Wireless powered electrochromic windows

• US 9,081,246 B2
• Filed: 12/17/2010
• Issued: 07/14/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: View Incorporated
• Original Assignee: View Incorporated
• Inventors: Rozbicki, Robert T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fureman, Jared
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pham, Duc M
• Application Number:
  US12/971,576
• Publication Number:
  US 20110148218A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,670 Days
• Field of Search: 307/104
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 1/153 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/163 Operation of electrochromic cells, e.g. electrodeposition cells; Circuit arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/20 using microwaves or radio frequency waves
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/30 using light, e.g. lasers
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/50 using additional energy repeaters between transmitting devices and receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0068 Battery or charger load switching, e.g. concurrent charging and load supply H02J7/0013 takes precedence

Abstract

Electrochromic windows powered by wireless power transmission are described, particularly, the combination of low-defectivity, highly-reliable solid state electrochromic windows with wireless power transmission. Wireless power transmission networks which incorporate electrochromic windows are described.

Claims

1. An electrochromic window configured to be powered by a wireless power transmission source, the electrochromic window comprising:

an electrochromic device of solid-state electrochromic stack materials disposed on a glass substrate, wherein the electrochromic device is configured to change between a transparent state and a darkened state; and

a receiver configured to convert wireless power transmissions from the wireless power transmission source to an electrical energy used to power an optical transition of the electrochromic device,

wherein the wireless power transmission source is separate and located away from the glass substrate of the electrochromic window, and

wherein the wireless power transmission source converts electrical energy to wireless power transmissions.

2. The electrochromic window of claim 1, wherein the receiver is configured to convert wireless power transmissions from the wireless power transmission source, which are transmitted via a radio frequency.

3. The electrochromic window of claim 1, further comprising a battery, wherein the electrical energy from the receiver is used to charge the battery, said battery used to power the optical transition of the electrochromic device.

4. The electrochromic window of claim 1, wherein the electrochromic device is solid state and inorganic.

5. The electrochromic window of claim 2, wherein the wireless power transmission source transmits power via a power transmission network.

6. The electrochromic window of claim 5, wherein the power transmission network comprises a power node for relaying power transmitted from the wireless power transmission source to the electrochromic window.

7. The electrochromic window of claim 6, wherein the functions of the electrochromic window are controlled via wireless communication.

18. The electrochromic window of claim 1, wherein the glass substrate is an architectural glass substrate having a size of at least 20 inches by 20 inches.

20. The electrochromic window of claim 1, wherein the receiver is configured to convert wireless power transmissions from the wireless power transmission source, which are transmitted via a magnetic induction.

23. The electrochromic window of claim 1, wherein the receiver is located in a portion of a frame of the electrochromic window to not obscure a viewable area of the glass substrate of the electrochromic window.

24. The electrochromic window of claim 1, further comprising busbars for powering the electrochromic device.

25. The electrochromic window of claim 1, wherein the wireless power transmissions are from one of induction, resonance induction, radio frequency power transfer, microwave power transfer, and laser power transfer.

8. A method of powering an electrochromic device of solid-state electrochromic stack materials disposed on a glass substrate of an electrochromic window, the method comprising:

i) converting electrical energy into a wireless power transmission by a wireless power transmitter, which is separate and located away from the glass substrate of the electrochromic window;

ii) transmitting the wireless power transmission to a receiver;

said receiver configured to convert the wireless power transmission into an electrical energy used to power an optical transition of the electrochromic device; and

iii) delivering the electrical energy to the electrochromic device and/or a battery used to power an optical transition between a transparent state and a darkened state of the electrochromic device.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein generating the wireless power transmission is performed by the wireless power transmitter that uses radio frequency.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the receiver is located proximate an IGU of the electrochromic window and is located to not obscure the viewable area of the glass substrate of the electrochromic window.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the wireless power transmitter transmits the wireless power transmission to the receiver via a wireless power transmission network.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the wireless power transmission network comprises a power node for relaying the wireless power transmission from the wireless power transmitter to the receiver.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the functions of the electrochromic window are controlled via wireless communication.

21. The method of claim 8, wherein generating the wireless power transmission is performed by the wireless power transmitter that uses magnetic induction.

26. The method of claim 8, wherein the wireless power transmission is from one of induction, resonance induction, radio frequency power transfer, microwave power transfer, and laser power transfer.

14. A wireless power transmission network comprising:

i) a wireless power transmitter configured to convert electrical energy into wireless power transmissions and transmit the wireless power transmissions;

ii) a power node, configured to receive the wireless power transmissions and relay the wireless power transmissions;

iii) an electrochromic window comprising an electrochromic device of solid-state electrochromic stack materials disposed on a glass substrate and a receiver configured to receive the relayed wireless power transmissions and convert the wireless power transmissions to an electrical energy, which is used to power an optical transition between a transparent state and a darkened state of the electrochromic device; and

iv) an electrochromic device configured to receive the electrical energy,

wherein the wireless power transmitter is separate and located away from the glass substrate of the electrochromic window.

15. The wireless power transmission network of claim 14, wherein the wireless power transmissions from the wireless power transmitter are transmitted via radio frequency.

16. The wireless power transmission network of claim 15,

wherein the power node is configured to convert the wireless power transmissions, depending on the requirements of the electrochromic window, prior to relaying the wireless power transmissions to the electrochromic window;

wherein the conversion comprises changing the wireless power transmissions into at least one of an electrical energy, a different form of wireless power transmissions, a different frequency of wireless power transmissions, and a different polarity of wireless power transmissions.

17. The wireless power transmission network of claim 16, further comprising a plurality of power nodes wherein each power node is configured to relay the wireless power transmissions to one or more additional electrochromic windows, each of the plurality of power nodes configured to relay the wireless power transmissions according to the requirements of the electrochromic windows comprising receivers corresponding to said each of the plurality of power nodes.

19. The wireless power transmission network of claim 14, wherein the glass substrate is an architectural glass substrate having a size of at least 20 inches by 20 inches.

22. The wireless power transmission network of claim 14, wherein the wireless power transmissions from the wireless power transmitter are transmitted via a magnetic induction.

27. The wireless power transmission network of claim 14, wherein the wireless power transmissions are from one of induction, resonance induction, radio frequency power transfer, microwave power transfer, and laser power transfer.