# US 11,112,674 B2 · Controlling transitions in optically switchable devices

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- Number: US 11,112,674 B2
- Document ID: US11112674B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/132,226
- Filed: 2018-09-14
- Published: 2019-01-24
- Granted: 2021-09-07
- Earliest claimed: 2013-06-28
- Assignees: View, Inc.
- Applicants: View, Inc.
- Inventors: Gordon Jack; Sridhar K. Kailasam; Stephen C. Brown; Anshu A. Pradhan
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11112674B2

## CPC

- G02F 1/163: Operation of electrochromic cells, e.g. electrodeposition cells; Circuit arrangements therefor
- E06B 3/6722: {with adjustable passage of light}
- 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 1/0121: {Operation of devices; Circuit arrangements, not otherwise provided for in this subclass}
- E06B 2009/2464: {featuring transparency control by applying voltage, e.g. LCD, electrochromic panels}
- G02F 2201/58: Arrangements comprising a monitoring photodetector
- 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
- 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)

## 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.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of transitioning a group of optically switchable devices, the method comprising:
(a) receiving a command to transition the group of optically switchable devices to an ending optical state, wherein the group of optically switchable devices comprises a slowest optically switchable device and a faster optically switchable device, wherein the slowest optically switchable device and the faster optically switchable device are different sizes and/or have different switching properties;
(b) transitioning the slowest optically switchable device to the ending optical state without pausing; and
(c) during (b), transitioning the faster optically switchable device to the ending optical state with one or more pauses during transition, wherein the one or more pauses have a timing and/or duration that result in approximately matching an optical state of the faster optically switchable device with an optical state of the slowest optically switchable device during (b),
wherein an initial voltage applied to the faster optically switchable device before initiating the transition is Vi, wherein a voltage applied to the faster optically switchable device after finishing the transition is Vh, wherein a total number of the one or more pauses is ntot, wherein during (c) a pre-determined voltage is applied to the faster optically switchable device, and wherein the pre-determined voltage applied to the faster optically switchable device during pause n is Vn, where Vn=Vi+n*(Vh−Vi)/(ntot+1).

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more pauses includes at least two pauses.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the time and/or duration of the one or more pauses are determined using an algorithm.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, wherein the algorithm takes into account (1) a target charge or charge density to be delivered to the faster optically switchable device, and (2) the ending optical state.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the timing and/or duration of the one or more pauses are determined based on a lookup table.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, wherein the lookup table includes information regarding (1) a target charge or charge density to be delivered to the faster optically switchable device, and (2) the ending optical state.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, wherein the lookup table comprises information regarding a size of each optically switchable device in the group of optically switchable devices and/or a switching time for each optically switchable device in the group of optically switchable devices.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein a transition on the slowest optically switchable device is monitored using feedback obtained during the transition on the slowest optically switchable device.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein the feedback obtained during the transition on the slowest optically switchable device comprises one or more parameters selected from the group consisting of: an open circuit voltage, a current measured in response to an applied voltage, and a charge or charge density delivered to the slowest optically switchable device.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein the feedback obtained during the transition on the slowest optically switchable device comprises a charge or charge density delivered to the slowest optically switchable device.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein the feedback obtained during the transition on the slowest optically switchable device comprises the open circuit voltage and the charge or charge density delivered to the slowest optically switchable device.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein the transition on the faster optically switchable device is monitored using feedback obtained during the transition on the faster optically switchable device.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, wherein the feedback obtained during the transition on the faster optically switchable device comprises one or more parameters selected from the group consisting of: an open circuit voltage, a current measured in response to an applied voltage, and a charge or charge density delivered to the faster optically switchable device.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, wherein the feedback obtained during the transition on the faster optically switchable device comprises the charge or charge density delivered to the faster optically switchable device.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, wherein the feedback obtained during the transition on the faster optically switchable device does not comprise the open circuit voltage or the current measured in response to the applied voltage.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the group of optically switchable devices comprises two or more faster optically switchable devices, and wherein transitioning in (c) is staggered for the two or more faster optically switchable devices such that at least one of the faster optically switchable devices remains paused while at least one other of the faster optically switchable devices begins to transition.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising (d) applying a hold voltage to each device of the group of optically switchable devices as each device reaches the ending optical state.

### Claim 18 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
in response to receiving a command to transition the group of optically switchable devices to a second ending optical state before the group of optically switchable devices reaches the ending optical state, transitioning the slowest optically switchable device and the faster optically switchable device to the second ending optical state without any pauses.

### Claim 19 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising measuring an open circuit voltage on the faster optically switchable device, wherein during pausing in (c), the measured open circuit voltage is applied to the faster optically switchable device.

### Claim 20 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the group of optically switchable devices comprises optically switchable devices of at least three different sizes.

