Electrochromic transparency incorporating security system

An electrochromic security window assembly comprising:

• first and second spaced transparent substrates defining a chamber therebetween, the first and the second substrates including first and second conductive coatings on respective facing surfaces thereof;
• an electrochromic medium contained in the chamber comprising at least one anodic electrochromic compound and at least one cathodic electrochromic compound and having reduced light transmittance upon application of electrical activation between the first and second conductive coatings above a reduction potential capable of simultaneously oxidizing the anodic electrochromic compound and reducing the cathodic compound;
• means for applying an electrical potential across the electrochromic medium comprising a current source configured to be connected in series with (i) the first conductive coating, the second conductive coating and the electrochromic medium, and (ii) the first conductive coating;
• and
• means for detecting a change in an electrical characteristic of at least one of the first and second conductive coatings and for generating an output signal in response to a change in the electrical characteristic corresponding to a break in the at least one conductive coating comprising circuitry for detecting an electrical condition of the first conductive coating corresponding to a flow of current from the current source therethrough, for producing the output signal as a function of the detected electrical condition of the first conductive coating, for comparing the output signal to a predetermined electrical condition, and for activating an alarm when the output signal is greater than or less than the predetermined electrical condition.

An electrochromic security window assembly comprising:

• first and second spaced transparent substrates defining a chamber therebetween, the first and the second substrates including first and second conductive coatings on respective facing surfaces thereof;
• an electrochromic medium contained in the chamber comprising at least one anodic electrochromic compound and at least one cathodic electrochromic compound and having reduced light transmittance upon application of electrical activation between the first and second conductive coatings above a reduction potential capable of simultaneously oxidizing the anodic electrochromic compound and reducing the cathodic compound;
• a power supply configured to produce an electrical potential across the electrochromic medium;
• and
• means for detecting a change in an electrical characteristic of at least one of the first and second conductive coatings and for generating an output signal in response to a change in the electrical characteristic corresponding to a break in the at least one conductive coating.

An electrochromic security window assembly comprising:

• first and second spaced transparent substrates defining a chamber therebetween, the first and the second substrates including first and second conductive coatings on respective facing surfaces thereof;
• an electrochromic medium contained in the chamber comprising at least one anodic electrochromic compound and at least one cathodic electrochromic compound and having reduced light transmittance upon application of electrical activation between the first and second conductive coatings above a reduction potential capable of simultaneously oxidizing the anodic electrochromic compound and reducing the cathodic compound;
• means for applying an electrical potential across the electrochromic medium;
• and
• means for detecting a change in an electrical characteristic of at least one of the first and second conductive coatings and for generating an output signal in response to a change in the electrical characteristic corresponding to a break in the at least one conductive coating, comprising a sensing element connected for detecting a flow of current through the electrochromic medium, and circuitry for detecting an electrical condition of the sensing element corresponding to the flow of current through the electrochromic medium, for producing the output signal indicative of the electrical condition, for comparing the output signal to a predetermined electrical condition, and for activating an alarm when the output signal is greater than or less than the predetermined electrical condition.

An electrochromic security window assembly comprising:

• first and second spaced transparent substrates defining a chamber therebetween, the first and the second substrates including first and second conductive coatings on respective facing surfaces thereof;
• an electrochromic medium contained in the chamber comprising at least one anodic electrochromic compound and at least one cathodic electrochromic compound and having reduced light transmittance upon application of electrical activation between the first and second conductive coatings above a reduction potential capable of simultaneously oxidizing the anodic electrochromic compound and reducing the cathodic compound;
• means for applying an electrical potential across the electrochromic medium;
• and
• means for detecting a change in an electrical characteristic of at least one of the first and second conductive coatings and for generating an output signal in response to a change in the electrical characteristic corresponding to a break in the at least one conductive coating comprising circuitry for detecting an electrical condition corresponding to a flow of current through the electrochromic medium, for producing the output signal indicative of the electrical condition, for comparing the output signal to a predetermined electrical condition, and for activating an alarm when the output signal is greater than or less than the predetermined electrical condition.

