Method, apparatus, medium, and system for controlling multiple electrochromic devices

Abstract

This application discloses a control method, apparatus, medium, and system for multiple electrochromic devices. The method includes: acquiring the current state characterization parameters of each electrochromic device; determining a target parameter range based on the current state characterization parameters of each electrochromic device, and filtering out electrochromic devices whose state characterization parameters do not conform to the target parameter range; and charging or discharging the electrochromic devices that do not conform to the target parameter range according to preset conditions. This application solves the technical problem in the prior art where the transmittance of each electrochromic device is inconsistent after a certain period of time in scenarios where multiple electrochromic devices are used, affecting the user's visual effect. It has the effect of maintaining the consistency of transmittance of each electrochromic device and improving the user experience.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of electrochromic technology, and in particular to a control method, apparatus, medium and system for multiple electrochromic devices. Background Technology

[0002] Electrochromic technology uses an external electric field to cause stable and reversible changes in the optical properties of materials (such as reflectivity, transmittance, and absorptivity), which manifests as reversible changes in the material's color and transparency. In recent years, electrochromic devices such as liquid crystals and electrochromic coatings have been increasingly used in various fields such as electronic devices, wearable devices, transportation vehicles, and building facades.

[0003] In existing technologies, in applications with multiple (i.e., two or more) electrochromic devices, after adjusting all devices to the same initial state (e.g., the same transmittance), power is stopped from each device. The transmittance of each device changes due to the power outage. After a certain period of use, the transmittance of each device may differ, resulting in varying degrees of transparency and affecting the user's visual experience. Summary of the Invention

[0004] In view of this, this application provides a method, apparatus, medium and system for controlling multiple electrochromic devices, which solves the technical problem that the transmittance of each electrochromic device is different after a certain period of decay, affecting the user's visual effect.

[0005] The first aspect of this application provides a method for controlling multiple electrochromic devices, including:

[0006] Obtain the current state characterization parameters of each electrochromic device;

[0007] The target parameter range is determined based on the current state characterization parameters of each electrochromic device, and electrochromic devices whose state characterization parameters do not conform to the target parameter range are screened out.

[0008] According to preset conditions, electrochromic devices that do not conform to the target parameter range are charged or discharged until the state characterization parameters of each electrochromic device are within the target range.

[0009] Preferably, after charging or discharging the electrochromic device that does not conform to the target parameter range according to the preset conditions, the method further includes: obtaining the adjusted state characterization parameters of each electrochromic device, determining whether each adjusted state characterization parameter is within the target parameter range; if yes, then stopping the charging or discharging of the electrochromic device; and / or, if no, continuing to charge or discharge the electrochromic device that does not conform to the target parameter range according to the preset conditions.

[0010] Preferably, determining the target parameter range based on the current state characterization parameters of each electrochromic device includes:

[0011] The state characterization parameters are sorted according to their numerical values, and the state characterization parameters with dispersion within a preset range are selected and formed into a dataset.

[0012] The target parameter range is determined based on the state representation parameter with the smallest value and / or the representation parameter with the largest value in the dataset.

[0013] Preferably, the step of determining the target parameter range based on the current state characterization parameters of each electrochromic device and filtering out electrochromic devices whose state characterization parameters do not conform to the target parameter range includes one of the following methods:

[0014] Determine whether the gear corresponding to the last gear shift signal of the electrochromic device is a stable gear. If so, calculate the average value of the state characterization parameters of each electrochromic device and calculate the difference between the state characterization parameters of each electrochromic device and the average value. Electrochromic devices whose absolute value of the difference is greater than a first preset value are determined as electrochromic devices that do not meet the target range.

[0015] Determine whether the gear position corresponding to the last gear shift signal of the electrochromic device is a stable state gear position. If not, after a first preset time after the last gear shift stops charging or discharging, determine the gear position characterization parameter closest to the stable state among all electrochromic devices, and subtract the remaining gear position characterization parameters from the closest stable state gear position characterization parameter to obtain the difference value; determine that the electrochromic device whose absolute value of the difference is greater than a second preset value is an electrochromic device that does not meet the target parameter range; and,

[0016] Determine whether the gear position corresponding to the last gear shift signal of the electrochromic device is a stable gear position. If not, after a second preset time after the last gear shift is completed, determine the gear position characterization parameter of the electrochromic device that is closest to the gear position, and subtract the remaining gear position characterization parameters from the gear position characterization parameter that is closest to the gear position to obtain the difference value; determine that the electrochromic device whose absolute value of the difference is greater than a third preset value is an electrochromic device that does not meet the target parameter range.

[0017] In some preferred embodiments, the second preset value is equal to the third preset value.

[0018] Preferably, after a first preset time following the last gear shift when charging or discharging stops, the step of charging or discharging the electrochromic device that does not conform to the target parameter range according to preset conditions includes: when the gear corresponding to the last gear shift signal is a bright gear, discharging the electrochromic device that does not conform to the target parameter range according to preset conditions; and / or, when the gear corresponding to the last gear shift signal is a dark gear, charging the electrochromic device that does not conform to the target parameter range according to preset conditions.

[0019] And / or, after the second preset time has elapsed since the gear shift was completed, the step of charging or discharging the electrochromic device that does not conform to the target parameter range according to preset conditions includes: when the gear corresponding to the previous gear shift signal was a bright gear, charging the electrochromic device that does not conform to the target parameter range according to preset conditions; and / or, when the gear corresponding to the previous gear shift signal was a dark gear, discharging the electrochromic device that does not conform to the target parameter range according to preset conditions.

[0020] Preferably, when the gear corresponding to the last gear shift signal is a stable gear, the step of charging or discharging the electrochromic device that does not conform to the target parameter range according to the preset conditions includes: discharging the electrochromic device whose difference is greater than a first preset value according to the preset conditions, and / or charging the electrochromic device whose difference is less than a negative first preset value according to the preset conditions.

[0021] Preferably, the step of charging or discharging the electrochromic device that does not conform to the target parameter range according to preset conditions includes: charging or discharging the electrochromic device that does not conform to the target parameter range with a preset voltage for a preset time, and then stopping the charging or discharging.

[0022] Preferably, the preset time is 1 to 10 seconds.

[0023] Preferably, the state characterization parameters include at least one of open-circuit voltage, transmittance, and luminance.

[0024] Preferably, obtaining the current state characterization parameters of each electrochromic device includes: obtaining the open-circuit voltage of each electrochromic device;

[0025] The step of determining the target parameter range based on the current state characterization parameters of each electrochromic device and filtering out electrochromic devices whose state characterization parameters do not conform to the target parameter range includes: determining the target open-circuit voltage range based on the open-circuit voltage of each electrochromic device and filtering out electrochromic devices whose open-circuit voltage does not conform to the target open-circuit voltage range.

[0026] Preferably, the difference between the upper and lower limits of the target open-circuit voltage range does not exceed 0.05V.

[0027] Preferably, the step of determining the target open-circuit voltage range based on the open-circuit voltage of each electrochromic device and screening out electrochromic devices whose open-circuit voltage does not conform to the target open-circuit voltage range includes one of the following methods:

[0028] Determine whether the gear corresponding to the last gear shift signal of the electrochromic device is a stable gear. If so, determine that the electrochromic device whose open circuit voltage is not at (0±a)V is an electrochromic device that does not meet the target parameter range, where the value of a ranges from 0 to 0.1.

[0029] Determine whether the gear corresponding to the last gear shift signal of the electrochromic device is a stable gear. If not, after a first preset time when charging or discharging stops during gear shifting, determine the open-circuit voltage with the smallest absolute value among all electrochromic devices, and obtain the difference by subtracting the remaining open-circuit voltages from the open-circuit voltage with the smallest absolute value; determine that the electrochromic device with the difference value greater than the first preset value is an electrochromic device that does not meet the target parameter range.

[0030] Determine whether the gear corresponding to the previous gear shift signal of the electrochromic device is a stable gear. If not, after the second preset time is completed, determine the open-circuit voltage with the largest absolute value among all electrochromic devices, and obtain the difference by subtracting the open-circuit voltage with the largest absolute value from the other open-circuit voltages. Determine that the electrochromic device with the difference value greater than the first preset value is an electrochromic device that does not meet the target parameter range.

[0031] In some preferred embodiments, the first preset time is shorter than the second preset time.

[0032] Preferably, after a first preset time when charging or discharging stops during gear shifting, the step of charging or discharging the electrochromic device that does not conform to the target parameter range according to preset conditions includes: discharging the electrochromic device that does not conform to the target parameter range according to preset conditions when the gear corresponding to the previous gear shift signal was a bright gear; and / or, charging the electrochromic device that does not conform to the target parameter range according to preset conditions when the gear corresponding to the previous gear shift signal was a dark gear.

[0033] And / or, after the second preset time has elapsed since the gear shift was completed, the step of charging or discharging the electrochromic device that does not conform to the target parameter range according to preset conditions includes: when the gear corresponding to the previous gear shift signal was a bright gear, charging the electrochromic device that does not conform to the target parameter range according to preset conditions; and / or, when the gear corresponding to the previous gear shift signal was a dark gear, discharging the electrochromic device that does not conform to the target parameter range according to preset conditions.

[0034] Preferably, the method further includes:

[0035] Obtain the aging degree of each electrochromic device;

[0036] The compensation value for the open-circuit voltage of each electrochromic device is determined based on the degree of aging.

[0037] The step of obtaining the open-circuit voltage of each electrochromic device includes: obtaining the measured open-circuit voltage of each electrochromic device, and determining the open-circuit voltage of the electrochromic device based on the measured open circuit and the compensation value.

[0038] Preferably, obtaining the aging degree of each electrochromic device includes: obtaining the charge Q1 of each electrochromic device when it is adjusted from a stable state to a dark state, and the charge Q0 of each electrochromic device when it is initially adjusted from a stable state to a dark state, and calculating the aging degree of the electrochromic device based on the charge Q1 and the charge Q0.

[0039] Preferably, the stable state is the state corresponding to the electrochromic device being at 0V±0.1V.

[0040] Preferably, the step of charging or discharging the electrochromic device that does not conform to the target parameter range according to preset conditions includes: charging or discharging the electrochromic device that does not conform to the target parameter range with a preset voltage until the charge reaches the median of the charge range corresponding to the target open circuit voltage range, and then stopping the charging or discharging.

[0041] Preferably, obtaining the current state characterization parameters of each electrochromic device includes: obtaining real-time images of each electrochromic device, and calculating the brightness of each electrochromic device based on the real-time images of each electrochromic device;

[0042] The step of determining the target parameter range based on the current state characterization parameters of each electrochromic device and filtering out electrochromic devices whose state characterization parameters do not conform to the target parameter range includes: determining the target brightness range based on the brightness of each electrochromic device and filtering out electrochromic devices whose brightness does not conform to the target brightness range.

[0043] Preferably, obtaining the current state characterization parameters of each electrochromic device includes: obtaining the transmittance value of each electrochromic device;

[0044] The step of determining the target parameter range based on the current state characterization parameters of each electrochromic device and filtering out electrochromic devices whose state characterization parameters do not conform to the target parameter range includes: determining the target transmittance range based on the transmittance value of each electrochromic device and filtering out electrochromic devices whose transmittance values ​​do not conform to the target transmittance range.

[0045] A second aspect of this application provides a control device for a plurality of electrochromic devices, comprising:

[0046] The processor is used to acquire the current state characterization parameters of each electrochromic device; and to determine the target parameter range based on the current state characterization parameters of each electrochromic device, and to filter out electrochromic devices whose state characterization parameters do not conform to the target parameter range;

[0047] A driver is used to charge or discharge electrochromic devices that do not conform to the target parameter range according to preset conditions, until the state characterization parameters of each electrochromic device are within the target range.

[0048] Preferably, the processor is further configured to acquire the adjusted state characterization parameters of each electrochromic device and determine whether each adjusted state characterization parameter is within the range of the target parameters;

[0049] If the processor determines that each state characterization parameter is within the target range, the driver is further configured to stop charging or discharging the electrochromic device; and / or, if the processor determines that each state characterization parameter is outside the target range, the driver is further configured to continue charging or discharging the electrochromic device that does not conform to the target parameter range according to preset conditions.

[0050] Preferably, the processor is further configured to sort the state characterization parameters according to their numerical values, filter out the state characterization parameters whose dispersion is within a preset range and form a data set; and determine the target parameter range based on the state characterization parameter with the smallest value and / or the characterization parameter with the largest value in the data set.

[0051] Preferably, the processor is further configured to perform one of the following steps:

[0052] Determine whether the gear corresponding to the last gear shift signal of the electrochromic device is a stable gear. If so, calculate the average value of the state characterization parameters of each electrochromic device and calculate the difference between the state characterization parameters of each electrochromic device and the average value. Electrochromic devices whose absolute value of the difference is greater than a first preset value are determined as electrochromic devices that do not meet the target range.

[0053] Determine whether the gear position corresponding to the last gear shift signal of the electrochromic device is a stable state gear position. If not, after a first preset time after the last gear shift stops charging or discharging, determine the gear position characterization parameter closest to the stable state among all electrochromic devices, and subtract the remaining gear position characterization parameters from the closest stable state gear position characterization parameter to obtain the difference value; determine that the electrochromic device whose absolute value of the difference is greater than a second preset value is an electrochromic device that does not meet the target parameter range; and,

[0054] Determine whether the gear position corresponding to the last gear shift signal of the electrochromic device is a stable gear position. If not, after a second preset time after the last gear shift is completed, determine the gear position characterization parameter of the electrochromic device that is closest to the gear position, and subtract the remaining gear position characterization parameters from the gear position characterization parameter that is closest to the gear position to obtain the difference value; determine that the electrochromic device whose absolute value of the difference is greater than a third preset value is an electrochromic device that does not meet the target parameter range.

[0055] In some preferred embodiments, the second preset value is equal to the third preset value.

[0056] Preferably, the processor confirms that the gear corresponding to the last gear shift signal is a bright gear, and the driver is further configured to discharge the electrochromic device that does not conform to the target parameter range according to preset conditions; and / or, the processor confirms that the gear corresponding to the last gear shift signal is a dark gear, and the driver is further configured to charge the electrochromic device that does not conform to the target parameter range according to preset conditions.

