Onboard controller for multistate windows

摘要

Onboard EC window controllers are described. The controllers are configured in close proximity to the EC window, for example, within the IGU. The controller may be part of a window assembly, which includes an IGU having one or more EC panes, and thus does not have to be matched with the EC window, and installed, in the field. The window controllers described herein have a number of advantages because they are matched to the IGU containing one or more EC devices and their proximity to the EC panes of the window overcomes a number of problems associated with conventional controller configurations.

主权项

1. A network comprising:
(a) two or more window assemblies, each comprising:
at least one electrochromic pane;a window controller comprising (i) a circuit for processing digital signals including one or more discrete tint values received from the network, and (ii) a memory storing drive configuration parameters for driving tint state transitions in the at least one electrochromic pane, wherein the drive configuration parameters stored in the memory of the window controller comprise one or more parameters selected from the group consisting of: a voltage to be applied to the window controller's associated electrochromic pane during an optical transition of the electrochromic pane, a rate of change of voltage to be applied to the window controller's associated electrochromic pane during the optical transition of the electrochromic pane, and a current limit corresponding to a current applied to the window controller's associated electrochromic pane during the optical transition of the electrochromic pane; (b) a network controller communicatively coupled to the window controller of each of the two or more window assemblies and configured to send input signals to each of the window controllers, the input signals comprising the one or more discrete tint values,
wherein each of the window controllers is configured to control said at least one electrochromic pane of its associated window assembly based on the one or more discrete tint values received from the network controller and the stored drive configuration parameters particular to each window assembly, andwherein the network controller is physically separate from the window controllers; and (c) an electrical path connecting the window controllers in a linear bus topology.