Controller for optically switchable devices

Abstract

The invention relates to the technical field of optical state switching control, in particular to a controller for an optical switchable device. Comprising a controller, a display and an electrochromic device body, the controller comprises a circuit board, an interface and a connector, a processor, a power management circuit and a driving circuit are integrated on the circuit board, and the interface and the connector are used for communicating and connecting with the electrochromic device body. Polymer gel is adopted in the electrolyte layer of the electrochromic device body to serve as electrolyte, good ionic conductivity and stability can be provided, follow-up switching of the optical state of the electrochromic material is quicker and more uniform, vanadium oxide is used as the electrochromic material, the response time is shorter, and the electrochromic device can be applied to electrochromic devices. The color or transparency can be quickly changed, and the method is suitable for application occasions needing frequent color change.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of optical state switching control, and in particular to a controller for an optically switchable device. Background Art

[0002] Optically switchable technology is a technology that uses optical principles and material properties to achieve reversible changes in optical properties such as transmittance, color, and refractive index through external stimuli such as voltage, current, temperature, and light. This technology has broad application prospects in many fields, including but not limited to smart buildings, automobile manufacturing, consumer electronics, healthcare, and communication technology. The core of optical switchable technology lies in the special materials it uses, which can change their optical properties under the action of external stimuli. The controller of the optical switchable device is an electronic device specially designed to control optical switchable devices, such as electrochromic windows and adjustable mirrors. These controllers control the changes in the optical properties of the optical switchable device, such as transmittance and color, by generating and adjusting electrical signals such as voltage and current.

[0003] However, the controllers of existing optical switchable devices often have the following problems when used:

[0004] Since optically switchable materials respond to external stimuli such as voltage and current in a certain nonlinear relationship, the controller may face challenges in accurately controlling these parameters, resulting in inaccurate switching of the optical state. At the same time, electrolyte layers made of different materials have different ion conductivity and stability, which will affect the switching rate of the optical state. At the same time, durability issues also need to be considered in the case of long-term use. Summary of the invention

[0005] In view of the above-mentioned shortcomings of the prior art, the present invention provides a controller for an optically switchable device, which can effectively solve the problems of low overall efficiency of optical state switching in the prior art and poor durability of the device.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention is implemented through the following technical solutions:

[0007] The present invention provides a controller for an optical switchable device, comprising a controller, a display and an electrochromic device body;

[0008] The controller includes a circuit board, an interface and a connector, the circuit board is integrated with a processor, a power management circuit and a drive circuit, and the interface and the connector are used to communicate and connect with the electrochromic device body;

[0009] The display is an optically transparent display, allowing background light to pass through the display panel to display content;

[0010] The electrochromic device body comprises an electrolyte layer, an electrochromic material and two electrodes.

[0011] According to the above-mentioned controller for an optically switchable device, the electrolyte layer in the electrochromic device body is located between two electrodes, and is mainly used to transfer ions to realize the redox reaction of the material layer, thereby changing the color. The material of the electrolyte layer is polymer gel, and the polymer gel electrolyte is a composite electrolyte based on polyethylene oxide, which can provide good ion conductivity and stability. Lithium trifluoromethanesulfonate is added to the electrolyte layer, which is used to improve the ion conductivity of the electrolyte and enhance its electrochemical stability and durability in the electrochromic device.

[0012] According to the above controller for an optically switchable device, the two electrodes of the electrochromic device body are both made of conductive material, the two electrodes are used to apply an electric field to control the color state of the electrochromic layer, and the material of the two electrodes is indium tin oxide.

[0013] According to the above controller for an optically switchable device, the electrochromic material in the electrochromic device body is located in the electrolyte layer, and the component of the electrochromic material is vanadium oxide.

[0014] According to the above-mentioned controller for an optically switchable device, the processor of the circuit board in the controller is responsible for receiving and processing input signals from a user or a sensor, and then generating a corresponding electric field or voltage signal through a control circuit to control the state of the electrochromic material. In this process, when the electric field or voltage signal generated by the control circuit is applied to the electrochromic material, the ions or electrons inside the electrochromic material will migrate, causing the chemical structure or physical state of the electrochromic material to change. This change will directly affect the electrochromic material's absorption, reflection or transmission characteristics of light, thereby changing its appearance color or transmittance.

[0015] According to the above-mentioned controller for optically switchable devices, the power management circuit of the circuit board in the controller is responsible for managing the power supply required by the electrochromic device body. The power management circuit converts the voltage provided by the external power supply into the specific voltage range required by the electrochromic device body through a built-in voltage converter. This conversion process usually involves a step-down or step-up operation, depending on the voltage requirements of the electrochromic material and the voltage level of the external power supply.

[0016] According to the above-mentioned controller for an optically switchable device, the driving circuit of the circuit board in the controller can generate a voltage or electric field suitable for the operation of the electrochromic material according to preset instructions or external signals, and the driving circuit can accurately control the size, direction, and frequency of the voltage or electric field to meet the needs of the electrochromic material in different application scenarios.