[0057] And / or, the processor confirms that the gear corresponding to the last gear shift signal is a bright gear, and the driver is further configured to charge the electrochromic device that does not conform to the target parameter range according to preset conditions; and / or, the processor confirms that the gear corresponding to the last gear shift signal is a dark gear, and the driver is further configured to discharge the electrochromic device that does not conform to the target parameter range according to preset conditions.

[0058] Preferably, the processor confirms that the gear corresponding to the last gear shift signal is a stable gear, and identifies the electrochromic device with a difference greater than a first preset value and the electrochromic device with a difference less than a negative first preset value; the driver is further configured to discharge the electrochromic device with a difference greater than the first preset value according to preset conditions, and / or charge the electrochromic device with a difference less than a negative first preset value according to preset conditions.

[0059] Preferably, the driver is further configured to: charge or discharge an electrochromic device that does not conform to the target parameter range at a preset voltage for a preset time, and then stop charging or discharging.

[0060] Preferably, the preset conditions include: discharge limiting current I = 200S, where I: discharge limiting current, in mA; S: area of ​​the device color-changing region, in m²; discharge time: t = 3S, t: discharge time at the limiting current I = 200S, in s.

[0061] Preferably, the preset duration is 1 to 10 seconds.

[0062] Preferably, the state characterization parameters include at least one of open-circuit voltage, transmittance, and luminance.

[0063] Preferably, the processor is further configured to acquire the open-circuit voltage of each electrochromic device; determine a target open-circuit voltage range based on the open-circuit voltage of each electrochromic device; and filter out electrochromic devices whose open-circuit voltage does not conform to the target open-circuit voltage range.

[0064] Preferably, the difference between the upper and lower limits of the target open-circuit voltage range does not exceed 0.05V.

[0065] Preferably, the processor is further configured to perform one of the following steps:

[0066] Determine whether the gear corresponding to the last gear shift signal of the electrochromic device is a stable gear. If so, determine that the electrochromic device whose open circuit voltage is not at (0±a)V is an electrochromic device that does not meet the target parameter range, where the value of a ranges from 0 to 0.1.

[0067] Determine whether the gear corresponding to the last gear shift signal of the electrochromic device is a stable gear. If not, after a first preset time after the last gear shift stops charging or discharging, determine the open-circuit voltage with the smallest absolute value among all electrochromic devices, and obtain the difference by subtracting the remaining open-circuit voltages from the open-circuit voltage with the smallest absolute value; determine that the electrochromic device whose difference is greater than the first preset value is an electrochromic device that does not meet the target parameter range.

[0068] Determine whether the gear corresponding to the last gear shift signal of the electrochromic device is a stable gear. If not, after the second preset time after the last gear shift is completed, determine the open-circuit voltage with the largest absolute value among all electrochromic devices, and obtain the difference by subtracting the open-circuit voltage with the largest absolute value from the other open-circuit voltages. Determine that the electrochromic device with the difference value greater than the first preset value is an electrochromic device that does not meet the target parameter range.

[0069] In some preferred embodiments, the first preset time is shorter than the second preset time.

[0070] Preferably, after the processor confirms that the charging or discharging has stopped for a first preset time, and the gear corresponding to the last gear shift signal is a bright gear, the driver is further configured to discharge the electrochromic device that does not meet the target parameter range according to preset conditions; and / or, if the processor confirms that the gear corresponding to the last gear shift signal is a dark gear, the driver is further configured to charge the electrochromic device that does not meet the target parameter range according to preset conditions.

[0071] And / or, after the processor confirms that the gear shift is completed for a second preset time, and the gear corresponding to the previous gear shift signal is a bright gear, the driver is further used to charge the electrochromic device that does not conform to the target parameter range according to preset conditions; and / or, after the processor confirms that the gear corresponding to the previous gear shift signal is a dark gear, the driver is further used to discharge the electrochromic device that does not conform to the target parameter range according to preset conditions.

[0072] Preferably, the processor is further configured to obtain the aging degree of each electrochromic device; and determine the compensation value of the open-circuit voltage of each electrochromic device based on the aging degree;

[0073] The processor is also used to acquire the measured open-circuit voltage of each electrochromic device, and to determine the open-circuit voltage of the electrochromic device based on the measured open circuit and the compensation value.

[0074] Preferably, the processor is further configured to obtain the charge Q1 of each electrochromic device when it is adjusted from a stable state to a dark state, and the charge Q0 of each electrochromic device when it is initially adjusted from a stable state to a dark state, and to calculate the aging degree of the electrochromic device based on the charge Q1 and the charge Q0.

[0075] Preferably, the stable state is the state corresponding to the electrochromic device being at 0V±0.1V.

[0076] Preferably, the driver is further configured to: charge or discharge an electrochromic device that does not conform to the target parameter range at a preset voltage until the charge reaches the median of the charge range corresponding to the target open circuit voltage range, and then stop charging or discharging.

[0077] Preferably, the processor is further configured to acquire real-time images of each electrochromic device, calculate the brightness of each electrochromic device based on the real-time images of each electrochromic device, determine a target brightness range based on the brightness of each electrochromic device, and filter out electrochromic devices whose brightness does not conform to the target brightness range.

[0078] Preferably, the processor is further configured to acquire the transmittance value of each electrochromic device; determine a target transmittance range based on the transmittance value of each electrochromic device; and filter out electrochromic devices whose transmittance values ​​do not conform to the target transmittance range.

[0079] A third aspect of this application provides a computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program, which, when run on an arithmetic unit, executes the control method for the plurality of electrochromic devices described in any of the preceding claims.

[0080] The fourth aspect of this application provides a shift control system for an electrochromic device, including a terminal platform and a control device for a plurality of electrochromic devices as described in any one of the above claims, wherein the terminal platform and the control device for the plurality of electrochromic devices interact with each other.

[0081] This application identifies the electrochromic devices causing visual differences by acquiring their state characterization parameters. These devices are then charged or discharged according to preset conditions, causing them to change color towards the state within the target parameter range. This reduces the state difference between the devices, thereby minimizing visual discrepancies and improving the user's visual experience. Even if different electrochromic devices have varying leakage currents, by detecting their current state characterization parameters and using the state of the majority of devices as a target reference range, other devices affecting vision are adjusted. This effectively synchronizes the power-down rate of each device, reducing their differences. This solves the technical problem in existing technologies where inconsistent transmittance of electrochromic devices after a certain period affects the user's visual experience, effectively maintaining consistent transmittance and improving the user experience.

[0082] Furthermore, since all electrochromic devices experience degradation, albeit at different rates, using the state of most electrochromic devices as a reference, compared to using the initial target state after gear shifting as a reference, allows for the rapid adjustment of electrochromic devices that do not conform to the target reference range to be consistent with the range of other electrochromic devices. This eliminates the need to adjust all electrochromic devices and makes the states of each electrochromic device similar, reducing the transmittance difference between them, improving the user's visual experience, and reducing the number of electrochromic devices that need to be adjusted as well as the charging or discharging time. Attached Figure Description

[0083] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of this application, the drawings used in the description of each embodiment in the specific implementation will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0084] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the control device in the embodiments of this application;

[0085] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the control system in an embodiment of this application;

[0086] Figure 3-1 This is a graph showing the relationship between the capacity and transmittance of the electrochromic device before and after aging in the embodiments of this application;

[0087] Figure 3-2 This is a graph showing the relationship between the open-circuit voltage and transmittance of the electrochromic device before and after aging in the embodiments of this application;

[0088] Figure 3-3 This is a diagram showing the relationship between the open-circuit voltage and capacity of the electrochromic device before and after aging in the embodiments of this application;

[0089] Figure 4 This is a flowchart of the control method in the embodiments of this application;

[0090] Figure 5-1 This is a flowchart of one embodiment of the present application when the previous gear shift was in a stable state;

[0091] Figure 5-2 This is a flowchart of one embodiment of the present application when the previous gear shift was in a bright state;

[0092] Figure 6 This is a schematic block diagram of a computer-readable storage medium in an embodiment of this application. Detailed Implementation

[0093] To make the technical problems, technical solutions, and beneficial effects of this application clearer, the following detailed description is provided in conjunction with embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative and not intended to limit the scope of this application.

[0094] In this embodiment, the term "and / or" describes the relationship between associated objects, indicating that there can be three relationships between them. For example, A and / or B can represent three situations: A exists alone, A and B exist simultaneously, and B exists alone. A and B can be singular or plural. The character " / " generally indicates that one of the associated objects is selected.

[0095] In the embodiments of this application, "at least one" refers to one or more items, "more than one" refers to two or more items; "at least one of..." or similar expressions refer to any combination of these items, including any combination of a single item or a plurality of items. For example, "at least one selected from a, b or c", or "at least one selected from a, b and c", can both mean selected from: a or b or c, or a and b, or a and c, or b and c, or simultaneously including a, b, and c, where a, b, and c can be a single item or multiple items.

[0096] In the embodiments of this application, the terms "first," "second," "third," and similar expressions are used only to distinguish components from each other and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of indicated technical features. For example, without departing from the scope of the embodiments of this application, the first XX can also be referred to as the second XX, and similarly, the second XX can also be referred to as the first XX.

[0097] In the embodiments of this application, the terms "comprising", "having", and their cognates are intended only to indicate a specific feature, number, step, operation, element, component, or combination of the foregoing.

[0098] In the embodiments of this application, the term "static" refers to the state of the electrochromic device when no voltage or current is applied.

[0099] It should be understood that in the various embodiments of this application, the sequence number of each execution process does not imply the order of execution. Some or all steps may be executed in parallel or sequentially. The execution order of each process is determined by its function and internal logic, and does not constitute any limitation on the implementation process of the embodiments of this application.

[0100] The technical solutions provided in the embodiments of this application will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0101] Electrochromic devices are devices that change their color and transmittance by applying different voltages to their terminals. They are commonly used in vehicles, such as windows, rearview mirrors, curtain walls, doors, electronic housings, eyeglasses, and mirrors, to adjust the light and color of the scene. In scenarios requiring at least two electrochromic devices to work together, differences in their manufacturing processes mean that even if the same voltage is initially applied to each device to achieve the same transmittance, the transmittance of each device decreases at different rates after entering the maintenance phase. This difference in transmittance affects the user's visual experience.

[0102] The inventors discovered that each electrochromic device exhibits internal resistance variations due to the influence of various processes during manufacturing. This leads to different leakage currents among the electrochromic devices after they have been adjusted to the same transmittance. Furthermore, the varying light exposure, temperature, and even usage time of electrochromic devices installed in different locations result in different leakage currents after color change, further contributing to inconsistent transmittance. To address this issue, this application discloses a method, apparatus, device, and storage medium for controlling multiple electrochromic devices, resolving the technical problem of varying transmittance of each electrochromic device over time during the maintenance phase.

[0103] See Figure 1The first aspect of this application provides a control device 100 for multiple electrochromic devices, used to control the multiple electrochromic devices, which can be applied to building curtain walls, automobile side window systems, automobile sunroof systems, etc. The control device 100 includes a processor 110 and a driver 120, which are electrically connected.

[0104] The driver 120 receives a shift command carrying target gear information sent by the host computer, and charges or discharges each electrochromic device according to a first condition. After stopping charging or discharging, it enters a stabilization phase within a first preset time. After the first preset time, the shift is considered complete. The control device enters a transmittance maintenance phase and performs a maintenance operation every second preset time after entering the maintenance phase. After the second preset time of entering the transmittance maintenance phase, which is the second preset time after the shift is completed, the current characterization parameter state of the electrochromic device is obtained. In this embodiment, after entering the maintenance phase, the electrochromic device is calibrated every second preset time to keep the transmittance of each electrochromic device within a consistent range until the next shift. The first condition can be any commonly used charging or discharging condition, such as charging to the target gear with a first voltage until the charge amount meets the charge amount required to change color to the target gear and then stopping charging or discharging; or stopping charging or discharging until the charging or discharging time or current meets the time or current corresponding to the target gear and then stopping charging or discharging. The first voltage is a driving voltage, and the magnitude of the first voltage is set according to the characteristics of the material. In this embodiment, the driver has a signal receiving end, and the host computer can be a terminal platform such as a building's central controller or a car's central control system. The multiple electrochromic devices mentioned in this embodiment include two or more electrochromic devices.

[0105] In this embodiment, the control device 100 further includes a storage device that stores the relationship between transmittance, open-circuit voltage, and charge amount corresponding to each setting of the electrochromic device. This relationship can be a functional expression or a matrix table. The processor obtains the charging and discharging conditions based on the pre-stored open-circuit voltage relationship in the storage device and controls the charging or discharging of the electrochromic device according to the charging and discharging conditions.

[0106] Processor 110 is used to acquire the current state characterization parameters of each electrochromic device. For example, processor 110 acquires the state characterization parameters of each electrochromic device after charging or discharging to a target level. It then determines a target parameter range based on the current state characterization parameters of each electrochromic device and filters out electrochromic devices whose state characterization parameters do not conform to the target parameter range. The state characterization parameters include, but are not limited to, at least one of the current open-circuit voltage, transmittance, and brightness of the electrochromic device. In this embodiment, open-circuit voltage and transmittance have a one-to-one correspondence; the current open-circuit voltage of the electrochromic device can be tested through a voltage testing circuit to characterize the current state of the electrochromic device. Alternatively, a transmittance meter can be used to directly detect the current transmittance state of the electrochromic device. Furthermore, a photograph of the electrochromic device can be taken to obtain its corresponding brightness; the current state of the electrochromic device can be characterized by its brightness to represent the intensity of light transmitted by the electrochromic device. Of course, in other embodiments, other characterization parameters that can characterize the state of the electrochromic device, such as charge quantity, can also be considered.

[0107] In other embodiments of this application, when the state characterization parameters include any two or three combinations of open-circuit voltage, transmittance, and luminance, the calculation can be performed by treating the state characterization parameters of each electrochromic device as a single dimension. For example, the open-circuit voltage, transmittance, and luminance of three electrochromic devices can be obtained separately, and then the transmittance and luminance in each state characterization parameter can be converted into open-circuit voltage before calculation. Of course, in other embodiments, the parameters can also be converted into transmittance or luminance for calculation. Alternatively, the open-circuit voltage of the first device can be obtained, the transmittance of the second device can be obtained, and the luminance of the third device can be obtained. Then, one of these parameters can be used as a benchmark, and the other two can be converted into the same parameter before calculation. With this setup, in a real-world environment, different state characterization parameters can be selectively obtained based on the specific location of each electrochromic device, which can more accurately reflect the state of each device, thereby improving device consistency.

