Electrochromic Patents (Class 359/265)
  • Patent number: 12181768
    Abstract: Light-transmissive conductors including oriented conductors disposed in a light-transmissive polymer having a volume resistivity between 1×1010 ohm-cm and 1×104 ohm-cm. The oriented conductors typically have very high conductivity along their length. Light-transmissive conductors described herein are well-suited for front electrodes for electro-optic displays, especially elongated displays in the shape of ribbons, stripes, or rulers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Assignee: E Ink Corporation
    Inventors: Richard J. Paolini, Jr., Jay William Anseth
  • Patent number: 12181765
    Abstract: An optical element according to some embodiments includes: a plurality of lower electrodes spread on a surface of a lower substrate and including first and second lower electrodes arranged adjacent in a first direction in the lower substrate plane; a plurality of upper electrodes spread on a surface of an upper substrate and including a first upper electrode that faces the first lower electrode and a second upper electrode that faces a portion of the first lower electrode and the second lower electrode; and a conductive member that is sandwiched between and electrically connects the first lower electrode and the second upper electrode, the conductive member being selectively disposed in an overlap region in which the first lower electrode and the second upper electrode overlap when the first lower electrode and the second upper electrode are projected on a virtual plane parallel to the lower substrate or the upper substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Assignee: STANLEY ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tomoya Hirano
  • Patent number: 12174499
    Abstract: Display panel and display device are provided. The display panel includes a substrate and an array layer arranged on a side of the substrate. The array layer includes a first metal layer, an active layer, and a second metal layer. Along a first direction, the first metal layer and the second metal layer are on two sides of the active layer, and the first direction is perpendicular to the substrate. The array layer includes at least one first transistor including a first sub-transistor and a second sub-transistor connected in series, and the first sub-transistor includes a first active layer in the active layer, the second sub-transistor includes a second active layer in the active layer, the first active layer is connected to the second active layer. Along the first direction, the first metal layer overlaps both the first active layer and the second active layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2024
    Assignee: Hubei Yangtze Industrial Innovation Center of Advanced Display Co., LTD.
    Inventor: Weiwei Yang
  • Patent number: 12140849
    Abstract: A vehicular vision system includes a rear-viewing camera disposed at a vehicle and viewing at least rearward of the vehicle. Each frame of image data captured by the imaging array of the rear-viewing camera includes a plurality of grids, with each grid of the plurality of grids having a respective set of photosensing elements associated with respective rows and columns of photosensing elements. A electro-optic rearview mirror assembly includes an electro-optic mirror reflective element that is controlled responsive to an ambient light condition and a glare light condition. The ambient light condition is determined by processing at least one first grid of the plurality of grids of the frames of image data captured by the rear-viewing camera. The glare light condition is determined by processing at least one second grid of the plurality of grids of the frames of image data captured by the rear-viewing camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2024
    Assignee: MAGNA MIRRORS OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Niall R. Lynam, Hamid Habibi, Rodney K. Blank, Christopher R. Koetje, Mark L. Larson, Patrick M. Foley, IV, Michael L. Gallas
  • Patent number: 12130535
    Abstract: A suspended-particle device with improved adhesion between the active and conductive layers is disclosed. The conductive layers are coated with an adhesion promoter that comprises at least one organosilane that covalently bonds to the surface of the conductive layer and comprises a cross-linkable moiety such as an acrylate. The active layer comprises a suspension of active particles in a polymer matrix that comprises a polymer having pendant cross-linkable moieties such as acrylates. Upon curing (e.g. by irradiation by ultraviolet light), the polymer matrix of the active layer cross-links with the cross-linkable moieties of the adhesion promoter, thereby binding the active and conductive layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2024
    Assignee: GAUZY LTD.
