Systems and methods for controlling windows with variable light transmission

• US 7,355,161 B2
• Filed: 05/15/2006
• Issued: 04/08/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Kelly, Brian D., Romig, Emma, Loges, Craig, Gillette, Edward W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Luu; Thanh X.
• Assistant Examiner(s): YAM, STEPHEN K
• Application Number:
  US11/383,372
• Publication Number:
  US 20080048101A1
• Time in Patent Office: 694 Days
• Field of Search: 250/214.AL, 250/214.B, 250/214.C, 250/201.1, 250/221, 359/489, 359/493, 359/497, 359/501, 359/589, 359/590, 359/601, 359/603, 359/604, 359607-609, 359/613, 359/614, 359/839, 359/843, 359265-277
• US Class Current: 250/221
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 3/04 adjustable in transparency
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 1/1476 Canopies; Windscreens or similar transparent elements
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2011/0061 Windows displaying outside view, artificially generated

Abstract

Systems and methods for controlling windows with variable light transmission are disclosed. In one embodiment, a system includes a sensor adapted to receive a light intensity, a user input device adapted to receive a user input value, a window having a variable transmissivity portion, and a control system. The control system is operatively coupled to the sensor, the user input device, and the window, and is adapted to receive the light intensity and user input value and to adjust a transmission level of the variable transmissivity portion of the window based on at least one of the light intensity and the user input value. The sensor includes a sensor adapted to receive a light intensity, a temperature, a humidity, or other environmental variables. In other embodiments, the system also includes a ventilation system, an air conditioning system, or a humidity control system.

Claims

1. A method of controlling a transmissivity of a window portion of a variable transmissivity window system, the method comprising:

measuring an actual humidity level at a location;

setting a desired humidity level for the location via a user input;

incrementally adjusting a transmissivity of the window portion to maintain the desired humidity level, wherein the transmissivity is configured to be reduced using a first electrical input; and

setting a minimum transmissivity limit for the window portion, wherein the minimum transmissivity limit is configured to provide visibility through the window portion,

wherein incrementally adjusting the transmissivity comprises decreasing the transmissivity of the window portion to maintain the desired humidity level provided that the transmissivity is not at the minimum transmissivity limit.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising setting a maximum light level for the window portion.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein incrementally adjusting the transmissivity comprises increasing the transmissivity of the window portion to maintain the desired humidity level provided that the a light level provided by the adjusted transmissivity does not exceed the maximum light level.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein increasing the transmissivity of the window portion further comprises increasing the transmissivity by interrupting the first electrical input.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein increasing the transmissivity of the window portion further comprises increasing the transmissivity using a second electrical input, wherein the second electrical input is configured with a polarity that is opposite of a polarity of the first electrical input.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein setting a minimum acceptable limit further includes setting a minimum acceptable limit of transmissivity that is configured to provide airborne visibility through the window portion.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising terminating the transmissivity reduction generated by the first electrical input when the transmissivity of the window portion reaches the minimum transmissivity limit.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein incrementally adjusting the transmissivity of the window portion comprises varying a voltage value provided by the first electrical input to the window portion.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the variable transmissivity window system comprises a plurality of window portions, and the method further comprises controlling a transmissivity of each window portion of the plurality of window portions.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising incrementally adjusting the transmissivity of the window portion based on a pre-set time schedule, so as to reduce the transmissivity of the window portion during daylight hours, and raise the transmissivity of the window portion during nighttime hours.

11. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions that, when executed, perform a method comprising:

measuring an actual humidity level at a location;

setting a desired humidity level for the location via a user input;

incrementally adjusting a transmissivity of a window portion to maintain the desired humidity level, wherein the transmissivity is configured to be reduced using a first electrical input; and

setting a maximum light level for the window portion,

wherein incrementally adjusting the transmissivity comprises increasing the transmissivity of the window portion to maintain the desired humidity level provided that a light level provided by the adjusted transmissivity does not exceed the maximum light level.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, further comprising instructions for setting a minimum transmissivity limit for the window portion.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein instructions for incrementally adjusting the transmissivity comprise instructions for decreasing the transmissivity of the window portion to maintain the desired humidity level provided that the transmissivity is not at the minimum transmissivity limit.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, further comprising instructions for terminating the transmissivity reduction generated by the first electrical input when the transmissivity of the window portion reaches the minimum transmissivity limit.

15. The computer readable medium of claim 11, wherein instructions for setting a minimum acceptable limit further includes setting a minimum acceptable limit of transmissivity that is configured to provide airborne visibility through the window portion.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein instructions for incrementally adjusting the transmissivity further comprise instructions for increasing the transmissivity by interrupting the first electrical input.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein instructions for incrementally adjusting the transmissivity of the window portion comprise instructions for varying a voltage value provided by a power source to the window portion.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the variable transmissivity window system comprises a plurality of window portions, and the controller further comprises instructions for controlling a transmissivity of each window portion of the plurality of window portions.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, further comprising instructions for incrementally adjusting the transmissivity of the window portion based on a pre-set time schedule so as to reduce the transmissivity of the window portion during daylight hours, and to raise the transmissivity of the window portion during nighttime hours.

20. The controller of claim 11, wherein instructions for increasing the transmissivity of the window portion further comprise instructions for increasing the transmissivity using a second electrical input, wherein the second electrical input is configured with a polarity that is opposite of a polarity of the first electrical input.