[0108] After each electrochromic device completes its shift, the processor 110 determines a state range based on the actual state of each device. This target parameter range reflects the transmittance of each device within a target range, such as the range corresponding to open-circuit voltage, transmittance, or brightness level. For example, this target parameter range can be set so that the transmittance of each electrochromic device is within the acceptable error range for the human eye. Furthermore, this range can be set according to user needs, such as the user's ability to perceive visual errors or general user habits.

[0109] The processor 110 may also include a central processing unit (CPU), which can also be other general-purpose processors, digital signal processors (DSPs), application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), or other programmable logic devices, discrete gate or transistor logic devices, discrete hardware components, etc. The general-purpose processor can be a microprocessor, or the processor 110 can be any conventional processor 110. In some preferred embodiments, the processor 110 and the driver 120 are integrated on a PCB control board.

[0110] In some preferred embodiments, the control device further includes multiple sub-controllers, with a driver connected to each sub-controller. Each sub-controller is connected to a corresponding electrochromic device. A voltage detection circuit is integrated within each sub-controller, and the voltage detection circuit in each sub-controller detects the open-circuit voltage of a specific electrochromic device, facilitating the detection of the open-circuit voltage of the corresponding electrochromic device. Other embodiments of this application also involve a camera, transmittance meter, etc., connected to a processor. Each test circuit feeds back the measured data to the processor, which processes the signals and sends them to the driver. The driver then drives the sub-controller of the electrochromic device requiring recharging or discharging, and controls the corresponding electrochromic device to change color.

[0111] In some preferred embodiments, each sub-controller includes a sub-processor, a memory, and a control circuit. The memory stores the relationship between the open-circuit voltage and transmittance of the corresponding electrochromic device. The sub-processor processes the required charging or discharging parameters for the corresponding electrochromic device. The control circuit drives the electrochromic device to charge according to the charging or discharging parameters. It is worth noting that the sub-controller can be any controller available in the prior art.

[0112] After charging to the target level, the driver 120 is further configured to charge or discharge electrochromic devices that do not conform to the target parameter range according to preset conditions, until the state characterization parameters of each electrochromic device are within the target range. The preset conditions differ from the first condition. It is understood that the first condition can be capacity-cutoff charging or discharging, while the preset condition can be time-cutoff charging or discharging. The driver 120 can be a driving circuit that compares the state characterization parameters of each electrochromic device with the target parameter range. Electrochromic devices whose state characterization parameters are outside the target parameter range are identified as causing significant visual errors. To ensure that the states of all electrochromic devices are consistent, the driver charges or discharges the electrochromic devices causing visual errors, thus maintaining the consistency of the states of all electrochromic devices as much as possible.

[0113] In this embodiment, the processor 110 obtains the state characterization parameters of each electrochromic device to identify the electrochromic devices causing visual differences. Then, the driver 120 charges or discharges these electrochromic devices causing visual differences according to preset conditions, causing the electrochromic devices causing visual errors to change color to the state of the others within the target parameter range. This reduces the state difference between the electrochromic devices, thereby reducing the visual difference for the user and improving the user's visual experience. Even if the electrochromic devices have different leakage currents, by detecting the current state characterization parameters of each electrochromic device and using the state of the majority of electrochromic devices as the target reference range to adjust other electrochromic devices affecting vision, it is equivalent to synchronizing the power-down speed of each electrochromic device, thereby reducing the differences between the electrochromic devices. Furthermore, since all electrochromic devices experience degradation, albeit at different rates, using the state of most electrochromic devices as a reference, compared to using the initial target state after gear shifting as a reference, allows for the rapid adjustment of electrochromic devices that do not conform to the target reference range to be consistent with the range of other electrochromic devices. This eliminates the need to adjust all electrochromic devices and makes the states of each electrochromic device similar, reducing the transmittance difference between them, improving the user's visual experience, and reducing the number of electrochromic devices that need to be adjusted as well as the charging or discharging time.

[0114] Based on any of the above embodiments, the driver 120 is further configured to charge or discharge the electrochromic devices for a preset time according to preset conditions; to achieve micro-charging or micro-discharging, thereby protecting the devices and adjusting the states of each electrochromic device to be consistent. Alternatively, the driver 120 may charge or discharge electrochromic devices that do not conform to the target parameter range according to preset conditions until the state characterization parameters of each electrochromic device are adjusted to the target parameter range.

[0115] Based on any of the above embodiments, an improvement is made: after charging or discharging for a preset time according to preset conditions, the adjusted state characterization parameters of each electrochromic device are detected. If there are still electrochromic devices that do not meet the above target parameter range, the driver 120 continues to charge or discharge the diaphragm until the state characterization parameters of each electrochromic device are all within the above target range or until the number of charging or discharging reaches a preset number, then charging or discharging is stopped. Preferably, after charging or discharging for a preset time according to preset conditions, the state characterization parameters of each electrochromic device are detected after the device stabilizes.

[0116] Based on any of the above embodiments, the processor 110 is further configured to acquire the adjusted state characterization parameters of each electrochromic device and determine whether the adjusted state characterization parameters are within the target parameter range. In the embodiment, it is preferable to detect the electrochromic device being charged or discharged by the aforementioned driver 120. After entering the maintenance phase, each electrochromic device is calibrated at preset intervals, generally every 20 minutes. Of course, the preset time can be set according to user needs, such as 5 minutes, 10 minutes, 15 minutes, or 30 minutes. Under periodic calibration, the states of each electrochromic device will not differ too much. Usually, a supplementary charge or discharge according to preset conditions can adjust the transmittance range of each electrochromic device to be consistent. However, there are also individual devices with excessively fast decay rates, and a single supplementary charge or discharge cannot reach the target transmittance range. Therefore, after performing a supplementary charge, the state characterization parameters of each electrochromic device are checked again to see if they are within the target range.

[0117] If the processor 110 determines that each adjusted state characterization parameter is within the target range, the driver 120 is further configured to stop charging or discharging the electrochromic device; and / or, if the processor 110 determines that each adjusted state characterization parameter is outside the target range, the driver 120 is further configured to continue charging or discharging the electrochromic device that does not conform to the target parameter range according to preset conditions.

[0118] In this embodiment, after the driver 120 adjusts the transmittance of each electrochromic device to the same range, it waits for the next calibration cycle. The processor 110 periodically detects the target state parameters of each electrochromic device for devices that do not meet the above target range. Electrochromic devices that already meet the target parameter range will not have large fluctuations. Therefore, it is preferable to detect whether the state characterization parameters of electrochromic devices that are being recharged or discharged reach the median value of the above range.

[0119] Based on the above embodiments, the processor 110 is further configured to acquire the number of times the electrochromic device that does not conform to the target parameter range has been charged or discharged. When the number of times exceeds a preset value, preferably 3, in other embodiments, the preset value can be set according to user needs; the driver 120 stops charging or discharging the electrochromic device and optionally outputs an alarm message. In this embodiment, generally speaking, one additional charge or discharge according to the preset conditions can make the transmittance of each electrochromic device consistent. However, if three additional discharges or charges fail to make the transmittance of each electrochromic device consistent, it is assumed that the electrochromic device that does not conform to the target parameter range is damaged. An alarm message is selectively output to prompt the user that the device is damaged and needs to be replaced.

[0120] Based on any of the above embodiments, the processor 110 is further configured to sort the state characterization parameters according to their numerical values, filter out the state characterization parameters whose dispersion is within a preset range, and form a data set; and determine the target parameter range based on the state characterization parameter with the smallest numerical value and / or the characterization parameter with the largest numerical value in the data set. It is worth noting that the state characterization parameters in this embodiment include both the state characterization parameters before adjustment and the state characterization parameters after adjustment. Preferably, the state characterization parameter with the smallest numerical value is used as the lower limit of the range, and the characterization parameter with the largest numerical value is used as the upper limit of the target parameter range.

[0121] Before acquiring the current state characterization parameters of each electrochromic device, the processor 110 is further configured to: receive a shift signal, and charge or discharge each electrochromic device according to the shift signal and initial conditions; execute a first determination method after the shift stops charging or discharging and a first preset time has elapsed; and execute a second determination method after a second preset time has elapsed. In this embodiment, after the electrochromic device completes the shift, it first enters a stable phase, and then enters a maintenance phase. After the stable phase, the first determination method is executed to determine whether the transmittance of each electrochromic device is consistent after the shift, and to correct errors in a timely manner. After entering the maintenance phase, the second determination method is executed to determine whether the power loss of each electrochromic device is consistent, and to adjust the final state of each electrochromic device using different adjustment methods at different time periods. That is to say, in this embodiment, the basis for determining whether the electrochromic device does not meet the target parameter range is different when the electrochromic device is in the stable phase and the maintenance phase, and the charging or discharging of the electrochromic device that does not meet the target parameter range is also different.

[0122] Electrochromic devices are categorized into dark, stable, and bright states based on their transmittance from low to high. Correspondingly, the settings of electrochromic devices are categorized into dark, stable, and bright states from low to high. In the embodiments of this application, the stable state refers to the electrochromic device having the same forward and reverse reaction rates. The open circuit voltage (OCV) corresponding to the stable state of an electrochromic device is related to the specific electrochromic material. In this embodiment, the open circuit voltage corresponding to the stable state of the electrochromic device is 0V. The open circuit voltage corresponding to the dark state of the electrochromic device is negative, while the open circuit voltage corresponding to the bright state is positive. Furthermore, if the target parameter is transmittance, the unstable states include both bright and dark states, and the transmittance corresponding to the stable state of the electrochromic device lies between the bright and dark states. The inventors discovered that after an electrochromic device shifts to an unstable state, once charging or discharging stops and the device stabilizes, its open-circuit voltage will drop towards the stable state. For example, the OCV corresponding to the bright state is 0.5V, and the OCV corresponding to the dark state is -0.5V. Eventually, each electrochromic device will drop towards the 0V corresponding to the stable state over time.

[0123] In some preferred embodiments, the processor is further configured to determine whether the absolute value of the OCV of each electrochromic device is less than a preset value. If so, an error is reported, and the output voltage to the electrochromic device is stopped. The preset value is 0.2V. In other words, when the gear corresponding to the last gear shift signal is a bright gear, it determines whether the OCV of each electrochromic device is less than 0.2V; when the gear corresponding to the last gear shift signal is a dark gear, it pre-determines whether the OCV of each electrochromic device is greater than -0.2V.

[0124] The device also includes a timing circuit for calculating the time after the driver 120 completes the gear shift. The processor 110 is also used to acquire the settling time of the electrochromic devices after the gear shift stops charging or discharging. The settling time is the time calculated from the moment the gear shift signal is received, the charging or discharging of each electrochromic device stops, until the charging or discharging stops. When the settling time is a first preset time, it means that the electrochromic devices are in a stable phase after the first preset time after the charging or discharging stops. Since the state of each electrochromic device is not yet stable after the charging or discharging stops (e.g., open-circuit voltage, transmittance, and brightness are not immediately stable), it is necessary to wait for the first preset time to allow the open-circuit voltage of the device to stabilize and the transmittance and brightness of each point of the device to become uniform. The first preset time can be selected according to the size and material of the electrochromic devices, and can be 0.5 minutes, 1 minute, or 2 minutes, etc. It is generally set to 1 minute.

[0125] When the electrochromic device is in a stable phase, that is, after the electrochromic device has switched gears and stopped charging or discharging and a first preset time has elapsed, the processor 110 determines whether the gear corresponding to the previous gear switching signal is a stable gear. If not, the processor 110 determines the gear characterization parameter closest to the stable state among all electrochromic devices, and subtracts the remaining gear characterization parameters from the closest stable state gear characterization parameter to obtain the difference value; the electrochromic device whose absolute value of the difference is greater than a second preset value is determined to be an electrochromic device that does not conform to the target parameter range; wherein, "close to stable state" can be the electrochromic device's OCV being close to stable state, or the values ​​of the electrochromic device's transmittance and brightness being close to the transmittance and brightness corresponding to the stable state of the electrochromic device. The further the state of the electrochromic device is from the stable state, the more likely the state corresponding to the electrochromic device after switching gears is to be overcharged or over-discharged. In this embodiment, during the stable phase, the parameters closest to the stable state are used as a reference during the unstable phase to adjust each electrochromic device towards the target level, ensuring device consistency and preventing overcharging or over-discharging. During use, electrochromic devices age, and their open-circuit voltage decreases towards the stable state. Using the electrochromic device closest to the stable state as a reference prevents aging devices from continuing to charge or discharge, as overcharging or over-discharging would reduce device lifespan.

[0126] In this embodiment, after a first preset time of settling, it indicates that the electrochromic device has reached stability. Since each electrochromic device may not have initially achieved the same transmittance, the state characterization parameters of each electrochromic device are detected at this time to determine whether the transition completion state of each electrochromic device meets the consistency requirement. If the electrochromic devices do not meet the consistency requirement, the initial state of each electrochromic device needs to be adjusted to the target parameter range.

[0127] Based on any of the above embodiments, improvements are made in some embodiments. After a first preset time, when the electrochromic device enters the maintenance phase, the electrochromic device performs a maintenance operation for a second preset time after completing the gear shift. The processor 110 determines whether the gear corresponding to the last gear shift signal is a stable state gear. If so, it calculates the average value of the state characterization parameters of each electrochromic device and calculates the difference between the state characterization parameters of each electrochromic device and the average value. Electrochromic devices whose absolute value of the difference is greater than a first preset value are identified as not conforming to the target range. For example, one of the transmittance, brightness, and open-circuit voltage of the electrochromic device is calculated. Preferably, in this embodiment, the target parameter is transmittance or brightness, which is also the average value of the transmittance or brightness. Electrochromic devices that are 1% higher or lower than the average value are identified as not conforming to the target parameter range. Since each electrochromic device is theoretically in the stable state range after completing the gear shift to the stable state, using the average value of the target state parameters corresponding to each electrochromic device as a benchmark is more consistent with the color-changing law of the device.

