Window antennas
AssigneeView, Inc.
InventorsDhairya Shrivastava, Stephen Clark Brown
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In one aspect, an apparatus is described that includes a transparent pane having a first surface and a second surface. An electrochromic device is arranged over the second surface that includes a first conductive layer adjacent the second surface, a second conductive layer, and an electrochromic layer between the first and the second conductive layers. The apparatus further includes at least one conductive antenna structure arranged over the second surface.
Claims38
A method of monitoring the location of a device or an asset containing the device, the method comprising:
- (a) one or both of:
- (i) determining that one or more first antennas has received a first electromagnetic transmission from the device, and (ii) determining that the device has received a first electromagnetic transmission from one or more first antennas, wherein
- the one or more first antennas are disposed on optically switchable windows and/or window controllers in a building;
- (b) determining a first location of the device by analyzing information from reception of the first electromagnetic transmission by the one or more first antennas;
- (c) after (a), determining that one or more second antennas has received a second electromagnetic transmission from the device, wherein the one or more second antennas are disposed on optically switchable windows or window controllers in the building;
- (d) determining a second location of the device by analyzing information from reception of the second electromagnetic transmission by the at least one or more second antennas;
- and
- (e) determining whether the device has crossed a virtual boundary by moving from the first location to the second location.
A system for monitoring the location of a device or an asset containing the device, the system comprising:
- a network comprising a plurality of antennas disposed on optically switchable windows and/or window controllers in a building;
- and
- location logic configured to execute the following operations:
- (a) determine that one or more first antennas of the plurality of antennas has received a first electromagnetic transmission from the device;
- (b) determine a first location of the device by analyzing information from reception of the first electromagnetic transmission by the one or more first antennas;
- (c) after (a), determine that one or more second antennas of the plurality of antennas has received a second electromagnetic transmission from the device;
- (d) determine a second location of the device by analyzing information from reception of the second electromagnetic transmission by the at least one or more second antennas;
- and
- (e) determine whether the device has crossed a virtual boundary by moving from the first location to the second location.
A computer program product comprising a computer readable medium storing non-transitory instructions for interfacing with a user, the instructions comprising:
- presenting a user interface allowing a user to select a desired asset from a list of possible assets;
- receiving a first location or a second location, whichever is current, of the asset from location logic of a location monitoring system;
- and
- displaying on the user interface instructions for guiding the user to the first location or to the second location, wherein the location monitoring system includes:
- the location logic;
- and
- a network comprising a plurality of antennas disposed on optically switchable windows and/or window controllers in a building;
- wherein
- the location logic is configured to execute the following operations:
- (a) determine that one or more first antennas of the plurality of antennas has received a first electromagnetic transmission from a device;
- (b) determine a first location of the device by analyzing information from reception of the first electromagnetic transmission by the one or more first antennas;
- (c) after (a), determine that one or more second antennas of the plurality of antennas has received a second electromagnetic transmission from the device;
- (d) determine a second location of the device by analyzing information from reception of the second electromagnetic transmission by the at least one or more second antennas;
- and (e) determine whether the device has crossed a virtual boundary by moving from the first location to the second location.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.