Application independent operational controls of a suspended particle device

• US 8,098,421 B2
• Filed: 08/13/2010
• Issued: 01/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Global Glass Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: SPD Control Systems Corporation Center For Wireless & Info Technology
• Inventors: Moskowitz, Jay
• Primary Examiner(s): CHOI, WILLIAM C
• Application Number:
  US12/855,782
• Publication Number:
  US 20100308207A1
• Time in Patent Office: 522 Days
• Field of Search: 359/296, 345/107, 430/32, 204/600
• US Class Current: 359/296
• 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. A controller controlling the opacity of a Suspended Particle Device (SPD), wherein there is stored within the controller a first lookup table providing a mapping between received commands to change the opacity of the SPD and drive giving rise to various opacity values, wherein there exists means to specify profiles for setting opacity in the summer and winter months and further means to determine which profile is currently in effect.

2. A controller controlling the opacity of a Suspended Particle Device (SPD), wherein there is stored within the controller a first lookup table providing a mapping between received commands to change the opacity of the SPD and drive giving rise to various opacity values, wherein there exist four profiles for setting the opacity in the summer, fall, winter and spring and further means to determine which profile is currently in effect.

3. A controller controlling the opacity of an SPD wherein there is stored within the controller a first lookup table providing a mapping between received commands to change the opacity of the SPD and drive giving rise to various opacity values, wherein the controller is further responsive to manual control information specifying a specific opacity to set a SPD and to change the SPD to the specified opacity, and wherein the first lookup table gives rise to a linear relationship between received commands and opacity.

4. A controller controlling the opacity of an SPD wherein there is stored within the controller a first lookup table providing a mapping between received commands to change the opacity of the SPD and drive giving rise to various opacity values, wherein the controller is further responsive to manual control information specifying a specific opacity to set a SPD and to change the SPD to the specified opacity, 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.

5. A controller controlling the opacity of an SPD wherein there is stored within the controller a first lookup table providing a mapping between received commands to change the opacity of the SPD and drive giving rise to various opacity values, wherein the controller is further responsive to manual control information specifying a specific opacity to set a SPD and to change the SPD to the specified opacity, in which a wave form drives the SPD at a particular opacity and is continually changing in phase or in wave shape in order to avoid a resonance forming the SPD causing a “

singing”

or “

hum”

.

6. A controller controlling the opacity of an SPD wherein there is stored within the controller a first lookup table providing a mapping between received commands to change the opacity of the SPD and drive giving rise to various opacity values, wherein the controller is further responsive to manual control information specifying a specific opacity to set a SPD and to change the SPD to the specified opacity, and wherein the time to change the SPD from one fixed opacity to a second fixed opacity is held constant regardless of the exterior temperature of the SPD.

7. A controller controlling the opacity of an SPD wherein there is stored within the controller a first lookup table providing a mapping between received commands to change the opacity of the SPD and drive giving rise to various opacity values, wherein the controller is further responsive to manual control information specifying a specific opacity to set a SPD and to change the SPD to the specific opacity, and wherein power generation circuitry is turned off for some number of cycles to maintain a particular opacity of the SPD at a lower power consumption than operating the SPD continually at a given frequency.

8. A controller controlling the opacity of an SPD wherein there is stored within the controller a first lookup table providing a mapping between received commands to change the opacity of the SPD and drive giving rise to various opacity values, wherein the controller is further responsive to manual control information specifying a specific opacity to set a SPD and to change the SPD to the specified opacity, and wherein the controller applies a first frequency until the SPD reaches a specified opacity and then applies a second frequency to maintain the SPD at that opacity.

9. A controller controlling the opacity of a Suspended Particle Device (SPD), wherein there is stored within the controller a first lookup table providing a mapping between received commands to change the opacity of the SPD and drive giving rise to various opacity values, wherein the first lookup table gives rise to a linear relationship between received commands and opacity.

10. A controller controlling the opacity of a Suspended Particle Device (SPD), wherein there is stored within the controller a first lookup table providing a mapping between received commands to change the opacity of the SPD and drive giving rise to various opacity values, 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.

11. A controller controlling the opacity of a SPD in which a wave form drives the SPD at a particular opacity and is continually changing in phase or in wave shape in order to avoid a resonance forming in the SPD causing a “

singing”

or “

hum”

.

12. 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.

13. A controller controlling the opacity of a SPD, wherein power generation circuitry is turned off for some number of cycles to maintain a particular opacity of the SPD at a lower power consumption than operating the SPD continually at a given frequency.

14. A controller controlling the opacity of a SPD, wherein the controller applies a first frequency until the SPD reaches a specified opacity and then applies a second frequency to maintain the SPD at that opacity.

15. A method for use with a controller controlling the opacity of a SPD and with respect to the setting of the SPD to a specific opacity, the method comprising the step of:

imposing a wave form driving the SPD;

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

singing”

or “

hum”

.

16. A method for use with a controller controlling the opacity of a SPD, the method comprising the step of:

holding the time to change the SPD from one fixed opacity to a second fixed opacity constant regardless of the exterior temperature of the SPD.

17. A method for use with a controller controlling the opacity of a SPD, the method comprising the step of:

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

18. A method for use with a controller controlling the opacity of SPD, the method comprising the step of:

applying a first frequency until the SPD reaches a specific opacity and applies a second frequency to maintain the SPD at that opacity.