Color-tuning driving device of electrochromic device and control method thereof

Abstract

This application provides a color-tuning driving device and control method for an electrochromic device. A microprocessor receives control signals from a host computer, allowing the color-tuning of the electrochromic device to be programmed via the host computer to control the expected voltage waveform. This effectively solves the problem of color-tuning control stability in electrochromic devices. After receiving the control signal from the host computer, the microprocessor outputs a voltage waveform signal and a duty cycle signal. The voltage waveform signal is amplified by a power amplifier unit and then turned on by a controllable switch unit, serving as the driving voltage for the electrochromic device's color change. The duty cycle signal is input to the gate driving unit, which controls the on-time and off-time of the controllable switch unit based on the duty cycle signal, thereby controlling the on and off-time of the driving voltage of the electrochromic device. This eliminates the need for manual switching of the driving voltage, improving the stability and efficiency of color-tuning in electrochromic devices.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application belongs to the field of electrochromic device technology, and particularly relates to a color-adjusting driving device and control method for an electrochromic device. Background Technology

[0002] Electrochromic devices are a new type of color-changing device with advantages such as wide viewing angle, wide operating temperature range, low cost, low power consumption, flexibility, and ultra-thinness. They have broad application prospects in electrochromic windows, automotive rearview mirrors, displays, aerospace, and other fields.

[0003] The working principle of electrochromic devices involves applying a driving power supply to the electrodes at both ends of the device. Ions, under the influence of the applied voltage's electric field, flow into (or migrate out of) the electrochromic layer, causing a decrease (or increase) in the number of ions in the electrochromic material. Before reaching equilibrium, the electrochromic material undergoes a color change; once equilibrium is reached, the color change stabilizes. However, in practical applications, electrochromic devices face the problem of frequent switching of display states. Related technologies primarily rely on manually switching the driving voltage to change the display state of the electrochromic device, which is not only inefficient but also fails to guarantee the stability of the color-changing control. Summary of the Invention

[0004] This application provides a color-tuning driving device and control method for an electrochromic device, which can improve the color-tuning efficiency and stability of the electrochromic device.

[0005] In a first aspect, embodiments of this application provide a color-tuning driving device for an electrochromic device, comprising:

[0006] Microprocessor, controllable switching unit, power amplifier unit, and gate drive unit;

[0007] The first terminal of the microprocessor is connected to the host computer, the second terminal of the microprocessor is connected to the first terminal of the controllable switch unit through the gate driving unit, the third terminal of the microprocessor is connected to the second terminal of the controllable switch unit through the power amplification unit, and the third terminal of the controllable switch unit is connected to the electrochromic device.

[0008] The microprocessor is used to receive control signals from the host computer and output voltage waveform signals and duty cycle signals based on the control signals;

[0009] The power amplification unit is used to receive the voltage waveform signal and amplify the power of the voltage waveform signal to meet the driving requirements of the electrochromic device.

[0010] The gate driving unit is used to receive the duty cycle signal and control the on-time and off-time of the second and third terminals of the controllable switching unit through the duty cycle signal.

[0011] In a second aspect, embodiments of this application provide a control method for a color-tuning driving device of an electrochromic device, the method being applied to the device described in the first aspect, the method comprising:

[0012] The microprocessor receives control signals sent by the host computer and outputs voltage waveform signals and duty cycle signals based on the control signals;

[0013] The voltage waveform signal is used to control the polarity, amplitude, and slope of the color-changing driving voltage of the electrochromic device; the duty cycle signal is used to control the on-time and off-time of the color-changing driving voltage of the electrochromic device.

[0014] The color-adjusting driving device and control method for the electrochromic device in this application embodiment receive control signals from a host computer via a microprocessor. This allows the color adjustment of the electrochromic device to be programmed by the host computer to adjust the amplitude and polarity of the output voltage, thereby achieving adjustable control over the number of ions in the electrochromic layer of the electrochromic device. This effectively solves the problem of color-changing control stability of the electrochromic device. After receiving the control signal from the host computer, the microprocessor can output a voltage waveform signal and a duty cycle signal according to the control signal. The voltage waveform signal is amplified by a power amplification unit and then turned on by a controllable switching unit, serving as the driving voltage for the color change of the electrochromic device. After the duty cycle signal is input to the gate driving unit, the gate driving unit controls the on-time and off-time of the controllable switching unit according to the duty cycle signal, thereby controlling the on and off of the driving voltage of the electrochromic device. The output voltage waveform signal and duty cycle signal output by the microprocessor can achieve precise control of the color adjustment voltage of the electrochromic device and realize the automatic switching on and off of the driving voltage. This allows the transparency of the electrochromic device to be maintained in a certain state without the need for manual switching of the driving voltage, thus improving the stability and efficiency of color adjustment of the electrochromic device. Attached Figure Description