[0017] According to the above-mentioned controller for an optically switchable device, the controller is connected to the driving circuit of the electrochromic device body via a connector on a circuit board, the electronic interface between the controller and the display is electrically connected, and the controller, the display and the electrochromic device body are all electrically connected to a stable power supply.

[0018] Compared with the known prior art, the technical solution provided by the present invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0019] 1. In the electrolyte layer of the electrochromic device body, a polymer gel electrolyte is used to provide good ion conductivity and stability, making the subsequent switching of the optical state of the electrochromic material faster and more uniform. At the same time, adding lithium trifluoromethanesulfonate to the electrolyte layer can effectively improve the ion conductivity of the electrolyte and enhance its electrochemical stability and durability in the electrochromic device.

[0020] 2. Using vanadium oxide as the electrochromic material has a faster response time and can quickly achieve changes in color or transparency. It is suitable for applications that require frequent color changes. At the same time, it can stably change its optical properties under the action of the electric field. It has good stability and durability, and can maintain a specific color or transparency state for a long time. It also takes into account controllability, adjustability, low power consumption and environmental protection. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the drawings required for use in the embodiments or the prior art descriptions are briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention, and for ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative work.

[0022] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of the components of the present invention.

[0023] Figure numerals: 1. controller; 2. display; 3. electrochromic device body. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] In order to make the purpose, technical solution and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention clearer, the technical solution in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below in conjunction with the drawings in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are part of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without creative work are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0025] The present invention will be further described below in conjunction with the embodiments.

[0026] Example: Refer to Figure 1 , a controller for an optical switchable device, comprising a controller 1, a display 2 and an electrochromic device body 3, wherein the controller 1 comprises a circuit board, an interface and a connector, wherein the circuit board is integrated with a processor, a power management circuit and a drive circuit, wherein the interface and the connector are used to communicate and connect with the electrochromic device body 3, wherein the processor of the circuit board in the controller 1 is responsible for receiving and processing input signals from a user or a sensor, and then generating a corresponding electric field or voltage signal through a control circuit to control the state of an electrochromic material, wherein in this process, when the electric field or voltage signal generated by the control circuit is applied to the electrochromic material, ions or electrons inside the electrochromic material will migrate, causing a change in the chemical structure or physical state of the electrochromic material, and such a change will directly affect the electrochromic material's absorption, reflection or transmission characteristics of light, thereby changing its appearance color or light transmittance, and the power management circuit of the circuit board in the controller 1 is responsible for managing the electric field or voltage signal generated by the control circuit to control the state of the electrochromic material. The power supply required by the electrochromic device body 3, the power management circuit converts the voltage provided by the external power supply into the specific voltage range required by the electrochromic device body 3 through the built-in voltage converter. This conversion process usually involves step-down or step-up operation, which depends on the voltage requirement of the electrochromic material and the voltage level of the external power supply. The driving circuit of the circuit board in the controller 1 can generate a voltage or electric field suitable for the operation of the electrochromic material according to preset instructions or external signals. The driving circuit can accurately control the size, direction and frequency of the voltage or electric field to meet the needs of the electrochromic material in different application scenarios. This precise control is the basis for achieving high performance and stability of electrochromic technology. The controller 1 is connected to the driving circuit of the electrochromic device body 3 through the connector on the circuit board. The electronic interface between the controller 1 and the display 2 is electrically connected. The controller 1, the display 2 and the electrochromic device body 3 are all electrically connected to a stable power supply;

[0027] Display 2 is an optically transparent display, which has high transmittance and allows background light to pass through the display panel to display content;

[0028] The electrochromic device body 3 includes an electrolyte layer, an electrochromic material and two electrodes. The electrolyte layer in the electrochromic device body 3 is located between the two electrodes, and is mainly used to transfer ions to realize the redox reaction of the material layer, thereby changing the color. The material of the electrolyte layer is polymer gel. Polymer gel electrolyte is a composite electrolyte based on polyethylene oxide, which is widely used in lithium ion batteries and other electrochemical devices. Their main characteristics include high ionic conductivity, good mechanical stability and high chemical stability. Polymer gel electrolyte is usually composed of a high molecular polymer network and an electrolyte solution or salt, which can provide sufficient ion conductive channels so that the electrolyte can quickly transport ions during the charge and discharge process, thereby improving the charge and discharge efficiency and power density of the battery, and is therefore beneficial to improving the switching efficiency of subsequent optical states. Lithium trifluoromethanesulfonate is added to the electrolyte layer, which is used to provide The high ion conductivity of the electrolyte enhances its electrochemical stability and durability in the electrochromic device. It is composed of lithium ions and trifluoromethanesulfonate ions. The trifluoromethanesulfonate ions are a kind of strongly acidic ions, which enable it to provide sufficient ionic conductivity in the solution, and are not easy to decompose, and will not generate harmful by-products. The two electrodes of the electrochromic device body 3 are both made of conductive materials. The two electrodes are used to apply an electric field to control the color state of the electrochromic layer. The materials of the two electrodes are indium tin oxide, which is a transparent conductive oxide. The indium tin oxide material has excellent optical transparency and conductivity, and can effectively apply an electric field and control the state of the electrochromic layer. The electrochromic material in the electrochromic device body 3 is located in the electrolyte layer. The component of the electrochromic material is vanadium oxide, which can change its optical properties during the phase change process, from transparent to different states of absorbing or reflecting light.

