to power at least one window of the plurality of windows, each window controller comprising;

(I) a memory configured to store a plurality of power profiles, each including a plurality of portions, each portion comprising;

(i) an electrical characteristic associated with power, and

(ii) a time duration during which the electrical characteristic is applied to the optically switchable device,

wherein each power profile of the plurality of power profiles includes a first portion during which a first voltage ramp is applied and a second portion during which a first voltage hold is applied;

(II) a command generator configured to;

(A) receive a plurality of received drive parameters including a present transmissivity value of the optically switchable device, a target transmissivity value of the optically switchable device, and an additional drive parameter,

(B) compare the plurality of received drive parameters with sets of stored drive parameters arranged in a data structure of data elements, each data element of the data elements corresponding to one of the sets of stored drive parameters, each data element further corresponding to a power profile of the plurality of power profiles,

(C) by utilizing a comparison of the plurality of received drive parameters with the sets of the stored drive parameters, identify one of the data elements of the data structure as corresponding to the plurality of received drive parameters,

(D) identify the power profile corresponding to the one or the data elements identified, and

(E) generate a command signal by utilizing the power profile identified,

wherein;

(a) the data structure having at least three dimensions including a first dimension corresponding to target transmissivity values, a second dimension corresponding to current transmissivity values, and a third dimension, and/or

(b) each power profile includes (1) a third portion during which a second voltage hold is applied, wherein a duration of the second portion during which the first voltage hold is applied differs from a duration of the third portion during which the second voltage hold is applied and/or (2) a fourth portion during which a second voltage ramp is applied. wherein (3) the first voltage ramp is increasing and the second voltage ramp is decreasing or (4) the first voltage ramp is decreasing and the second voltage ramp is increasing; and

(III) a power signal generator configured to generate a power signal, by utilizing the command signal, that applies the power profile identified to the optically switchable device; and

a network controller configured to control the plurality of window controllers.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein each window controller is configured to:

receive the stored drive parameters and the plurality of power profiles from the network controller, and modify at least one power profile of the plurality of power profiles according to a control signal received at the window controller from the network controller.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein the command generator includes a microcontroller configured to at least generate the command signal, and the microcontroller is configured to perform:

(a) generating the command signal further based at least in part on a voltage feedback signal by utilizing an effective DC voltage applied across the optically switchable device, (b) modifying the command signal based at least in part on a further voltage feedback signal by utilizing a detected actual level of the effective DC voltage applied across the optically switchable device, (c) generating or modifying the command signal further based at least in part on a current feedback signal by utilizing a detected current transmitted through the optically switchable device, and/or (d) modifying the command signal by utilizing one or more other input, feedback, or control signals received from a network controller external to the window controller.

24. The system of claim 21, wherein:

(A) the plurality of received drive parameters are received from;

(a) the optically switchable device, (b) a frame, (c) an electrical connection assembly wired to the frame or to the optically switchable device, or (d) a plug -in component configured to interface with the optically switchable device, and/or (B) the window controller is configured to cause the received drive parameters to be loaded into the memory responsive to a signal indicating;

(i) connecting a plug-in component with the optically switchable device, and/or (ii) activating the window controller.

25. The system of claim 21, wherein the window controller is configured to cause the stored drive parameters to be loaded into the memory responsive to polling for and detecting an external memory storing the stored drive parameters.

26. The system of claim 21, wherein each power profile of the plurality of power profiles includes (a) the third portion during which the second voltage hold is applied, wherein the duration of the second portion during which the first voltage hold is applied differs from the duration of the third portion during which the second voltage hold is applied, and/or (b) the fourth portion during which the second voltage ramp is applied, wherein (1) the first voltage ramp is increasing and the second voltage ramp is decreasing or (2) the first voltage ramp is decreasing and the second voltage ramp is increasing.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein each power profile includes the third portion during which the second voltage hold is applied, wherein the duration of the second portion during which the first voltage hold is applied differs from the duration of the third portion during which the second voltage hold is applied.

28. The system of claim 26, wherein each power profile includes the fourth portion during which the second voltage ramp is applied, and wherein:

(1) the first voltage ramp is increasing and the second voltage ramp is decreasing, or (2) the first voltage ramp is decreasing and the second voltage ramp is increasing.

29. The system of claim 26, wherein the second portion occurs after the first portion and before the third portion.

30. The system of claim 26, wherein an absolute value of the voltage of the first voltage hold is greater than that of the second voltage hold.

31. The system of claim 21, wherein the data structure has at least three dimensions including the first dimension corresponding to target transmissivity values, the second dimension corresponding to current transmissivity values, and the third dimension.

32. The system of claim 31, wherein the additional drive parameter comprises a target transition rate, wherein the third dimension of the data structure corresponds to transition rates such that the power profile identified varies based on the target transition rate.

33. The system of claim 31, wherein the additional drive parameter comprises a temperature, wherein the third dimension of the data structure corresponds to temperatures such that the power profile identified varies using the temperature.

34. The system of claim 31, wherein the additional drive parameter comprises a property of the optically switchable device, wherein the third dimension of the data structure corresponds to the property of the optically switchable device such that the power profile identified varies using the property of the optically switchable device.

35. The system of claim 34, wherein the property of the optically switchable device comprises a thickness or a surface area, of the optically switchable device.

36. The system of claim 31, wherein each power profile of the plurality of power profiles comprises a pre-determined power profile associated with a respective set of the sets of stored drive parameters.