[0015] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application, the accompanying drawings used in the embodiments of this application will be briefly introduced below. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0016] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the working principle of color adjustment of an electrochromic device according to an embodiment of this application;

[0017] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a color-tuning drive device for a first type of electrochromic device provided in one embodiment of this application;

[0018] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a color-tuning drive device for a second type of electrochromic device provided in one embodiment of this application;

[0019] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the color-adjusting drive device for a third type of electrochromic device provided in one embodiment of this application;

[0020] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a color-tuning drive device for a fourth type of electrochromic device provided in one embodiment of this application;

[0021] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the color-tuning drive device for the fifth type of electrochromic device provided in one embodiment of this application;

[0022] Figure 7 This is a schematic flowchart illustrating a control method for a color-tuning drive device of an electrochromic device according to an embodiment of this application. Detailed Implementation

[0023] The features and exemplary embodiments of various aspects of this application will be described in detail below. To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this application clearer, the application will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are only intended to explain this application and not to limit it. For those skilled in the art, this application can be implemented without some of these specific details. The following description of the embodiments is merely to provide a better understanding of this application by illustrating examples.

[0024] It should be noted that, in this document, relational terms such as "first" and "second" are used only to distinguish one entity or operation from another, and do not necessarily require or imply any such actual relationship or order between these entities or operations. Furthermore, the terms "comprising," "including," or any other variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements includes not only those elements but also other elements not expressly listed, or elements inherent to such a process, method, article, or apparatus. Without further limitations, an element defined by the phrase "comprising..." does not exclude the presence of other identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that includes said element. Terms such as "connected" or "linked" are not limited to physical or mechanical connections but can include electrical connections, whether direct or indirect. Terms such as "upper," "lower," "left," and "right" are used only to indicate relative positional relationships, which may change accordingly when the absolute position of the described objects changes. Additionally, in the description of this application, unless otherwise stated, the term "a number" refers to two or more. The term "and / or" describes the relationship between related objects, indicating that there can be three relationships. For example, A and / or B can represent: A alone, A and B simultaneously, or B alone. The character " / " generally indicates that the preceding and following related objects are in an "or" relationship.

[0025] refer to Figure 1 Electrochromic devices typically consist of a transparent conductive layer 022, an electrochromic layer 024, an electrolyte layer 025, an ion storage layer 023, and the transparent conductive layer 022 sequentially disposed between two substrates 021. The working principle of an electrochromic device is that a driving power supply 01 is applied to the electrodes at both ends of the device. Under the influence of the applied voltage's electric field, ions flow into (or migrate out of) the electrochromic layer 024, causing a decrease (or increase) in the number of ions in the electrochromic material. Before reaching equilibrium, the electrochromic material undergoes a color change; after reaching equilibrium, the color change of the electrochromic material stabilizes.

[0026] Color control in electrochromic devices typically involves adjusting the applied voltage. However, in practical applications, electrochromic devices face the problem of frequent display state switching, posing a significant challenge to their driving technology. Related technologies mainly rely on manually switching the driving voltage to alter the display state of the electrochromic device. For example, manually switching the constant voltage across the device's terminals controls whether the color deepens or fades. However, this manual voltage switching method is not only inefficient but also fails to guarantee the stability of the color-changing control.

[0027] To address the problems of the prior art, this application provides a color-tuning driving device and its control method for electrochromic devices, thereby improving the color-tuning efficiency and stability of electrochromic devices. The color-tuning driving device for electrochromic devices provided in this application is described below.

[0028] Figure 2 This illustration shows a schematic diagram of the color-tuning drive device for an electrochromic device according to an embodiment of this application. Figure 2 As shown, the color-tuning drive device 03 of the electrochromic device includes: a microprocessor 031, a controllable switching unit 034, a power amplification unit 032, and a gate driving unit 033;

[0029] The first terminal of the microprocessor 031 is connected to the host computer 04. The second terminal of the microprocessor 031 is connected to the first terminal of the controllable switch unit 034 through the gate driving unit 033. The third terminal of the microprocessor 031 is connected to the second terminal of the controllable switch unit 034 through the power amplification unit 032. The third terminal of the controllable switch unit 034 is connected to the electrochromic device 02.

[0030] The microprocessor 031 is used to receive control signals from the host computer 02 and output voltage waveform signals and duty cycle signals based on the control signals;

[0031] The power amplifier unit 032 is used to receive voltage waveform signals and amplify the power of the voltage waveform signals to meet the driving requirements of the electrochromic device 02.

[0032] The gate drive unit 033 is used to receive the duty cycle signal and control the on-time and off-time of the second and third terminals of the controllable switch unit 034 through the duty cycle signal.