    Inventors: Eyal Peso, Adrian Lofer, Tania Fadida, Dana Gal-Fuss
  • Patent number: 12117710
    Abstract: Controllers and control methods apply a drive voltage to bus bars of a thin film optically switchable device. The applied drive voltage is provided at a level that drives a transition over the entire surface of the optically switchable device but does not damage or degrade the device. This applied voltage produces an effective voltage at all locations on the face of the device that is within a bracketed range. The upper bound of this range is associated with a voltage safely below the level at which the device may experience damage or degradation impacting its performance in the short term or the long term. At the lower boundary of this range is an effective voltage at which the transition between optical states of the device occurs relatively rapidly. The level of voltage applied between the bus bars is significantly greater than the maximum value of the effective voltage within the bracketed range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2024
    Assignee: View, Inc.
    Inventors: Anshu A. Pradhan, Disha Mehtani, Gordon Jack
  • Patent number: 12117708
    Abstract: It relates to a thermo-responsive dual band electrochromic device, which is capable of selectively controlling the amount of sunlight radiation transmitted in the visible and in the near-infrared regions by operating under four distinct optical regimes, namely: fully transparent, visible blocking, near-infrared blocking, and fully blocking. The device can be regulated either by an electric stimulus, namely by controlling the sign and the intensity of the applied bias voltage, or by a thermal stimulus. In the latter the attenuation of incoming thermal radiation results increased as temperature increases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2024
    Assignee: ACONDICIONAMIENTO TARRASENSE
    Inventor: Michele Andrea Manca
  • Patent number: 12078904
    Abstract: The types and concentrations of multiple anodic electrochromic compounds are selected in such a manner that RGmax is 1.37 or less, in which RGmax is a maximum value among ratios between RGB signal ratios in the transmission state of an electrochromic device and in colored states of the anodic electrochromic compounds, the RGB signal ratios are obtained from TA(?) and the sensitivity of a photodetector, and TA(?) is a normalized variable transmittance obtained by a combination of absorptions of the anodic electrochromic compounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2024
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Wataru Kubo
  • Patent number: 12073752
    Abstract: The embodiments herein relate to methods for controlling an optical transition and the ending tint state of an optically switchable device, and optically switchable devices configured to perform such methods. In various embodiments, non-optical (e.g., electrical) feedback is used to help control an optical transition. The feedback may be used for a number of different purposes. In many implementations, the feedback is used to control an ongoing optical transition. In some embodiments a transfer function is used calibrate optical drive parameters to control the tinting state of optically switching devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2024
    Assignee: View, Inc.
    Inventors: Anshu Ajit Pradhan, Abhishek Anant Dixit
  • Patent number: 12061405
    Abstract: A method includes receiving first dimensions of an electrochromic device and second dimensions of one or more obstructions of the electrochromic device. The method further includes generating, based on the first dimensions and the second dimensions, an obstruction map that indicates at least one of an obstructed portion or an unobstructed portion of the electrochromic device. The method further includes determining, based the obstruction map, a first desired tinting state of the electrochromic device. The method further includes causing a current tinting state of the electrochromic device to correspond to the first desired tinting state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2024
    Assignee: Halio, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew McNeil, Tanguy Timmermans
  • Patent number: 12054671
    Abstract: An electro-optic element having enhanced durability by the addition of an additive. The additive may enhance the durability of the electro-optic element by reducing or eliminating the effects of water on species with the electro-optic element, such as the electrolyte. Specifically, the additive may operate to reduce or eliminate the formation and/or accumulation of hydrogen fluoride within the electro-optic element by interaction of the electrolyte with water or alcohol molecules. In some embodiments, the additive may be an organosilicon species, such as (3-cyanopropyl) dimethylfluorosilane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2024
    Assignee: GENTEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: William L. Tonar, Leroy J. Kloeppner
  • Patent number: 12043179
    Abstract: A vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly includes a mirror head adjustably attached at a mounting base. The mirror head includes a prismatic mirror reflective element having a wedge-shaped, reflector-coated glass substrate having a front side and a rear side separated by a thickness of the glass substrate, with the thickness of the glass substrate varying between a lower edge region of the glass substrate and an upper edge region of the glass substrate. A driver monitoring camera is accommodated by the mirror head and views through the prismatic mirror reflective element. A refraction-compensating element is disposed between a lens of the driver monitoring camera and the rear side of the glass substrate of the prismatic mirror reflective element. The refraction-compensating element is a wedge-shaped element that offsets refraction of light that passes through the wedge-shaped, reflector coated glass substrate of the prismatic mirror reflective element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: Magna Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Zhongyao Liu, Justin E. Sobecki, Jonathan D. Conger, Steven V. Byrne, Austen C. Peterson
