# US 9,436,055 B2 · Onboard controller for multistate windows > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,436,055 B2 - Document ID: US9436055B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/855,284 - Filed: 2015-09-15 - Published: 2016-03-10 - Granted: 2016-09-06 - Earliest claimed: 2009-12-22 - Assignees: View, Inc. - Applicants: View, Inc. - Inventors: Dhairya Shrivastava; Anshu A. Pradhan; Stephen C. Brown; David Walter Groechel; Robert T. Rozbicki - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9436055B2 ## 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 1/161: Gaskets; Spacers; Sealing of cells; Filling or closing of cells - G05B 15/02: electric - H04L 12/2803: {Home automation networks} - E06B 2009/2464: {featuring transparency control by applying voltage, e.g. LCD, electrochromic panels} - G05B 2219/2642: Domotique, domestic, home control, automation, smart house - Y02A 30/24: Structural elements or technologies for improving thermal insulation - Y02B 80/00: Architectural or constructional elements improving the thermal performance of buildings - 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) - Y02A: TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE - Y02B: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS ## Abstract Onboard EC window controllers are described. The controllers are configured in close proximity to the EC window, for example, within the IGU. The controller may be part of a window assembly, which includes an IGU having one or more EC panes, and thus does not have to be matched with the EC window, and installed, in the field. The window controllers described herein have a number of advantages because they are matched to the IGU containing one or more EC devices and their proximity to the EC panes of the window overcomes a number of problems associated with conventional controller configurations. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A network comprising: (a) two or more window assemblies, each comprising: at least one electrochromic pane; a window controller comprising (i) a circuit for processing digital signals including one or more discrete tint values received from the network, and (ii) a memory storing drive configuration parameters for driving tint state transitions in the at least one electrochromic pane, wherein the drive configuration parameters stored in the memory of the window controller comprise one or more parameters selected from the group consisting of: a voltage to be applied to the window controller's associated electrochromic pane during an optical transition of the electrochromic pane, a rate of change of voltage to be applied to the window controller's associated electrochromic pane during the optical transition of the electrochromic pane, and a current limit corresponding to a current applied to the window controller's associated electrochromic pane during the optical transition of the electrochromic pane; (b) a network controller communicatively coupled to the window controller of each of the two or more window assemblies and configured to send input signals to each of the window controllers, the input signals comprising the one or more discrete tint values, wherein each of the window controllers is configured to control said at least one electrochromic pane of its associated window assembly based on the one or more discrete tint values received from the network controller and the stored drive configuration parameters particular to each window assembly, and wherein the network controller is physically separate from the window controllers; and (c) an electrical path connecting the window controllers in a linear bus topology. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The network of claim 1, wherein the drive configuration parameters comprise one or more parameters selected from the group consisting of: bleach to color transition ramp rate, initial coloration ramp rate, color to bleach transition ramp rate, and initial bleach ramp rate. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The network of claim 1, wherein the drive configuration parameters comprise one or more parameters selected from the group consisting of: bleach to color transition voltage, initial coloration voltage, coloration hold voltage, color to bleach transition voltage, initial bleach voltage, and bleach hold voltage. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The network of claim 1, wherein the drive configuration parameters comprise one or more parameters selected from the group consisting of: initial coloration current limit, coloration hold current limit, initial bleach current limit, and bleach hold current limit. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The network of claim 1, wherein each window controller is positioned within about 1 meter of its associated window assembly. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The network of claim 1, wherein the network controller comprises an embedded web server that enables control over an optical state of the electrochromic panes of the two or more window assemblies. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The network of claim 6, wherein the network is commissioned via the embedded web server of the network controller. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The network of claim 7, wherein the embedded web server may be controlled via Ethernet by a PC or smartphone. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The network of claim 1, further comprising a building management system communicatively coupled to each of the window controllers. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The network of claim 1, further comprising a direct electrical path between the network controller and each window assembly that does not go through other window assemblies. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The network of claim 10, wherein the electrical path delivers both power and control information. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The network of claim 10, wherein the electrical path provides low voltage power. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The network of claim 12, wherein each window assembly further comprises a power converter to convert a low voltage to a power requirement of the at least one electrochromic pane. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The network of claim 1, wherein the window controllers are configured to send one or more electrical pulses through the window assembly and analyze the feedback. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The network of claim 1, wherein the window controllers comprise wireless power receivers. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The network of claim 1, wherein control information is distributed through wireless communication. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The network of claim 1, wherein the window assemblies further comprise an optical and/or thermal sensor connected to the window controller. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The network of claim 1, wherein the window assemblies are provided as insulated glass units (IGUs), each IGU comprising the at least one electrochromic pane, an additional pane, and a spacer between the electrochromic pane and the additional pane, wherein the window controller is positioned around two or more sides of the perimeter of the IGU. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The network of claim 1, wherein the window assemblies are provided as insulated glass units (IGUs), each IGU comprising the at least one electrochromic pane, an additional pane, and a spacer between the electrochromic pane and the additional pane, wherein the window controller resides at least partly between the electrochromic pane and the additional pane of the IGU. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The network of claim 19, wherein the window controller is positioned entirely between the electrochromic pane and the additional pane of the IGU. ### Claim 21 (depends on 19) The network of claim 19, wherein the window controller is embedded in a secondary seal provided around the spacer. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) The network of claim 1, wherein the window controller directly controls the at least one electrochromic pane of the window assembly by controlling a pulse width modulated amplifier that generates current at high and low output levels to power the at least on electrochromic pane. ### Claim 23 A network comprising: (a) two or more window assemblies, each comprising: at least one electrochromic pane; a window controller comprising (i) a circuit for processing digital signals including one or more discrete tint values received from the network, and (ii) a memory storing (1) drive configuration parameters for driving tint state transitions in the at least one electrochromic pane, wherein the drive configuration parameters stored in the memory of the window controller comprise one or more parameters selected from the group consisting of: a voltage to be applied to the window controller's associated electrochromic pane during an optical transition of the electrochromic pane, a rate of change of voltage to be applied to the window controller's associated electrochromic pane during the optical transition of the electrochromic pane, and a current limit corresponding to a current applied to the window controller's associated electrochromic pane during the optical transition of the electrochromic pane, and (2) one or more information parameters selected from the group consisting of: warranty information, installation information, vendor information, batch identification, manufacturing date, window size, EC device cycle count, customer information, and controller zone membership; (b) a network controller communicatively coupled to the window controller of each of the two or more window assemblies and configured to send input signals to each of the window controllers, the input signals comprising the one or more discrete tint values, wherein each of the window controllers is configured to control said at least one electrochromic pane of its associated window assembly based on the one or more discrete tint values received from the network controller and the stored drive configuration parameters particular to each window assembly, and wherein the network controller is physically separate from the window controllers; and (c) an electrical path connecting the window controllers in a linear bus topology.