[0033] It should be noted that the specific model of the microprocessor (MCU) can be selected according to needs. For example, in one example, the microprocessor could be a DSP (Digital Signal Processor). The controllable switching unit is mainly used to control the on and off of the driving voltage of the electrochromic device. In one example, the controllable switching unit can be a metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET) or an insulated-gate bipolar transistor (IGBT). The host computer is a system host, mobile phone, computer, or other device with strong computing power that can directly interact with the user. In one example, the host computer can communicate with the color-adjusting drive device of the electrochromic device via RS422A serial communication. The microprocessor parses the control signals sent from the host computer, performs calculations, and generates voltage waveform signals and duty cycle signals.

[0034] In some embodiments, users can directly issue color adjustment commands to the electrochromic device via a host computer. The host computer then programs the expected voltage waveform and sends it to the microprocessor as a control signal. The microprocessor adjusts the amplitude and polarity of the output voltage of the color adjustment drive device through the voltage waveform signal, thereby achieving adjustable control of the number of ions in the electrochromic layer of the electrochromic device. This effectively solves the problem of stability in color change (increasing or decreasing transparency) control of the electrochromic device.

[0035] To prevent the electrochromic device from changing too quickly or too slowly, causing dizziness or discomfort, in some embodiments, the desired voltage waveform can be programmed via a host computer to adjust the slope of the output voltage waveform. This slope is then sent to a microprocessor via a control signal. The microprocessor then controls the movement rate of ions in the electrolyte layer of the electrochromic device using the voltage waveform signal, effectively solving the problem of uncontrollable color-changing (increasing or decreasing transparency) rate of the electrochromic device. Therefore, in some embodiments, the voltage waveform signal includes the slope, amplitude, and polarity of the output voltage waveform from the color-adjusting drive device.

[0036] In some embodiments, the voltage waveform signal includes a bipolar voltage signal. When it is necessary to control the color deepening of the electrochromic device, a positive voltage can be applied to the electrochromic device using the voltage waveform signal, causing the color to deepen. When it is necessary to control the color fading of the electrochromic device, a negative voltage can be applied to the electrochromic device using the voltage waveform signal, which can accelerate the fading of the electrochromic device.

[0037] It should be noted that, since electrochromic devices work by ions flowing into (or migrating out) into the electrochromic layer under the influence of an applied voltage's electric field, causing a decrease (or increase) in the number of ions in the electrochromic material and thus producing a color change, the number of ions in the electrochromic material will continue to change even if the external voltage applied across the electrochromic device remains constant. Therefore, in order to maintain the color of the electrochromic device in a non-initial state (a state where the driving voltage is 0), it is necessary to periodically disconnect the voltage supplied to the electrochromic device. In this embodiment, the on-time and off-time of the second and third terminals of the controllable switching unit are mainly controlled by a duty cycle signal to control the on and off of the voltage signal supplied to the electrochromic device. In one example, the controllable switching unit includes a metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET). The first terminal of the controllable switching unit is the gate of the MOSFET, the second terminal of the controllable switching unit is the drain of the MOSFET, and the third terminal of the controllable switching unit is the source of the MOSFET. When the gate of the MOSFET receives a high-level signal, the drain and source are turned on, and when the gate of the MOSFET receives a low-level signal, the drain and source are turned off.

[0038] In some embodiments, the power amplification unit mainly increases the power corresponding to the voltage waveform signal by increasing the current of the voltage waveform signal, so as to meet the driving requirements of the electrochromic device.

[0039] In some embodiments, the duty cycle refers to the ratio of the high-level time to the entire cycle time in a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal. The gate drive unit converts the duty cycle signal into a drive signal that can drive the controllable switch unit, thereby controlling the on and off times of the second and third terminals of the controllable switch unit. For example, in one example, the gate drive unit receives an initial duty cycle signal of 5V high and 0V low; after passing through the gate drive unit, the duty cycle signal can be converted to 15V high and 0V low for better control of the controllable switch unit's on and off states.

[0040] Electrical stress has a significant impact on the performance of electrochromic devices. Overvoltage or overcurrent stress can cause varying degrees of damage. To ensure reliable operation of electrochromic devices, protection is necessary. Therefore, in some embodiments, reference is made to… Figure 5 The color-adjusting drive device 03 of the above-mentioned electrochromic device also includes a current acquisition unit;

[0041] The aforementioned current acquisition unit is used to acquire the output current output to the aforementioned electrochromic device 02 and to feed the aforementioned output current back to the aforementioned microprocessor;

[0042] The microprocessor is also used to stop the output voltage waveform signal when the output current control is greater than the preset protection current, and / or to cut off the second and third terminals of the controllable switching unit by controlling the duty cycle signal.

