IP Library Granted Patent US 12,577,830
Granted Patent B2
US 12,577,830 · App. 18/549,850 · Granted Mar 17, 2026

Method for controlling a glazing unit having electrically controllable optical properties

Inventors: Richard Stelzer (Düsseldorf, DE); Bastian Klauss (Kempen, DE); Doane Shelby Craig (Herzogenrath, DE)
Assignee: SAINT-GOBAIN SEKURIT FRANCE
E06B9/24B60J3/04G02F1/0123E06B2009/2464
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,577,830
App. No.
18/549,850
Granted
Mar 17, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method for electrical control of a functional element incorporated in a glazing unit and having electrically controllable optical properties. 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 connected to at least two transparent planar electrodes of the functional element, and an electrical voltage is applied between the planar electrodes by the control unit. An inverse function is used to determine a magnitude of the electrical voltage, and also as a temperature-dependent linearization function and a temperature of the functional element or composite pane is detected by a temperature sensor.

Claims (41)

1 . A method for the electrical control of at least one functional element embedded in a glazing unit and 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,

the 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 means of 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 at least two transparent planar electrodes by means of the control unit,

the method comprising:

determining, using an inverse function, a magnitude of the electrical voltage, wherein the inverse function is used as a temperature-dependent linearization function to obtain a linear behavior of one or more of the controllable optical properties of the at least one functional element,

detecting a temperature of the functional element or of the composite pane by means of a temperature sensor, and

transmitting the temperature of the functional element or of the composite pane to the control unit,

wherein the magnitude of the electrical voltage between the at least two transparent planar electrodes is ascertained and applied by means of the control unit as a function of the temperature of the functional element or of the composite pane.

2 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the temperature sensor is arranged on a flat conductor or a flexible circuit board in the glazing unit.

3 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the temperature sensor is a temperature-dependent resistor or an IR sensor.

4 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the temperature sensor is spatially assigned to the functional element and detects an actual temperature of the functional element.

5 . The method according to claim 3 , wherein a transparency value of the functional element is ascertained as a function of the temperature of the functional element.

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

7 . 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.

8 . 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 .

9 . The glazing unit according to claim 8 , wherein the temperature sensor is arranged in an edge region of the composite pane.

10 . The glazing unit according to claim 8 , wherein the functional element is a PDLC functional element, an SPD functional element or an electrochromic functional element.

11 . The glazing unit according to claim 8 , wherein the control unit comprises a DC-DC converter and/or an inverter.

12 . A vehicle with a glazing unit according to claim 8 .

13 . The vehicle according to claim 12 , wherein the vehicle is a passenger car.

14 . A method comprising providing the glazing unit according to claim 8 in a vehicle of transportation for traffic, in the air or in water or as a functional individual piece, or as a component in furniture, a device or a building.

15 . The method according to claim 14 , wherein the vehicle of transportation is a motor vehicle.

16 . The method according to claim 14 , wherein the glazing unit is a windshield, a rear pane, a side pane and/or a roof pane of the vehicle of transportation.

17 . The method according to claim 7 , wherein the temperature of the functional element or of the composite pane is from 40° C. to 60° C.

18 . A method for the electrical control of at least one functional element embedded in a glazing unit and 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,

the 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 means of 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 at least two transparent planar electrodes by means of the control unit,

the method comprising:

determining, using an inverse function, a magnitude of the electrical voltage, wherein the inverse function is used as a temperature-dependent linearization function,

detecting a temperature of the functional element or of the composite pane by means of a temperature sensor, and

transmitting the temperature of the functional element or of the composite pane to the control unit,

wherein the magnitude of the electrical voltage between the at least two transparent planar electrodes is ascertained and applied by means of the control unit as a function of the temperature of the functional element or of the composite pane, and

wherein the linearization function is the inverse function of a calibration function of the functional element.

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 064850/0224 →
Priority Claims (2)
EP 21169057 · Apr 19, 2021 · regional
EP 21183018 · Jul 1, 2021 · regional
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240151100A1 · May 9, 2024
References Cited (15)
US 20120026573A1 · Collins et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 20200292902A1 · Waldmann et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 20210384764A1 · Shrivastava · 2021 [cited by examiner]
CN 109324457A · 2019 [cited by applicant]
CN 109496277A · 2019 [cited by applicant]
CN 111727116A · 2020 [cited by applicant]
CN 112154065A · 2020 [cited by applicant]
DE 202019100577U1 · 2019 [cited by applicant]
EP 0876608B1 · 2002 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2011033313A1 · 2011 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2012007334A1 · 2012 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2019011891A1 · 2019 [cited by examiner]
FR International Search Report as issued in International Patent Application No. PCT/EP2022/059916, dated Jun. 8, 2022. [cited by applicant]
Lee, J., et al., “Power Electronic Converter Topology with Regulable Transmittance of PDLC Applications,” 2018 21st International Conference on Electrical Machines and Systems (ICEMS), Oct. 2018, XP033451768, pp. 2437-2… [cited by applicant]
Office Action and Search Report as issued in Chinese Patent Application No. 202280001384.1, dated Aug. 23, 2025. [cited by applicant]