[0128] In some preferred embodiments, the aforementioned state characterization parameters are open-circuit voltages. In this case, the processor 110 determines whether the gear corresponding to the previous gear shift signal is a stable gear. If so, it determines whether each state characterization parameter is within (0±a)V, which includes the endpoints a and -a. If not, it determines that the electrochromic device whose state characterization parameters are not within (0±a)V is an electrochromic device that does not conform to the target parameter range, where the value of a ranges from 0 to 0.1; that is, it determines whether each state characterization parameter is between -0.1V and 0.1V. Preferably, the value of a is 0.025.

[0129] In this embodiment, the open-circuit voltage corresponding to the electrochromic device in its stable state is approximately 0V. It is worth noting that the value corresponding to the stable state may vary for different devices and under different ambient temperatures. Therefore, (0±a)V is defined as the stable state corresponding to the electrochromic device, where a ranges from 0 to 0.1, including the endpoints a and -a. Preferably, a is 0.025. Preferably, when the electrochromic device switches to a stable state setting, if the electrochromic device is not within the range corresponding to the stable state, it is considered that an error occurred during the switching process, resulting in inconsistent transmittance and causing visual impact on the user.

[0130] In some preferred embodiments, when the processor 110 determines that the elapsed time after the gear shift is a second preset time, the processor 110 executes a second determination method, that is, the electrochromic device is in the maintenance phase after the gear shift. The initial state of the electrochromic device varies, the conditions for triggering calibration differ, and the corresponding maintenance and power replenishment methods also differ. The processor 110 determines whether the gear corresponding to the last gear shift signal is a stable gear. If not, that is, the electrochromic device is in an unstable state, which includes bright and dark states. Then, it determines the gear characteristic parameter of the electrochromic device closest to the stated gear, and subtracts the remaining gear characteristic parameters from the closest gear characteristic parameter to obtain the difference value. The electrochromic device whose absolute value of the difference is greater than the second preset value is determined to be an electrochromic device that does not conform to the target parameter range; the closest gear is also the furthest from the stable state. Since each electrochromic device will de-energize towards the stable state after entering the maintenance phase, that is, the open-circuit voltage will decrease from a large absolute value to a small absolute value. In the bright state, the open-circuit voltage is positive, and as power is cut off towards the direction where the open-circuit voltage is 0, the open-circuit voltage decreases. In the dark state, the open-circuit voltage is negative, and as power is cut off towards the direction where the open-circuit voltage is 0, the open-circuit voltage increases. In this embodiment, the state parameter with the largest absolute value is used as the reference standard. That is, the electrochromic device is adjusted towards its initial state to try to meet the user's initial needs. Even after the electrochromic device is adjusted to its initial state, it will continue to cut off power before the next gear change, thus the transmittance will continue to change. Using the highest state of each electrochromic device as a reference improves the user experience.

[0131] Based on any of the above embodiments, the processor 110 is further configured to perform one of the following steps:

[0132] The processor 110 determines whether the gear corresponding to the last gear shift signal of the electrochromic device is a stable gear. If so, it calculates the average value of the state characterization parameters of each electrochromic device and the difference between the state characterization parameters of each electrochromic device and the average value. If the absolute value of the difference is greater than a first preset value, the electrochromic device is determined to be an electrochromic device that does not conform to the target range. The processor 110 determines the electrochromic device that does not conform to the target range based on whether the last target gear was a stable gear and the characteristics corresponding to the stable state.

[0133] Determine whether the gear corresponding to the last gear shift signal of the electrochromic device is a stable gear. If not, after a first preset time after the last gear shift stops charging or discharging, determine the gear characterization parameter closest to the stable state among all electrochromic devices, and subtract the remaining gear characterization parameters from the gear characterization parameter closest to the stable state to obtain the difference value; determine that the electrochromic device whose absolute value of the difference is greater than a second preset value is an electrochromic device that does not meet the target parameter range.

[0134] Furthermore, it determines whether the gear corresponding to the previous gear shift signal of the electrochromic device is a stable gear. If not, after a second preset time after the previous gear shift is completed, it determines the gear characteristic parameter of the electrochromic device closest to the target gear, and subtracts the remaining gear characteristic parameters from the closest gear characteristic parameter to obtain a difference value. It then determines that the electrochromic device whose absolute value of the difference is greater than a third preset value is an electrochromic device that does not conform to the target parameter range. When the previous target gear is unstable, the processor 110 selects different judgment methods for different time periods after the gear shift to more accurately identify electrochromic devices that do not conform to the target parameter range. During the second preset time after the gear shift is completed, the electrochromic device is in a power-off state. The greater the difference in power-off speed, the greater the corresponding difference, and the greater the corresponding color difference. This embodiment uses different values ​​as reference standards to determine the electrochromic devices that need adjustment, so that different processing methods are available at different times, enabling more accurate identification of electrochromic devices that do not conform to the target parameter range.

[0135] Preferably, the first preset time is shorter than the second preset time.

[0136] In some preferred embodiments, improvements are made based on any of the above embodiments. The processor 110 confirms that the gear corresponding to the previous gear shift signal is a bright gear, and within a first preset time period after the gear shift stops charging or discharging, the driver 120 is further used to discharge electrochromic devices that do not meet the target parameter range according to preset conditions; and / or, the processor 110 confirms that the gear corresponding to the previous gear shift signal is a dark gear, and the driver 120 is further used to charge electrochromic devices that do not meet the target parameter range according to preset conditions. In this embodiment, the target gear is a bright gear, that is, OCV is greater than 0. At this time, electrochromic devices that do not meet the target parameter range are usually overcharged. Therefore, it is necessary to discharge high-voltage electrochromic devices to reduce the time the devices are in a high-voltage state, thereby extending the device's lifespan and maintaining the consistency of each device. Charging electrochromic devices in the dark state prevents them from being overcharged while in the bright state or over-discharged while in the dark state, ensuring safe use of the devices.

[0137] And / or, in some preferred embodiments, the processor 110 determines that after the electrochromic device completes a second preset time of shifting, that is, after each electrochromic device performs a maintenance operation. The processor 110 confirms that the gear corresponding to the previous shift signal is a bright gear, and the driver 120 is further used to charge the electrochromic device that does not meet the target parameter range according to preset conditions; and / or, the processor 110 confirms that the gear corresponding to the previous shift signal is a dark gear, and the driver 120 is further used to discharge the electrochromic device that does not meet the target parameter range according to preset conditions. Since after the electrochromic device enters the maintenance phase, each electrochromic device gradually de-energizes towards a stable state, that is, moves further and further away from the shifted gear, and the absolute value of the open circuit voltage of the electrochromic device becomes smaller and smaller. At this time, the electrochromic devices that do not meet the target parameter range in the bright state continue to be charged, while the electrochromic devices that do not meet the target parameter range in the dark state continue to be discharged, so that each electrochromic device moves closer to the initial gear and can maintain a longer time to alleviate the power loss.

[0138] Based on any of the above embodiments, the processor 110 determines whether the gear corresponding to the last gear shift signal of the electrochromic device is a stable gear. If so, the electrochromic device whose state characterization parameter is not in (0±a)V is an electrochromic device that does not meet the target parameter range, where a ranges from 0 to 0.1.

[0139] In this embodiment, the open-circuit voltage corresponding to the electrochromic device in a stable state is approximately 0V. It is worth noting that the value corresponding to the stable state may vary for different devices and under different ambient temperatures. Therefore, (0±a)V is defined as the stable state corresponding to the electrochromic device, where a ranges from 0 to 0.1. Preferably, if the electrochromic device is not in the range corresponding to the stable state when the previous gear shift signal of the electrochromic device corresponds to the gear shift, it is considered that an error occurred during the gear shift of the electrochromic device, resulting in inconsistent transmittance of the electrochromic device and causing visual impact on the user.

[0140] Based on any of the above embodiments, the processor 110 confirms that the gear corresponding to the last gear shift signal is a stable gear, and the driver 120 is further configured to discharge the electrochromic device with a difference greater than a first preset value according to preset conditions, and / or charge the electrochromic device with a difference less than a negative first preset value according to preset conditions.

[0141] In this embodiment, for example, the electrochromic device is in a stable state, the OCV corresponding to the stable state is 0V, the first preset value is 0.05V, when the difference is greater than 0.05V, the corresponding electrochromic device is controlled to discharge, and when the difference is less than -0.05V, the corresponding electrochromic device is controlled to charge.

[0142] Based on any of the above embodiments, the driver is further configured to: charge or discharge electrochromic devices that do not conform to the target parameter range at a preset voltage for a preset time, and then stop charging or discharging. The specific value of the preset voltage varies depending on the material; the preset voltage for charging ranges from 0.5V to 2.0V, and the preset voltage for discharging ranges from -2.0V to -0.5V. Since the transmittance of electrochromic devices after attenuation does not differ significantly, it is not necessary to calculate the amount of electricity charged. After identifying electrochromic devices that do not meet the conditions, charging them at the preset voltage for a preset time, with time as the cutoff condition, can quickly bring each electrochromic device to the desired state, making the entire logic simpler.

[0143] Based on any of the above embodiments, the preset duration is improved to be between 1 second and 10 seconds. In this embodiment, 3 seconds is preferred. The preset duration is related to the area of ​​the electrochromic device and also to the calibration interval. Generally, the larger the area of ​​the electrochromic device, the longer the preset duration. The longer the calibration interval, the longer the preset duration. Generally, a few seconds of charging time can restore electrochromic devices that do not meet the consistency requirements to the same level as other electrochromic devices when the calibration interval is 20 minutes, without causing overcharging or over-discharging of the electrochromic device, which would lead to greater visual errors.

[0144] Based on any of the above embodiments, improvements are made, and the state characterization parameters include one of the following: open circuit voltage, transmittance, and luminance.

[0145] Based on any of the above embodiments, the processor 110 is further configured to acquire the open-circuit voltage of each electrochromic device; determine a target open-circuit voltage range based on the open-circuit voltage of each electrochromic device; and filter out electrochromic devices whose open-circuit voltage does not conform to the target open-circuit voltage range.

[0146] In this embodiment, the open-circuit voltage of the electrochromic device can be tested by a voltage detection circuit. The processor 110 acquires the open-circuit voltage detected by the voltage detection circuit. Compared to optical parameters, the electrical parameters of the electrochromic device are easier to obtain and are not affected by environmental conditions, thus improving the accuracy of the test. In this embodiment, there is a one-to-one correspondence between the open-circuit voltage and transmittance of the electrochromic device; that is, one transmittance corresponds to one open-circuit voltage. By acquiring the open-circuit voltage of the electrochromic device and using it as the adjustment range, the electrical parameters of the electrochromic device can be easily obtained, making the entire method logic simpler.

[0147] Based on any of the above embodiments, improvements are made such that the difference between the upper and lower limits of the target open-circuit voltage range does not exceed 0.05V. In this embodiment, the upper and lower limits of the target open-circuit voltage range represent the upper and lower limits of the transmittance of the corresponding electrochromic device. The upper and lower limits of the transmittance are the transmittance range. A large difference between the upper and lower limits of the transmittance will cause visual errors. The difference between the upper and lower limits does not exceed 0.05V, so that the transmittance difference of each electrochromic device is within the requirement of meeting the consistency range.

[0148] Based on any of the above embodiments, the processor 110 is further configured to perform one of the following steps:

[0149] It is determined whether the gear corresponding to the last gear shift signal of the electrochromic device is a stable gear. If so, the electrochromic device whose open-circuit voltage is not at (0±a)V is determined to be an electrochromic device that does not meet the target parameter range, where the value of a ranges from 0 to 0.1; preferably, the value of a is 0.025. For example, the preset value is 0.025V. Specifically, electrochromic devices with an open-circuit voltage above 0.025V are discharged, and electrochromic devices with an open-circuit voltage below -0.25V are charged.

[0150] Determine whether the gear corresponding to the last gear shift signal of the electrochromic device is a stable gear. If not, after a first preset time after the last gear shift stops charging or discharging, determine the open-circuit voltage with the smallest absolute value among all electrochromic devices, and obtain the difference by subtracting the remaining open-circuit voltages from the open-circuit voltage with the smallest absolute value. Determine that the electrochromic device with the difference value greater than the first preset value is an electrochromic device that does not conform to the target parameter range. If the difference value is greater than the first preset value, it is considered that the electrochromic device is overcharged or over-discharged, and the overcharged or over-discharged electrochromic device is adjusted to the correct target state to improve the consistency of each electrochromic device.

[0151] The process involves determining whether the gear position corresponding to the previous gear shift signal of the electrochromic device is a stable gear position. If not, after a second preset time has elapsed since the previous gear shift, the open-circuit voltage with the largest absolute value among all electrochromic devices is determined, and the difference between the largest absolute value open-circuit voltage and the remaining open-circuit voltages is calculated. Electrochromic devices with a difference greater than the second preset value are identified as those that do not conform to the target parameter range. After the second preset time, the electrochromic devices are in a power-off state. The greater the difference in power-off rates, the greater the corresponding difference, and the greater the corresponding color difference. This embodiment uses different values ​​as reference standards to determine the electrochromic devices that need adjustment, allowing for different processing methods at different times and enabling more accurate method determination.

[0152] Preferably, the first preset time is shorter than the second preset time.

[0153] Based on any of the above embodiments, the processor 110 confirms that the charging or discharging has stopped for a first preset time after the gear shift, and the gear corresponding to the last gear shift signal is a bright gear, the driver 120 is further configured to discharge the electrochromic device that does not meet the target parameter range according to preset conditions; and / or, the processor 110 confirms that the gear corresponding to the last gear shift signal is a dark gear, the driver 120 is further configured to charge the electrochromic device that does not meet the target parameter range according to preset conditions;

[0154] And / or, after the processor 110 confirms that the gear shift is completed for a second preset time, and the gear corresponding to the previous gear shift signal is a bright gear, the driver 120 is further used to charge the electrochromic device that does not meet the target parameter range according to preset conditions; and / or, after the processor 110 confirms that the gear corresponding to the previous gear shift signal is a dark gear, the driver 120 is further used to discharge the electrochromic device that does not meet the target parameter range according to preset conditions.

