CONTROLLERS FOR OPTICALLY-SWITCHABLE DEVICES

• US 20170131610A1
• Filed: 10/26/2016
• Published: 05/11/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: View Incorporated
• Original Assignee: View Incorporated
• Inventors: Brown, Stephen Clark, Shrivastava, Dhairya
• Granted Patent: US 10,809,587 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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 2009/247 Electrically powered illumination
• 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 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/158 including plural semiconductor devices as final control devices for a single load
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/18 Network protocols supporting networked applications, e.g. including control of end-device applications over a network

Abstract

This disclosure relates generally to optically-switchable devices, and more particularly, to systems, apparatus, and methods for controlling optically-switchable devices. In some implementations, the apparatus includes an interface for communicating with window controllers, and the apparatus includes one or more processors. A processor can be configured to cause status information received from a window controller to be processed. The status information can indicate at least a tint status of one or more optically-switchable devices controlled by the window controller. In response to receiving the status information, one or more tint commands can be sent via the interface to the window controller.

Claims

1. An apparatus for interfacing with window controllers configured to control optically-switchable devices, the apparatus comprising:

an interface for communicating with a plurality of window controllers; and

one or more processors configured to cause;

processing status information received from a window controller, the status information indicating at least a tint status of one or more optically-switchable devices controlled by the window controller, and

sending, responsive to receiving the status information, one or more tint commands via the interface to the window controller.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, the one or more processors further configured to cause:

sending, on a sequential basis or an asynchronous basis, status requests to the plurality of window controllers.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the status information indicates one or more of:

an applied voltage level, a detected voltage level, a detected current, photosensor information, or temperature sensor information.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, the one or more processors further configured to cause:

identifying the window controller as controlling an optically-switchable device to be transitioned from a first tint state to a second tint state different from the first tint state.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, the one or more processors further configured to cause:

logging the status information in association with an identity of the window controller as log data in a log file,

analyzing the log data, and

managing storage of log files in one or more databases.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein analyzing the log data comprises:

comparing one or more measured electrical characteristics indicated by the status information with a reference value or with a range of values, and

determining an error condition based on the comparison.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, the one or more processors further configured to cause:

delaying the sending of the one or more tint commands based on the error condition.

8. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein:

analyzing the log data comprises filtering the log data to obtain a portion of the log data representing values deviating from designated expected values, and

managing storage of the log files comprises identifying the portion of the log data.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, the one or more processors further configured to cause:

translating between an upstream protocol for the apparatus to communicate with an upstream controller and a downstream protocol for the apparatus to communicate with the window controller.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, the one or more processors further configured to cause:

generating one or more tint values based on parameters comprising at least the status information, the one or more tint values being identified in the one or more tint commands.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the parameters further comprise one or more of:

calendar information, solar information, temperature information, weather information, third party application data, or user instructions.

12. A system for controlling optically-switchable devices, the system comprising:

a plurality of window controllers controlling a plurality of optically-switchable devices; and

a network controller controlling one or more of the window controllers, the network controller comprising one or more processors configured to cause;

processing status information received from a window controller, the status information indicating at least a tint status of one or more optically-switchable devices controlled by the window controller, and

sending, responsive to receiving the status information, one or more tint commands via the interface to the window controller.

13. The system of claim 12, the one or more processors further configured to cause:

sending, on a sequential basis or an asynchronous basis, status requests to the plurality of window controllers.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the status information indicates one or more of:

an applied voltage level, a detected voltage level, a detected current, photosensor information, or temperature sensor information.

15. The system of claim 12, the one or more processors further configured to cause:

identifying the window controller as controlling an optically-switchable device to be transitioned from a first tint state to a second tint state different from the first tint state.

16. The system of claim 12, the one or more processors further configured to cause:

logging the status information in association with an identity of the window controller as log data in a log file,

analyzing the log data, and

managing storage of log files in one or more databases.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein analyzing the log data comprises:

comparing one or more measured electrical characteristics indicated by the status information with a reference value or with a range of values, and

determining an error condition based on the comparison.

18. The system of claim 12, the one or more processors further configured to cause:

translating between an upstream protocol for the apparatus to communicate with an upstream controller and a downstream protocol for the apparatus to communicate with the window controller.

19. The system of claim 12, the one or more processors further configured to cause:

generating one or more tint values based on parameters comprising at least the status information, the one or more tint values being identified in the one or more tint commands.

20. A method for interfacing with window controllers configured to control optically-switchable devices, the method comprising:

receiving status information from a window controller, the status information indicating at least a tint status of one or more optically-switchable devices controlled by the window controller;

generating one or more tint commands according to the received status information; and

sending the generated one or more tint commands to the window controller.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

sending, on a sequential basis or an asynchronous basis, status requests to the plurality of window controllers.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the status information indicates one or more of:

an applied voltage level, a detected voltage level, a detected current, photosensor information, or temperature sensor information.

23. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

identifying the window controller as controlling an optically-switchable device to be transitioned from a first tint state to a second tint state different from the first tint state.

24. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

logging the status information in association with an identity of the window controller as log data in a log file;

analyzing the log data; and

managing storage of log files in one or more databases.

25. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

translating between an upstream protocol for the apparatus to communicate with an upstream controller and a downstream protocol for the apparatus to communicate with the window controller.

26. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

generating one or more tint values based on parameters comprising at least the status information, the one or more tint values being identified in the one or more tint commands.