[0043] It should be noted that the preset protection current can be pre-set and stored in the microprocessor, or it can be sent to the microprocessor by the host computer via a control signal; there is no limitation on this. When the output current is determined to be greater than the preset protection current through the sampled output current, the output voltage waveform signal can be directly stopped, so that the driving voltage received by the electrochromic device is 0. Alternatively, the second and third terminals of the aforementioned controllable switching unit can be cut off by controlling the duty cycle signal, so that the electrochromic device does not receive the driving voltage.

[0044] In some embodiments, reference Figure 5 The color-adjusting drive device 03 of the above-mentioned electrochromic device also includes a voltage acquisition unit;

[0045] The voltage sampling unit is used to acquire the output voltage of the electrochromic device 02 and feed the output voltage back to the microprocessor.

[0046] The aforementioned microprocessor is also used for:

[0047] When the output voltage is greater than the preset protection voltage, the output voltage waveform signal is stopped, and / or the second and third terminals of the controllable switching unit are cut off by controlling the duty cycle signal.

[0048] When the output voltage is not greater than the preset protection voltage, the output voltage waveform signal is adjusted based on the output voltage.

[0049] It should be noted that the preset protection voltage can be pre-set and stored in the microprocessor, or it can be sent to the microprocessor by the host computer via a control signal; there is no limitation on this. Compared with the sampled output current, the output voltage is not only used to protect the electrochromic device when the output voltage exceeds the preset protection voltage, but also used to dynamically adjust the voltage waveform signal when the output voltage is not greater than the preset protection voltage—that is, when the current output voltage will not cause damage to the electrochromic device—in order to more accurately control the color change of the electrochromic device. For example, in one example, when the sampled output voltage is less than the expected voltage in the microprocessor, the output voltage of the color-changing drive device of the electrochromic device can be increased by adjusting the voltage waveform signal.

[0050] To achieve closed-loop control of the transparency of electrochromic devices, in some embodiments, reference is made to... Figure 5 The color-tuning drive device 03 of the aforementioned electrochromic device also includes a transparency sensor;

[0051] The aforementioned transparency sensor is used to acquire the transparency of the aforementioned electrochromic device 02 and feed the transparency back to the aforementioned microprocessor;

[0052] The aforementioned microprocessor is also used to adjust the aforementioned duty cycle signal through the aforementioned transparency.

[0053] It should be noted that the microprocessor obtains the feedback transparency of the current electrochromic device through a transparency sensor, compares it with the target transparency of the electrochromic device sent by the host computer, and then adjusts the duty cycle signal based on the comparison result. In one example, if the target transparency is greater than the feedback transparency, the duty cycle signal is controlled to output a high level, which controls the controllable switch unit to turn on via the gate drive unit, thus connecting the power voltage output. If the target transparency is less than or equal to the feedback transparency, the duty cycle signal is controlled to output a low level, which controls the controllable switch unit to turn off via the gate drive unit, thus disconnecting the power voltage output.

[0054] In some embodiments, the microprocessor can compare the target transparency of the electrochromic device sent by the host computer with the feedback transparency, and use a bang-bang control method to control the transparency of the electrochromic device. This generates a pulse-width-adjustable duty cycle signal, which, after passing through a driver chip, generates a gate drive signal. The gate drive signal, after passing through a gate drive module, controls a controllable switch to turn on and off. By controlling the duty cycle signal, the transparency of the electrochromic device can be controlled and maintained.

[0055] In some embodiments, reference Figure 5 The color-adjusting drive device 03 for the aforementioned electrochromic device also includes a signal conditioning unit and an internal analog signal acquisition unit. The signal conditioning unit performs interface matching via voltage following, enhancing the signal's anti-interference capability. Simultaneously, it utilizes a low-pass filter circuit to suppress noise and filter the analog signal acquisition, reducing the impact of signal interference on the acquisition. The internal analog signal acquisition unit can acquire the applied voltage, current, feedback transparency, and other internal analog signals of the electrochromic device. The current acquisition can be designed using a Hall effect current sensor, which can meet the requirements for bidirectional current acquisition.

[0056] In some embodiments, reference Figure 3 The color-adjusting drive device 03 of the electrochromic device also includes a digital-to-analog converter 035 disposed between the power amplifier unit 032 and the microprocessor 031.

[0057] The aforementioned digital-to-analog converter 035 is used to convert the aforementioned voltage waveform signal from a digital signal into an analog signal;

[0058] The microprocessor 031 is also used to acquire the analog voltage signal output by the digital-to-analog converter 035 and adjust the voltage waveform signal using the analog voltage signal.