[0155] Based on any of the above embodiments, the processor 110 is further configured to acquire the aging degree of each electrochromic device; and determine the compensation value of the open-circuit voltage of each electrochromic device according to the aging degree. The aging degree of each electrochromic device varies depending on the light exposure, temperature, and number of cycles. Furthermore, because each electrochromic device is installed in different orientations, its light exposure time and temperature will differ, resulting in different aging degrees for each electrochromic device at the same time. Different aging degrees of electrochromic devices will change the relationship between their open-circuit voltage, transmittance, and capacity. For example, methods for acquiring the aging degree of electrochromic devices include, but are not limited to: before the electrochromic devices are installed at the factory, controlling the full charge or full discharge of each electrochromic device, testing the corresponding initial capacity, and storing it in a storage device; periodically checking the real-time capacity corresponding to the full charge or full discharge of the electrochromic devices after installation, calculating the corresponding aging degree of the electrochromic device during that period based on the real-time capacity and the initial capacity, and storing it in a storage device.

[0156] The processor 110 is also used to acquire the measured open-circuit voltage of each electrochromic device, and determine the open-circuit voltage of the electrochromic device based on the measured open circuit voltage and the compensation value. The compensation value of the open-circuit voltage is related to the specific material of each electrochromic device and also to the degree of aging.

[0157] In this embodiment, the current open-circuit voltage difference is insufficient to accurately reflect the true difference in the transmittance of the electrochromic device, leading to calibration errors. Therefore, it is necessary to determine the compensation value of the open-circuit voltage based on the aging degree of each electrochromic device to ensure that the open-circuit voltage of each device accurately reflects its transmittance, thereby improving the transmittance calibration error. The measured voltage of the electrochromic device is detected by a voltage sampler, and the measured voltage is compensated and corrected according to the voltage compensation value corresponding to the aging degree. This compensation value serves as the open-circuit voltage of the electrochromic device, effectively calibrating each device. Comparing the current open-circuit voltage values ​​of each device further improves the accuracy and consistency of their transmittance. Because electrochromic devices exhibit varying degrees of aging, the relationship between their open-circuit voltage and transmittance changes, and different aging degrees result in different relationships and corresponding compensation values ​​for the open-circuit voltage.

[0158] Based on any of the above embodiments, the processor 110 is further configured to acquire the charge Q1 of each electrochromic device when it is adjusted from a stable state to a dark state, and the charge Q0 of each electrochromic device when it is initially adjusted from a stable state to a dark state, and to calculate the aging degree of the electrochromic device based on the charge Q1 and the charge Q0. It is worth noting that the step of determining the aging degree provided in this application can exist independently, constituting a scheme for detecting the aging degree of a device.

[0159] In this embodiment, the intermediate state of the electrochromic device is when its open-circuit voltage is 0V. When the open-circuit voltage is greater than or less than 0V, the device becomes unstable and loses power, eventually dropping to 0V. The inventors discovered that defining the charge corresponding to the electrochromic device at 0V as 0, i.e., using the intermediate state as the starting point, has a more stable advantage compared to using the brightest or darkest state (the two ends of the device's color-changing range) as the starting point. When charging or discharging from 0V to the darkest state, the corresponding charge is Q1. Since the charge shift from 0V to the dark state becomes more pronounced with the aging of the electrochromic device, the capacity corresponding to the intermediate state to the dark state is used as an evaluation standard to more accurately calculate the aging degree of the electrochromic device. Furthermore, the electrochromic device also loses power towards the intermediate state; using the intermediate state as the starting point better reflects the power-loss pattern of the electrochromic device.

[0160] In other embodiments, the aging degree of the electrochromic device can also be calculated based on the amount of charge corresponding to fully charging or discharging the electrochromic device in the prior art.

[0161] Based on any of the above embodiments, the steady state is the state corresponding to the electrochromic device being at 0V±0.1V. In this embodiment, the steady state is the state where the forward reaction rate and the reverse reaction rate of the electrochromic device are equal.

[0162] For example, the open-circuit voltage 0V of the electrochromic device is taken as the zero point of the capacitance Q; the capacitances of the electrochromic device changing from the intermediate state to the dark state and the bright state are Q, respectively. 暗 Q 亮 ;

[0163] Obtain the capacity Q of the darkening after aging of the electrochromic device. 暗 n and the initial Q 暗 The capacitance decay rate ΔQ of the electrochromic device is calculated to characterize the aging degree of the electrochromic device, i.e., the difference after aging / the initial Q. 暗 ;

[0164] Obtain the OCV drift Up of the electrochromic device after aging;

[0165] Based on the following measured data:

[0166] like Figures 3-1 to 3-3 This is a graph showing the relationship between OCV-QT of an electrochromic device before and after aging. The dashed line represents the data tested after aging, and the solid line represents the data tested before aging. (See attached...) Figure 3-1 As can be seen, the discharge capacity of the electrochromic device shifts after aging, and the corresponding OCV also shifts. Fitting the relationship between OCV and Q yields the following results. Figure 3-3 As can be seen, the decay trends of the two are similar.

[0167] When △Q=(Q 暗 -Q 暗1 ) / Q 暗 =33%, meaning the aging level is 33%, the corresponding open-circuit voltage drift Up of the electrochromic device is 0.3V. Theoretically, when the initial OCV in the dark state is -0.5V, the corresponding OCV after aging is -0.5 + 0.3 = -0.2V. This means that when charged to the dark state and cut off under the same conditions, the detected OCV of the device is -0.2V. If we directly calculate using -0.2V, it will differ from others and cannot be directly compared. Therefore, it is necessary to compensate for the currently measured OCV of the device.

[0168] The aforementioned calibration is performed on aged glass. However, in most cases, within multiple curtain walls, only one pane of glass is typically replaced, and the aging levels of the remaining glass are not significantly different. Therefore, only the OCV of the new glass needs to be calibrated to compensate for its age. For example, the ΔQ of each old pane of glass = (Q 暗 -Q 暗2 ) / Q 暗 =55%, which means the aging degree is 55%, the corresponding open circuit voltage drift of the electrochromic device is Up = 0.4V; at this time, the OCV of the new glass is -0.5V, and the corresponding drift is 0.4V. Therefore, the compensated OCV is -0.5V + 0.4V = -0.1V.

[0169] Establish a graph showing the relationship between OCV drift and capacity decay rate, and derive an approximate aging function and OCV compensation function: Up=f(△Q,△OCV)=K1△Q, where Up is the drift amount corresponding to the device being discharged to the dark state.

[0170] In some preferred embodiments, the OCV drift due to device aging is generally uneven, meaning the drift amount (Ui) varies under different OCV states (Un). Ui has a certain correspondence with Up and Un, denoted as Ui = g(Up, Un) = g(f(△Q, △OCV), Un). This leads to the following relationship between a specific OCV (Un) and the drift amount: Ui = g(f(△Q, △OCV), Un) = K²△Q * f(Un). In some embodiments, f(Un) is 1, or a function of the specific OCV value. Those skilled in the art can select appropriate compensation coefficients based on the specific materials, which will not be elaborated upon here.

[0171] Based on any of the above embodiments, the driver is further configured to: charge or discharge an electrochromic device that does not conform to the target parameter range at a preset voltage until the charge amount reaches the median of the charge amount range corresponding to the target open-circuit voltage range, and then stop charging or discharging. Charging or discharging to the median prevents other electrochromic devices from still losing power during the charging and discharging process. Charging to the upper limit or discharging to the lower limit would cause inconsistencies compared to other electrochromic devices, and charging or discharging to the median can further improve the consistency of each electrochromic device. On the other hand, it avoids overcharging or over-discharging of the electrochromic device, which would affect the service life of the device.

[0172] Based on any of the above embodiments, the processor 110 is further configured to acquire real-time images of each electrochromic device, calculate the brightness of each electrochromic device based on the real-time images of each electrochromic device, determine a target brightness range based on the brightness of each electrochromic device, and filter out electrochromic devices whose brightness does not conform to the target brightness range.

[0173] In this embodiment, the device further includes an image capture device, such as a camera or camcorder, to capture images of each electrochromic device in real time. The processor 110 calculates the brightness of each electrochromic device. Since brightness reflects the transmittance of the electrochromic device—that is, higher brightness means higher transmittance—if the brightness value does not meet the preset requirements, it can be considered that the electrochromic device causes a visual difference, thereby determining that the electrochromic device does not meet the target brightness. In this embodiment, any existing brightness processing method can be used to obtain the brightness.

[0174] Based on any of the above embodiments, the processor 110 is further configured to obtain the transmittance value of each electrochromic device; determine a target transmittance range based on the transmittance value of each electrochromic device; and filter out electrochromic devices whose transmittance values ​​do not conform to the target transmittance range.

[0175] In this embodiment, a light sensor is provided on the surface of the electrochromic device. The transmittance value of the electrochromic device is tested by the light sensor. Since the most intuitive perception of the human eye is the change in transmittance, choosing an optical instrument to test the transmittance can more accurately reflect the true transmittance status of each device and further improve the consistency of the transmittance of the electrochromic device.

[0176] Another aspect of this application embodiment provides a shift control system for an electrochromic device, such as... Figure 2 As shown, it includes a terminal platform and an electrochromic device control device as described in any of the above, wherein the terminal platform and the electrochromic device control device interact with each other.

[0177] There are no particular restrictions on the type of terminal platform 200. In some embodiments, the terminal platform 200 may include a remote control, a mobile terminal device, a central control system for a curtain wall, or a central control system for a vehicle, etc.

[0178] In some embodiments, the terminal platform 200 can interact with the receiver in the shift control device 100. For example, the terminal platform 200 can send a shift command. In other embodiments, the terminal platform 200 can also interact with the transmitter in the shift control device 100. For example, the transmitter can send a shift completion signal, and the terminal platform 200 can receive the shift completion signal. Thus, through the information interaction between the terminal platform and the shift control device, the terminal platform can control and regulate the shift control device.

[0179] In the embodiments provided in this application, it should be understood that the disclosed systems and devices can be implemented in other ways. For example, the device embodiments described above are merely illustrative. For instance, the division of the devices is only a logical functional division. In actual implementation, they can be fully or partially integrated into a single physical entity, or physically separated, or there can be other division methods. For example, multiple devices or units can be combined or integrated into another system, or some features can be ignored or not executed. Furthermore, the couplings or direct couplings or communication connections shown or discussed can be indirect couplings or communication connections through some interfaces, devices, or components, and can be electrical or other forms.

[0180] The second aspect of this application provides a method for controlling multiple electrochromic devices, such as... Figure 4 As shown, there are at least two electrochromic devices, and the method includes:

[0181] S1. Obtain the current state characterization parameters of each electrochromic device.

[0182] The state characterization parameters in this step include, but are not limited to, one of the following: the current open-circuit voltage, transmittance, and brightness of the electrochromic device. In this embodiment, the open-circuit voltage and transmittance have a one-to-one correspondence; the current open-circuit voltage of the electrochromic device can be measured using a voltage testing circuit to characterize its current state. Alternatively, a transmittance meter can be used to directly detect the current transmittance of the electrochromic device. Furthermore, a photograph of the electrochromic device can be taken to obtain its corresponding brightness; the current state of the electrochromic device can be characterized by its brightness to represent the intensity of light transmitted through it. Of course, in other embodiments, other characterization parameters that can represent the state of the electrochromic device, such as charge quantity, can also be considered.

[0183] The method further includes: receiving a target level and charging or discharging each electrochromic device under a first condition; after stopping charging or discharging, entering a stable phase after a first preset time; and entering a transmittance maintenance phase after the first preset time. After the first preset time has elapsed since stopping charging or discharging, and after a second preset time since the level change is completed, a first maintenance is performed to obtain the current characterization parameter state of the electrochromic device. In this embodiment, after entering the maintenance phase, the electrochromic device is calibrated every second preset time interval to ensure that the transmittance of each electrochromic device remains within a consistent range until the next level change. The first condition can be any commonly used charging or discharging condition, such as charging with a first voltage until the charge amount meets the charge amount required to change color to the target level; or stopping charging or discharging until the charging or discharging time or current meets the time or current corresponding to the target level.

[0184] S2. Determine the target parameter range based on the current state characterization parameters of each electrochromic device, and screen out electrochromic devices whose state characterization parameters do not conform to the target parameter range.

[0185] After each electrochromic device completes its gear shift, a state range is determined based on the actual state of each device. This target parameter range reflects the transmittance of each device within a target range, such as the range corresponding to open-circuit voltage, transmittance, or brightness level. For example, this target parameter range can be set so that the transmittance of each electrochromic device is within the acceptable error range for the human eye. Furthermore, this range can be set according to user needs, such as the user's ability to perceive visual error or general user habits.

[0186] S3. Charge or discharge electrochromic devices that do not meet the target parameter range according to preset conditions until the state characterization parameters of each electrochromic device are within the target range.

[0187] In this step, the state characterization parameters of each electrochromic device are compared with the target parameter range. Electrochromic devices whose state characterization parameters are not within the target parameter range are identified as those that cause significant visual errors. In order to adjust the state of all electrochromic devices to be consistent, the electrochromic devices that cause visual errors are charged or discharged to make the state of each electrochromic device as consistent as possible.

[0188] In this embodiment, by acquiring the state characterization parameters of each electrochromic device, the electrochromic devices causing visual differences are identified. These devices are then charged or discharged according to preset conditions, causing them to change color towards the state within the target parameter range. This reduces the state difference between the devices, thereby minimizing visual discrepancies and improving the user's visual experience. Even if different electrochromic devices have different leakage currents, by detecting the current state characterization parameters of each device and using the state of the majority of devices as a target reference range to adjust other devices affecting vision, the power-down rate of each device is synchronized, thus reducing the differences between them. Furthermore, since all electrochromic devices experience degradation, albeit at different rates, using the state of most electrochromic devices as a reference, compared to using the initial target state after gear shifting as a reference, allows for the rapid adjustment of electrochromic devices that do not conform to the target reference range to be consistent with the range of other electrochromic devices. This eliminates the need to adjust all electrochromic devices and makes the states of each electrochromic device similar, reducing the transmittance difference between them, improving the user's visual experience, and reducing the number of electrochromic devices that need to be adjusted as well as the charging or discharging time.

[0189] Step S3 above may include: S31, charging or discharging the electrochromic device for a preset time according to preset conditions; achieving micro-charging or micro-discharging, which protects the device and also adjusts the state of each electrochromic device to be consistent. Or it may include: S32, charging or discharging the electrochromic device that does not conform to the target parameter range according to preset conditions until the state characterization parameters of each electrochromic device are adjusted to the target parameter range.

