Application independent operational controls of a suspended particle device

• US 20100308207A1
• Filed: 08/13/2010
• Published: 12/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Global Glass Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: SPD Control Systems Corporation
• Inventors: Moskowitz, Jay
• Granted Patent: US 8,098,421 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 250/205
• 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 materials 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

1-27. -27. (canceled)

28. A controller controlling the opacity of a suspended particle device, wherein there is stored within the controller a first lookup table providing a mapping between received commands and drive giving rise to various opacity values.

29. The controller of claim 28 in which the control of opacity comprises modulating the frequency of applied potential through a variable range, or varying the voltage driving the suspended particle device.

30. The controller of claim 28 wherein the controller automatically changes the opacity of its respective SPD based upon the physical orientation of the SPD device on the earth, the latitude and longitude of the SPD device, the day of the year and the time of the day, without the necessity of a message from the master controller directing such a change.

31. The controller of claim 28 wherein the manual control supports at least two fixed profiles for daytime and night time opacity settings and comprises a user-actuable switch to manually set which profile is currently in effect.

32. The controller of claim 31 wherein there exist two profiles and the user-actuable switch is labeled Summer and Winter.

33. The controller of claim 31 wherein there exist four profiles and the user-actuable switch is labeled Summer, Fall, Winter and Spring.

34. The controller of claim 28 wherein each controller is further responsive to manual control information for controlling the opacity of its respective suspended particle device in response to manual inputs.

35. A controller controlling the opacity of a suspended particle device, wherein there is stored within the controller a first lookup table providing a mapping between received commands and drive giving rise to various opacity values, wherein each controller is further responsive to manual control information for controlling the opacity of its respective suspended particle device in response to manual inputs.

36. The controller of claim 35 wherein the controller includes a sensor circuit to detect a drop in current flow through the SPD material, thereby detecting a break in the SPD material;

the controller further comprising means annunciating the detected event to equipment external to the controller.

37. The controller of claim 35 wherein the first lookup table gives rise to a linear relationship between commands and opacity.

38. The controller of claim 35 wherein the first lookup table is associated with a first type of SPD and wherein there is stored within the controller at least a second lookup table associated with at least a second type of SPD film.

39. The controller of claim 35 wherein the SPD film is driven differently based upon external temperature.

40. The controller of claim 35 in which the wave form driving the SPD material at a particular transparency level is continually changing in phase or in wave shape in order to avoid a resonance forming in the SPD material causing a “

singing”

or “

hum”

.

41. The controller of claim 35 wherein a light source and photodetector combination is used to determine the absolute glass transparency of the SPD material and wherein the controller auto-adjusts operational parameters to bring the SPD material to the desired transparency level within a desired time period.

42. The controller of claim 35 wherein the switching time of the SPD material is held constant regardless of the exterior temperature of the SPD material.

43. The controller of claim 35 wherein the power generation circuitry is turned off for some number of cycles per second to maintain a particular level of transparency of SPD material at a lower power consumption than operating the SPD material continually at a given frequency.

44. The controller of claim 35 wherein the controller applies a higher-than-normal operating frequency until the SPD-material switches to the desired transparency level and then switches to the normal frequency to maintain the SPD-material at that transparency level.

45. The controller of claim 35 wherein each controller includes a sensor circuit to detect a drop in current flow through the SPD material, thereby detecting a break in the SPD material;

the controller disposed to reduce electrical power power to the SPD material to prevent shocks to humans.

46. The controller of claim 35 wherein each controller includes a sensor circuit to detect a drop in current flow through the SPD material, thereby detecting a break in the SPD material;

the controller further comprising means annunciating the detected event to equipment external to the controller.

47. A controller controlling the opacity of a suspended particle device;

wherein the controller includes a sensor circuit to detect a drop in current flow through the SPD material, thereby detecting a break in the SPD material;

the controller further comprising means annunciating the detected event to equipment external to the controller.

48. A controller controlling the opacity of a suspended particle device;

wherein there is stored within the controller a first lookup table providing a mapping between received commands and drive giving rise to various opacity values.

