US 8,213,074 · Granted 2012-07-03
The Smart Window Patent That Puts the Brains Inside the Glass
Electrochromic windows are smart glass panes that can darken or lighten at the touch of a button to control sunlight and heat. This patent describes putting the controller—the electronic brain that runs the window—built right into the window frame itself instead of on your wall, making installation way simpler.
The plain-English version
What it protects
The claim covers the design and placement of an onboard controller for electrochromic windows that is mounted within or very close to the insulated glass unit (IGU), rather than remotely on a wall or external location. What's protected here is the specific configuration where the controller is pre-matched to the IGU during manufacturing, allowing the entire window assembly to arrive ready to install without field-level matching or adjustment of separate components.
Why it matters
Smart windows are expensive and complex—getting the controller close to the glass panes reduces wiring hassles, electrical losses, and installation headaches. By putting the brains inside the window unit itself rather than requiring a separate remote controller, manufacturers could sell pre-assembled, plug-and-play window systems. This made electrochromic windows more practical for real buildings, which is why Soladigm's approach became valuable enough to patent and later attract acquisition interest.
Real-world use
If you're standing in front of a high-end office building or luxury home and notice the windows gradually darkening on a sunny afternoon without anyone touching anything, that smart glass is likely controlled by a compact controller tucked inside the window frame itself.
Original USPTO abstract
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.
Patent details
- Publication number
- US 8,213,074
- Filing date
- 2011-03-16
- Grant date
- 2012-07-03
- Assignee
- Soladigm, Inc.
- Inventor(s)
- SHRIVASTAVA DHAIRYA, PRADHAN ANSHU, BROWN STEPHEN C., GROECHEL DAVID WALTER
- CPC class
- G02F1/163
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