[0190] Furthermore, after step S31, after charging or discharging for a preset time according to preset conditions, the state characterization parameters of each electrochromic device are detected. If there are still electrochromic devices that do not meet the target parameter range, step S31 is continued until the state characterization parameters of each electrochromic device are all within the target range or until the number of times step S31 is executed reaches a preset number, then charging or discharging is stopped. Preferably, the above process is repeated 1 minute after the supplementary charging or discharging is completed; a maximum of 3 consecutive charge-discharge cycles are performed in a single calibration of a single device.

[0191] A further improvement to the above embodiments is made by further comprising, after charging or discharging the electrochromic device that does not conform to the target parameter range according to preset conditions, the method further includes:

[0192] S41. Obtain the adjusted state characterization parameters of each electrochromic device and determine whether each adjusted state characterization parameter is within the target parameter range. In this embodiment, it is preferable to detect the electrochromic devices that have undergone charging or discharging in the aforementioned steps. After entering the maintenance phase, each electrochromic device is calibrated at preset intervals, generally every 20 minutes, which is equivalent to executing steps S1 to S3 above. Of course, the preset time can be set according to user needs, such as 1 minute, 5 minutes, 10 minutes, 15 minutes, and 30 minutes. Under periodic calibration, the states of each electrochromic device will not differ too much. Usually, a single charge or discharge under preset conditions can adjust the transmittance range of each electrochromic device to be consistent. However, there are also individual devices with excessively fast decay rates, and a single charge or discharge cannot reach the target transmittance range. Therefore, after performing a single charge, the state characterization parameters of each electrochromic device are checked again to see if they are within the target range.

[0193] S42. If yes, then stop charging or discharging the electrochromic device; and / or, S43. If no, then continue charging or discharging the electrochromic device that does not meet the target parameter range according to the preset conditions.

[0194] In this embodiment, after adjusting each electrochromic device to the same range, the system waits for the next calibration cycle. For those that do not meet the target range, since the target state parameters of each electrochromic device are periodically detected, there will be no significant fluctuations in the electrochromic devices that already meet the target parameter range during the execution of step S31. Therefore, it is preferable to detect whether the state characterization parameters of the electrochromic devices that are charged or discharged in step S31 reach the median value of the above range.

[0195] Based on the above embodiment, the method is further improved by, after step S41, including: obtaining the number of times the electrochromic device that does not conform to the target parameter range has been charged or discharged; when the number of times exceeds a preset value, preferably 3 (in other embodiments, the preset value can be set according to user needs); then stopping the charging or discharging of the electrochromic device; and optionally outputting an alarm message. In this embodiment, generally, during a single calibration process, one additional charge or discharge is sufficient to make the transmittance of each electrochromic device consistent. However, if three consecutive additional discharges or charges fail to make the transmittance of each electrochromic device consistent, it is assumed that the electrochromic device that does not conform to the target parameter range is damaged. An alarm message is selectively output to prompt the user that the device is damaged and needs to be replaced.

[0196] A further improvement based on any of the above embodiments, wherein determining the target parameter range based on the current state characterization parameters of each electrochromic device includes:

[0197] S21. Sort the state characterization parameters according to their numerical values, select the state characterization parameters whose dispersion is within a preset range, and form a data set.

[0198] S22. Determine the target parameter range based on the state characterization parameter with the smallest value and / or the characterization parameter with the largest value in the data set.

[0199] A further improvement based on any of the above embodiments is made to the method, before obtaining the current state characterization parameters of each electrochromic device, the method includes: receiving a shift signal, and charging or discharging each electrochromic device according to the shift signal and initial conditions; executing a first determination method after the shift stops charging or discharging and a first preset time has elapsed; and executing a second determination method after the shift is completed and a second preset time has elapsed.

[0200] In this embodiment, after the electrochromic device completes its gear shift, it first enters a stabilization phase, followed by a maintenance phase. After the stabilization phase, a first determination method is executed to determine whether the transmittance of each electrochromic device is consistent after the gear shift, and to correct any errors promptly. After entering the maintenance phase, a second determination method is executed to determine whether the power loss of each electrochromic device is consistent, and different adjustment methods are used at different time periods to adjust the final state of each electrochromic device. In other words, in this embodiment, the criteria for determining whether the electrochromic device does not meet the target parameter range differs between the stabilization and maintenance phases, and the corresponding charging or discharging of electrochromic devices that do not meet the target parameter range also differs.

[0201] A further improvement on any of the above embodiments is made to the method, which further includes:

[0202] S5. Obtain the settling time of the electrochromic device after the gear shift is completed; the settling time is the time calculated after charging or discharging each electrochromic device after receiving the gear shift signal and stopping the charging or discharging.

[0203] S51. When the settling time is the first preset time, the electrochromic device is in a stable stage. After a period of time, the electrochromic device will experience power loss. Since the state of each electrochromic device is not yet stable after charging or discharging stops—for example, open-circuit voltage, transmittance, and brightness are not immediately stable—it is necessary to wait for the first preset time to allow the open-circuit voltage of the device to stabilize and the transmittance and brightness of each point on the device to become uniform. The first preset time can be selected according to the size and material of the electrochromic device. It can be 0.5 minutes, 1 minute, 2 minutes, etc. It is generally set to 1 minute. When the electrochromic device is in a stable phase, the process of determining the target parameter range based on the current state characterization parameters of each electrochromic device and filtering out electrochromic devices whose state characterization parameters do not conform to the target parameter range includes: determining whether the gear corresponding to the last gear shift signal is a stable state gear; if not, determining the gear characterization parameter closest to the stable state among all electrochromic devices, and subtracting the remaining gear characterization parameters from the gear characterization parameter closest to the stable state to obtain the difference value; determining that the electrochromic device whose absolute value of the difference is greater than a second preset value is an electrochromic device that does not conform to the target parameter range; wherein, "close to stable state" can be the close to stable state of OCV, or it can be the transmittance and brightness values ​​of the electrochromic device that are close to the transmittance and brightness corresponding to the stable state of the electrochromic device. The further the state of the electrochromic device is from the stable state, the more likely the state corresponding to the electrochromic device after gear shifting is to be overcharged or over-discharged. In this embodiment, during the stable phase, the parameters closest to the stable state are used as a reference to adjust each electrochromic device to the target level, ensuring the consistency of the devices and at the same time ensuring that the devices are not overcharged or over-discharged.

[0204] In this embodiment, after a first preset time of settling, it indicates that the electrochromic device has reached stability. Since each electrochromic device may not have initially achieved the same transmittance, the state characterization parameters of each electrochromic device are detected at this time to determine whether the transition completion state of each electrochromic device meets the consistency requirement. If the electrochromic devices do not meet the consistency requirement, the initial state of each electrochromic device needs to be adjusted to the target parameter range.

[0205] In some embodiments, step S51 may further include or be replaced by: when the resting time is a first preset time, determining the target parameter range based on the current state characterization parameters of each electrochromic device and filtering out electrochromic devices whose state characterization parameters do not conform to the target parameter range includes: determining whether the gear corresponding to the last gear shift signal is a stable gear; if so, calculating the average value of the state characterization parameters of each electrochromic device and calculating the difference between the state characterization parameters of each electrochromic device and the average value; determining that the absolute value of the difference is greater than a first preset value as an electrochromic device that does not conform to the target range; such as calculating one of the transmittance, brightness, and open-circuit voltage of the electrochromic device. Preferably, in this embodiment, the target parameter is transmittance or brightness, which is also the calculated average value of transmittance or brightness, and electrochromic devices that are 1% higher or lower than the average value are identified as electrochromic devices that do not conform to the target parameter range. Since the electrochromic devices are theoretically in a stable state range after the shift is completed, the average value of the target state parameters corresponding to each electrochromic device is used as the benchmark, which is more in line with the color change law of the device.

[0206] In some preferred embodiments, exemplarily, such as Figure 5-1 As shown, the above state characterization parameter is the open-circuit voltage. At this time, it is determined whether the gear corresponding to the last gear shift signal is a stable gear. If so, it is determined whether each state characterization parameter is within (0±a)V. If not, it is determined that the electrochromic device corresponding to the state characterization parameter not being within (0±a)V is an electrochromic device that does not meet the target parameter range. Here, the value of a ranges from 0 to 0.1; preferably, the value of a is 0.025.

[0207] In this embodiment, the open-circuit voltage corresponding to the electrochromic device in a stable state is about 0V. It is worth noting that the value corresponding to the stable state may vary for different devices and different ambient temperatures. Therefore, (0±a)V is defined as the stable state corresponding to the electrochromic device, where a ranges from 0 to 0.1. Preferably, when the electrochromic device is in a stable state position, if the electrochromic device is not in the range corresponding to the stable state, it is considered that an error has occurred during the electrochromic device switching process, which may cause inconsistent transmittance of the electrochromic device and cause visual impact on the user.

[0208] In some preferred embodiments, the first preset time is shorter than the second preset time. That is, the stabilization time in the stabilization phase is shorter than the maintenance interval. Since the electrochromic device also needs a certain amount of time to settle and stabilize after the maintenance operation is completed, if the maintenance operation is performed within the stabilization time, the accuracy of the calibration will be poor. The shorter second preset time will also cause frequent calibrations, and the difference between the devices at this time is small, which can easily lead to accelerated device damage.

[0209] Step S51 may also include or be replaced by: when the time elapsed after the gear shift is the second preset time, the electrochromic device enters the maintenance phase after the gear shift. The conditions for triggering calibration differ depending on the initial state of the electrochromic device, and the corresponding maintenance and recharging methods also differ. The step of determining the target parameter range based on the current state characterization parameters of each electrochromic device and filtering out electrochromic devices whose state characterization parameters do not conform to the target parameter range includes: determining whether the gear corresponding to the last gear shift signal is a stable gear; if not, that is, the electrochromic device is in an unstable state, which includes bright and dark states. Then, the gear characterization parameter closest to the gear among all electrochromic devices is determined, and the difference between the remaining gear characterization parameters and the gear characterization parameter closest to the gear is obtained; the electrochromic device whose absolute value of the difference is greater than the second preset value is determined as an electrochromic device that does not conform to the target parameter range; the closest gear is also the furthest from the stable state. After each electrochromic device enters the maintenance phase, it gradually decreases power towards a stable state, meaning the open-circuit voltage decreases from a large absolute value to a small absolute value. For example, in the bright state, the open-circuit voltage is positive, decreasing towards zero. In the dark state, the open-circuit voltage is negative, decreasing towards zero. In this embodiment, the state parameter with the largest absolute value is used as the reference standard. This means adjusting the electrochromic device towards its initial state to meet the user's initial needs. Even after adjusting to the initial state, the electrochromic device will continue to decrease power before the next shift, resulting in continued changes in transmittance. Using the highest state of each electrochromic device as a reference improves the user experience.

[0210] A further improvement based on any of the above embodiments, wherein determining the target parameter range based on the current state characterization parameters of each electrochromic device and filtering out electrochromic devices whose state characterization parameters do not conform to the target parameter range includes one of the following methods:

[0211] Determine whether the gear corresponding to the last gear shift signal of the electrochromic device is a stable gear. If so, calculate the average value of the state characterization parameters of each electrochromic device, and calculate the difference between the state characterization parameters of each electrochromic device and the average value. If the absolute value of the difference is greater than a first preset value, it is determined that the electrochromic device does not meet the target range.

[0212] Determine whether the gear corresponding to the last gear shift signal of the electrochromic device is a stable gear. If not, after a first preset time after the last gear shift stops charging or discharging, determine the gear characterization parameter closest to the stable state among all electrochromic devices, and subtract the remaining gear characterization parameters from the gear characterization parameter closest to the stable state to obtain the difference value; determine that the electrochromic device whose absolute value of the difference is greater than a second preset value is an electrochromic device that does not meet the target parameter range;

[0213] Determine whether the gear position corresponding to the last gear shift signal of the electrochromic device is a stable gear position. If not, after a second preset time after the last gear shift is completed, determine the gear position characterization parameter of the electrochromic device that is closest to the gear position, and subtract the remaining gear position characterization parameters from the gear position characterization parameter that is closest to the gear position to obtain the difference value; determine that the electrochromic device whose absolute value of the difference is greater than a third preset value is an electrochromic device that does not meet the target parameter range.

[0214] The difference between the above embodiments and the previous embodiments lies in the order of implementation of each step. The specific implementation method and effect of each step are as described above, and will not be repeated here.

[0215] A further improvement based on any of the above embodiments is made as follows: After a first preset time when charging or discharging stops during gear shifting, i.e., during the stabilization phase after each electrochromic device completes gear shifting, if any of the above methods identifies an electrochromic device that does not conform to the target parameter range, the step of charging or discharging the electrochromic device that does not conform to the target parameter range according to preset conditions includes: when the gear corresponding to the previous gear shift signal is a bright gear, discharging the electrochromic device that does not conform to the target parameter range according to preset conditions; and / or, when the gear shift is a dark gear, charging the electrochromic device that does not conform to the target parameter range according to preset conditions. In this embodiment, each electrochromic device becomes brighter when charged and darker when discharged. Since each electrochromic device is in a stabilization phase after the first time, discharging the electrochromic device in the bright state and charging the electrochromic device in the dark state prevents the electrochromic device from being overcharged while continuing to charge in the bright state or over-discharged while continuing to discharge in the dark state, ensuring the safe use of the device.

[0216] A further improvement is made based on any of the above embodiments, whereby, after a second preset time period following the gear shift, each electrochromic device enters the maintenance phase. After determining, in any of the above methods, an electrochromic device that does not conform to the target parameter range during its maintenance phase, is in violation of the target parameter range, the step of charging or discharging the electrochromic device that does not conform to the target parameter range according to preset conditions includes: if the gear corresponding to the previous gear shift signal was a bright gear, then charging the electrochromic device that does not conform to the target parameter range according to preset conditions; and / or, if the gear corresponding to the previous gear shift signal was a dark gear, then discharging the electrochromic device that does not conform to the target parameter range according to preset conditions. Since each electrochromic device gradually de-energizes towards a stable state after entering the maintenance phase, i.e., moving further away from the gear shift position, charging continues for electrochromic devices in the bright state that do not conform to the target parameter range, while discharging continues for electrochromic devices in the dark state that do not conform to the target parameter range. This allows each electrochromic device to move closer to its initial gear position, maintaining its position for a longer period to alleviate power loss.

