# US 11,111,720 B2 · Low power driver for privacy glazing > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,111,720 B2 - Document ID: US11111720B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/786,500 - Filed: 2020-02-10 - Published: 2020-08-13 - Granted: 2021-09-07 - Earliest claimed: 2019-02-08 - Assignees: Cardinal IG Company - Applicants: Cardinal IG Company - Inventors: Chad Peters; Nicholas Schleder; Eric Bjergaard - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11111720B2 ## CPC - E06B 9/24: Screens or other constructions affording protection against light, especially against sunshine; Similar screens for privacy or appearance; {Slat blinds}(operating, guiding or securing devices or arrangements for roll-type closures E06B9/56; free-hanging flexible screens A47H23/00) - G02F 1/1334: based on polymer dispersed liquid crystals, e.g. microencapsulated liquid crystals - B32B 17/10036: {comprising two outer glass sheets} - B32B 17/10055: {with at least one intermediate air space} - B32B 17/10504: {Liquid crystal layer} - B32B 17/10513: {Electrochromic layer} - B32B 17/10532: {Suspended particle layer} - G02F 1/1323: {Arrangements for providing a switchable viewing angle} - G02F 1/13306: {Circuit arrangements or driving methods for the control of single liquid crystal cells (G02F1/132, G02F1/133382 take precedence)} - G02F 1/15: based on an electrochromic effect - G02F 1/163: Operation of electrochromic cells, e.g. electrodeposition cells; Circuit arrangements therefor - G02F 1/165: based on translational movement of particles in a fluid under the influence of an applied field - E06B 2009/2464: {featuring transparency control by applying voltage, e.g. LCD, electrochromic panels} - E06B: FIXED OR MOVABLE CLOSURES FOR OPENINGS IN BUILDINGS, VEHICLES, FENCES OR LIKE ENCLOSURES IN GENERAL, e.g. DOORS, WINDOWS, BLINDS, GATES (shades or blinds for greenhouses A01G9/22; curtains A47H; lids for car boots or bonnets B62D25/10; skylights E04B7/18; sunshades, awnings E04F10/00) - G02F: OPTICAL DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIGHT BY MODIFICATION OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS INVOLVED THEREIN; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING OF LIGHT; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS - B32B: LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM ## Abstract A driver may be used to drive an electrically controllable optically active material in a privacy structure. In some examples, the driver receives power from a power source at a supply voltage and a supply apparent power level and converts the power received from the power source down to a converted voltage and a converted apparent power level. The converted voltage is less than the supply voltage and the converted apparent power level is less than the supply apparent power level. The driver may deliver power at the converted voltage and the converted apparent power level to a voltage convertor, which increase the converted voltage to an operating voltage. The driver can further condition power received from the voltage convertor having the operating voltage and operating apparent power level to provide a drive signal and provide the drive signal the electrically controllable optically active material of the privacy structure. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An electrically dynamic system comprising: a first pane of transparent material; a second pane of transparent material; a third pane of transparent material; a spacer positioned between the second pane of transparent material and the third pane of transparent material to define a between-pane space, the spacer sealing the between-pane space from gas exchange with a surrounding environment and holding the second pane of transparent material a separation distance from the third pane of transparent material; an electrically controllable optically active material positioned between the first pane of transparent material and the second pane of transparent material, the electrically controllable optically active material being positioned between a first electrode layer and a second electrode layer; and a driver electrically connected to the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer, wherein the driver is configured to: electrically connect to a power source that provides power at a supply voltage and a supply apparent power level; convert power received from the power source down to a converted voltage and a converted apparent power level, the converted voltage being less than the supply voltage and the converted apparent power level being less than the supply apparent power level; deliver power at the converted voltage and the converted apparent power level to a voltage convertor; at the voltage convertor, increase the converted voltage to an operating voltage, thereby providing power from the voltage convertor at the operating voltage and having an operating apparent power level; condition power received from the voltage convertor having the operating voltage and operating apparent power level to provide a drive signal; and provide the drive signal to the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer for controlling the electrically controllable optically active material. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the supply voltage ranges from 100 V to 250 V, and the supply apparent power level ranges from 1500 VA to 2500 VA. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the converted voltage is less than or equal to 100V. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the converted apparent power level is less than or equal to 100 VA. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the operating voltage is greater than or equal to 50 V. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the operating voltage is greater than or equal to 85 V, and the operating apparent power level is less than or equal to 100 VA. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising a first wiring extending from the power source to the driver and a second wiring extending between the driver and the first and second electrode layers, wherein the first wiring has a thicker conductive member than a conductive member the second wiring. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The system of claim 7, wherein the conductive member of the first wiring has a thickness of 1.6 mm or greater, and the conductive member of the second wiring has a thickness of 1 mm or less. