Tester and electrical connectors for insulated glass units

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11255120-B2
Application number	US-201716469848-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 14, 2017
Priority date	May 25, 2012
Publication date	Feb 22, 2022
Grant date	Feb 22, 2022

Abstract

In some implementations, an apparatus for testing an insulated glass unit is provided. The apparatus includes a housing and a port coupled to the housing, where the port is configured to couple with a pigtail of an insulated glass unit. The apparatus includes a battery housed within the housing, where the battery is configured to provide power to an insulated glass unit. The apparatus includes an input interface which is coupled to the housing, where the input interface is configured to receive. The apparatus includes a controller which is housed within the housing and is configured to receive the input from the input interface, send commands to an insulated glass unit, and receive data from the insulated glass unit. The apparatus also includes one or more indicators coupled with the housing, where the one or more indicators are configured to indicate a status of the insulated glass unit.

First claim

We claim:

1. An apparatus, comprising:
a window assembly, the window assembly comprising an electrochromic device and an electrical connector including a connection interface; and,
a cap configured to mate with the connection interface by way of a plurality contacts;
wherein:
the connection interface includes a plurality of pins and/or sockets configured to transfer information and/or power between the window assembly and an attached device; and
one or more of the plurality of contacts are configured to allow charge to drain from the electrochromic device by shorting two or more of the pins and/or sockets together when the cap is mated with the connection interface.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the cap and the electrical connector have a keying interface configured to mechanically couple the cap with the electrical connector.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the connection interface is a 5 -pin connection interface.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of contacts is a spring contact.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising an attachment component to protect the electrical connector.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the attachment component is a clip configured to be fastened to the window assembly.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the window assembly includes an insulated glass unit and the attachment component is configured to be placed within a secondary seal of the insulated glass unit.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein
the connection interface includes contacts in electrical communication with the electrochromic device;
an input interface is configured to receive an input; and
a controller is configured to receive the input from the input interface, and, through the connection interface, apply a voltage profile to the electrochromic device based at least on the received input, and/or receive data from the window assembly.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein application of the voltage profile does not substantially tint the window assembly.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 , further comprising a measurement module electrically coupled to the controller for measuring a current response of the electrochromic device in response to the applied voltage profile.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the controller is further configured to calculate a current density of the electrochromic device based at least on the applied voltage profile, a current response in response to the applied voltage profile, and dimensions of the electrochromic device.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:
the connection interface is configured to be coupled with a tester, the tester comprising a power source; a controller configured to apply a voltage profile to the electrochromic device; a measurement module electrically coupled to the controller for measuring a voltage response of the electrochromic device in response to an applied current profile; and one or more indicators; and
the tester is configured to determine a status of the window assembly by:
calculating a current density of the electrochromic device, wherein the current density is calculated based at least on dimensions of the electrochromic device and a voltage response to an applied current profile; and
indicating the status of the window assembly via the one or more indicators, wherein the status is based at least on the current density.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a tester configured to determine a status of an electrochromic window, the tester comprising:
a port configured to be attached to the connection interface;
circuitry configured to apply a voltage profile to the electrochromic window and monitor a current response, wherein the status of the electrochromic window is based at least on the monitored current response,
an ultra-wideband module, and
a communications module;

a plurality of anchors each having an ultra-wideband module and a communications module; and
a computer program product configured to determine the position of the electrochromic window based at least on ultra-wideband signals transmitted between the tester and the plurality of anchors, the computer program product further comprising computer executable instructions to commission the electrochromic window or report the status of the electrochromic window to a site monitoring system.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the computer program product is configured to operate on one or more of: a master control, a network controller, a mobile device, a remote server, or the cloud.

15. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:
at least two of the plurality of contacts are configured as electrical contacts for delivering charge to the electrochromic device; and
electrically coupling the at least two of the plurality of contacts results in draining charge from the electrochromic device.

16. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising
a tester configured to determine a status of an electrochromic window, the tester comprising:
a port configured to be attached to the connection interface,
circuitry configured to apply a voltage profile to the electrochromic window and monitor a current response, wherein the status of the electrochromic window is based at least on the monitored current response, and
a communications module; and

a computer program product configured to receive a position of the electrochromic window via a user selection provided through a mobile device interface, the computer program product further comprising computer executable instructions to commission the electrochromic window and/or report the status of the electrochromic window to a site monitoring system.

17. A system comprising:
a window assembly including an electrochromic device;
an electrical connector including a connection interface configured to couple with a connector of the window, the connection interface comprising a first plurality of pins and/or sockets configured to transfer information and/or power between the window assembly and a controller coupled with the connection interface wherein
the controller configured to apply, through the connection interface, a voltage profile to the electrochromic device based at least on a received input, and/or configured to receive data from the window: and
a cap configured to mate with the connection interface by way of a plurality contacts; wherein
one or more of the plurality of contacts are configured to allow charge to drain from the electrochromic device by shorting two or more of the pins and/or sockets together when the cap is mated with the connection interface.

18. The system of claim 17 , further comprising a measurement module electrically coupled to the controller for measuring a current response of the electrochromic device in response to the applied voltage profile.

19. A method comprising:
preparing an optically switchable window for installation, wherein the optically switchable window includes: (i) an electrochromic device, (ii) an electrical connector including a connection interface, the connection interface comprising a plurality of pins and/or sockets and (iii) a cap configured to mate with the connection interface by way of a plurality of contacts, the preparing including:
electrically shorting at least two of the plurality of pins and/or sockets such that charge is drained from the electrochromic device by attaching a cap configured to mate with the connection interface by way of a plurality contacts, one or more of the plurality of contacts being

Assignees

• View Inc

Inventors

• Shrivastava Dhairya
• Brown Stephen Clark
• Kaneshiro Kevin Kazuo
• Jack Gordon E

Classifications

• H04Q2209/40

  using a wireless architecture · CPC title

• G06F3/0482

  Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus · CPC title

• H04Q9/00

  Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom · CPC title

• E06B2009/2464

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

• H04Q2209/60

  for transmitting utility meters data, i.e. transmission of data from the reader of the utility meter · CPC title