  • Patent number: 12038664
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes various processes of forming an electrochromic stack using at most one metallic lithium deposition station. In some aspects, a process may include depositing metallic lithium only within an electrochromic counter-electrode of an electrochromic stack. In some aspects, a process may include using a lithium-containing ceramic counter-electrode target to form an electrochromic counter-electrode and depositing metallic lithium only within or above an electrochromic electrode of the electrochromic stack. In some embodiments, a process may include using a lithium-containing ceramic electrode target, and optionally additionally depositing metallic lithium to add mobile lithium to the electrochromic stack. In some embodiments, a process may include using a single metallic lithium deposition station to deposit metallic lithium between an ion-conducting layer and an electrochromic electrode of the electrochromic stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2024
    Assignee: SAGE Electrochromics, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Mogensen, Wen Li, Jean-Christophe Giron, Nicolas Antoine Mercadier
  • Patent number: 12032260
    Abstract: Provided are electrolyte films or cells for use in variety of applications, such as electrochromic windows. An electrolytic film comprises a polymer layer, such as thermoplastic polyurethane or polymethyl methacrylate, and an electrolyte within the polymer layer. The electrolyte comprises a salt and a plasticizer. The plasticizer comprises one or more materials that are selected to provide sufficient conductivity and optical transparency for operation of the electrolyte film in an application requiring substantial optical clarity and switching speed, such as a smart window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Inventors: Nandan Ukidwe, James Kidwell, Dave Collette
  • Patent number: 11932170
    Abstract: An improved device switchable between reflective and display states comprising an optical element and a display element. The optical element comprising a liquid crystal medium disposed between first and second substrates. The optical element may further comprise a first electrode, a second electrode, an absorptive polarizer, and a reflective polarizer. The first electrode and the absorptive polarizer may be disposed in a first direction relative the liquid crystal medium. Similarly, the second electrode and the reflective polarizer may be disposed in a second direction relative the liquid crystal medium. The second direction is opposite the first direction. In some embodiments, one or more of the absorptive and reflective polarizers may be further disposed between the first and second substrates. The display may be disposed in the first direction relative the optical element. Additionally, the device may further comprise a housing. In some embodiments, the housing may not have a bezel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: GENTEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Xiaoxu Niu, David J. Cammenga, William L. Tonar
  • Patent number: 11934055
    Abstract: A privacy glazing structure may include an electrically controllable optically active material that provides controlled transition between a privacy or scattering state and a visible or transmittance state. To make electrical connections with electrode layers that control the optically active material, the privacy glazing structure may include electrode engagement regions. In some examples, the electrode engagement regions are formed as notches in peripheral edges of opposed panes bounding the optically active material. The notches may or may not overlap to provide a through conduit in the region of overlap for wiring. In either case, the notches may allow the remainder of the structure to have a flush edge surface for ease of downstream processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Cardinal IG Company
    Inventors: Eric Berner, Eric Bjergaard, Timothy Braun, Andrew DeMiglio, Chad Peters
  • Patent number: 11906868
    Abstract: Embodiments described include bus bars for electrochromic or other optical state changing devices. The bus bars are configured to color match and/or provide minimal optical contrast with their surrounding environment in the optical device. Such bus bars may be transparent bus bars.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: View, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert T. Rozbicki, Gordon E. Jack, Disha Mehtani, Robin Friedman
  • Patent number: 11868103
    Abstract: A site monitoring system (SMS) may analyze information from one or more sites to determine when a device, a sensor, a controller, or other structure or component associated with a network of optically switchable devices has a problem. The system may, if appropriate, act on the problem. In certain embodiments, the system learns customer/user preferences and adapts its control logic to meet the customer's goals. In various embodiments, the system updates a memory component associated with one or more optically switchable windows and/or controllers. The memory component may be updated to reflect an updated control algorithm and/or associated parameters in some cases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: View, Inc.
