IP Library Granted Patent US 12,126,273
Granted Patent B2
US 12,126,273 · App. 18/040,076 · Granted Oct 22, 2024

Method for driving an electro-optical functional layer by means of a control unit and arrangement therefor

Inventors: Richard Stelzer (Düsseldorf, DE); Bastian Klauss (Kempen, DE); Michael Zeiss (Heinsberg-Haaren, DE); Doane Shelby Craig (Herzogenrath, DE)
Assignee: SAINT-GOBAIN GLASS FRANCE
H02M7/44G02F1/0121G02F1/137H02M1/10
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,126,273
App. No.
18/040,076
Granted
Oct 22, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method for driving an electro-optical functional layer by a control, the functional layer being applied on a substrate and being variable in its transmissive and/or reflective properties by applying an electric field, the control unit having a supply voltage input and a feed output, and a voltage measuring system and an energy store, includes measuring a voltage actually available at the supply voltage input, if the available voltage is greater than a reference value, driving the functional layer with an AC voltage via the feed output, the energy store being charged at least in sections, if the available voltage is less than or equal to a reference value, driving the functional layer with a DC voltage via the feed output. At least part of the energy for the driving is drawn from the energy store. The DC voltage is less than the peak value of the AC voltage.

Claims (27)

1. A method for driving an electro-optical functional layer by a control unit, wherein the electro-optical functional layer is applied on a substrate, and wherein the electro-optical functional layer is variable in its transmissive and/or reflective properties by applying an electric field, wherein the control unit has a supply voltage input and a feed output as well as voltage measuring device and an energy store, the method comprising:

measuring a voltage actually available at the supply voltage input,

if the available voltage is greater than a reference value, driving the electro-optical functional layer with an AC voltage via the feed output, wherein the energy store is charged at least in sections,

if the available voltage is less than or equal to a reference value, driving the electro-optical functional layer with a DC voltage via the feed output, wherein at least part of the energy for the driving is drawn from the energy store,

wherein the DC voltage is less than the peak value of the AC voltage.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the reference value is smaller by at least half than a specified voltage.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein a frequency of the AC voltage is greater than or equal to 25 Hz.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein a frequency of the AC voltage is less than or equal to 100 Hz.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the measuring requires less than a half-period of the AC voltage.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein in a charged state, the energy store enables driving the electro-optical functional layer for a period of 0.25 seconds or more.

7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein in a charged state, the energy store enables driving the electro-optical functional layer for a period of 1 second or less.

8. An arrangement for carrying the method according to claim 1 , the arrangement comprising:

a substrate,

an electro-optical functional layer,

a control unit,

wherein the electro-optical functional layer is applied on the substrate, and wherein the electro-optical functional layer is variable in its transmissive and/or reflective properties by applying an electric field,

wherein the control unit has a supply voltage input and a feed output as well as voltage measuring device and an energy store,

wherein the voltage measuring device are set up for measuring a voltage actually available at the supply voltage input,

wherein, if the available voltage is greater than a reference value, the control unit is set up for driving the electro-optical functional layer with an AC voltage via the feed output, wherein the energy store is charged at least in sections,

wherein, if the available voltage is less than or equal to a reference value, the control unit is set up for driving the electro-optical functional layer with a DC voltage via the feed output, wherein at least part of the energy for the driving is drawn from the energy store,

wherein the DC voltage is less than the peak value of the AC voltage.

9. The arrangement according to claim 8 , wherein the reference value is smaller by at least half than a specified voltage.

10. The arrangement according to claim 8 , wherein a frequency of the AC voltage is greater than or equal to 25 Hz.

11. The arrangement according to claim 8 , wherein a frequency of the AC voltage is less than or equal to 100 Hz.

12. The arrangement according to claim 8 , wherein the voltage measuring device require less than a half-period of the AC voltage for the measuring.

13. The arrangement according to claim 8 , wherein in a charged state, the energy store enables the driving of the electro-optical functional layer for a period of 0.25 seconds or more.

14. The arrangement according to claim 8 , wherein in a charged state, the energy store enables the driving of the electro-optical functional layer for a period of 1 second or less.

Assignments (2)
NUNC PRO TUNC ASSIGNMENT Recorded May 16, 2025
From: SAINT-GOBAIN GLASS FRANCE
To: SAINT-GOBAIN SEKURIT FRANCE
Reel/Frame 071969/0743 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 31, 2023
From: STELZER, RICHARD; KLAUSS, BASTIAN; ZEISS, MICHAEL; CRAIG, DOANE SHELBY
To: SAINT-GOBAIN GLASS FRANCE
Reel/Frame 062549/0530 →
Priority Claims (1)
EP 20196193 · Sep 15, 2020 · regional
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20230318481A1 · Oct 5, 2023