[0059] In some embodiments, a microprocessor (MCU) receives control signals from a host computer, performs logical operations to generate a voltage waveform signal, which can be a digital signal. This digital signal is then converted into an analog signal by a digital-to-analog converter (DAC). In one example, the microprocessor generates a 16-bit parallel signal and a clock signal. The DAC receives the 16-bit parallel signal and clock signal from the microprocessor via serial communication and performs digital-to-analog conversion to provide the control voltage signal for the color-changing action of the electrochromic device. It should be noted that the voltage waveform signal after digital-to-analog conversion can be a continuous voltage signal that varies over time.

[0060] In some implementations, the digital-to-analog converter (DAC) uses a 16-bit high-precision DAC as its core to convert parallel signals sent by the microprocessor (MCU) into data and generate a linearly adjustable voltage in the range of -5 to 5V, which can meet the working requirements of electrochromic devices for forward color change and reverse fading.

[0061] In some implementations, the microprocessor may include a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) module, meaning the voltage waveform signal output by the microprocessor can be directly an analog signal. To more accurately control the color-changing action of the electrochromic device, the microprocessor, after the DAC outputs an analog signal, samples back the analog signal and uses its integrated DAC module to convert the sampled analog signal back into a digital signal. This digital signal is then compared with the original voltage waveform signal output by the microprocessor, and the voltage waveform signal is adjusted to ensure that the analog voltage signal output by the DAC meets expectations, i.e., the difference between it and the original voltage waveform signal output by the microprocessor is minimized.

[0062] In some embodiments, reference Figure 5 The color-tuning drive device 03 of the above-mentioned electrochromic device also includes an analog-to-digital converter;

[0063] The first terminal of the analog-to-digital converter is connected to the microprocessor, the second terminal of the analog-to-digital converter is connected to the current acquisition unit, and the third terminal of the analog-to-digital converter is connected to the voltage acquisition unit.

[0064] The aforementioned analog-to-digital converter is used to convert the output current and output voltage fed back to the aforementioned microprocessor into digital signals.

[0065] In some cases, analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) are used to convert the output current and voltage acquired by current and voltage acquisition units into digital signals. Compared to ADC modules integrated into microprocessors, these ADCs provide higher precision digital signals.

[0066] In some cases, the analog-to-digital converter can be a 16-bit high-precision ADC chip with bipolar acquisition function, which can meet the requirement of acquiring the bipolar voltage of the electrochromic device. At the same time, the multi-channel design can realize the synchronous acquisition of voltage and current signals, ensuring the real-time signal rate.

[0067] In some embodiments, reference Figure 4 The color-adjusting drive device of the electrochromic device also includes a current protection unit 037 disposed between the power amplification unit 032 and the controllable switch unit 034.

[0068] The aforementioned current protection unit 037 is used to disconnect the connection between the power amplifier unit 032 and the controllable switch unit 034 when the current output by the power amplifier unit 032 is greater than the preset protection current, so as to provide physical current limiting protection for the electrochromic device.

[0069] In some embodiments, reference Figure 4 The color-adjusting drive device of the electrochromic device also includes a voltage protection unit 038 disposed between the controllable switch unit 034 and the electroluminescent device 02.

[0070] The voltage protection unit 038 is used to disconnect the connection between the controllable switch unit 034 and the electroluminescent device 02 when the voltage output by the controllable switch unit 034 is greater than the preset protection voltage, so as to provide physical voltage limiting protection for the electrochromic device.

[0071] It should be noted that in some embodiments, the color-tuning drive device of the electrochromic device is designed with overvoltage and overcurrent protection functions. When the controlled electrochromic device or functional circuit malfunctions, and the output voltage and current exceed the allowable limits, software protection is triggered first, i.e., protection is achieved by controlling the voltage waveform signal and duty cycle signal. If the software protection fails to respond successfully, hardware protection is triggered, i.e., the output current is limited or the power output circuit is cut off through the current protection unit and voltage protection unit until the output voltage and current are reduced to the limited range.

[0072] In some embodiments, reference Figure 6 The color-tuning drive device of the electrochromic device also includes a level conversion unit 036 disposed between the microprocessor 031 and the gate drive unit 033; the gate drive unit 033 includes a drive power supply 0331, a drive chip 0332 and a gate drive module 0333.

[0073] The first end of the aforementioned driver chip 0332 is connected to the aforementioned drive power supply 0331, the second end of the aforementioned driver chip 0332 is connected to the aforementioned level conversion unit 036, and the third end of the aforementioned driver chip 0332 is connected to the first end of the aforementioned controllable switch unit 034 through the aforementioned gate drive module 0333.

[0074] The level conversion unit 036 is used to convert the duty cycle signal into a drive signal that can control the drive chip 0332.