    Inventors: Dhairya Shrivastava, Stephen Clark Brown, Alexander Rumer
  • Patent number: 11852946
    Abstract: A method for controlling an electrochromic device is provided. The method includes applying a constant supply current to the electrochromic device and determining an amount of charge transferred to the electrochromic device, as a function of time and current supplied to the electrochromic device. The method includes ceasing the applying the constant supply current, responsive to a sense voltage reaching a sense voltage limit and applying one of a variable voltage or a variable current to the electrochromic device to maintain the sense voltage at the sense voltage limit, responsive to the sense voltage reaching the sense voltage limit. The method includes terminating the applying the variable voltage or the variable current to the electrochromic device, responsive to the determined amount of charge reaching a target amount of charge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: HALIO, INC.
    Inventors: Jonathan Ziebarth, Howard S. Bergh
  • Patent number: 11835834
    Abstract: Aspects of this disclosure concern controllers and control methods for applying a drive voltage to bus bars of optically switchable devices such as electrochromic devices. Such devices are often provided on windows such as architectural glass. In certain embodiments, the applied drive voltage is controlled in a manner that efficiently drives an optical transition over the entire surface of the electrochromic device. The drive voltage is controlled to account for differences in effective voltage experienced in regions between the bus bars and regions proximate the bus bars. Regions near the bus bars experience the highest effective voltage. In some cases, feedback may be used to monitor an optical transition. In these or other cases, a group of optically switchable devices may transition together over a particular duration to achieve approximately uniform tint states over time during the transition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: View, Inc.
    Inventors: Gordon Jack, Sridhar K. Kailasam, Stephen C. Brown, Anshu A. Pradhan
  • Patent number: 11804200
    Abstract: A subtractive color change system for displaying a selected color to a viewer and a method of changing color. The system includes a layered assembly having transparent panels of primary and key colors, with a fixed-color background behind the layered assembly. The subtractive color change system may have a control unit to individually control the intensities and values of the primary color panels to render a color and to control the intensities and values of the panels in the layered assembly to reduce differences between the color rendered and the selected color and to display the selected color to a viewer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventor: N. Scot Hull
  • Patent number: 11802440
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to devices that include a perovskite, where, when a first condition is met, at least a portion of the perovskite is in a first phase that substantially transmits light, when a second condition is met, at least a portion of the perovskite is in a second phase that substantially absorbs light, and the perovskite is reversibly switchable between the first phase and the second phase by reversibly switching between the first condition and the second condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC
    Inventors: Lance Michael Wheeler, Joseph Matthew Luther, Jeffrey A. Christians, Joseph Jonathan Berry
  • Patent number: 11796885
    Abstract: This disclosure provides a window controller that includes a command-voltage generator that generates a command voltage signal, and a pulse-width-modulated-signal generator that generates a pulse-width-modulated signal based on the command voltage signal. The pulse-width-modulated signal drives an optically-switchable device. The pulse-width-modulated signal comprises a first power component having a first duty cycle and a second power component having a second duty cycle. The first component delivers a first pulse during each active portion of the first duty cycle, and the second component delivers a second pulse during each active portion of the second duty cycle. The first pulses are applied to a first conductive layer and the second pulses are applied to a second conductive layer. The relative durations of the active portions and the relative durations of the first and second pulses are adjusted to result in a change in an effective DC voltage applied across the optically-switchable device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: View, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen Clark Brown
  • Patent number: 11794652