[0029] The working principle of the present invention is as follows:

[0030] 1. After the system is powered on, it is necessary to ensure that the detection module in the entire system can accurately measure the light transmission signal of the electrochromic device body 3. After completion, before the electrochromic device body 3 changes color, the detection module will continuously monitor the light transmission signal of each electrochromic device body 3 and transmit the signal data to the controller 1 in real time;

[0031] 2. After receiving the light transmission signal data, the controller 1 performs analysis and processing to determine whether the light transmission states of the electrochromic device bodies 3 are consistent. If the controller 1 finds that the light transmission signals of one or more electrochromic device bodies 3 are significantly different from those of other devices, the controller 1 will identify these differences. According to the differences, the controller 1 adjusts the voltage applied to the corresponding electrochromic device body 3 to change its light transmission state. The adjustment process may involve gradually increasing or decreasing the voltage until the desired light transmission effect is achieved;

[0032] 3. The display 2 will display the light transmittance state and voltage regulation status of each electrochromic device body 3 in real time, making it convenient for users to monitor the system operation status.

[0033] The above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention, rather than to limit it. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the aforementioned embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that they can still modify the technical solutions described in the aforementioned embodiments, or make equivalent replacements for some of the technical features therein. However, these modifications or replacements will not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the protection scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention.

Claims

1. A controller for an optically switchable device, characterized in that include: A controller (1), a display (2) and an electrochromic device body (3); The controller (1) comprises a circuit board, an interface and a connector, the circuit board is integrated with a processor, a power management circuit and a drive circuit, and the interface and the connector are used to communicate and connect with the electrochromic device body (3); The display (2) is an optically transparent display, allowing background light to pass through the display panel to display content; The electrochromic device body (3) comprises an electrolyte layer, an electrochromic material and two electrodes.

2. The controller for an optically switchable device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The electrolyte layer in the electrochromic device body (3) is located between the two electrodes and is mainly used to transfer ions to achieve a redox reaction of the material layer, thereby changing the color. The material of the electrolyte layer is polymer gel. The polymer gel electrolyte is a composite electrolyte based on polyethylene oxide and can provide good ion conductivity and stability. Lithium trifluoromethanesulfonate is added to the electrolyte layer to improve the ion conductivity of the electrolyte and enhance its electrochemical stability and durability in the electrochromic device.

3. The controller for an optically switchable device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The two electrodes of the electrochromic device body (3) are both made of conductive material. The two electrodes are used to apply an electric field to control the color state of the electrochromic layer. The materials of the two electrodes are both indium tin oxide.

4. The controller for an optically switchable device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The electrochromic material in the electrochromic device body (3) is located in the electrolyte layer, and the component of the electrochromic material is vanadium oxide.

5. The controller for an optically switchable device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The processor of the circuit board in the controller (1) is responsible for receiving and processing input signals from the user or the sensor, and then generating a corresponding electric field or voltage signal through the control circuit to control the state of the electrochromic material. In this process, when the electric field or voltage signal generated by the control circuit is applied to the electrochromic material, the ions or electrons inside the electrochromic material will migrate, causing the chemical structure or physical state of the electrochromic material to change. This change will directly affect the electrochromic material's absorption, reflection or transmission characteristics of light, thereby changing its appearance color or light transmittance.

6. The controller for an optically switchable device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The power management circuit of the circuit board in the controller (1) is responsible for managing the power supply required by the electrochromic device body (3). The power management circuit converts the voltage provided by the external power supply into the specific voltage range required by the electrochromic device body (3) through a built-in voltage converter. This conversion process usually involves a step-down or step-up operation, depending on the voltage requirement of the electrochromic material and the voltage level of the external power supply.

7. The controller for an optically switchable device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The driving circuit of the circuit board in the controller (1) can generate a voltage or electric field suitable for the operation of the electrochromic material according to a preset instruction or an external signal, and the driving circuit can accurately control the magnitude, direction and frequency of the voltage or electric field to meet the requirements of the electrochromic material in different application scenarios.

8. The controller for an optically switchable device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The controller (1) is connected to a driving circuit of an electrochromic device body (3) via a connector on a circuit board, an electronic interface between the controller (1) and a display (2) is electrically connected, and the controller (1), the display (2) and the electrochromic device body (3) are all electrically connected to a stable power supply.

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