Patents Assigned to Kinestral Technologies, Inc.
  • Patent number: 10768503
    Abstract: A dual rail driver for an electrochromic device is provided. The dual rail driver includes a power supply having a first power supply rail and a second power supply rail and an H bridge connected to the first power supply rail and the second power supply rail and configurable to couple to an electrochromic device. The dual rail driver includes a controller coupled to the H bridge through a failsafe module and configurable to control switches of the H bridge to charge and discharge the electrochromic device from the first power supply rail and the second power supply rail. The failsafe module is configurable to override one or more signals from the controller that controls the switches of the H bridge through the failsafe module, responsive to detecting anomaly of the electrochromic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: KINESTRAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC
    Inventors: Paul Nagel, Wally Barnum, Doug Brainard
  • Patent number: 10761394
    Abstract: Process for forming a multi-layer electrochromic structure, the process comprising depositing a film of a liquid mixture onto a surface of a substrate, and treating the deposited film to form an anodic electrochromic layer, the liquid mixture comprising a continuous phase and a dispersed phase, the dispersed phase comprising metal oxide particles, metal alkoxide particles, metal alkoxide oligomers, gels or particles, or a combination thereof having a number average size of at least 5 nm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: KINESTRAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Hye Jin Choi, Mark Bailey, John David Bass, Stephen Winthrop von Kugelgen, Eric Lachman, Howard W. Turner, Daniel Mark Giaquinta
  • Patent number: 10739657
    Abstract: Multi-layer devices comprising a layer of an electrochromic lithium nickel oxide composition on a first substrate, the lithium nickel oxide composition comprising lithium, nickel and a Group 4 metal selected from titanium, zirconium, hafnium and a combination thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: KINESTRAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Hye Jin Choi, Mark Bailey, John David Bass, Stephen Winthrop von Kugelgen, Eric Lachman, Howard W. Turner, Julian P. Bigi
  • Patent number: 10723835
    Abstract: Multi-layer electrochromic structures, and processes for assembling such structures, incorporating a cross-linked ion conducting polymer layer that maintains high adhesive and cohesive strength in combination with high ionic conductivity for an extended period of time, the ion conducting polymer layer characterized by electrochemical stability at voltages between about 1.3 V and about 4.4 V relative to lithium, lithium ion conductivity of at least about 10?5 s/cm, and lap shear strength of at least 100 kPa, as measured at 1.27 mm/min in accordance with ASTM International standard D1002 or D3163.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: KINESTRAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Nicolas Timmerman, Mark Micklatcher, Justin Kerszulis
  • Patent number: 10705403
    Abstract: A method of controlling an electrochromic device is provided. The method includes measuring an open circuit voltage between a first electrode and a reference electrode in the electrochromic device in a fully bleached state. The method includes calculating a charge Q to return the first electrode to a baseline state and darkening the first electrode in the electrochromic device to a darkened state. The method includes transferring charge from the first electrode in the darkened state to a redox element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: KINESTRAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: John Bass, Hugues Duncan, Jonathan Ziebarth
  • Patent number: 10698286
    Abstract: An electrochromic multi-layer stack is provided. The multi-layer stack includes an electrochromic multi-layer stack having a first substrate, a first electrically conductive layer, a first electrode layer, an ion conductor layer, a second substrate, a second electrically conductive layer, and a second electrode layer. The multi-layer stack includes a redox element, wherein the redox element is electrically isolated from the first and second electrically conductive layers and the first and second electrode layer and is laterally adjacent to either the first electrically conductive layer and the first electrode, or the second electrically conductive layer and the second electrode layer. A method for controlling an electrochromic device is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: KINESTRAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: John David Bass, Jonathan Ziebarth, Hugues Duncan, Justin Kerszulis, Howard W. Turner, Jeffrey Charles Yoder
  • Patent number: 10678109