    Abstract: An electro-optic element having multiple regions is disclosed. The electro-optic element comprises an electro-optic medium disposed between two electrodes. Further, the electro-optic medium is operable between activated and un-activated states based, at least in part, on exposure to an electrical potential. In some embodiments, in response to an electrical potential of a first polarity, the electro-optic medium may be substantially activated in one region and substantially un-activated in another region. In response to an electrical potential of a second polarity opposite the first polarity, the electro-optic medium may be substantially activated in both regions. In other embodiments, the electro-optic medium is operably activated such that electro-optic medium is activated in one region and un-activated in another region, regardless of polarity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: GENTEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mario F. Saenger Nayver, George A. Neuman, John S. Anderson, Yuping Lin, Eric A. Gobrogge
  • Patent number: 11798966
    Abstract: A light ray direction control element includes a base, a plurality of light transmitting layers arranged on a main surface of the base, a light absorbing layer disposed among the plurality of light transmitting layers, and a tilt prevention layer provided on the main surface of the base and disposed on an outer periphery of a region in which the plurality of light transmitting layers is disposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignees: TIANMA JAPAN, LTD., Wuhan Tianma Micro-Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kunihiro Shiota, Ken Sumiyoshi, Hiroshi Haga
  • Patent number: 11794837
    Abstract: There is provided with a straddle type vehicle. A direction indicator is formed to project outward in a vehicle width direction and shows a traveling direction of the vehicle. A sensing device detects an obstacle around the vehicle using an ultrasonic wave. The sensing device is arranged in a distal end portion of the direction indicator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Katagiri, Yoshiyuki Kuroba, Tsuyoshi Kumasaka, Hiroshi Maeda
  • Patent number: 11752735
    Abstract: An improved functional element having electrically controllable optical properties includes a stack sequence formed of a first carrier film, a first surface electrode, an active layer, a second surface electrode, and a second carrier film, wherein the second carrier film is folded around the edge of the first carrier film at least at one side edge and seals an exit surface of the active layer at the side edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: SAINT-GOBAIN GLASS FRANCE
    Inventors: Florian Manz, Jefferson Do Rosario, Marcel Klein, Michael Labrot, Andreas Sznerski, Sebastian Schurse, Valentin Schulz
  • Patent number: 11718067
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are engineered composite materials suitable for applications that can benefit from a composite material capable of interacting with or responding to, in a controlled or pre-determined manner, changes in its surrounding environment, such as to attenuate a compression wave. The composite material generally includes a plurality of repeating units, with each repeating unit including a first layer of particles having a first mean diameter, and a second layer of particles having a second mean diameter, and an intermediary material that allows mobility of and contact between the first particles within the first layer and mobility of and contact between the second particles within the second layer; the contact allowing momentum transfer between the particles. The first mean diameter and second mean diameter are different and are less than 500 nm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Greenhill Antiballistics Corporation
    Inventors: Zachary R. Greenhill, Joseph J. Belbruno, Yuval Avniel
  • Patent number: 11714327
    Abstract: A non-light-emitting variable transmission device can include an active stack; a transparent conductive layer overlying the active stack; an antireflective layer overlying the transparent conductive layer and defining a hole; and a bus bar comprising a conductive tape that extends into the hole and contacts the transparent conductive layer. Proper selection of materials and design of a bus bar can allow an electrical connection to be made to the transparent conductive layer without the need to cut an underlying transparent conductive layer. A method of forming the non-light-emitting variable transmission device can include patterning the antireflective layer to define the hole that extends to the transparent conductive layer. Improved control in patterning allows the antireflective layer to be relatively thin and not remove too much of the underlying transparent conductive layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: SAGE ELECTROCHROMICS, INC.
