ONBOARD CONTROLLER FOR MULTISTATE WINDOWS
Onboard EC window controllers are described. The controllers are configured in close proximity to the EC window, for example, within the IGU. The controller may be part of a window assembly, which includes an IGU having one or more EC panes, and thus does not have to be matched with the EC window, and installed, in the field. The window controllers described herein have a number of advantages because they are matched to the IGU containing one or more EC devices and their proximity to the EC panes of the window overcomes a number of problems associated with conventional controller configurations.
1 . (canceled)
2 . A network of electrochromic (EC) windows, the network comprising:
a plurality of EC windows each having an EC device and an associated localized window controller, each localized window controller being connected with a power source and with an upstream controller or a building management system,
wherein the localized window controllers are configured to receive power via a conductor, and wherein the localized window controllers are configured to receive a voltage of 48 Volts from the conductor.
3 . The network of claim 2 , wherein the localized window controllers are configured to communicate with the upstream controller or the building management system via the conductor.
4 . The network of claim 2 , wherein the localized window controllers are configured to communicate with the upstream controller or building management system via an Ethernet protocol.
5 . The network of claim 2 , wherein the localized window controllers are configured to communicate with the upstream controller or building management system via a Power over Ethernet protocol.
6 . The network of claim 2 , wherein at least one of the localized window controllers is an onboard window controller.
7 . The network of claim 6 , wherein the onboard window controller positioned in a frame of the EC window associated with the at least one localized window controller.
8 . The network of claim 7 , wherein the onboard window controller is positioned in a secondary seal zone of the EC window associated with the at least one localized window controller.
9 . The network of claim 7 , wherein the onboard window controller is positioned between two panes of the EC window associated with the at least one localized window controller.
10 . The network of claim 2 , wherein for at least one of the localized window controllers, power and communication functions are combined on a single chip.
11 . The network of claim 2 , wherein at least one of the localized window controllers comprises a power converter configured to convert the voltage of 48 Volts to a power requirement of the EC device associated with the at least one localized window controller.
12 . The network of claim 11 , wherein the power converter is configured to convert the voltage of 48 Volts to a reduced voltage between 2 Volts and 10 Volts.
13 . The network of claim 2 , wherein the localized window controllers are paired to the EC windows with which they are associated at a manufacturing facility where the EC windows are produced.
14 . The network of claim 2 , wherein the localized window controllers are connected with one or more sensors.
15 . The network of claim 14 , wherein at least one of the one or more sensors is positioned in one or more of the localized window controllers.
16 . The network of claim 14 , wherein at least one of the one or more sensors is positioned in a frame proximate one of the EC windows.