    Abstract: A distributed device control system is provided. The system includes a plurality of windows, each window of the plurality of windows having at least one electrochromic window, a voltage or current driver for the at least one electrochromic window, and a first control system local to the window. The system includes a plurality of window controllers, each window controller configured to couple to one or more of the plurality of windows and having a second control system, for the one or more of the plurality of windows, local to the window controller. The system includes a command and communication device configured to couple to each of the plurality of window controllers, configured to couple to a network, and having a third control system, for the plurality of windows, wherein control of the plurality of windows is distributed across the plurality of windows, the plurality of window controllers, the command and communication device, and a portion of the network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: KINESTRAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Paul Nagel, Wally Barnum, Stephen Coffin, Jonathan Ziebarth
  • Patent number: 10670936
    Abstract: Process for forming a multi-layer electrochromic structure, the process comprising depositing a film of a liquid mixture onto a surface of a substrate, and treating the deposited film to form an anodic electrochromic layer, the liquid mixture comprising a continuous phase and a dispersed phase, the dispersed phase comprising metal oxide particles, metal hydroxide particles, metal alkoxide particles, metal alkoxide oligomers, gels or particles, or a combination thereof having a number average size of at least 5 nm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: KINESTRAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Hye Jin Choi, John David Bass, Eric Lachman, Daniel Mark Giaquinta, Howard W. Turner, Ellen Murphy
  • Patent number: 10663832
    Abstract: A window is provided. The window includes an electrochromic device having variable transmissivity and a region of the electrochromic device arranged with an indicator that is configured to indicate one of levels of the transmissivity or changes of the transmissivity of the electrochromic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: KINESTRAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Paul Nagel, Antoine Dubois
  • Patent number: 10627692
    Abstract: A multi-layer device comprising a first substrate, a first electrically conductive layer and a first current modulating structure on a surface thereof, the first current modulating structure comprising a composite of a resistive material and a patterned insulating material, the first current modulating structure having a cross-layer resistance to the flow of electrical current through the first current modulating structure that varies as a function of position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: KINESTRAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Howard S. Bergh, Jonathan Ziebarth, Nicolas Timmerman
  • Patent number: 10590698
    Abstract: A smart window-based security system is provided. The system includes a plurality of smart windows, each smart window of the plurality of smart windows having at least one electrochromic window and at least one sensor integrated into the smart window. The plurality of smart windows are coupled together in a system having at least one processor configured to detect a personal or property security threat, such as an intruder or fire based, on information from sensors of the plurality of smart windows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Kinestral Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Nagel, Wally Barnum, Stephen Coffin, Brandon Nichols, Antoine Dubois
  • Patent number: 10591796
    Abstract: An electrochromic multi-layer stack is provided. The electrochromic multi-layer stack includes a thin film that includes lithium tungsten oxide with lithium included in the fully bleached state. The electrochromic multi-layer stack also includes an electrically conductive layer, and an outer substrate. An electrochromic device is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: KINESTRAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Daniel Giaquinta, Brian Wiers, John David Bass, Scott Gamble, Gregory Daniloff, Hugues Duncan
  • Patent number: 10591798
    Abstract: A method of controlling smart windows with dynamic tenancy, performed by a control system is provided. The method includes coupling a control system having a plurality of smart windows each having one or more electrochromic devices, to a plurality of remote devices, and managing, in the control system, configurable smart window groups each having in membership one or more of the plurality of smart windows. The method includes managing, in the control system, configurable user groups each having in membership one or more of a plurality of users in association with the smart window groups, and controlling transmissivity of the electrochromic devices of the plurality of smart windows in accordance with the configurable smart window groups, the configurable user groups and the plurality of remote devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: KINESTRAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Paul Nagel, Wally Barnum, Jason Litzinger, William O'Dell
  • Patent number: 10579842
