Low power driver for privacy glazing

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11111720-B2
Application number	US-202016786500-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 10, 2020
Priority date	Feb 8, 2019
Publication date	Sep 7, 2021
Grant date	Sep 7, 2021

Abstract

A driver may be used to drive an electrically controllable optically active material in a privacy structure. In some examples, the driver receives power from a power source at a supply voltage and a supply apparent power level and converts the power received from the power source down to a converted voltage and a converted apparent power level. The converted voltage is less than the supply voltage and the converted apparent power level is less than the supply apparent power level. The driver may deliver power at the converted voltage and the converted apparent power level to a voltage convertor, which increase the converted voltage to an operating voltage. The driver can further condition power received from the voltage convertor having the operating voltage and operating apparent power level to provide a drive signal and provide the drive signal the electrically controllable optically active material of the privacy structure.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An electrically dynamic system comprising:
a first pane of transparent material;
a second pane of transparent material;
a third pane of transparent material;
a spacer positioned between the second pane of transparent material and the third pane of transparent material to define a between-pane space, the spacer sealing the between-pane space from gas exchange with a surrounding environment and holding the second pane of transparent material a separation distance from the third pane of transparent material;
an electrically controllable optically active material positioned between the first pane of transparent material and the second pane of transparent material, the electrically controllable optically active material being positioned between a first electrode layer and a second electrode layer; and
a driver electrically connected to the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer,
wherein the driver is configured to:
electrically connect to a power source that provides power at a supply voltage and a supply apparent power level;
convert power received from the power source down to a converted voltage and a converted apparent power level, the converted voltage being less than the supply voltage and the converted apparent power level being less than the supply apparent power level;
deliver power at the converted voltage and the converted apparent power level to a voltage convertor;
at the voltage convertor, increase the converted voltage to an operating voltage, thereby providing power from the voltage convertor at the operating voltage and having an operating apparent power level;
condition power received from the voltage convertor having the operating voltage and operating apparent power level to provide a drive signal; and
provide the drive signal to the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer for controlling the electrically controllable optically active material.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the supply voltage ranges from 100 V to 250 V, and the supply apparent power level ranges from 1500 VA to 2500 VA.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the converted voltage is less than or equal to 100V.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the converted apparent power level is less than or equal to 100 VA.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the operating voltage is greater than or equal to 50 V.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the operating voltage is greater than or equal to 85 V, and the operating apparent power level is less than or equal to 100 VA.

7. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a first wiring extending from the power source to the driver and a second wiring extending between the driver and the first and second electrode layers, wherein the first wiring has a thicker conductive member than a conductive member the second wiring.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the conductive member of the first wiring has a thickness of 1.6 mm or greater, and the conductive member of the second wiring has a thickness of 1 mm or less.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the driver comprises:
a first housing containing a power convertor configured to convert power received from the power source down to the converted voltage and the converted apparent power level;
a second housing physically separate from the first housing, the second housing containing the voltage convertor and circuitry configured to condition power received from the voltage convertor;
a first wiring extending from the power source to the first housing;
a second wiring extending from the first housing to the second housing; and
a third wiring extending between the second housing and the first and second electrode layers, the drive signal transmitting along the third wiring to the first and second electrode layers,
wherein the first wiring comprises a thicker conductive member than conductive members in the second wiring and the third wiring.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein a combined length of the second wiring and the third wiring is at least 2 feet.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein:
a connection between the first wiring and the first housing is accessible, and
at least one of the following connections is inaccessible:
a connection between the third wiring and the second housing; and
a connection between the third wiring and the first and second electrode layers.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the connection between the third wiring and the first and second electrode layers is inaccessible, said connection being covered by a trim surrounding a perimeter of a panel defined by the first pane of transparent material and the second pane of transparent material.

13. The system of claim 1 , wherein the power source is wall power that delivers alternating current.

14. The system of claim 1 , wherein the driver is configured to condition power received from the voltage convertor by altering at least one of a frequency, an amplitude, and a waveform of power received from the voltage convertor.

15. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first pane of transparent material and the second pane of transparent material are each laminate panes comprising a pair of glass substrates laminated together.

16. The system of claim 1 , wherein the driver comprises a controller that is configured to receive input from a user control located outside of a privacy structure defined by the first pane of transparent material, the second pane of transparent material, and the electrically controllable optically active material.

17. The system of claim 1 , wherein the electrically controllable optically active material is a liquid crystal material.

18. An electrically dynamic system comprising:
a first pane of transparent material;
a second pane of transparent material;
an electrically controllable optically active material positioned between the first pane of transparent material and the second pane of transparent material, the electrically controllable optically active material being positioned between a first electrode layer and a second electrode layer; and
a driver electrically connected to the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer,
wherein the driver is configured to:
electrically connect to a power source that provides power at a supply voltage and a supply apparent power level;
convert power received from the power source down to a converted voltage and a converted apparent power level, the converted voltage being less than the supply voltage and the converted apparent power level being less than the supply apparent power level;
deliver power at the converted voltage and the converted apparent power level to a voltage convertor;
at the voltage convertor, increase the converted voltage to an operating voltage, thereby providing power from the voltage convertor at the operating voltage and having an operating apparent power level;
condition power received from the voltage convertor having the operating voltage and operating apparent power level to provide a drive signal; and
provide the drive signal to the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer for controlling the electrically controllable optically active material, and

wherein the driver comprises:
a first housing containing a power convertor configured to convert power received from the power source down to the converted voltage and the converted apparent power level;
a second housing physically separate from the first housing, the second housing containing the voltage convertor and circuitry configured to condition power receive

Assignees

• Cardinal Ig Co

Inventors

• Peters Chad
• Schleder Nicholas
• Bjergaard Eric

Classifications

• G02F1/13306

  Circuit arrangements or driving methods for the control of single liquid crystal cells (G02F1/132, G02F1/133382 take precedence) · CPC title

• B32B17/10504

  Liquid crystal layer · CPC title

• B32B17/10055

  with at least one intermediate air space · CPC title

• B32B17/10036

  comprising two outer glass sheets · CPC title

• G02F1/1323

  Arrangements for providing a switchable viewing angle · CPC title