Controllers for optically-switchable devices

An apparatus for controlling one or more optically-switchable windows, the apparatus comprising:

• one or more control components configured to control a tint state of an optically-switchable window;
• a processing unit operatively coupled to the one or more control components, the processing unit configured to generate:
• (i) a command voltage signal based at least in part on a target tint state of the optically-switchable window,
• (ii) a polarity control signal, and
• (iii) an enable signal configured to cause:
• (a) disabling the one or more control components by entering to a first sleep mode responsive at least in part to a first indication that the tint state of the optically-switchable window has reached the target tint state, and
• (b) awakening the one or more control components from the first sleep mode responsive at least in part to a second indication regarding the tint state of the optically-switchable window;
• an energy storage device;
• a first voltage regulator operatively coupled to the processing unit and to the energy storage device, the first voltage regulator configured (I) to receive power from the energy storage device at a first voltage, and (II) to increase or decrease a magnitude of the first voltage based at least in part on the command voltage signal to provide a direct current (DC) voltage signal at a regulated voltage, to power the optically-switchable window;
• and
• a second voltage regulator operatively coupled to the energy storage device, the second voltage regulator configured to receive power from a photovoltaic cell and to regulate the power from the photovoltaic cell to charge the energy storage device.

A system for controlling one or more optically-switchable windows, the system comprising:

• a window controller controlling a tint state of an optically-switchable window, the window controller comprising:
• (I) a processing unit operatively coupled to one or more control components of the window controller, the processing unit configured to generate:
• (i) a command voltage signal based at least in part on a target tint state of the optically-switchable window,
• (ii) a polarity control signal, and
• (iii) an enable signal configured to cause:
• (a) disabling the one or more control components by entering to a first sleep mode responsive at least in part to a first indication that the tint state of the optically-switchable window has reached the target tint state, and
• (b) awakening the one or more control components from the first sleep mode responsive at least in part to a second indication regarding the tint state of the optically-switchable window,
• (II) a voltage regulator configured to receive power at a first voltage and operatively coupled to the processing unit, the voltage regulator configured to increase or decrease a magnitude of the first voltage based at least in part on the command voltage signal to provide a direct current (DC) voltage signal at a regulated voltage, and
• (III) a polarity switch configured to receive the DC voltage signal at the regulated voltage, to maintain or reverse a polarity of the DC voltage signal based at least in part on the polarity control signal, and to output the DC voltage signal at the regulated voltage and at the polarity, to power the optically-switchable window;
• and
• a network controller operatively coupled to the window controller, the network controller controlling the window controller.

A method for controlling one or more optically-switchable windows having a tint state, the method comprising:

• generating a command voltage signal based at least in part on a target tint state of an optically-switchable window;
• generating a polarity control signal;
• generating an enable signal configured to cause:
• (i) disabling one or more control components by entering to a first sleep mode responsive at least in part to a first indication that the tint state of the optically-switchable window has reached the target tint state, and
• (ii) awakening the one or more control components from the first sleep mode responsive at least in part to a second indication regarding the tint state of the optically-switchable window;
• increasing or decreasing a magnitude of a first voltage based at least in part on the command voltage signal to provide a direct current (DC) voltage signal at a regulated voltage;
• maintaining or reversing a polarity of the DC voltage signal based at least in part on the polarity control signal;
• and
• providing the DC voltage signal at the regulated voltage and at the polarity, to the optically-switchable window.