    Abstract: A smart driver system for electrochromic devices is provided. The system includes at least one smart driver having one or more processors, memory and a communication module. The at least one smart driver is configurable to couple to or integrate with one or more smart windows having electrochromic devices. The at least one smart driver is configurable to input identification information from a plurality of self-identifying components of a smart window system, including the one or more smart windows, and to self-initialize or self-adjust a plurality of operating parameters for operation of the self-identifying components in accordance with the identification information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: Kinestral Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Wally Barnum, Doug Brainard, Steve Coffin, Paul Nagel
  • Patent number: 10579024
    Abstract: Disclosed is a system, method, and computer program product that employs high dynamic range (HDR) image processing and manipulation algorithms for capturing and measuring real-time sky conditions for processing into control input signals to a building's automated fenestration (AF) system, daylight harvesting (DH) system and HVAC system. The photometer comprises a color camera and a fitted fish-eye lens to capture 360-degree, hemispherical, low dynamic range (LDR) color images of the sky. Both camera and lens are housed in a sealed enclosure protecting them from environmental elements and conditions. In some embodiments the camera and processes are controlled and implemented by a back-end computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: KINESTRAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: Christian Humann
  • Patent number: 10558103
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a thin film is provided. The method includes providing a plurality of crystalline hexagonal tungsten trioxide particles, size-reducing the crystalline hexagonal tungsten trioxide particles by grinding to produce crystalline hexagonal tungsten trioxide nanostructures, and coating the crystalline hexagonal tungsten trioxide nanostructures onto a substrate to produce a thin film. An electrochromic multi-layer stack is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: Kinestral Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: John H. Roudebush, Lina Zhu, Daniel Giaquinta, Hugues Duncan, Howard Turner
  • Patent number: 10539860
    Abstract: A wall controller is provided. The wall controller includes a projection screen having an input device and a projector, wherein the projector has an optical axis that is non-orthogonal to the projection screen. The wall controller includes a housing having the projector at an end of the housing. The housing is dimensioned to fit the end of the housing through an aperture in a first wall, fit the end into a wall space between the first wall and a second wall, and fit a majority of another end of the housing into the aperture until the projection screen is parallel to a surface of the first wall and a front portion of the projection screen is flush with, recessed in or extends from the surface of the first wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: Kinestral Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Antoine Dubois, John Bogdan, Paul Nagel, Craig Henricksen, Stephen Coffin, Wally Barnum
  • Patent number: 10509292
    Abstract: An electrochromic device is provided. The device includes a substrate and an electrochromic stack on the substrate. The stack includes a first set of bus bars, a first transparent conductive layer, at least one electrochromic layer, a second transparent conductive layer, and a second set of bus bars, wherein at least one of the first transparent conductive layer or the second transparent conductive layer includes resistivity that varies by horizontal location according to a resistivity profile. In some embodiments the resistivity profile has a vertical component that may or may not be in addition to the horizontal component. Various embodiments of these materials can be tuned as to profiles of vertical resistance and horizontal sheet resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: Kinestral Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: John David Bass, Howard Bergh, Nicolas Timmerman, Jonathan Ziebarth
  • Patent number: 10473997
    Abstract: An electrochromic device is provided. The device includes a first substrate and a second substrate. The device includes electrochromic material, with the first substrate, the electrochromic material and the second substrate forming a laminate, the first substrate offset in a lateral direction from the second substrate along at least a portion of an edge of the electrochromic device. The device includes a plurality of terminals coupled to the electrochromic material, with at least two of the plurality of terminals exposed on the first substrate by the first substrate being offset in the lateral direction from the second substrate. A method of manufacturing an electrochromic device is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: Kinestral Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Ken Higashihara, John Gallipeo
  • Patent number: 10437128
    Abstract: A multi-layer device comprising a first substrate and a first electrically conductive layer on a surface thereof, the first electrically conductive layer having a sheet resistance to the flow of electrical current through the first electrically conductive layer that varies as a function of position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: Kinestral Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Howard S. Bergh, John David Bass, Jonathan Ziebarth, Nicolas Timmerman, Zachariah Hogan, Karin Yaccato, Howard W. Turner