[0217] A further improvement to any of the above embodiments is made by performing a maintenance operation every second preset time interval after the shift is completed, i.e., when each electrochromic device enters the maintenance phase. The step of determining the target parameter range based on the current state characterization parameters of each electrochromic device and filtering out electrochromic devices whose state characterization parameters do not conform to the target parameter range includes:

[0218] Determine whether the gear corresponding to the last gear shift signal of the electrochromic device is a stable gear. If so, then the electrochromic device whose state characterization parameter is not in (0±a)V is an electrochromic device that does not meet the target parameter range, where the value of a ranges from 0 to 0.1.

[0219] In this embodiment, the open-circuit voltage corresponding to the electrochromic device in a stable state is about 0V. It is worth noting that the value corresponding to the stable state may vary for different devices and different ambient temperatures. Therefore, (0±a)V is defined as the stable state corresponding to the electrochromic device, where a ranges from 0 to 0.1. Preferably, when the electrochromic device is in a stable state position, if the electrochromic device is not in the range corresponding to the stable state, it is considered that an error has occurred during the electrochromic device switching process, which may cause inconsistent transmittance of the electrochromic device and cause visual impact on the user.

[0220] A further improvement based on any of the above embodiments is that charging or discharging the electrochromic device that does not conform to the target parameter range according to preset conditions includes: charging or discharging the electrochromic device that does not conform to the target parameter range with a preset voltage for a preset time, and then stopping the charging or discharging.

[0221] In this embodiment, the specific value of the preset voltage varies depending on the material. The preset voltage for charging ranges from 0.5V to 2.0V, and the preset voltage for discharging ranges from -2.0V to -0.5V. Since the transmittance of electrochromic devices after attenuation does not differ significantly, it is not necessary to calculate the amount of charge. After identifying electrochromic devices that do not meet the conditions, charging is performed according to the preset voltage for a preset time, using time as the cutoff condition. This allows each electrochromic device to quickly reach the desired state, simplifying the entire logic. In some preferred embodiments, the preset voltage is lower than the voltage of the first condition, meaning a small current is used for supplementary charging.

[0222] A further improvement on any of the above embodiments is made to the preset duration, which is between 1 and 10 seconds. In this embodiment, 3 seconds is preferred. The preset duration is related to the area of ​​the electrochromic device and also to the calibration interval. Generally, the larger the area of ​​the electrochromic device, the longer the preset duration. The longer the calibration interval, the longer the preset duration. Generally, a few seconds of charging time is sufficient to restore electrochromic devices that do not meet consistency requirements to the same level as other electrochromic devices when the calibration interval is 20 minutes, without causing overcharging or over-discharging of the electrochromic device, which would lead to greater visual errors.

[0223] Further improvements based on any of the above embodiments include obtaining the current state characterization parameters of each electrochromic device, which includes: obtaining the open-circuit voltage of each electrochromic device; detecting the open-circuit voltage of each electrochromic device through a voltage testing circuit; compared with optical parameters, the electrical parameters of electrochromic devices are easier to obtain and are not affected by environmental conditions, thereby improving the accuracy of the test.

[0224] The step of determining the target parameter range based on the current state characterization parameters of each electrochromic device and filtering out electrochromic devices whose state characterization parameters do not conform to the target parameter range includes: determining the target open-circuit voltage range based on the open-circuit voltage of each electrochromic device and filtering out electrochromic devices whose open-circuit voltage does not conform to the target open-circuit voltage range.

[0225] In this embodiment, the open-circuit voltage and transmittance of the electrochromic device are in a one-to-one correspondence, that is, one transmittance corresponds to one open-circuit voltage. By obtaining the open-circuit voltage of the electrochromic device and using the open-circuit voltage as the adjustment range, the electrical parameters of the electrochromic device can be easily obtained, and the whole method logic is simpler.

[0226] A further improvement based on any of the above embodiments is that the difference between the upper and lower limits of the target open-circuit voltage range does not exceed 0.05V. In this embodiment, the upper and lower limits of the target open-circuit voltage range represent the upper and lower limits of the transmittance of the corresponding electrochromic device. The upper and lower limits of the transmittance are the transmittance range. A large difference between the upper and lower limits of the transmittance will cause visual errors. The difference between the upper and lower limits does not exceed 0.05V, so that the transmittance difference of each electrochromic device is within the requirement of meeting the consistency range.

[0227] A further improvement based on any of the above embodiments, wherein determining the target open-circuit voltage range based on the open-circuit voltage of each electrochromic device and screening out electrochromic devices whose open-circuit voltage does not conform to the target open-circuit voltage range, further includes one of the following methods:

[0228] It is determined whether the gear corresponding to the last gear shift signal of the electrochromic device is a stable gear. If so, the electrochromic device whose open-circuit voltage is not at (0±a)V is determined to be an electrochromic device that does not meet the target parameter range. This range includes the endpoints -a and a. The value of a ranges from 0 to 0.1; preferably, the value of a is 0.025. For example, the preset value is 0.025V. Specifically, electrochromic devices with an open-circuit voltage above 0.025V are discharged, and electrochromic devices with an open-circuit voltage below -0.25V are charged.

[0229] Determine whether the gear corresponding to the last gear shift signal of the electrochromic device is a stable gear. If not, after a first preset time after the last gear shift stops charging or discharging, determine the open-circuit voltage with the smallest absolute value among all electrochromic devices, and obtain the difference by subtracting the remaining open-circuit voltages from the open-circuit voltage with the smallest absolute value. Determine that the electrochromic device with the difference value greater than the first preset value is an electrochromic device that does not conform to the target parameter range. If the difference value is greater than the first preset value, it is considered that the electrochromic device is overcharged or over-discharged, and the overcharged or over-discharged electrochromic device is adjusted to the correct target state to improve the consistency of each electrochromic device.

[0230] The process involves determining whether the gear position corresponding to the previous gear shift signal of the electrochromic device is a stable gear position. If not, after a second preset time following the completion of the previous gear shift, the open-circuit voltage with the largest absolute value among all electrochromic devices is determined, and the difference between the largest absolute value open-circuit voltage and the remaining open-circuit voltages is calculated. Electrochromic devices with a difference greater than a first preset value are identified as those that do not conform to the target parameter range. After the second preset time, the electrochromic devices are in a power-off state. The greater the difference in power-off rates, the greater the corresponding difference, and the greater the corresponding color difference. This embodiment uses different values ​​as reference standards to determine the electrochromic devices that need adjustment, allowing for different processing methods at different times and enabling more accurate method determination.

[0231] In some specific embodiments, such as Figure 5-2 As shown, the gear position corresponding to the last gear shift signal is determined to be in an unstable state, such as the on state. After receiving the gear shift signal and stopping charging or discharging, the settling time is obtained, and it is determined whether the value of time t is less than or equal to a first preset time, such as 2 minutes. At 2 minutes, the OCV of each device is detected and recorded as U1, U2...Un. The value of each OCV is determined. If any OCV, Ui, is not greater than 0.2V, the device is considered to be aged or damaged. Therefore, an anomaly is reported, and the device is marked as not participating in subsequent power replenishment and diagnosis. The OCVs are sorted according to their size, and the differences between each other OCV and the smallest OCV are calculated pairwise to obtain multiple difference values. Devices with differences greater than 0.05V are discharged. After a 1-minute settling period, the OCV of each device is detected again, and each step is repeated to ensure that the OCV of each device is within the target range. The calibration is stopped when the number of executions exceeds 3. If the time elapsed after the gear shift is greater than or equal to 20 minutes, power replenishment calibration is performed. Following the same steps as above, obtain the OCV of each device, then sort the OCVs by size, take the largest OCV as the benchmark, and then calculate the difference between each pair. Charge the devices with larger differences, let them stand for 1 minute, and repeat the above steps until each device is within the target range.

[0232] When the shift position corresponding to the last shift signal is determined to be a dark shift position, the specific logic is similar to that of a bright shift position. The difference is that the OCV corresponding to a dark shift position is negative. When calculating, the absolute value of each OCV is used. Please refer to the above for the specific logic, which will not be repeated here.

[0233] A further improvement on any of the above embodiments is made to the method, which further includes:

[0234] S6. Obtain the aging degree of each electrochromic device; the aging degree of each electrochromic device varies depending on the light exposure, temperature, and number of cycles. Furthermore, the light exposure time and temperature vary depending on the orientation of each electrochromic device during installation, resulting in different aging degrees for each device within the same timeframe. Different aging degrees of electrochromic devices will alter the relationship between their open-circuit voltage, transmittance, and capacity. For example, methods for obtaining the aging degree of electrochromic devices include, but are not limited to: before installation, controlling the full charge or full discharge of each electrochromic device, testing the corresponding initial capacity, and storing it in a memory; periodically checking the real-time capacity corresponding to the full charge or full discharge of the electrochromic devices after installation, calculating the corresponding aging degree of the electrochromic device within that period based on the real-time capacity and the initial capacity, and storing it in a memory.

[0235] S7. Determine the compensation value of the open-circuit voltage of each electrochromic device based on the degree of aging; the compensation value of the open-circuit voltage is related to the specific material of each electrochromic device and also to the degree of aging.

[0236] S8. Obtaining the open-circuit voltage of each electrochromic device includes: obtaining the measured open-circuit voltage of each electrochromic device, and determining the open-circuit voltage of the electrochromic device based on the measured open circuit and the compensation value.

[0237] In this embodiment, the current open-circuit voltage difference is insufficient to accurately reflect the true difference in the transmittance of the electrochromic device, leading to calibration errors. Therefore, it is necessary to determine the compensation value of the open-circuit voltage based on the aging degree of each electrochromic device to ensure that the open-circuit voltage of each device accurately reflects its transmittance, thereby improving the transmittance calibration error. The measured voltage of the electrochromic device is detected by a voltage sampler, and the measured voltage is compensated and corrected according to the voltage compensation value corresponding to the aging degree. This compensation value serves as the open-circuit voltage of the electrochromic device, effectively calibrating each device. Comparing the current open-circuit voltage values ​​of each device further improves the accuracy and consistency of their transmittance. Because electrochromic devices exhibit varying degrees of aging, the relationship between their open-circuit voltage and transmittance changes, and different aging degrees result in different relationships and corresponding compensation values ​​for the open-circuit voltage.

[0238] A further improvement on any of the above embodiments is made to the step of obtaining the aging degree of each electrochromic device, which includes: obtaining the charge Q1 of each electrochromic device when it is adjusted from a stable state to a dark state, and the charge Q0 of each electrochromic device when it is initially adjusted from a stable state to a dark state; and calculating the aging degree of the electrochromic device based on the charge Q1 and the charge Q0. It is worth noting that the step of determining the aging degree provided in this application can exist independently, constituting a scheme for detecting the aging degree of a device.

[0239] In this embodiment, the intermediate state of the electrochromic device is when its open-circuit voltage is 0V. When the open-circuit voltage is greater than or less than 0V, the device becomes unstable and loses power, eventually dropping to 0V. The inventors discovered that defining the charge corresponding to the electrochromic device at 0V as 0, i.e., using the intermediate state as the starting point, has a more stable advantage compared to using the brightest or darkest state (the two ends of the device's color-changing range) as the starting point. When charging or discharging from 0V to the darkest state, the corresponding charge is Q1. Since the charge shift from 0V to the dark state becomes more pronounced with the aging of the electrochromic device, the capacity corresponding to the intermediate state to the dark state is used as an evaluation standard to more accurately calculate the aging degree of the electrochromic device. Furthermore, the electrochromic device also loses power towards the intermediate state; using the intermediate state as the starting point better reflects the power-loss pattern of the electrochromic device.

[0240] When △Q=(Q 暗 -Q 暗1 ) / Q 暗 =33%, meaning the aging level is 33%, the corresponding open-circuit voltage drift Up of the electrochromic device is 0.3V. Theoretically, when the initial OCV in the dark state is -0.5V, the corresponding OCV after aging is -0.5 + 0.3 = -0.2V. This means that when charged to the dark state and cut off under the same conditions, the detected OCV of the device is -0.2V. If we directly calculate using -0.2V, it will differ from others and cannot be directly compared. Therefore, it is necessary to compensate for the currently measured OCV of the device.

[0241] The aforementioned calibration is performed on aged glass. However, in most cases, within multiple curtain walls, only one pane of glass is typically replaced, and the aging levels of the remaining glass are not significantly different. Therefore, only the OCV of the new glass needs to be calibrated to compensate for its age. For example, the ΔQ of each old pane of glass = (Q 暗 -Q 暗2 ) / Q 暗=55%, which means the aging degree is 55%, the corresponding open circuit voltage drift of the electrochromic device is Up = 0.4V; at this time, the OCV of the new glass is -0.5V, and the corresponding drift is 0.4V. Therefore, the compensated OCV is -0.5V + 0.4V = -0.1V.

[0242] Establish a graph showing the relationship between OCV drift and capacity decay rate, and derive an approximate aging function and OCV compensation function: Up=f(△Q,△OCV)=K1△Q, where Up is the drift amount corresponding to the device being discharged to the dark state.

[0243] In some preferred embodiments, the OCV drift due to device aging is generally uneven, meaning the drift amount (Ui) varies under different OCV states (Un). Ui has a certain correspondence with Up and Un, denoted as Ui = g(Up, Un) = g(f(△Q, △OCV), Un). This leads to the following relationship between a specific OCV (Un) and the drift amount: Ui = g(f(△Q, △OCV), Un) = K²△Q * f(Un). In some embodiments, f(Un) is 1, or a function of the specific OCV value. Those skilled in the art can select appropriate compensation coefficients based on the specific materials, which will not be elaborated upon here.

[0244] In other embodiments, the aging degree of the electrochromic device can also be calculated based on the amount of charge corresponding to fully charging or discharging the electrochromic device in the prior art.

[0245] A further improvement based on any of the above embodiments is that the stable state is the state corresponding to the electrochromic device being at 0V±0.1V.

[0246] In this embodiment, the steady state is the state in which the forward reaction rate and the reverse reaction rate of the electrochromic device are equal.

[0247] Further improvements to the above embodiments include, in some other embodiments of this application, the compensation value of the open-circuit voltage is K times the degree of aging. Wherein, 0 <K<1。

[0248] In the embodiments of this application, the relationship between open-circuit voltage and aging degree can be calculated based on the degree of aging.

[0249] A further improvement based on any of the above embodiments is that charging or discharging the electrochromic device that does not conform to the target parameter range according to preset conditions includes: charging or discharging the electrochromic device that does not conform to the target parameter range with a preset voltage until the charge reaches the median of the charge range corresponding to the target open circuit voltage range, and then stopping the charging or discharging.

