# US 12,001,112 B2 · Electrochromic panel transmission level synchronization > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,001,112 B2 - Document ID: US12001112B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/543,553 - Filed: 2021-12-06 - Published: 2022-03-24 - Granted: 2024-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2016-11-23 - Assignees: Halio, Inc. - Applicants: Kinestral Technologies, Inc. - Inventors: Paul Nagel; Wally Barnum; Jason Litzinger; Luis Gomez; Steve Coffin - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12001112B2 ## CPC - G02F 1/163: Operation of electrochromic cells, e.g. electrodeposition cells; Circuit arrangements therefor - 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) - G05B 15/02: electric - H04L 67/125: involving control of end-device applications over a network - E06B 2009/2417: {Light path control; means to control reflection} - E06B 2009/2464: {featuring transparency control by applying voltage, e.g. LCD, electrochromic panels} - G02F 2203/01: transmissive - G05B 2219/2642: Domotique, domestic, home control, automation, smart house - 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) - G05B: CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS (systems for controlling or regulating non-electric variables G05D; systems for regulating electric or magnetic variables G05F; control devices or systems insofar as characterised by mechanical features only G05G) - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) ## Abstract A method of controlling tint for a plurality of electrochromic devices, performed by a control system, is provided. The method includes receiving a request to change tint level of a plurality of electrochromic devices, and consulting transfer functions for tint level relative to drive for each of the plurality of electrochromic devices, wherein at least one of the plurality of electrochromic devices has a transfer function differing from at least one other of the plurality of electrochromic devices. The method includes driving each of the plurality of electrochromic devices in accordance with the transfer functions, so as to coordinate tint level or rate of change of tint level across the plurality of electrochromic devices. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of controlling tint for a plurality of electrochromic devices, performed by a control system, comprising: determining data structures associated with transfer functions for controlling tint level relative to applied charge for each of the plurality of electrochromic devices, the data structures stored within a memory of the control system, wherein at least one of the plurality of electrochromic devices is associated with a transfer function for controlling tint level relative to applied charge differing from at least one other of the plurality of electrochromic devices; and controlling the tint level for each of the plurality of electrochromic devices in accordance with the transfer functions across the plurality of electrochromic devices. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: determining an amount of charge to transfer to each of the plurality of electrochromic devices, based on the tint level. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: obtaining the transfer functions from a service via a network. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: monitoring current to or from each of the plurality of electrochromic devices; integrating the current to or from each of the plurality of electrochromic devices; and determining an amount of charge transferred to or from each of the plurality of electrochromic devices, based on the integrating the current, wherein the controlling the tint level is based on the determined amount of charge transferred to or from each of the plurality of electrochromic devices. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: determining a first one of the plurality of electrochromic devices is changing tint at a slower rate in the plurality of electrochromic devices; stopping changing tint of a second one of the plurality of electrochromic devices that is changing at a faster rate tint than the first one of the plurality of electrochromic devices, until the first one of the plurality of electrochromic devices attains a tint level of the stopped second one of the plurality of electrochromic devices; and resuming changing tint of the first and second ones of the plurality of electrochromic devices. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the controlling the tint level comprises: driving groups of electrochromic devices to make patterns switch levels of tint at a uniform level. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: adjusting rate of change of tinting to achieve uniform tinting in at least one of the plurality of electrochromic devices as compared to most rapid tinting. ### Claim 8 A tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable media having instructions thereupon which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform a method comprising: determine data structures associated with transfer functions for controlling tint level relative to applied charge for each of a plurality of electrochromic devices, wherein at least one of the plurality of electrochromic devices is associated with a transfer function for controlling tint level relative to applied charge differing from at least one other of the plurality of electrochromic devices; and control the tint level for each of the plurality of electrochromic devices in accordance with the transfer functions across the plurality of electrochromic devices. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The computer-readable media of claim 8, wherein the method further comprises: determining an amount of charge to transfer to each of the plurality of electrochromic devices, based on the tint level. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The computer-readable media of claim 8, wherein the method further comprises: identifying the transfer functions through user or installer feedback. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The computer-readable media of claim 8, wherein the method further comprises: determining current to or from each of the electrochromic devices; and determining amount of charge transferred to or from each of the plurality of electrochromic devices, based on integrating the current to or from each of the plurality of electrochromic devices, wherein the controlling the tint level is based on the amount of charge transferred to or from each of the plurality of electrochromic devices. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The computer-readable media of claim 8, wherein the method further comprises: determining one of the electrochromic devices is changing tint at a slower rate; stopping changing tint of the one of the electrochromic devices is changing tint at a faster rate; and resuming changing tint of each of the electrochromic devices, responsive to the electrochromic device that is changing tint at the slower rate attaining a tint level of the stopped electrochromic device. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The computer-readable media of claim 8, wherein the method further comprises: driving groups of electrochromic devices to make patterns switch levels of tint at a uniform rate or to a uniform level, based on the transfer functions. ### Claim 14 A controller with transmission level synchronization for electrochromic devices, comprising: a memory, configurable to hold a plurality of transfer functions for tint level relative to drive of a plurality of electrochromic devices; and one or more processors configurable to couple the plurality of electrochromic devices and to perform a method comprising: determine data structures associated with transfer functions for controlling the tint level relative to applied charge for each of the plurality of electrochromic devices, wherein at least one of the plurality of electrochromic devices is associated with a transfer function for controlling tint level relative to applied charge differing from at least one other of the plurality of electrochromic devices; and control the tint level for each of the plurality of electrochromic devices in accordance with the transfer functions across the plurality of electrochromic devices. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The controller of claim 14, wherein the one or more processors are further configurable to determine a first amount of charge to transfer to a first electrochromic device in accordance with a first transfer function, and a second amount of charge to transfer to a second electrochromic device in accordance with a second transfer function, based on a tint level for both the first electrochromic device and the second electrochromic device. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The controller of claim 14, wherein the one or more processors are further configurable to obtain the transfer functions from a service via a network. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The controller of claim 14, wherein the one or more processors are further configurable to determine the first transfer function and the second transfer function based on user feedback. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The controller of claim 14, wherein: the one or more processors are further configurable to determine an amount of charge transferred to or from each of the electrochromic devices, based on integrating current to or from each of the electrochromic devices; and the controlling the tint level is based on the determined amount of charge transferred to or from each of the electrochromic devices. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The controller of claim 14, wherein the method further comprises: determining a first electrochromic device is changing tint at a slower rate than a second electrochromic device; stopping changing tint of the second electrochromic device until the first electrochromic device meets a tint level of the second electrochromic device; and resuming changing tint of the second electrochromic device. ### Claim 20 (depends on 14) The controller of claim 14, wherein the one or more processors are further configurable to adjust rate of change of tinting and control groups of electrochromic devices of the plurality of electrochromic devices to make patterns switch levels of tint at a uniform rate.