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the driver comprises: a first housing containing a power convertor configured to convert power received from the power source down to the converted voltage and the converted apparent power level; a second housing physically separate from the first housing, the second housing containing the voltage convertor and circuitry configured to condition power received from the voltage convertor; a first wiring extending from the power source to the first housing; a second wiring extending from the first housing to the second housing; and a third wiring extending between the second housing and the first and second electrode layers, the drive signal transmitting along the third wiring to the first and second electrode layers, wherein the first wiring comprises a thicker conductive member than conductive members in the second wiring and the third wiring. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, wherein a combined length of the second wiring and the third wiring is at least 2 feet. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein: a connection between the first wiring and the first housing is accessible, and at least one of the following connections is inaccessible: a connection between the third wiring and the second housing; and a connection between the third wiring and the first and second electrode layers. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the connection between the third wiring and the first and second electrode layers is inaccessible, said connection being covered by a trim surrounding a perimeter of a panel defined by the first pane of transparent material and the second pane of transparent material. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the power source is wall power that delivers alternating current. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the driver is configured to condition power received from the voltage convertor by altering at least one of a frequency, an amplitude, and a waveform of power received from the voltage convertor. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the first pane of transparent material and the second pane of transparent material are each laminate panes comprising a pair of glass substrates laminated together. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the driver comprises a controller that is configured to receive input from a user control located outside of a privacy structure defined by the first pane of transparent material, the second pane of transparent material, and the electrically controllable optically active material. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the electrically controllable optically active material is a liquid crystal material. ### Claim 18 An electrically dynamic system comprising: a first pane of transparent material; a second pane of transparent material; an electrically controllable optically active material positioned between the first pane of transparent material and the second pane of transparent material, the electrically controllable optically active material being positioned between a first electrode layer and a second electrode layer; and a driver electrically connected to the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer, wherein the driver is configured to: electrically connect to a power source that provides power at a supply voltage and a supply apparent power level; convert power received from the power source down to a converted voltage and a converted apparent power level, the converted voltage being less than the supply voltage and the converted apparent power level being less than the supply apparent power level; deliver power at the converted voltage and the converted apparent power level to a voltage convertor; at the voltage convertor, increase the converted voltage to an operating voltage, thereby providing power from the voltage convertor at the operating voltage and having an operating apparent power level; condition power received from the voltage convertor having the operating voltage and operating apparent power level to provide a drive signal; and provide the drive signal to the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer for controlling the electrically controllable optically active material, and wherein the driver comprises: a first housing containing a power convertor configured to convert power received from the power source down to the converted voltage and the converted apparent power level; a second housing physically separate from the first housing, the second housing containing the voltage convertor and circuitry configured to condition power received from the voltage convertor; a first wiring extending from the power source to the first housing; a second wiring extending from the first housing to the second housing; and a third wiring extending between the second housing and the first and second electrode layers, the drive signal transmitting along the third wiring to the first and second electrode layers, with the first wiring comprising a thicker conductive member than conductive members in the second wiring and the third wiring. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The system of claim 18, wherein: the supply voltage ranges from 100 V to 250 V; the supply apparent power level ranges from 1500 VA to 2500 VA; and the converted voltage is less than or equal to 100V. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The system of claim 18, wherein the operating voltage is greater than or equal to 85 V, and the operating apparent power level is less than or equal to 100 VA. ### Claim 21 (depends on 18) The system of claim 18, wherein the conductive member of the first wiring has a thickness of 1.6 mm or greater, and the conductive member of the second wiring has a thickness of 1 mm or less. ### Claim 22 (depends on 18) The system of claim 18, wherein: a connection between the first wiring and the first housing is accessible, and at least one of the following connections is inaccessible: a connection between the third wiring and the second housing; and a connection between the third wiring and the first and second electrode layers. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The system of claim 22, wherein the connection between the third wiring and the first and second electrode layers is inaccessible, said connection being covered by a trim surrounding a perimeter of a panel defined by the first pane of transparent material and the second pane of transparent material. ### Claim 24 (depends on 18) The system of claim 18, wherein the power source is wall power that delivers alternating current. ### Claim 25 (depends on 18) The system of claim 18, wherein the driver is configured to condition power received from the voltage convertor by altering at least one of a frequency, an amplitude, and a waveform of power received from the voltage convertor. ### Claim 26 (depends on 18) The system of claim 18, wherein the electrically controllable optically active material is a liquid crystal material.