Cardinal Ig Company

Hari Atkuri

Andrew DeMiglio

Eric Bjergaard

Nicholas Schleder

Michael Eul

Nicolas Le Houx

Chad Peters

Nicholas Schieder

Andrew Demiglio

An electrical characteristic of a privacy glazing structure and indicative of a health of the privacy glazing structure can be measured at a first time and at a second time later than the first time. In response to detecting a change in the electrical characteristic indicating a change in the health of the privacy glazing structure, one or more parameters of an electrical drive signal can be adjusted to compensate for the change in the health of the privacy glazing structure. The electrical characteristic can be measured at a plurality of times after the second time and compared to the electrical characteristic measured at the first time. If, at any of the plurality of times, the measured electrical characteristic differs from the electrical characteristic measured at the first time by more than a threshold amount, one or more parameters of the electrical drive signal can be adjusted.

Leakage current detection and control for one or more electrically controllable privacy glazing structures

A privacy glazing structure may be fabricated from multiple panes of transparent material that hold an optically active material and also define a between-pane space that is separated from a surrounding environment for thermal insulating properties. The privacy glazing structure may include various functional coatings and intermediate films to enhance the performance and/or life span of the structure. For example, the privacy glazing structure may include a low emissivity coating and a laminate layer positioned between an optically active layer and an exterior environment exposed to sunlight. The low emissivity coating and laminate layer may work in combination to effectively protect the optically active layer from sunlight degradation. Additionally or alternatively, the laminate layer may impart safety and impact resistance properties to the structure.

High performance privacy glazing structures

An electrically dynamic window structure may include first and second panes of transparent material and an electrically controllable optically active material positioned between the two panes. A driver can be electrically connected to electrode layers carried by the two panes. The driver may be configured to alternate between a drive phase in which a drive signal is applied to the electrode layers and an idle phase in which the drive signal is not applied to the electrode layers. The electrically controllable optically active material can maintain its transition state during the idle phase. As a result, the power consumption of the structure may be reduced as compared to if the driver continuously delivers the drive signal.

Electrically dynamic window structure with ultralow power consumption comprising a liquid crystal material that can switch between first and second optical transition states

A privacy glazing structure may include an electrically controllable optically active material, such as a liquid crystal material, sandwiched between a flexible substrate and a rigid substrate. The flexible substrate and the rigid substrate may each have a conductive layer deposited on the surface facing the optically active material. The flexible substrate may be bonded about its perimeter to the rigid substrate and may be sufficiently flexible to conform to non-planarity of the rigid substrate. As a result, the flexible substrate may adopt the surface contour of the rigid substrate to maintain a uniform thickness of optically active material between the flexible substrate and the rigid substrate.

Film-to-glass switchable glazing

Electrically controllable privacy glazing with ultralow power consumption comprising a liquid crystal material having a light transmittance that varies in response to application of an electric field

A driver for an electrically dynamic structure may store and release energy during polarity cycling to improve the energy efficiency of operation. In some examples, the driver includes an energy storage element. In operation, the driver can charge an electrically controllable optically active material to a first operating voltage at a first polarity and subsequently discharge the optically active material during polarity reversal. The driver may store energy released from the optically active material during discharging and subsequently release the energy to charge the optically active material to a second operating voltage at a second polarity different than the first polarity.

Growing community of inventors

Plymouth, MN, United States of America

Hari Atkuri