Mitigating thermal shock in tintable windows
First Claim
1. A method of reducing a likelihood of thermal shock in a window having one or more panes, the window controllably tintable and in communication with a controller configured to send signals to the window to change tint states, the method comprising:
- determining that a trigger condition likely to induce thermal shock in the window in a first tint state is likely to occur at a particular time, wherein the determination is based on a measured temperature of the one or more panes of the window; and
in response to the determination, sending a signal from the controller to the window to place the window in a second tint state that reduces the likelihood that the trigger condition induces thermal shock.
8 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Tintable optical components such as windows are provided with a controller designed or configured to control the tinting in a manner that resists exposure to damaging thermal shock. The controller determines that a trigger condition for thermal shock is occurring or is about to occur and takes steps to avoid damaging thermal shock. In some cases, these steps include increasing the transmissivity of the optical component or holding the component in a highly transmissive state. In some cases, the steps involve heating the component.
190 Citations
19 Claims
-
1. A method of reducing a likelihood of thermal shock in a window having one or more panes, the window controllably tintable and in communication with a controller configured to send signals to the window to change tint states, the method comprising:
-
determining that a trigger condition likely to induce thermal shock in the window in a first tint state is likely to occur at a particular time, wherein the determination is based on a measured temperature of the one or more panes of the window; and in response to the determination, sending a signal from the controller to the window to place the window in a second tint state that reduces the likelihood that the trigger condition induces thermal shock. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. A window and environmental control system for reducing a likelihood of thermal shock in a window having one or more panes, the system comprising:
-
a window having a tintable layer; and a controller configured to determine that a trigger condition likely to induce thermal shock in the window is likely to occur at a particular time, wherein the determination is based on a measured temperature of the one or more panes of the window, and place the window in a tint state that reduces the likelihood that the trigger condition will induce thermal shock. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
-
Specification