49. The controller of claim 48 wherein the first lookup table gives rise to a linear relationship between commands and opacity.

50. The controller of claim 48 wherein the first lookup table is associated with a first type of SPD and wherein there is stored within the controller at least a second lookup table associated with at least a second type of SPD film.

51. A controller controlling the opacity of a suspended particle device (SPD film);

wherein the SPD film is driven differently based upon external temperature.

52. A controller controlling the opacity of a suspended particle device by applying a waveform thereto, in which the wave form driving the SPD material at a particular transparency level is continually changing in phase or in wave shape in order to avoid a resonance forming in the SPD material causing a “

singing”

or “

hum”

.

53. A controller controlling the opacity of a suspended particle device comprising SPD material, wherein a light source and photodetector combination is used to determine the absolute glass transparency of the SPD material and wherein the controller auto-adjusts operational parameters to bring the SPD material to the desired transparency level.

54. The controller of claim 53 wherein the auto-adjustment of the operational parameters to bring the SPD material to the desired transparency level takes place within a desired time period.

55. A controller controlling the opacity of a suspended particle device comprising SPD material, wherein the switching time of the SPD material is held constant regardless of the exterior temperature of the SPD material.

56. A controller controlling the opacity of a suspended particle device comprising SPD material, wherein the power generation circuitry is turned off for some number of cycles per second to maintain a particular level of transparency of SPD material at a lower power consumption than operating the SPD material continually at a given frequency.

57. A controller controlling the opacity of a suspended particle device comprising SPD material, wherein the controller applies a higher-than-normal operating frequency until the SPD-material switches to the desired transparency level and then switches to the normal frequency to maintain the SPD-material at that transparency level.

58. A controller controlling the opacity of a suspended particle device comprising SPD material, wherein the controller includes a sensor circuit to detect a drop in current flow through the SPD material, thereby detecting a break in the SPD material;

the controller disposed to reduce electrical power power to the SPD material to prevent shocks to humans.

59-61. -61. (canceled)

62. A method for use with a controller of SPD material, the controller comprising a sensor circuit to detect a drop in current flow through the SPD material, the method comprising the steps of:

detecting a break in the SPD material; and

annunciating the detected event to equipment external to the controller.

63. A method for use with a controller of SPD film, the method comprising the step of:

driving the SPD film differently based upon external temperature.

64. A method for use with a controller of SPD film and with respect to a particular desired transparency level, the method comprising the step of:

imposing a wave form driving the SPD film;

continually changing the wave form in phase or in wave shape in order to avoid a resonance forming in the SPD film causing a “

singing”

or “

hum”

.

65. A method for use with a controller of SPD film, the controller comprising a light source and photodetector combination to determine the absolute glass transparency of the SPD film, the method comprising the steps of:

measuring the transparency of the SPD film by means of the light source and the photodetector; and

auto-adjusting operational parameters to bring the SPD material to the desired transparency level.

66. The method of claim 65 wherein the auto-adjustment of the operational parameters to bring the SPD material to the desired transparency level takes place within a desired time period.

67. A method for use with a controller of SPD film, the method comprising the step of:

holding the switching time of the SPD film constant regardless of the exterior temperature of the SPD film.

68. A method for use with a controller of SPD film, the method comprising the step of:

turning off the power generation circuitry for some number of cycles per second to maintain a particular level of transparency of SPD film at a lower power consumption than operating the SPD material continually at a given frequency.

69. A method for use with a controller of SPD film, the method comprising the step of:

applying a higher-than-normal operating frequency until the SPD-film switches to the desired transparency level and then switching to the normal frequency to maintain the SPD-material at that transparency level.

70. A method for use with a controller of SPD film, the method comprising the steps of:

detecting a drop in current flow through the SPD film, and

reducing electrical power to the SPD film to prevent shocks to humans.

71. A method for use with a controller controlling the opacity of an SPD material;

the method comprising the steps of;

detecting a drop in current flow through the SPD material, thereby detecting a break in the SPD material; and

thereafter;

reducing electrical power to the SPD material to prevent shocks to humans.

72-98. -98. (canceled)