Control system for electrochromic device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9250494-B2
Application number	US-201213354863-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 20, 2012
Priority date	Jan 24, 2011
Publication date	Feb 2, 2016
Grant date	Feb 2, 2016

Abstract

The present invention is directed to electrochromic systems comprising an electrochromic glazing or insulated glazing unit, a photovoltaic module for supplying power to the electrochromic glazing or IGU, and an electronics module in communication either the electrochromic glazing and/or photovoltaic module.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An electrochromic system, comprising:
an insulated glass unit including a first glass pane and an electrochromic device having light transmissivity that is variable in response to an electrical current, wherein an external surface of the first glass pane lies along a first plane;
a photovoltaic module electrically connected to the electrochromic device for providing the electrical current to the electrochromic device in response to light incident on the photovoltaic module, wherein:
the photovoltaic module is mounted to the external surface of the first glass pane and is adjacent to an exterior building frame-work;
the photovoltaic module has a light receiving surface that lies along a second plane that intersects the first plane and is oriented upward from a horizontal plane; and

an electronics module in communication with either of the photovoltaic module or the electrochromic device.

2. The electrochromic system of claim 1 , wherein the electronics module in wireless communication with a building automation system.

3. The electrochromic system of claim 1 , wherein the first glass pane is an electrochromic glazing.

4. The electrochromic system of claim 1 , wherein the insulated glass unit includes a laminate of the first glass pane and another glass pane.

5. The electrochromic system of claim 1 , wherein the photovoltaic module covers a portion of the visual surface of the first glass pane.

6. The electrochromic system of claim 1 , wherein the electronics module is mounted adjacent to the electrochromic device on an interior or exterior building frame-work.

7. The electrochromic system of claim 1 , wherein the photovoltaic module and the electronics module are mounted at different locations.

8. The electrochromic system of claim 7 , wherein the electronics module is located inside or protruding into a framing system, and wherein the electronics module is in wireless communication with a building automation system.

9. The electrochromic system of claim 7 , wherein the electronics module is located in an interior frame-work, and wherein the electronics module is in wireless communication with a building automation system.

10. The electrochromic system of claim 1 , wherein the photovoltaic module and the electronics module are combined into a single unit.

11. The electrochromic system of claim 10 , wherein the combined photovoltaic and electronics module have a thickness less than about 10 mm.

12. The electrochromic system of claim 1 , wherein the electronics module responds to solar intensity such that the electrochromic device tints or colors proportionally to available sunlight.

13. The electrochromic system of claim 1 , wherein the electronics module comprises control logic means.

14. The electrochromic system of claim 13 , wherein the control logic means monitors available energy from the photovoltaic module.

15. The electrochromic system of claim 1 , further comprising a battery.

16. The electrochromic system of claim 1 , wherein the photovoltaic module and the electronics module are combined and mounted to the external surface of the first glass pane.

17. The electrochromic system of claim 16 , wherein the electronics module is in wireless communication with a building automation system.

18. The electrochromic system of claim 1 , wherein the electronics module comprises a photovoltaic module and a resistor wired in parallel with an electrochromic device wiring.

19. The electrochromic system of claim 1 , wherein the photovoltaic module is connected to the electronics module through an electrical feed-through.

20. The electrochromic system of claim 1 , wherein the photovoltaic module is coupled to the electronics module via a wireless energy transfer means.

21. An electrochromic system, comprising:
an electrochromic device having light transmissivity that is variable in response to an electrical current;
a glass pane having a viewing surface that lies along a first plane;
a photovoltaic module electrically connected to the electrochromic device for providing the electrical current to the electrochromic device response to light incident on the photovoltaic module, wherein:
the photovoltaic module is mounted adjacent to the electrochromic device and overlies a surface of an exterior building frame-work, wherein the surface of the exterior building frame lies along a second plane that intersects the first plane;
the photovoltaic module has a first surface, a second surface, and a light receiving surface,
the first surface is parallel to the first plane and has a proximal end closer to the second surface and a distal end farther from the second surface;
the second surface is parallel to the second plane and has a proximal end closer to the first surface and a distal end farther from the first surface;
the light receiving surface extends between the distal ends of the first and second surfaces of the photovoltaic module;
the light surface is farther from the proximal ends of the first and second surface surfaces than the distal ends of the first and second surfaces; and
the light receiving surface lies along a single plane that intersects the first and second planes; and

an electronics module in communication with either of the photovoltaic module or the electrochromic device, wherein the electronics module is in wireless communication with a building automation system.

22. The electrochromic system of claim 21 , wherein the first and second planes are perpendicular to each other.

23. The electrochromic system of claim 21 , wherein the photovoltaic module is mounted to the surface of the exterior building frame-work.

Assignees

• Podbelski Lou
• Greer Bryan D
• Snyker Mark O
• Sage Electrochromics Inc

Inventors

• Podbelski Lou
• Greer Bryan D
• Snyker Mark O

Classifications

• G02F1/163

  Operation of electrochromic cells, e.g. electrodeposition cells; Circuit arrangements therefor · CPC title

• G02F2001/13324

  Physics · mapped topic

• E04B2/88

  Curtain walls {(fixing of glass panes E06B3/54)} · CPC title

• G02F1/157 Primary

  Structural association of cells with optical devices, e.g. reflectors or illuminating devices · CPC title

• G02F1/13324

  Circuits comprising solar cells · CPC title