Optical device with power supply system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9817256-B2
Application number	US-201414904210-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 10, 2014
Priority date	Jul 11, 2013
Publication date	Nov 14, 2017
Grant date	Nov 14, 2017

Abstract

The invention pertains to an optical device comprising at least one glass or polymer area, whereby an active matrix is located in contact with the at least one glass or polymer area, the optical device comprises a power supply system located between a first auxiliary plane and a second auxiliary-plane parallel to a glass or polymer area, and a distance L from a third auxiliary-plane or a fourth auxiliary-plane approximately perpendicular to the glass or polymer area. The invention pertains also to a power supply system for such an optical device.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An optical device comprising at least one glass or polymer area, whereby an active matrix is located in contact with the at least one glass or polymer area, the optical device comprises a power supply system, characterized in that the power supply system is located between a first-auxiliary plane arranged on top and approximately parallel to the at least one glass or polymer area and a second auxiliary-plane arranged approximately parallel to and in a distance L′ of less than 10 cm from the first-auxiliary plane, and the power supply located in a distance L of less than 21 cm away from a third-auxiliary plane or a fourth-auxiliary plane which are arranged
approximately perpendicular to the main extension direction of the at least one glass or polymer area, whereby L is also the distance between the third-auxiliary plane and a side of the at least one glass or polymer area and the same side of the at least one glass or polymer area and the fourth-auxiliary plane, whereby the power supply system comprises at least a controller and at least one energy storing device, and whereby the optical device comprises at least one photovoltaic element placed in direct physical contact with a spacer and the at least one glass or polymer area, whereby the at least one photovoltaic element is arranged approximately perpendicular to the main extension area of the at least one glass or polymer area.

2. The optical device according to claim 1 , whereby the power supply system is at least partially covered by a frame, whereby the frame covers the at least one glass or polymer area.

3. The optical device according to claim 1 , whereby the at least one photovoltaic element is a thin film solar cell.

4. The optical device according to claim 1 , wherein one maximum powerpoint tracking device is used for the at least one photovoltaic element.

5. The optical device according to claim 1 , whereby the optical device comprises an additional area, wherein the at additional area is a glass or polymer area, and the additional area is in contact with at least one additional photovoltaic element.

6. The optical device according to claim 1 , whereby the power supply system is reversibly removable from the optical device.

7. The optical device according to claim 1 , whereby the active matrix contains liquid crystals.

8. The optical device according to claim 7 , whereby the liquid crystals are polymer dispersed liquid crystals, guest-host liquid crystals or polymer stabilized cholesteric liquid crystals.

9. The optical device according to claim 1 , whereby the optical device is an electrochromic device or a suspended particle device.

10. The optical device according to claim 1 , whereby the optical device is a switchable window.

Assignees

• Merck Patent Gmbh

Inventors

• Van Oosten Casper
• Schlosser Felix

Classifications

• G02F1/13306 Primary

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

• 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

• G02F1/172

  based on a suspension of orientable dipolar particles, e.g. suspended particles displays · CPC title

• E06B2009/2464

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

• G02F1/163

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