Dimming system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10508487-B2
Application number	US-201615736480-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 6, 2016
Priority date	Jun 17, 2015
Publication date	Dec 17, 2019
Grant date	Dec 17, 2019

Abstract

A light adjustment system is, for example, a light adjustment window ( 1 ) including: a windowpane ( 11 ); a light adjustment device ( 40 ); a drive device ( 50 ); and a frame ( 20 ) having an incorporating ( 24 ) into which the windowpane ( 11 ) and the drive device ( 50 ) are incorporated. A part of the frame ( 20 ) includes: a containing section ( 26 ) that contains at least a part of the drive device ( 50 ); and an opening and closing section ( 27 ) that openably and closably covers the containing section ( 26 ).

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A light adjustment system, comprising:
a light transmissive member;
a light adjustment device disposed so as to face the light transmissive member, the light adjustment device applying a voltage so as to cause a change in transmittance of light;
a drive device that drives the light adjustment device; and
a support having a frame shape in conformity with an outer shape of the light transmissive member, the support supporting the light transmissive member and the light adjustment device,
a part of the support including (i) a containing section that contains at least a part of the drive device, the containing section having an opening and (ii) an opening and closing section that openably and closably covers the opening,
the opening and closing section being provided on a part of a surface of the support,
the light adjustment system being a light adjustment window, the light transmissive member being a window main body, and the support being a frame,
the light adjustment window being a movable window having meeting stiles which are in contact with each other when the light adjustment window is closed,
the frame including a first frame and a second frame each of which is in a frame shape,
the first frame and the second frame being each slidable inside the window frame, the first frame and the second frame having the respective meeting stiles,
the window main body including a first window main body supported by the first frame and a second window main body supported by the second frame,
the light adjustment device including (i) a first light adjustment device disposed so as to face the first window main body and (ii) a second light adjustment device disposed so as to face the second window main body,
the opening and closing section being provided on a part of a surface of one of the meeting stiles of the first and second frames which surface is opposite to a surface of the one of the meeting stiles which surface is in contact with the other of the meeting stiles,
the meeting stiles of the first and second frames including respective connection sections which are connected to each other,
the connection section of the one of the meeting stiles, on which one the opening and closing section is provided, being connected to the drive device, and
when the light adjustment window is closed, the connecting sections being electrically connected to each other, so that the first light adjustment device and the second light adjustment device are driven by the drive device.

2. The light adjustment system as set forth in claim 1 , wherein:
the drive device includes at least (i) a power source that supplies the first light adjustment device and the second light adjustment device with electric power for driving the first light adjustment device and the second light adjustment device and (ii) a controller that controls driving of the first light adjustment device and the second light adjustment device; and
the at least the power source and the controller are contained in the containing section.

3. The light adjustment system as set forth in claim 2 , wherein:
the drive device further includes at least one of (i) a switch that switches the transmittance of the first light adjustment device and the second light adjustment device and (b) a communication section connected to the controller; and
the at least one of the switch and the communication section is contained in the containing section.

4. The light adjustment system as set forth in claim 3 , wherein:
the communication section obtains, through a communication network and from a server which delivers weather information, weather information associated with an address of a place in which the light adjustment system is installed; and
the controller controls, in accordance with the weather information obtained, driving of the first light adjustment device and the second light adjustment device so as to achieve a target rate of obtaining solar radiation heat.

5. The light adjustment system as set forth in claim 3 , wherein the communication section is communicably connected to an HEMS controller.

6. The light adjustment system as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the first light adjustment device is fixed by a first attachment layer to a surface of the first window main body, and
the second light adjustment device is fixed by a second attachment layer to a surface of the second window main body.

7. The light adjustment system as set forth in claim 1 , wherein:
the first light adjustment device includes a pair of substrates which are bonded to each other with use of a first sealing material;
the second light adjustment device includes a pair of substrates which are bonded to each other with use of a second sealing material;
a first gasket is provided between the first window main body and the first frame;
a second gasket is provided between the second window main body and the second frame;
the first sealing material is located so as to face the first gasket: and the second sealing material is located so as to face the second gasket.

8. The light adjustment system as set forth in claim 1 , wherein:
the first window main body and the second window main body each include a first light transmissive member and a second light transmissive member facing each other;
the first light adjustment device is disposed between the first light transmissive member and the second light transmissive member in the first window main body; and
the second light adjustment device is disposed between the first light transmissive member and the second light transmissive member in the second window main body.

9. The light adjustment system as set forth in claim 8 , wherein the first light adjustment device is fixed by a first attachment layer to a surface of one of the first light transmissive member and the second light transmissive member in the first window main body, and
the second light adjustment device is fixed by a second attachment layer to a surface of one of the first light transmissive member and the second light transmissive member in the second window main body.

10. The light adjustment system as set forth in claim 8 , wherein the first light adjustment device is provided between the first light transmissive member and the second light transmissive member in the first window main body so as to be spaced apart from the first light transmissive member and the second light transmissive member, and
the second light adjustment device is provided between the first light transmissive member and the second light transmissive member in the second window main body so as to be spaced apart from the first light transmissive member and the second light transmissive member.

11. The light adjustment system as set forth in claim 8 , wherein:
the first light transmissive member and the second light transmissive member in the first window main body are disposed so as to face each other with a first spacer interposed therebetween;
the first light transmissive member and the second light transmissive member in the second window main body are disposed so as to face each other with a second spacer interposed therebetween;
the first light adjustment device includes a pair of substrates which are bonded to each other with use of a first sealing material;
the second light adjustment device includes a pair of substrates which are bonded to each other with use of a second sealing material;
a first gasket is provided between (i) the first light transmissive member and the second light transmissive member in the first window main body and (ii) the first frame;
a second gasket is provided between (i) the first light transmissive member an

Assignees

• Sharp Kk

Inventors

• Satoh Eiji
• Ito Nobuyuki
• Weng Yufeng

Classifications

• E06B9/24

  Screens or other constructions affording protection against light, especially against sunshine; Similar screens for privacy or appearance; {Slat blinds}(operating, guiding or securing devices or arrangements for roll-type closures E06B9/56; free-hanging flexible screens A47H23/00) · CPC title

• E06B2009/2464

  featuring transparency control by applying voltage, e.g. LCD, electrochromic panels · CPC title

• E06B3/6722 Primary

  with adjustable passage of light · CPC title

• G02F1/15

  based on an electrochromic effect · CPC title