Electronic Window Shading System for Houses, Transport Vehicles and the Like

• US 20090027759A1
• Filed: 07/23/2007
• Published: 01/29/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kuwait University
• Original Assignee: University of Kuwait
• Inventors: Albahri, Tareq Abduljalil
• Granted Patent: US 8,102,586 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/277
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10036 comprising two outer glass sheets
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10513 Electrochromic layer
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 3/04 adjustable in transparency
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 2009/2464 featuring transparency control by applying voltage, e.g. LCD, electrochromic panels
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 2009/6827 sensing light
• 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 1/13318 Circuits comprising a photodetector
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/163 Operation of electrochromic cells, e.g. electrodeposition cells; Circuit arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 30/24 Structural elements or technologies for improving thermal insulation
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 80/00 Architectural or constructional elements improving the thermal performance of buildings

Abstract

There is disclosed an automatic electronic window shading (tinting) system for houses and transport vehicles such as automobiles, RV'"'"'s, trains, boats and the like, to provide shading for people to protect them from exposure to harmful direct sunlight, by providing the windows of said houses and transport vehicles with display elements and light (photocell/photovoltaic) sensors. The system comprises liquid crystal, electrochromic, suspended particle device (SPD), or NanoChromics display (NCD) element attached to a part of a transparent body (such as the windows) and a liquid crystal, electrochromic, suspended particle device (SPD), or NanoChromics display (NCD) controlling semiconductor element controlling the operation of the display element.

Claims

1. ) An automatic electronic shading system for houses, buildings, transport vehicles, and any situation which required shading to protect dwellers and passengers from exposure to direct sun rays, comprising;

light sensors and display element attached to a part of a transparent body, and a control unit, controlling the operation of the display element.

2. ) The automatic electronic shading system of claim 1 wherein said control unit comprises a program logic/code, a controlling semiconductor element, a circuit, an electronic drive system and a central processing unit.

3. ) The automatic electronic shading system of claim 1 wherein said control unit interprets the signals from the said light sensors and switches each pixel ON or OFF on said transparent body.

4. ) The automatic electronic shading system of claim 1 wherein said transport vehicles are one or more of a set of cars, motorcycles, RVs, busses, trains, boats, and ships.

5. ) The automatic electronic shading system of claim 1 wherein the display element is one or more of a set of polymer dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC), electrochromic, suspended particle device (SPD), NanoChromics display (NCD), or Organic electroluminescent display (OELD) element.

6. ) The automatic electronic shading system of claim 1 wherein the light sensor is a photosensitive cell.

7. ) The automatic electronic shading system of claim 1 wherein the system is an integrated unit, including sensors, a processor, supporting hardware, and may be powered by battery or the house or vehicles electric system.

8. ) The automatic electronic shading system of claim 1 wherein the shading can be controlled either automatically by means of a sensing device.

9. ) The automatic electronic shading system of claim 8 wherein said sensing means is a photo sensor.

10. ) The automatic electronic shading system of claim 1 wherein the tint can be adjusted manually with a rheostat.

11. ) The automatic electronic shading system of claim 1 wherein the tint can be adjusted electronically with a remote control.

12. ) The automatic electronic shading system of claim 1 wherein the display element attached to a part of a transparent body.

13. ) The automatic electronic shading system of claim 1 wherein the display element is one large pixel that can be switched ON/OFF.

14. ) The automatic electronic shading system of claim 1 wherein the display element is comprises plurality of small pixels that can be individually switched ON/OFF.

15. ) The automatic electronic shading system of claim 1 wherein a UV-blocking film attached to said display element.

16. ) The automatic electronic shading system of claim 1 wherein the photo sensor is positioned behind the transparent body having the display element, such that when the photo sensor detects that the intensity of the incident light passing through the transparent body having the display element.

17. ) The automatic electronic shading system of claim 1 wherein the photo sensor is positioned aside (in front) the transparent body having the display element (outside the vehicle/building), such that when the photo sensor detects that the intensity of the incident light coming directly from the sun, an alternating current electric field is applied to the display element which responsively decreases the transmissivity of the incident light.

18. ) The automatic electronic shading system of claim 1 wherein a heater for heating the liquid crystal is activated when the temperature of the liquid crystal is low.

19. ) The automatic electronic shading system of claim 1 wherein said controller receives the voltage signal from said light sensors, evaluates its magnitude, then modulates it and sends it to the electronic window to switch the display element (pixels) ON/OFF in a desired pre-programmed pattern to effectuate desired degree of shading using ON/OFF display switch(s) in the window according to external sun light (LUX) thus providing a selected light transmittance, and providing a thermal break for decreasing radiative and conductive heat transfer between the exterior and the interior.

20. ) The automatic electronic shading system of claim 1 wherein the system serves as an electronic visor.