[0075] The aforementioned power supply 0331 is used to supply power to the aforementioned driver chip 0332;

[0076] The aforementioned driver chip 0332 is used to receive the aforementioned drive signal and output a gate drive signal based on the aforementioned drive signal to control the conduction and cutoff of the second and third terminals of the aforementioned controllable switch unit 034.

[0077] The gate drive module 0333 is used to apply resistors and capacitors to the gate drive signal to control the speed at which the second and third terminals of the controllable switch unit 034 are turned on and off.

[0078] It should be noted that in some embodiments, the level conversion unit uses a dedicated bidirectional level conversion chip, which not only meets the interface matching requirements of the microprocessor signal and the driver chip signal, but also enables drive signal retrieval, improving operational reliability. In one example, the level conversion unit can convert the high level in the duty cycle signal output by the microprocessor from 3.3V to 5V for adaptation to the control gate drive unit. After receiving the duty cycle signal with a low level of 0V and a high level of 5V, the driver chip of the gate drive unit outputs a gate drive signal with a low level of 0V and a high level of 15V, so that when the first terminal of the controllable switch unit receives a high level of 15V, it turns on the second and third terminals, and when the first terminal receives a low level of 0V, it turns off the second and third terminals.

[0079] In some embodiments, the gate driving unit includes a gate driving module mainly composed of resistors and capacitors, and controls the speed at which the second and third terminals of the controllable switching unit are turned on and off by applying resistors and capacitors to the gate driving signal output by the driving chip.

[0080] It should be noted that, for ease of description, the above devices are described in terms of function, divided into various modules. Of course, in implementing this application, the functions of each module can be implemented in one or more software and / or hardware.

[0081] The color-adjusting driving device for the electrochromic device in this embodiment of the application receives control signals from a host computer via a microprocessor. This allows the host computer to program the expected voltage waveform, adjusting the amplitude and polarity of the output voltage of the device. This enables adjustable control of the number of ions in the electrochromic layer of the electrochromic device, effectively solving the problem of color-changing control stability. After receiving the control signal from the host computer, the microprocessor outputs a voltage waveform signal and a duty cycle signal based on the control signal. The voltage waveform signal is amplified by a power amplification unit and then turned on by a controllable switching unit, serving as the driving voltage for color-changing in the electrochromic device. The duty cycle signal is input to the gate driving unit, which controls the on-time and off-time of the controllable switching unit based on the duty cycle signal, thereby controlling the on and off of the driving voltage of the electrochromic device. The output voltage waveform signal and duty cycle signal output by the microprocessor can achieve precise control of the color adjustment voltage of the electrochromic device and realize the automatic switching on and off of the driving voltage. This allows the transparency of the electrochromic device to be maintained in a certain state without the need for manual switching of the driving voltage, thus improving the stability and efficiency of color adjustment of the electrochromic device.

[0082] Furthermore, the color-adjusting drive device for the electrochromic device of this application controls the ion movement rate of the electrolyte layer in the electrochromic device by adjusting the slope of the output voltage waveform of the color-adjusting drive device, effectively solving the problem of being unable to control the color-changing rate (increasing or decreasing transparency) of the electrochromic device. By setting the target transparency value of the electrochromic device using a host computer and simultaneously monitoring the feedback transparency in real time, closed-loop control of the transparency of the electrochromic device is achieved by adjusting the duty cycle of the output voltage of the color-adjusting drive device, effectively solving the problem of stepless color-changing control of the electrochromic device. The color-adjusting drive device is designed with analog signal acquisition and output protection functions, enabling real-time monitoring of the voltage and current of the electrochromic device and achieving overvoltage and overcurrent protection for the controlled electrochromic device, effectively solving the purpose of fault protection for the electrochromic device.

[0083] Based on the same inventive concept, corresponding to the apparatus of any of the above embodiments, this application also provides a control method for a color-tuning drive device of an electrochromic device. This control method is applied to the color-tuning drive device of the electrochromic device in any of the foregoing embodiments, referencing... Figure 7 The control method includes the following steps:

[0084] The S701 microprocessor receives control signals sent by the host computer and outputs voltage waveform signals and duty cycle signals based on the control signals.

[0085] It should be noted that the voltage waveform signal is used to control the polarity, amplitude, and slope of the color-tuning drive voltage of the electrochromic device; the duty cycle signal is used to control the on-time and off-time of the color-tuning drive voltage of the electrochromic device.

