Method and apparatus for control of electrochromic devices

• US 9,995,949 B2
• Filed: 05/20/2016
• Issued: 06/12/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ashwin-Ushas Corporation, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Ashwin-Ushas Corporation, Inc.
• Inventors: Chandrasekhar, Prasanna
• Primary Examiner(s): Choudhury, Mustak
• Application Number:
  US15/160,716
• Publication Number:
  US 20160266410A1
• Time in Patent Office: 753 Days
• Field of Search: 351 49, 351 41- 45, 351153, 351158, 349 14, 204165, 359265, 359238, 359239, 359267, 359270-275, 359295, 359464, 359513, 359603, 359604, 256 60, 427 58, 4271264, 427523
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/101 having an electro-optical light valve electro-optical elements per se G02F
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13318 Circuits comprising a photodetector
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/15165 Polymers
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/163 Operation of electrochromic cells, e.g. electrodeposition cells; Circuit arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2001/1502 complementary cell
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2001/164 the electrolyte is made of polymers
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2201/58 Arrangements comprising a monitoring photodetector

Abstract

The present invention provides apparatuses and methods for modulating the transmissivity of electrochromic devices utilizing a controller that provides a continuous potential that may be pulsed to the electrochromic device.

Claims

1. Electrochromic spectacles comprising:

a. a lens frame;

b. an electrochromic lens attached to the lens frame comprising a first electrode and a second electrode, wherein the electrochromic lens is configured to switch between a light state and a dark state when an electrical potential is applied to the first and second electrodes;

c. a photosensor attached to the lens frame and positioned behind the electrochromic lens to measure a light level behind the electrochromic lens at an eye of a wearer of the electrochromic spectacles and produce a photosensor potential based on the light level behind the electrochromic lens at the eye of the wearer of the electrochromic spectacles; and

d. a controller in electrical communication with the electrochromic lens and the photosensor and configured to receive the photosensor potential from the photosensor and deliver the electrical potential to the first and second electrodes in response to the received photosensor potential, wherein the electrical potential comprises a continuous potential that includes a series of overpotential pulses comprising a pulse sequence of overpotential pulses and operating potential pulses, wherein the overpotential pulses each have a length of less than 0.5 seconds, wherein each overpotential pulse is greater in magnitude than the operating potential; and

wherein the controller is configured to halt the delivery of the continuous potential once a selected transmittance state of the electrochromic lens is reached.

2. The electrochromic spectacles of claim 1, comprising a power source in electrical communication with the controller.

3. The electrochromic spectacles of claim 2, wherein the power source comprises a battery.

4. The electrochromic spectacles of claim 2, wherein the power source comprises a charging port.

5. The electrochromic spectacles of claim 1, wherein the electrochromic lens comprises a conductive transparent substrate that comprises indium-tin-oxide (ITO), glass, poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET), tin-oxide, gold, carbon-nanotubes, or a combination thereof.

6. The electrochromic spectacles of claim 1, wherein the electrochromic lens comprises polymeric materials, metal oxides, liquid crystals, or a combination thereof.

7. The electrochromic spectacles of claim 1, wherein the photosensor is configured to receive light at wavelengths selected from the group consisting of ultraviolet (UV) wavelengths, visible (vis) wavelengths, near-infrared (NIR) wavelengths, microwave (μ

wave) wavelengths, and a combination thereof.