    Inventors: Sebastian Marius Sarrach, Jean-Christophe Giron, Pascal Reutler, Sean Murphy, Peter Bocek
  • Patent number: 11681196
    Abstract: An electrochromic device includes: an electrochromic element operating in at least one of a first optical characteristic state and a second optical characteristic state; and a temperature measuring device configured to measure temperature, and circuitry to control voltage to be applied to the electrochromic element such that the second optical characteristic state becomes constant irrespective of the measured temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Tohru Hasegawa, Keiichiroh Yutani
  • Patent number: 11668964
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a viewing angle control element includes an electrochromic layer, a plurality of projections formed on a first base, a first area and a second area provided on each of the projections, a first transparent electrode provided on the first area, and a second transparent electrode provided on the second area, wherein the first transparent electrode and the second transparent electrode are electrically independent of each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: JAPAN DISPLAY INC.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Takahashi, Jin Hirosawa
  • Patent number: 11656520
    Abstract: A displayed light-adjustment device includes two light-transmitting layers which are arranged oppositely, a display module, and an adjustable light-shading layer. The display module is stacked between the light-transmitting layers. The adjustable light-shading layer is interposed between the first light-transmitting layer and the display module, and the light transmittance of the adjustable light-shading layer is adjustable. When the adjustable light-shading layer is powered off, the light transmittance of the adjustable light-shading layer is greater than 75%, and when the adjustable light-shading layer is powered on, an ultraviolet resistance value of the adjustable light-shading layer is greater than 99%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: TPK Touch Solutions (Xiamen) Inc.
    Inventors: Ming Chuan Lin, Chun Hui Tseng, Su Ming Lin
  • Patent number: 11635666
    Abstract: Window controllers and methods for controlling tinting and other functions of tinting zones of multi-zone tintable windows and multiple tinting zones of a group of tintable windows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: View, Inc
    Inventors: Erich R. Klawuhn, Stephen Clark Brown, Dhairya Shrivastava, Douglas S. Silkwood, Jason Zedlitz, Trevor Frank, Charudatta Joshi, Thomas Anthony Gubiotti
  • Patent number: 11630367
    Abstract: Controllers and control methods apply a drive voltage to bus bars of a thin film optically switchable device. The applied drive voltage is provided at a level that drives a transition over the entire surface of the optically switchable device but does not damage or degrade the device. This applied voltage produces an effective voltage at all locations on the face of the device that is within a bracketed range. The upper bound of this range is associated with a voltage safely below the level at which the device may experience damage or degradation impacting its performance in the short term or the long term. At the lower boundary of this range is an effective voltage at which the transition between optical states of the device occurs relatively rapidly. The level of voltage applied between the bus bars is significantly greater than the maximum value of the effective voltage within the bracketed range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: View, Inc.
    Inventors: Anshu A. Pradhan, Disha Mehtani, Gordon Jack
  • Patent number: 11608677
    Abstract: The smart window for the smart home and smart grid can harvest energy and supply power to the home, grid and window itself. The smart window for the smart home and smart grid has all the Electrochromic panel, Solar panel and Multimedia panel been the same full window wide view and aligned with each other in IGU. To be a home automation system, the smart window has local/remote access/control capabilities. There are several types of smart windows working as master device or slave device. The operation of smart window automation system has three modes, normal/open mode, shut/tint mode and smart phone mode. The tube of air circulation system is hidden inside the frame surrounding IGU. Most of the electronic components are integrated to be FPSOC Field Programmable System On Chip that all the electronic component is hidden in the frame surrounding IGU, too. Therefore, the smart window doesn't have any blockage of window view with the Solar panel, Electrochromic panel, Multimedia panel and air circulation system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: Tang System, PDcGA:Professional Disclub Golf Association
    Inventor: Min Ming Tarng
  • Patent number: 11592721
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an electrochromic compound, and an electrochromic composition and an electrochromic device, including the same. The electrochromic compound according to the present invention may achieve excellent black coloring effects and excellent curing characteristics, and thus may be used advantageously in an electrochromic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Sangmo Koo, Sooyeun Kim, Koun Park, Gukhwan An, Sanggeun Cho
  • Patent number: 11569397
    Abstract: The present invention relates to hybrid transparent conducting electrode comprising reduced graphene oxide film, metal mesh and textured glass, wherein the reduced graphene oxide film is coated on the textured glass embedded with the metal mesh or the reduced graphene oxide film is sandwiched between the textured glass and the metal mesh. The present invention also relates to a process of preparing the hybrid conducting transparent conducting electrode. The said transparent conducting electrode exhibits transparency ranging from about 70% to 85% with sheet resistance ranging from about 5 ?/sq to 100 ?/sq.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Inventors: Shyam Kumar Choudhary, Sumitesh Das, Giridhar Udapi Rao Kulkarni, Rajashekhar Ningappa Pujar
  • Patent number: 11567383
    Abstract: A heat treated electrochromic device comprising an anodic complementary counter electrode layer comprised of a mixed tungsten-nickel oxide and lithium, which provides a high transmission in the fully intercalated state and which is capable of long term stability, is disclosed. Methods of making an electrochromic device comprising an anodic complementary counter electrode comprised of a mixed tungsten-nickel oxide are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: SAGE ELECTROCHROMICS, INC.
