WINDOW ANTENNAS
In one aspect, an apparatus is described that includes a transparent pane having a first surface and a second surface. An electrochromic device (ECD) is arranged over the second surface that includes a first conductive layer adjacent the second surface, a second conductive layer, and an electrochromic layer between the first and the second conductive layers. The apparatus further includes at least one conductive antenna structure arranged over the second surface.
1 . An apparatus comprising:
(a) a window having one or more lites, each comprising at least two surfaces having regions configured for viewing through the window;
(b) an electrochromic device disposed on a first lite of the one or more lites; and
(c) an antenna structure disposed on the first lite.
2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the antenna structure is configured as a strip line antenna or a patch antenna.
3 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the antenna structure is configured as a monopole antenna.
4 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the antenna structure further comprises a second strip line antenna or second patch antenna, and wherein the strip line antennas or the patch antennas are configured as a dipole antenna.
5 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the antenna structure comprises a fractal structure.
6 . The apparatus of claim 5 , further comprising a ground plane, wherein the fractal structure is disposed on a plane and the ground plane is substantially parallel to, or perpendicular to, the plane of the fractal structure.
7 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the antenna structure is configured as a Yagi antenna or a log periodic antenna.
8 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising an antenna controller comprising a transmitter and/or receiver for the antenna structure and a window controller configured to control optical transitions of the electrochromic device.
9 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising one or more bus bars in electrical contact with the electrochromic device, wherein the antenna structure is separated from and formed at a different layer than at least one of the one or more bus bars.
10 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a ground plane, substantially transparent to optical wavelengths, disposed on the first lite.
11 . A method comprising:
disposing an electrochromic device disposed on a first lite of a window having one or more lites, each comprising at least two surfaces having regions configured for viewing through the window; and
disposing an antenna structure on the first lite.
12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the antenna structure is configured as a strip line antenna or a patch antenna.
13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the antenna structure is configured as a monopole antenna.
14 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the antenna structure further comprises a second strip line antenna or patch antenna, and wherein the strip line antennas or the patch antennas are configured as a dipole antenna.
15 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the antenna structure comprises a fractal structure.
16 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the antenna structure is configured as a Yagi antenna or a log periodic antenna.
17 . The method of claim 11 , wherein a window controller configured to control optical transitions of the electrochromic device.
18 . The method of claim 11 , wherein one or more bus bars are in electrical contact with the electrochromic device, and the antenna structure is separated from and formed at a different layer than at least one of the one or more bus bars.
19 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising disposing a ground plane, substantially transparent to optical wavelengths, on the first lite.