[0086] In some embodiments, the microprocessor generates a voltage waveform signal with adjustable amplitude, slope, and polarity based on the control signal sent by the host computer. After passing through a power amplification circuit, it outputs a power voltage of -5 to 5V to drive the electrochromic device to change color according to the control requirements, thereby realizing the control of increasing or decreasing the transparency of the electrochromic device. In one example, the specific control logic is as follows: outputting a voltage of 0 to 5V controls the transparency of the electrochromic device to decrease, and conversely, outputting a voltage of 0 to -5V controls the transparency of the electrochromic device to increase. Increasing the slope of the output voltage controls the speed of change of the transparency of the electrochromic device to accelerate, and decreasing the slope of the output voltage controls the speed of change of the transparency of the electrochromic device to slow down.

[0087] In some embodiments, the controllable switching unit controls the on / off output of the power voltage of the color-tuning drive device through a duty cycle signal.

[0088] In some embodiments, the microprocessor compares the target transparency of the electrochromic device sent by the host computer with the feedback transparency, and uses a start-stop control method to control the transparency of the electrochromic device, generating a pulse-width adjustable duty cycle signal. This signal, after passing through a driver chip, generates a gate drive signal. The gate drive signal, after passing through a gate drive module, controls the controllable switch unit to switch on and off. By controlling the duty cycle of the duty cycle signal, the transparency of the electrochromic device is controlled and maintained. In one example, the control logic is as follows: if the target transparency is greater than the feedback transparency, the duty cycle signal outputs a high level, which, after passing through the driver chip, generates a gate drive signal. This gate drive signal, after passing through the gate drive module, controls the controllable switch unit to turn on, connecting the power voltage output; if the target transparency is less than or equal to the feedback transparency, the duty cycle signal outputs a low level, which, after passing through the driver chip, generates a gate drive signal. This gate drive signal, after passing through the gate drive module, controls the controllable switch unit to turn off, disconnecting the power voltage output.

[0089] The control method of the color-tuning drive device of the electrochromic device in the above embodiments is used to realize the function and role of the color-tuning drive device of the corresponding electrochromic device in any of the foregoing embodiments, and has the beneficial effects of the corresponding device embodiments, which will not be repeated here.

[0090] It should be clarified that this application is not limited to the specific configurations and processes described above and shown in the figures. For the sake of brevity, detailed descriptions of known methods are omitted here. In the above embodiments, several specific steps are described and shown as examples. However, the method process of this application is not limited to the specific steps described and shown. Those skilled in the art can make various changes, modifications, and additions, or change the order of steps, after understanding the spirit of this application.

[0091] The functional blocks shown in the above-described structural diagram can be implemented as hardware, software, firmware, or a combination thereof. When implemented in hardware, they can be, for example, electronic circuits, application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), appropriate firmware, plug-ins, function cards, etc. When implemented in software, the elements of this application are programs or code segments used to perform the required tasks. Programs or code segments can be stored on a machine-readable medium or transmitted over a transmission medium or communication link via data signals carried on a carrier wave. "Machine-readable medium" can include any medium capable of storing or transmitting information. Examples of machine-readable media include electronic circuits, semiconductor memory devices, ROM, flash memory, erasable ROM (EROM), floppy disks, CD-ROMs, optical disks, hard disks, fiber optic media, radio frequency (RF) links, etc. Code segments can be downloaded via computer networks such as the Internet, intranets, etc.

[0092] It should also be noted that the exemplary embodiments mentioned in this application describe methods or systems based on a series of steps or apparatus. However, this application is not limited to the order of the above steps; that is, the steps can be performed in the order mentioned in the embodiments, or in a different order, or several steps can be performed simultaneously.

[0093] The aspects of this disclosure have been described above with reference to flowchart illustrations and / or block diagrams of methods, apparatus (systems), and computer program products according to embodiments of this disclosure. It should be understood that each block in the flowchart illustrations and / or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the flowchart illustrations and / or block diagrams, can be implemented by computer program instructions. These computer program instructions can be provided to a processor of a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine such that these instructions, executable via the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, enable the implementation of the functions / actions specified in one or more blocks of the flowchart illustrations and / or block diagrams. Such a processor can be, but is not limited to, a general-purpose processor, a special-purpose processor, a special application processor, or a field-programmable logic circuit. It is also understood that each block in the block diagrams and / or flowcharts, and combinations of blocks in the block diagrams and / or flowcharts, can also be implemented by special-purpose hardware performing the specified functions or actions, or can be implemented by a combination of special-purpose hardware and computer instructions.

[0094] The above description is merely a specific implementation of this application. Those skilled in the art will clearly understand that, for the sake of convenience and brevity, the specific working processes of the systems, modules, and units described above can be referred to the corresponding processes in the foregoing method embodiments, and will not be repeated here. It should be understood that the protection scope of this application is not limited thereto. Any person skilled in the art can easily conceive of various equivalent modifications or substitutions within the technical scope disclosed in this application, and these modifications or substitutions should all be covered within the protection scope of this application.

