IP Library Granted Patent US 12,617,186
Granted Patent B2
US 12,617,186 · App. 18/549,781 · Granted May 5, 2026

Method for electrically controlling a functional element embedded in a glazing unit

Inventors: Richard Stelzer (Düsseldorf, DE); Bastian Klauss (Kempen, DE); Doane Shelby Craig (Herzogenrath, DE)
Assignee: SAINT-GOBAIN SEKURIT FRANCE
B32B17/10504B32B17/10036B32B17/10211B32B17/10513B32B17/10532B32B17/10761G02F1/0121B32B2605/08B60J1/001B60J3/04
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,617,186
App. No.
18/549,781
Granted
May 5, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method for controlling a glazing unit having electrically controllable optical properties, wherein the glazing unit includes a composite pane having an outer pane and an inner pane which are connected to one another via a thermoplastic intermediate layer, a functional element is arranged between the outer pane and the inner pane and has an active layer having electrically controllable optical properties between a first planar electrode and a second planar electrode, the optical properties are controlled by a control unit, wherein the control unit is connected to at least two transparent planar electrodes of the functional element, an electrical voltage is applied between the planar electrodes by the control unit, and an inverse function is used to determine a magnitude of the electrical voltage.

Claims (36)

1 . A method for controlling a glazing unit having electrically controllable optical properties, wherein

the glazing unit comprises a composite pane having an outer pane and an inner pane which are connected to one another via a thermoplastic intermediate layer,

a functional element is arranged between the outer pane and the inner pane and has an active layer having electrically controllable optical properties between a first planar electrode and a second planar electrode,

the method comprising controlling the optical properties by means of a control unit, wherein the control unit is connected to at least two transparent planar electrodes of the functional element, and

applying an electrical voltage between the at least two transparent planar electrodes by means of the control unit,

wherein an inverse function is used to determine a magnitude of the electrical voltage, and

wherein an impedance of the active layer is determined by means of the control unit.

2 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the inverse function is used as a temperature-dependent linearization function, wherein the temperature-dependent linearization function is the inverse function of a calibration function of the functional element.

3 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein a temperature of the functional element is ascertained by the control unit and a magnitude of the electrical voltage between the at least two transparent planar electrodes is determined as a function of the temperature of the functional element by means of the control unit and applied.

4 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the temperature of the functional element and/or composite pane is determined by means of the impedance.

5 . The method according to claim 4 , wherein the impedance is determined from a ratio of the electrical voltage to a current of the functional element.

6 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein a current consumption of the functional element is ascertained.

7 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the at least two transparent planar electrodes are free of insulation lines.

8 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the electrical voltage applied between the at least two transparent planar electrodes is a DC voltage or an AC voltage.

9 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the temperature of the functional element or of the composite pane is from 30° C. to 80° C.

10 . The method according to claim 9 , wherein the temperature of the functional element or of the composite pane is from 40° C. to 60° C.

11 . A glazing unit having electrically controllable optical properties, comprising

a composite pane having an outer pane and an inner pane which are connected to one another via a thermoplastic intermediate layer,

an electrically controllable functional element which is arranged between the outer pane and the inner pane and has an active layer having electrically controllable optical properties between a first planar electrode and a second planar electrode,

a control unit for controlling the optical properties of the functional element,

wherein the control unit is provided to carry out a method according to claim 1 .

12 . The glazing unit according to claim 11 , wherein the functional element is a PDLC functional element, an SPD functional element or an electrochromic functional element.

13 . The glazing unit according to claim 11 , wherein the control unit comprises a DC-DC converter and/or an inverter.

14 . The glazing unit according to claim 11 , wherein the control unit is provided for ascertaining a temperature of the functional element and, depending on the temperature, for determining a magnitude of the electrical voltage applied between the first and second planar electrodes.

15 . The glazing unit according to claim 11 , wherein the control unit is provided for determining the impedance of the active layer and, depending on the impedance, for ascertaining the temperature of the functional element.

16 . A vehicle with a glazing unit according to claim 11 .

17 . The vehicle according to claim 16 , wherein the vehicle is a passenger car.

18 . A method for controlling a glazing unit having electrically controllable optical properties, wherein

the glazing unit comprises a composite pane having an outer pane and an inner pane which are connected to one another via a thermoplastic intermediate layer,

a functional element is arranged between the outer pane and the inner pane and has an active layer having electrically controllable optical properties between a first planar electrode and a second planar electrode,

the method comprising controlling the optical properties by means of a control unit, wherein the control unit is connected to at least two transparent planar electrodes of the functional element, and

applying an electrical voltage between the at least two transparent planar electrodes by means of the control unit,

wherein an inverse function is used to determine a magnitude of the electrical voltage, and

wherein the inverse function is used as a temperature-dependent linearization function, wherein the temperature-dependent linearization function is the inverse function of a calibration function of the functional element.

19 . The method according to claim 18 , wherein a temperature of the functional element is ascertained by the control unit and a magnitude of the electrical voltage between the at least two transparent planar electrodes is determined as a function of the temperature of the functional element by means of the control unit and applied.

20 . The method according to claim 18 , wherein a current consumption of the functional element is ascertained.

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 Sep 8, 2023
From: STELZER, RICHARD; KLAUSS, BASTIAN; CRAIG, DOANE SHELBY
To: SAINT-GOBAIN GLASS FRANCE
Reel/Frame 064848/0429 →
Priority Claims (2)
EP 21169057 · Apr 19, 2021 · regional
EP 21183015 · Jul 1, 2021 · regional
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240149564A1 · May 9, 2024
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