    Inventors: Mark Samuel Burdis, Douglas Glenn John Weir
  • Patent number: 11556196
    Abstract: A display device includes a display and a transflective module. The transflective module is disposed at one side of the display and includes a glass substrate and a transflective structure layer. The transflective structure layer is disposed on the glass substrate and located between the glass substrate and the display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: Unimicron Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Shih-Yao Lin, Ming-Chang Chan, Leng-Chieh Lin, Po-Ching Chan, Meng-Chia Chan, Kuo-Feng Cheng
  • Patent number: 11556039
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are glass articles coated on at least one surface with an electrochromic layer and comprising minimal regions of laser damage, and methods for laser processing such glass articles. Insulated glass units comprising such coated glass articles are also disclosed herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: CORNING INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Moussa N'Gom, David Andrew Pastel, Garrett Andrew Piech, Robert Stephen Wagner, Chad Michael Wilcox
  • Patent number: 11545589
    Abstract: A photovoltaic module includes a first transparent electrode layer characterized by a first sheet resistance, a second transparent electrode layer, and a photovoltaic material layer. The photovoltaic material layer is located between the first transparent electrode layer and the second transparent electrode layer. The photovoltaic module also includes a first busbar having a second sheet resistance lower than the first sheet resistance. The first transparent electrode layer, the second transparent electrode layer, and the photovoltaic material layer have an aligned region that forms a central transparent area of the photovoltaic module. The central transparent area including a plurality of sides. The first busbar is in contact with the first transparent electrode layer adjacent to at least a portion of each of the plurality of sides of the central transparent area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: UBIQUITOUS ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: Miles Barr, Ian Millard, Rachel Molaro, Richa Pandey
  • Patent number: 11520208
    Abstract: A window control system includes a plurality of electro-optic devices configured to control a transmittance of light through each of the plurality of zones, and at least one sensor configured to identify an intensity of light transmitted through the at least one window. A controller k in communication with the electro-optic devices and the at least one sensor. The controller is configured to independently control the transmittance of the light through each of the zones based on at least one of a direction of the light and an intensity of the light detected in a passenger compartment of a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: GENTEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Autumn N. Lagowski, George A. Neuman, Michael T. Stephenson, Luke A. Bomers, Barry K. Nelson, Henry A. Luten, Dennis D. Festerling, Jr., David J. Cammenga, John S. Anderson, Michael J. VanAst
  • Patent number: 11500257
    Abstract: An inorganic solid-state electrochromic module containing an inorganic transparent conductive film, including a transparent substrate and a first transparent conductive layer, a first transparent metal layer, a first transparent protective layer, an inorganic electrochromic layer, an inorganic ion conductive layer, an inorganic ion storage layer, a second transparent metal layer, a second transparent protective layer, a second transparent conductive layer, a encapsulating film and a transparent front plate successively formed on the transparent substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: XIAMEN UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: An Xie, Ling Zhang, Guang Cao, Yuechan Li, Dongya Sun, Minshu Zhang, Liang Yang, Chunyan Cao
  • Patent number: 11500259
    Abstract: Embodiments described include bus bars for electrochromic or other optical state changing devices. The bus bars are configured to color match and/or provide minimal optical contrast with their surrounding environment in the optical device. Such bus bars may be transparent bus bars.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: View, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert T. Rozbicki, Gordon E. Jack, Disha Mehtani, Robin Friedman
  • Patent number: 11486033
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for ion milling, and more particularly relates to methods and apparatus for smoothing a surface using ion milling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: GENTEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: George A. Neuman, Henry A. Luten, G. Bruce Poe, John S. Anderson
  • Patent number: 11482147
    Abstract: The embodiments herein relate to methods for controlling an optical transition and the ending tint state of an optically switchable device, and optically switchable devices configured to perform such methods. In various embodiments, non-optical (e.g., electrical) feedback is used to help control an optical transition. The feedback may be used for a number of different purposes. In many implementations, the feedback is used to control an ongoing optical transition. In some embodiments a transfer function is used calibrate optical drive parameters to control the tinting state of optically switching devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: View, Inc.