### Claim 21

A method of transitioning a group of optically switchable devices, the method comprising:
(a) receiving a command to transition the group of optically switchable devices to an ending optical state, wherein the group of optically switchable devices comprises a slowest optically switchable device and a faster optically switchable device, wherein the slowest optically switchable device and the faster optically switchable device are different sizes and/or have different switching properties;
(b) transitioning the slowest optically switchable device to the ending optical state without stopping at any intermediate states;
(c) during (b), transitioning the faster optically switchable device to an intermediate optical state;
(d) during (b) and after (c), maintaining the intermediate optical state on the faster optically switchable device for a duration; and
(e) during (b) and after (d), transitioning the faster optically switchable device to the ending optical state, wherein the duration in (d) results in approximately matching an optical state of the faster optically switchable device with an optical state of the slowest optically switchable device during (b),
wherein an initial voltage applied to the faster optically switchable device before initiating the transition in (c) is Vi, wherein a voltage applied to the faster optically switchable device after reaching the ending optical state in (e) is Vh, wherein a total number of the intermediate optical states is ntot, wherein during (d) a pre-determined voltage is applied to the faster optically switchable device, and wherein the pre-determined voltage applied to the faster optically switchable device during intermediate state n is Vn, where Vn=Vi+n*(Vh−Vi)/(ntot+1).

### Claim 22 (depends on 21)

The method of claim 21, further comprising during (b) and before (e), transitioning the faster optically switchable device to a second intermediate optical state, and then maintaining the second intermediate optical state for a second duration.

### Claim 23 (depends on 21)

The method of claim 21, wherein the timing of (d) and/or the duration during (d) is determined using an algorithm.

### Claim 24 (depends on 23)

The method of claim 23, wherein the algorithm takes into account (1) a target charge or charge density to be delivered to the faster optically switchable device, and (2) the ending optical state.

### Claim 25 (depends on 21)

The method of claim 21, wherein the timing of (d) and/or the duration during (d) is determined based on a lookup table.

### Claim 26 (depends on 25)

The method of claim 25, wherein the lookup table includes information regarding (1) a target charge or charge density to be delivered to the faster optically switchable device, and (2) the ending optical state.

### Claim 27 (depends on 21)

The method of claim 21, wherein a transition on the slowest optically switchable device is monitored using feedback obtained during the transition on the slowest optically switchable device.

### Claim 28 (depends on 27)

The method of claim 27, wherein the feedback obtained during the transition on the slowest optically switchable device comprises one or more parameters selected from the group consisting of: an open circuit voltage, a current measured in response to an applied voltage, and a charge or charge density delivered to the slowest optically switchable device during the transition on the slowest optically switchable device.

### Claim 29 (depends on 28)

The method of claim 28, wherein the feedback obtained during the transition on the slowest optically switchable device comprises the charge or charge density delivered to the slowest optically switchable device.

### Claim 30 (depends on 29)

The method of claim 29, wherein the feedback obtained during the transition on the slowest optically switchable device comprises the open circuit voltage and the charge or charge density delivered to the slowest optically switchable device.

### Claim 31 (depends on 29)

The method of claim 29, wherein during (e) a transition on the faster optically switchable device to the ending optical state is monitored using feedback obtained on the faster optically switchable device during (e).

### Claim 32 (depends on 31)

The method of claim 31, wherein the feedback obtained on the faster optically switchable device during (e) comprises one or more parameters selected from the group consisting of: an open circuit voltage, a current measured in response to an applied voltage, and a charge or charge density delivered to the faster optically switchable device.

### Claim 33 (depends on 32)

The method of claim 32, wherein the feedback obtained on the faster optically switchable device during (e) comprises the charge or charge density delivered to the faster optically switchable device.

### Claim 34 (depends on 33)

The method of claim 33, wherein the feedback obtained during the transition on the faster optically switchable device does not comprise the open circuit voltage or the current measured in response to the applied voltage.

### Claim 35 (depends on 21)

The method of claim 21, wherein the group of optically switchable devices comprises two or more faster optically switchable devices, and wherein transitioning in (c) and (e) and maintaining in (d) are staggered for the two or more faster optically switchable devices such that at least one of the faster optically switchable devices maintains its intermediate optical state in (d) while at least one other of the faster optically switchable devices resumes transitioning in (e).

### Claim 36 (depends on 21)

The method of claim 21, wherein during maintaining the intermediate optical state in (d), open circuit conditions are applied to the faster optically switchable device.

### Claim 37 (depends on 21)

The method of claim 21, further comprising, measuring an open circuit voltage on the faster optically switchable device, wherein during maintaining the intermediate optical state in (d), the measured open circuit voltage is applied to the faster optically switchable device.

### Claim 38 (depends on 21)

The method of claim 21, wherein the group of optically switchable devices comprises optically switchable devices of at least three different sizes.

### Claim 39 (depends on 21)

The method of claim 21, further comprising (f) applying a hold voltage to each device of the group of optically switchable devices as each device reaches the ending optical state.