Claims

1. A color-adjusting driving device for an electrochromic device, characterized in that, include: Microprocessor, controllable switching unit, power amplifier unit, and gate drive unit; The first terminal of the microprocessor is connected to the host computer, the second terminal of the microprocessor is connected to the first terminal of the controllable switch unit through the gate driving unit, the third terminal of the microprocessor is connected to the second terminal of the controllable switch unit through the power amplification unit, and the third terminal of the controllable switch unit is connected to the electrochromic device. The microprocessor is used to receive control signals from the host computer and output voltage waveform signals and duty cycle signals based on the control signals. The voltage waveform signals include the slope, amplitude, and polarity of the voltage waveform output by the color adjustment drive device. The power amplification unit is used to receive the voltage waveform signal and amplify the power of the voltage waveform signal to meet the driving requirements of the electrochromic device. The gate driving unit is used to receive the duty cycle signal and control the on-time and off-time of the second and third terminals of the controllable switch unit through the duty cycle signal. The controllable switching unit is used to control the on and off of the driving voltage of the electrochromic device, so that the color of the electrochromic device remains in a non-initial state. The color adjustment drive device also includes a transparency sensor; The transparency sensor is used to collect the transparency of the electrochromic device and feed the transparency back to the microprocessor; The microprocessor is also used to adjust the duty cycle signal by means of the transparency.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, The device also includes a current acquisition unit; The current acquisition unit is used to acquire the output current output to the electrochromic device and feed the output current back to the microprocessor; The microprocessor is also configured to stop outputting the voltage waveform signal when the output current control is greater than the preset protection current, and / or to cut off the second and third terminals of the controllable switching unit by controlling the duty cycle signal.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that, The device also includes a voltage acquisition unit; The voltage sampling unit is used to acquire the output voltage of the electrochromic device and feed the output voltage back to the microprocessor. The microprocessor is also used for: When the output voltage is greater than the preset protection voltage, the output voltage waveform signal is stopped, and / or the second and third terminals of the controllable switching unit are cut off by controlling the duty cycle signal; When the output voltage is not greater than the preset protection voltage, the output voltage waveform signal is adjusted based on the output voltage.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that, The device also includes a digital-to-analog converter disposed between the power amplifier unit and the microprocessor; The digital-to-analog converter is used to convert the voltage waveform signal from a digital signal into an analog signal; The microprocessor is also used to acquire the analog voltage signal output by the digital-to-analog converter and adjust the voltage waveform signal using the analog voltage signal.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that, The device also includes an analog-to-digital converter; The first terminal of the analog-to-digital converter is connected to the microprocessor, the second terminal of the analog-to-digital converter is connected to the current acquisition unit, and the third terminal of the analog-to-digital converter is connected to the voltage acquisition unit. The analog-to-digital converter is used to convert the output current and output voltage fed back to the microprocessor into digital signals.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, The device further includes a current protection unit disposed between the power amplification unit and the controllable switching unit; The current protection unit is used to disconnect the connection between the power amplifier unit and the controllable switch unit when the current output by the power amplifier unit is greater than the preset protection current.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, The device also includes a voltage protection unit disposed between the controllable switch unit and the electrochromic device; The voltage protection unit is used to disconnect the connection between the controllable switch unit and the electrochromic device when the voltage output by the controllable switch unit is greater than the preset protection voltage.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, The device further includes a level conversion unit disposed between the microprocessor and the gate driving unit; the gate driving unit includes a driving power supply, a driving chip, and a gate driving module. The first terminal of the driver chip is connected to the driver power supply, the second terminal of the driver chip is connected to the level conversion unit, and the third terminal of the driver chip is connected to the first terminal of the controllable switch unit through the gate drive module. The level conversion unit is used to convert the duty cycle signal into a drive signal that can control the drive chip; The driving power supply is used to power the driving chip; The driver chip is used to receive the drive signal and output a gate drive signal based on the drive signal to control the conduction and cutoff of the second and third terminals of the controllable switch unit. The gate drive module is used to apply resistors and capacitors to the gate drive signal in order to control the speed at which the second and third terminals of the controllable switch unit are turned on and off.

9. A control method for a color-adjusting drive device of an electrochromic device, characterized in that, The method is applied to the apparatus as described in any one of claims 1-8, and the method comprises: The microprocessor receives control signals sent by the host computer and outputs voltage waveform signals and duty cycle signals based on the control signals; The voltage waveform signal is used to control the polarity, amplitude, and slope of the color-changing driving voltage of the electrochromic device; the duty cycle signal is used to control the on-time and off-time of the color-changing driving voltage of the electrochromic device.

Images