Smart driver
A smart driver system for electrochromic devices is provided. The system includes at least one smart driver having one or more processors, memory and a communication module. The at least one smart driver is configurable to couple to or integrate with one or more smart windows having electrochromic devices. The at least one smart driver is configurable to input identification information from a plurality of self-identifying components of a smart window system, including the one or more smart windows, and to self-initialize or self-adjust a plurality of operating parameters for operation of the self-identifying components in accordance with the identification information.
1. A driver system for electrochromic devices, comprising:
at least one driver having one or more processors, memory and a communication module;
the at least one driver configurable to couple to or integrate with one or more windows having electrochromic devices; and
the at least one driver configurable to communicate with a user device having a barcode reader application, wherein the at least one driver configurable to input identification information from a plurality of self-identifying components of a window system comprises the at least one driver configurable to receive barcode information from the user device having the barcode reader application, responsive to the user device scanning barcodes on the self-identifying components of the window system.
2. The driver system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one driver comprises:
a window gateway configurable to couple to a network and to one or more window services on the network, and configurable to couple to controllers;
one or more controllers configurable to couple to the window gateway and the one or more windows; and
the window gateway or the one or more controllers configurable to couple to one or more user devices, with the window gateway, the one or more window services, the one or more controllers, the one or more user devices and the one or more windows acting as a distributed device network for controlling the electrochromic devices of the one or more windows.
3. The smart driver system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a server, configured to receive one or more photographs of one or more of a plurality of self-identifying components as installed; and
the server further configured to store the one or more photographs in association with the identification information from the plurality of self identifying components.
4. The driver system of claim 1 , wherein
the at least one driver configurable to send data from a plurality of self-identifying components via a network to a server for diagnostics, monitoring or remote troubleshooting.
5. The driver system of claim 1 , further comprising:
the at least one driver configurable to cooperate with a user device having an install application, to install, connect and verify correct operation of the self-identifying components in accordance with a self-initialized or self-adjusted plurality of operating parameters.
6. The driver system of claim 1 , further comprising:
the at least one driver configurable to perform fault checks on at least two from a group consisting of:
an analog-to-digital converter configurable to couple to and monitor a window;
a step start voltage of the window;
a temperature of driver electronics;
an expected communication;
a value of a sense voltage of the window;
voltage limits of the window;
current limits of the window;
drive voltage to the window;
change in the sense voltage of the window;
an impedance of an electrochromic device;
an expected minimum current at a beginning of a step to the window; and
a sequestration circuit of the window.
7. A driver system with electrochromic devices, comprising:
a plurality of windows having electrochromic devices;
at least one driver integrated with the plurality of windows or configurable to couple to the plurality of windows; and
the plurality of windows and the at least one driver having memory, one or more processors and communication capability, and being configurable to receive identification information from a plurality of self-identifying components of the driver system with electrochromic devices, the at least one driver configurable to receive barcode information from a user device scanning barcodes of the self-identifying components.
8. The driver system with electrochromic devices of claim 7 , wherein the at least one smart driver comprises:
a window gateway having at least one processor and configurable to couple to a network to communicate with one or more window services;
one or more controllers each having at least one processor; and
the window gateway and the one or more controllers configurable to couple to and communicate with each other, the plurality of windows, one or more user devices having one or more applications, and the one or more window services, to act as a distributed device network for controlling the electrochromic devices.
9. The driver system with electrochromic devices of claim 7 , wherein the plurality of windows and the at least one driver being configurable to receive the identification information from the plurality of self-identifying components comprises:
the at least one driver configurable to receive barcode information from a user device scanning barcodes of the self-identifying components.
10. The driver system with electrochromic devices of claim 7 , wherein the at least one driver is configurable to cooperate with one or more window services in a server coupled by a network to the at least one driver, for monitoring or diagnostics.
11. The driver system with electrochromic devices of claim 7 , further comprising:
the at least one driver configurable to cooperate with a user device having an install application, and cooperate with one or more window services in a server coupled by a network to the at least one driver, for installation and verification of operation of the self-identifying components in association with the identification information.
12. The driver system with electrochromic devices of claim 7 , further comprising:
the at least one driver configurable to perform fault checks on and verify correct operation of the self-identifying components.
13. A method of driving windows having electrochromic devices, performed by a driver system, the method comprising:
receiving identification information from a plurality of self-identifying components of a smart window system, including one or more windows, the receiving triggered by scanning barcode information of the self-identifying components; and
self-initializing a plurality of operating parameters for the plurality of self-identifying components, in accordance with the identification information, for setup of the window system.
14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
coupling and communicating among a window gateway, a network, one or more controllers, one or more windows, and one or more user devices, to act as a distributed device network; and
controlling the electrochromic devices, by the distributed device network.
15. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
receiving, at a server, from a user device, one or more photographs of one or more of the plurality of self-identifying components; and
storing, in a database coupled to the server, the one or more photographs of the one or more of the plurality of self-identifying components in association with the identification information from the plurality of self-identifying components.
16. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
cooperating with one or more window services in a server that is coupled via a network to the driver system, to perform monitoring or diagnostics on the plurality of self-identifying components.
17. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
cooperating with a user device having an install application, and with one or more window services in a server that is coupled via a network to the driver system, to install, connect and verify correct operation of the self-identifying components.
18. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
performing fault checks on at least two from a group consisting of:
an analog-to-digital converter configurable to couple to and monitor a window;
a step start voltage of the window;
a temperature of driver electronics;
an expected communication;
a value of a sense voltage of the window;
voltage limits of the window;
current limits of the window;
drive voltage to the window;
change in the sense voltage of the window;
an impedance of an electrochromic device;
an expected minimum current at a beginning of a step to the window; and
a sequestration circuit of the window.