An electrochromic security window assembly comprising:

• first and second spaced transparent substrates defining a chamber therebetween, the first and the second substrates including first and second conductive coatings on respective facing surfaces thereof;
• an electrochromic medium contained in the chamber comprising at least one anodic electrochromic compound and at least one cathodic electrochromic compound and having reduced light transmittance upon application of electrical activation between the first and second conductive coatings above a reduction potential capable of simultaneously oxidizing the anodic electrochromic compound and reducing the cathodic compound;
• means for applying an electrical potential across the electrochromic medium, wherein the electrical potential applied to the at least one conductive coating is adjustable between a voltage below the reduction potential capable of simultaneously oxidizing the anodic electrochromic compound and reducing the cathodic electrochromic compound when the window assembly is in a state of increased light transmittance and a voltage above the reduction potential capable of simultaneously oxidizing the anodic electrochromic compound and reducing the cathodic electrochromic compound when the window assembly is in a state of reduced light transmittance and vice versa;
• and
• means for detecting a change in an electrical characteristic of at least one of the first and second conductive coatings and for generating an output signal in response to a change in the electrical characteristic corresponding to a break in the at least one conductive coating.

An electrochromic security window assembly comprising:

• first and second spaced transparent substrates defining a chamber therebetween, the first and the second substrates including first and second conductive coatings on respective facing surfaces thereof;
• an electrochromic medium contained in the chamber comprising at least one anodic electrochromic compound and at least one cathodic electrochromic compound and having reduced light transmittance upon application of electrical activation between the first and second conductive coatings above a reduction potential capable of simultaneously oxidizing the anodic electrochromic compound and reducing the cathodic compound;
• means for alternately applying the electrical potential across the electrochromic medium:
• (i) across the first and second conductive coatings at a voltage above the reduction potential capable of simultaneously oxidizing the anodic electrochromic compound and reducing the cathodic electrochromic compound when the window assembly is in a state of reduced light transmittance;
• and (ii) to the at least one conductive coating at a voltage capable of detecting a change in the electrical characteristic;
• and
• means for detecting a change in an electrical characteristic of at least one of the first and second conductive coatings and for generating an output signal in response to a change in the electrical characteristic corresponding to a break in the at least one conductive coating.

A method for monitoring penetration of a window assembly capable of variable light transmittance comprising:

• a) providing an electrochromic security window assembly comprising:
• (i) first and second spaced transparent substrates defining a chamber therebetween, the first and the second substrates including first and second conductive coatings on respective facing surfaces thereof;
• and
• (ii) an electrochromic medium contained within the chamber comprising at least one anodic electrochromic compound and at least one cathodic electrochromic compound and having reduced light transmittance upon application of electrical potential between the first and second conductive coatings above a reduction potential capable of simultaneously oxidizing the anodic electrochromic compound and reducing the cathodic compound;
• b) alternately applying the electrical potential to (i) the first conductive coating, the electrochromic medium and the second conductive coating connected in series and (ii) the at least one of the first and second conductive coating;
• c) monitoring for a change in an electrical characteristic of the at least one of the first and second conductive coatings having the electrical potential applied thereto;
• and
• d) generating an output signal upon the change in the electrical characteristic.

A method for monitoring penetration of a window assembly capable of variable light transmittance comprising:

• a) providing an electrochromic security window assembly comprising:
• (i) first and second spaced transparent substrates defining a chamber therebetween, the first and the second substrates including first and second conductive coatings on respective facing surfaces thereof;
• and
• (ii) an electrochromic medium contained within the chamber comprising at least one anodic electrochromic compound and at least one cathodic electrochromic compound and having reduced light transmittance upon application of electrical potential between the first and second conductive coatings above a reduction potential capable of simultaneously oxidizing the anodic electrochromic compound and reducing the cathodic compound;
• b) applying an electrical potential to at least one of the first and second conductive coatings, wherein the electrical potential applied to the first and second conductive coatings is adjustable between a voltage above the reduction potential capable of simultaneously oxidizing the anodic electrochromic compound and reducing the cathodic electrochromic compound when the window assembly is in a state of reduced light transmittance and a voltage below the reduction potential capable of simultaneously oxidizing the anodic electrochromic compound and reducing the cathodic electrochromic compound to intermittently monitor for a change in the electrical characteristic of the at least one of the first and second conductive coatings and vice versa;
• c) monitoring for a change in an electrical characteristic of the at least one of the first and second conductive coatings having the electrical potential applied thereto;
• and
• d) generating an output signal upon the change in the electrical characteristic.