WINDOW ANTENNAS

• US 20170365908A1
• Filed: 11/24/2015
• Published: 12/21/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: View Incorporated
• Original Assignee: View Incorporated
• Inventors: Hughes, Harold, Brown, Stephen Clark, Shrivastava, Dhairya
• Granted Patent: US 10,673,121 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 2009/2464 featuring transparency control by applying voltage, e.g. LCD, electrochromic panels
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 3/6722 with adjustable passage of light
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 7/28 Other arrangements on doors or windows, e.g. door-plates, windows adapted to carry plants, hooks for window cleaners edge protecting devices for door leaves E06B3/88; special glazing; emergency glazing; double glazing E06B3/66
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1533 structural features not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/163 Operation of electrochromic cells, e.g. electrodeposition cells; Circuit arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/12 Supports; Mounting means
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/1271 for mounting on windscreens
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/246 specially adapted for base stations
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/38 formed by a conductive layer on an insulating support patch antennas H01Q9/0407; microstrip dipole antennas H01Q9/065; microstrip slot antennas H01Q13/106; transmission line microstrip antennas H01Q13/206; manufacturing reflecting surfaces using insulating material for supporting the reflecting surface H01Q15/142
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/44 using equipment having another main function to serve additionally as an antenna , e.g. means for giving an antenna an aesthetic aspectH01Q1/27 - H01Q1/34 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/0407 Substantially flat resonant element parallel to ground plane, e.g. patch antenna dipole H01Q9/285; monopole H01Q9/40
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/40 Element having extended radiating surface

Abstract

In one aspect, an apparatus is described that includes a transparent pane having a first surface and a second surface. An electrochromic device (ECD) is arranged over the second surface that includes a first conductive layer adjacent the second surface, a second conductive layer, and an electrochromic layer between the first and the second conductive layers. The apparatus further includes at least one conductive antenna structure arranged over the second surface.

Claims

1. A window antenna comprising:

(a) a window having one or more lites, each comprising at least two surfaces having regions configured for viewing through the window;

(b) an electrochromic device disposed on a first surface of the window;

(c) an antenna structure disposed on the first surface or a second surface of the window; and

(d) a ground plane disposed on the first surface of the window, the second surface of the window, a third surface of the window, or a structure connected to the window.

2. The window antenna of claim 1, wherein the antenna structure comprises a strip line or a patch.

3. The window antenna of claim 2, wherein the antenna structure is configured as a monopole antenna.

8. The window antenna of claim 2, wherein the antenna structure further comprises a second strip line or patch, and wherein the strip lines or the patches are configured as a dipole antenna.

10. The window antenna of claim 1, wherein the antenna structure comprises a fractal structure.

14. The window antenna of claim 10, wherein the fractal structure is disposed on a plane and wherein the ground plane is substantially parallel to, or perpendicular to, the plane of the fractal structure.

16. The window antenna of claim 1, wherein the antenna structure is configured as a Yagi antenna or a log periodic antenna.

18. The window antenna of claim 1, further comprising an antenna controller comprising a transmitter and/or receiver for the antenna structure and a window controller configured to control optical transitions of the electrochromic device.

4-7. -7. (canceled)

9. (canceled)

11-13. -13. (canceled)

15. (canceled)

17. (canceled)

19-47. -47. (canceled)

48. A method of personalizing settings of a region of a building, wherein settings are defined for particular users, the method comprising:

(a) establishing a communications link between a mobile device carried by a user and a window antenna in the region of the building, wherein said communications link can be established only when the mobile device is within or near the region;

(b) receiving user identification information over the communications link;

(c) determining one or more settings for the user identification in the region of the building; and

(d) applying the determined setting(s) in the region of the building.

49. The method of claim 48, wherein the one or more settings comprise values of:

(i) tint level for one or more windows in the region of the building;

(ii) permitting communications shielding in the region of the building;

(iii) permitted notifications based on location of the mobile device in the region of the building;

(iv) permitting communication of one or more settings to one or more non-window systems in the region of the building; and

/or

(v) permitting wireless charging of one or more battery powered devices in the region of the building.

50. Original) The method of claim 49, wherein the one or more non-window systems are selected from the group consisting of temperature control systems for the region of the building, lighting systems for the region of the building, and lock systems for the region of the building.

51-73. -73. (canceled)

74. A building comprising:

(a) a controller network including control logic to generate one or more control signals;

(b) a plurality of transmitters each configured to generate a transmission signal based on one or more of the control signals;

(c) a plurality of windows; and

(d) a plurality of antennas in or on the windows, each antenna configured to radiate at least one transmission signal from at least one corresponding transmitter.

75. The building of claim 74, each of the transmitters including:

a carrier signal generator to generate a carrier signal having a carrier amplitude and a carrier frequency; and

a modulator to modulate the carrier signal to provide the transmission signal as one or more of amplitude modulation, frequency modulation and phase modulation of the carrier signal to provide the at least one transmission signal.

77. The building of claim 75, the modulator configured to perform code division multiple access (CDMA) modulation of the carrier signal to provide the transmission signal.

78. The building of claim 75, further including a plurality of receivers to demodulate signals received from the antennas.

79. The building of claim 74, the controller network including a plurality of distributed antenna controllers and at least one master controller.

80. The building of claim 79, the at least one master controller including control logic to communicate with a base station controller (BSC).

81. The building of claim 79, the control logic being distributed at least partially between the master controller and the distributed antenna controllers.

82. The building of claim 74, the controller network being further configured to control optical states of the windows.

83. The building of claim 74, the control logic including spatial filtering logic to generate the control signals based on spatial filtering, the radiated transmission signals collectively having a wave front based on the spatial filtering.

84. The building of claim 74, further including:

a plurality of receivers to receive signals from the antennas; and

a plurality of amplifiers to amplify the received signals;

the transmission signals being based on the amplified signals.

85. The building of claim 84, further including:

the received signals associated with a first wireless communication protocol; and

a plurality of protocol converters to convert the received signals from the first wireless communication protocol to a second wireless communication protocol;

the transmission signals being the converted signals provided by the plurality of protocol converters in the second wireless communication protocol.

87. The building of claim 84, the control logic configured to operate the plurality of antennas as a cellular base station or a cellular repeater.

76. (canceled)

86. (canceled)