Controlling transitions in optically switchable devices
View Patent ↗Aspects of this disclosure concern controllers and control methods for applying a drive voltage to bus bars of optically switchable devices such as electrochromic devices. Such devices are often provided on windows such as architectural glass. In certain embodiments, the applied drive voltage is controlled in a manner that efficiently drives an optical transition over the entire surface of the electrochromic device. The drive voltage is controlled to account for differences in effective voltage experienced in regions between the bus bars and regions proximate the bus bars. Regions near the bus bars experience the highest effective voltage.
1. A method of controlling an optical transition of an optically switchable device from a starting optical state to an ending optical state, the method comprising:
(a) applying a drive voltage for driving the optically switchable device to transition from the starting optical state to the ending optical state, wherein the drive voltage is applied to bus bars of the optically switchable device;
(b) before the transition is complete, periodically determining an open circuit voltage between the bus bars of the optically switchable device, and periodically determining a total delivered charge density supplied to the optically switchable device during the transition;
(c) determining whether the open circuit voltage determined in (b) has a magnitude greater than or equal to a magnitude of a target open circuit voltage, and determining whether a magnitude of the total delivered charge density determined in (b) is greater than or equal to a magnitude of a threshold charge density; and
(d) if it is determined in (c) that both (i) the magnitude of the open circuit voltage determined in (b) is greater than or equal to the magnitude of the target open circuit voltage, and (ii) the magnitude of the total delivered charge density determined in (b) is greater than or equal to the magnitude of the threshold charge density, applying a hold voltage for holding the ending optical state.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the open circuit voltage is determined in (b) at a defined time after applying the drive voltage in (a).
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the defined time is at most about 120 minutes.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the magnitude of the target open circuit voltage is between about 0-1V greater than the magnitude of the hold voltage.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the magnitude of the target open circuit voltage is at least about 0.025V greater than the magnitude of the hold voltage.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the magnitude of the threshold charge density is between about 1×10 −5 C/cm 2 and about 5 C/cm 2 .
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the magnitude of the threshold charge density is between about 0.01-0.04 C/cm 2 .
8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising after (c) and before (d)
(i) increasing the magnitude of voltage applied to the bus bars to the drive voltage as a result of determining in (c) that either the magnitude of the open circuit voltage determined in (b) is less than the magnitude of the target open circuit voltage, or that the magnitude of the total delivered charge density determined in (b) is less than the magnitude of the threshold charge density ; and
(ii) repeating (b)-(c).
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein (b)-(c) are repeated at a frequency of between about 5 seconds and 5 minutes.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the optically switchable device is an electrochromic device.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the bus bars are separated from one another by at least about 10 inches.
12. A method of controlling an optical transition of an optically switchable device from a starting optical state to an ending optical state, the method comprising:
(a) applying a drive voltage for driving the optically switchable device to transition from the starting optical state to the ending optical state, wherein the drive voltage is applied to bus bars of the optically switchable device;
(b) before the transition is complete, periodically reducing the magnitude of the voltage applied to the bus bars of the optically switchable device to a probe voltage and detecting a current response, and periodically determining a total delivered charge density supplied to the optically switchable device during the transition;
(c) determining whether the current response detected in (b) reaches a target current, and determining whether a magnitude of the total delivered charge density determined in (b) is greater than or equal to a magnitude of a threshold charge density; and
(d) if it is determined in (c) that both (i) the current response detected in (b) reaches the target current, and (ii) the magnitude of the total delivered charge density determined in (b) is greater than or equal to the magnitude of the threshold charge density, applying a hold voltage for holding the ending optical state.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the target current is about 0 Amps.