    Inventors: Anshu A. Pradhan, Abhishek Anant Dixit
  • Patent number: 11467460
    Abstract: An electrochromic film and an electrochromic device including the electrochromic film are disclosed. The electrochromic film includes an electrochromic layer and a passivation layer on one side of the electrochromic layer. The coloration level of the electrochromic film is different from the coloration level of the passivation layer. The film may change optical properties as a result of electrochromism according to an electrochemical reaction. The electrochromic film and the electrochromic device have improved electrochromism, excellent durability, excellent color-switching speed, and stepwise control of optical properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: LG CHEM, LTD.
    Inventors: Yong Chan Kim, Ki Hwan Kim
  • Patent number: 11467427
    Abstract: An optical device (3) comprising a light transmitting electrode layer (2) provided onto a light transmitting carrier (15), wherein a conductive layer (6) is provided on the first electrode layer (2), the conductive layer establishing a connecting area (4), the conductive layer having a thickness being significantly larger than the thickness of the electrode layer (2), and wherein the electrode layer (2) and carrier (15) show a perforation in the connecting area, the perforation being at least partially filled with a conductive material (7) which is further connected to a conductive element (1) thereby establishing an electrical connection between the electrode layer (2) and the conductive element (1) via the conductive layer (6) and the conductive material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: MORROW N.V.
    Inventors: Jelle De Smet, Paul Wilfried Cecile Marchal, Philip Ekkels
  • Patent number: 11467433
    Abstract: Described herein is a polymorphic display, which is a unitary apparatus constructed such that a wide variety of electro-optic functions are enabled. The polymorphic display, even when having multiple pixels, enables sharing of selected structures among the pixels. In a multi-pixel construction, there is a set of pixels in the display that exhibit one set of operable properties, such as particular stability, sequencing, and switching properties, and another set of pixels that are different from the first set. That is, they have different stability, sequencing, or switching properties. In such a way, a highly flexible polymorphic display may be construed to satisfy a wide range of display needs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Inventors: Paul Atkinson, John Rilum, Ben Reeves
  • Patent number: 11467401
    Abstract: A display or light blocking screen includes a liquid crystal (LC) array layer having a plurality of LC pixels, and a transparent LED layer having a plurality of LED pixels. A controller is operatively connected to the LC array layer and the transparent LED layer. The controller is configured to selectively trigger emission of light from a selection of the LED pixels, and to selectively darken a selection of the LC pixels that correspond directly to the selection of LED pixels. Therefore, the emitting LED pixels and the darkened LC pixels match and light is emitted from the LED pixels in substantially the opposite direction of the LC array layer. The display screen, or different aspects thereof, may be operatively incorporated into one or more windows of a vehicle, may be a standalone unit, or may be incorporated into a building.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Benjamin J. Richards