[0250] In this embodiment, charging and discharging to the median value serves two purposes. First, it prevents other electrochromic devices from still losing power during the charging and discharging process. Charging to the upper limit or discharging to the lower limit would lead to inconsistencies compared to other electrochromic devices. Charging and discharging to the median value further improves the consistency of each electrochromic device. Second, it avoids overcharging or over-discharging the electrochromic devices, which could affect their lifespan.

[0251] A further improvement based on any of the above embodiments is that obtaining the current state characterization parameters of each electrochromic device includes: obtaining real-time images of each electrochromic device and calculating the brightness of each electrochromic device based on the real-time images of each electrochromic device;

[0252] The step of determining the target parameter range based on the current state characterization parameters of each electrochromic device and filtering out electrochromic devices whose state characterization parameters do not conform to the target parameter range includes: determining the target brightness range based on the brightness of each electrochromic device and filtering out electrochromic devices whose brightness does not conform to the target brightness range.

[0253] In this embodiment, the device further includes an image capture device, such as a camera or camcorder, to capture images of each electrochromic device in real time. The processor 110 calculates the brightness of each electrochromic device. Since brightness reflects the transmittance of the electrochromic device—that is, higher brightness means higher transmittance—if the brightness value does not meet the preset requirements, it can be considered that the electrochromic device causes a visual difference, thereby determining that the electrochromic device does not meet the target brightness. In this embodiment, any existing brightness processing method can be used to obtain the brightness.

[0254] A further improvement based on any of the above embodiments is that obtaining the current state characterization parameters of each electrochromic device includes: obtaining the transmittance value of each electrochromic device;

[0255] The step of determining the target parameter range based on the current state characterization parameters of each electrochromic device and filtering out electrochromic devices whose state characterization parameters do not conform to the target parameter range includes: determining the target transmittance range based on the transmittance value of each electrochromic device and filtering out electrochromic devices whose transmittance values ​​do not conform to the target transmittance range.

[0256] In this embodiment, a light sensor is provided on the surface of the electrochromic device. The transmittance value of the electrochromic device is measured by the light sensor. Since the most intuitive perception of the human eye is the change in transmittance, choosing an optical instrument to test the transmittance can more accurately reflect the true transmittance status of each device and further improve the consistency of the transmittance of the electrochromic device.

[0257] Another aspect of this application provides a schematic block diagram of a computer-readable storage medium and an arithmetic unit. For example... Figure 6 As shown, this application embodiment also provides a computer-readable storage medium 601, on which a computer program is stored. When the computer program runs on the arithmetic unit 602, it executes the shift control method for the electrochromic device provided in the above embodiment. It should be understood that the description of the shift control method embodiment corresponds to the description of the device embodiment. Therefore, any content not described in detail can be referred to the device embodiment above, and for the sake of brevity, will not be repeated here.

[0258] In this embodiment, the type of computer-readable storage medium 601 is not particularly limited. In some embodiments, the computer-readable storage medium 601 may include various media capable of storing program code, such as a USB flash drive, a portable hard drive, a read-only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), a magnetic disk, or an optical disk.

[0259] In this embodiment, the type of arithmetic unit 602 is not particularly limited. In some embodiments, the arithmetic unit 602 may include a controller, a mobile phone, a computer, or other smart devices.

[0260] It is worth noting that the above steps and features can be arbitrarily combined to form new technical solutions, provided that they do not conflict with each other.

[0261] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of this application, but the scope of protection of this application is not limited thereto. Any variations or substitutions that can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art within the scope of the technology disclosed in this application should be included within the scope of protection of this application.

Claims

1. A method for controlling multiple electrochromic devices, characterized in that, include: Obtain the current state characterization parameters of each electrochromic device; The target parameter range is determined based on the current state characterization parameters of each electrochromic device, and electrochromic devices whose state characterization parameters do not conform to the target parameter range are screened out. According to preset conditions, electrochromic devices that do not meet the target parameter range are charged or discharged until the state characterization parameters of each electrochromic device are within the target range.

2. The control method for a plurality of electrochromic devices according to claim 1, characterized in that, The determination of the target parameter range based on the current state characterization parameters of each electrochromic device includes: The state characterization parameters are sorted according to their numerical values, and the state characterization parameters with discreteness within a preset range are selected and formed into a dataset. The target parameter range is determined based on the state representation parameter with the smallest value and / or the representation parameter with the largest value in the dataset.

3. The control method for a plurality of electrochromic devices according to claim 1, characterized in that, The process of determining the target parameter range based on the current state characterization parameters of each electrochromic device and filtering out electrochromic devices whose state characterization parameters do not conform to the target parameter range includes one of the following methods: Determine whether the gear corresponding to the last gear shift signal of the electrochromic device is a stable gear. If so, calculate the average value of the state characterization parameters of each electrochromic device and calculate the difference between the state characterization parameters of each electrochromic device and the average value. Electrochromic devices whose absolute value of the difference is greater than a first preset value are determined as electrochromic devices that do not meet the target range. Determine whether the gear corresponding to the last gear shift signal of the electrochromic device is a stable gear. If not, after the first preset time after the last stop of charging or discharging, determine the gear characterization parameter that is closest to the stable state among all electrochromic devices, and obtain the difference value by subtracting the remaining gear characterization parameters from the gear characterization parameter that is closest to the stable state. The electrochromic device whose absolute value of the difference is greater than the second preset value is determined to be an electrochromic device that does not meet the target parameter range; and, Determine whether the gear corresponding to the last gear shift signal of the electrochromic device is a stable gear. If not, after the second preset time after the last gear shift is completed, determine the gear characterization parameter of the electrochromic device that is closest to the gear, and subtract the remaining gear characterization parameters from the gear characterization parameter that is closest to the gear to obtain the difference value. Electrochromic devices whose absolute value of the difference is greater than a third preset value are determined to be electrochromic devices that do not meet the target parameter range.

4. The control method for a plurality of electrochromic devices according to claim 3, characterized in that, After a first preset time following the last gear shift when charging or discharging stops, the step of charging or discharging the electrochromic device that does not conform to the target parameter range according to preset conditions includes: when the gear corresponding to the last gear shift signal is a bright gear, discharging the electrochromic device that does not conform to the target parameter range according to preset conditions; and / or, when the gear corresponding to the last gear shift signal is a dark gear, charging the electrochromic device that does not conform to the target parameter range according to preset conditions. And / or, after the second preset time has elapsed since the gear shift was completed, the step of charging or discharging the electrochromic device that does not conform to the target parameter range according to preset conditions includes: when the gear corresponding to the previous gear shift signal was a bright gear, charging the electrochromic device that does not conform to the target parameter range according to preset conditions; and / or, when the gear corresponding to the previous gear shift signal was a dark gear, discharging the electrochromic device that does not conform to the target parameter range according to preset conditions.

5. The control method for a plurality of electrochromic devices according to claim 3, characterized in that, When the gear corresponding to the last gear shift signal is a stable gear, the step of charging or discharging the electrochromic device that does not conform to the target parameter range according to the preset conditions includes: discharging the electrochromic device whose difference is greater than a first preset value according to the preset conditions, and / or charging the electrochromic device whose difference is less than a negative first preset value according to the preset conditions.

6. The control method for a plurality of electrochromic devices according to claim 1, characterized in that, The step of charging or discharging an electrochromic device that does not conform to the target parameter range according to preset conditions includes: charging or discharging the electrochromic device that does not conform to the target parameter range at a preset voltage for a preset time, and then stopping the charging or discharging.

7. The control method for a plurality of electrochromic devices according to claim 6, characterized in that, The preset time is 1 to 10 seconds.

8. The control method for a plurality of electrochromic devices according to claim 1, characterized in that, The process of obtaining the current state characterization parameters of each electrochromic device includes: obtaining the open-circuit voltage of each electrochromic device; The step of determining the target parameter range based on the current state characterization parameters of each electrochromic device and filtering out electrochromic devices whose state characterization parameters do not conform to the target parameter range includes: determining the target open-circuit voltage range based on the open-circuit voltage of each electrochromic device and filtering out electrochromic devices whose open-circuit voltage does not conform to the target open-circuit voltage range.

9. The control method for a plurality of electrochromic devices according to claim 8, characterized in that, The process of determining the target open-circuit voltage range based on the open-circuit voltage of each electrochromic device and screening out electrochromic devices whose open-circuit voltage does not conform to the target open-circuit voltage range includes one of the following methods: Determine whether the gear corresponding to the last gear shift signal of the electrochromic device is a stable gear. If so, determine that the electrochromic device whose open circuit voltage is not at (0±a)V is an electrochromic device that does not meet the target parameter range, where the value of a ranges from 0 to 0.

1. Determine whether the gear corresponding to the last gear shift signal of the electrochromic device is a stable gear. If not, after a first preset time when charging or discharging stops during gear shifting, determine the open-circuit voltage with the smallest absolute value among all electrochromic devices, and obtain the difference by subtracting the remaining open-circuit voltages from the open-circuit voltage with the smallest absolute value; determine that the electrochromic device with the difference value greater than the first preset value is an electrochromic device that does not meet the target parameter range. Determine whether the gear corresponding to the previous gear shift signal of the electrochromic device is a stable gear. If not, after the second preset time is completed, determine the open-circuit voltage with the largest absolute value among all electrochromic devices, and obtain the difference by subtracting the open-circuit voltage with the largest absolute value from the other open-circuit voltages. Determine that the electrochromic device with the difference value greater than the first preset value is an electrochromic device that does not meet the target parameter range.

10. The control method for a plurality of electrochromic devices according to claim 8, characterized in that, The method further includes: Obtain the aging degree of each electrochromic device; The compensation value for the open-circuit voltage of each electrochromic device is determined based on the degree of aging. The step of obtaining the open-circuit voltage of each electrochromic device includes: obtaining the measured open-circuit voltage of each electrochromic device, and determining the open-circuit voltage of the electrochromic device based on the measured open circuit and the compensation value.

11. The control method for a plurality of electrochromic devices according to claim 10, characterized in that, The process of obtaining the aging degree of each electrochromic device includes: obtaining the charge Q1 of each electrochromic device when it is adjusted from a stable state to a dark state, and the charge Q0 of each electrochromic device when it is initially adjusted from a stable state to a dark state, and calculating the aging degree of each electrochromic device based on the charge Q1 and the charge Q0.

12. The control method for a plurality of electrochromic devices according to claim 9, characterized in that, The stable state is the state corresponding to the electrochromic device being at 0V±0.1V.

13. The control method for a plurality of electrochromic devices according to any one of claims 1-12, characterized in that, The step of charging or discharging an electrochromic device that does not conform to the target parameter range according to preset conditions includes: charging or discharging the electrochromic device that does not conform to the target parameter range with a preset voltage until the charge reaches the median of the charge range corresponding to the target open circuit voltage range, and then stopping the charging or discharging.

14. The control method for a plurality of electrochromic devices according to claim 1, characterized in that, The process of obtaining the current state characterization parameters of each electrochromic device includes: obtaining real-time images of each electrochromic device and calculating the brightness of each electrochromic device based on the real-time images of each electrochromic device. The step of determining the target parameter range based on the current state characterization parameters of each electrochromic device and filtering out electrochromic devices whose state characterization parameters do not conform to the target parameter range includes: determining the target brightness range based on the brightness of each electrochromic device and filtering out electrochromic devices whose brightness does not conform to the target brightness range.

15. The control method for a plurality of electrochromic devices according to claim 1, characterized in that, The process of obtaining the current state characterization parameters of each electrochromic device includes: obtaining the transmittance value of each electrochromic device; The step of determining the target parameter range based on the current state characterization parameters of each electrochromic device and filtering out electrochromic devices whose state characterization parameters do not conform to the target parameter range includes: determining the target transmittance range based on the transmittance value of each electrochromic device and filtering out electrochromic devices whose transmittance values ​​do not conform to the target transmittance range.

16. A control device for multiple electrochromic devices, characterized in that, include: The processor is used to acquire the current state characterization parameters of each electrochromic device; determine the target parameter range based on the current state characterization parameters of each electrochromic device; and filter out electrochromic devices whose state characterization parameters do not conform to the target parameter range. A driver is used to charge or discharge electrochromic devices that do not conform to the target parameter range according to preset conditions, until the state characterization parameters of each electrochromic device are within the target range.

17. The control device for a plurality of electrochromic devices according to claim 16, characterized in that, The processor is further configured to sort the state characterization parameters according to their numerical values, filter out the state characterization parameters whose dispersion is within a preset range and form a data set; and determine the target parameter range based on the state characterization parameter with the smallest value and / or the characterization parameter with the largest value in the data set.

18. The control device for a plurality of electrochromic devices according to claim 16, characterized in that, The processor is also used to perform one of the following steps: Determine whether the gear corresponding to the last gear shift signal of the electrochromic device is a stable gear. If so, calculate the average value of the state characterization parameters of each electrochromic device and calculate the difference between the state characterization parameters of each electrochromic device and the average value. Electrochromic devices whose absolute value of the difference is greater than a first preset value are determined as electrochromic devices that do not meet the target range. Determine whether the gear corresponding to the last gear shift signal of the electrochromic device is a stable gear. If not, after the first preset time after the last gear shift stops charging or discharging, determine the gear characterization parameter closest to the stable state among all electrochromic devices, and obtain the difference value by subtracting the remaining gear characterization parameters from the gear characterization parameter closest to the stable state. The electrochromic device whose absolute value of the difference is greater than the second preset value is determined to be an electrochromic device that does not meet the target parameter range; and, Determine whether the gear corresponding to the last gear shift signal of the electrochromic device is a stable gear. If not, after the second preset time after the last gear shift is completed, determine the gear characterization parameter of the electrochromic device that is closest to the gear, and subtract the remaining gear characterization parameters from the gear characterization parameter that is closest to the gear to obtain the difference value. Electrochromic devices whose absolute value of the difference is greater than a third preset value are determined to be electrochromic devices that do not meet the target parameter range.

19. The control device for a plurality of electrochromic devices according to claim 18, characterized in that, The processor confirms that the gear corresponding to the last gear shift signal is a bright gear, and the driver is also used to discharge the electrochromic device that does not meet the target parameter range according to preset conditions; and / or, the processor confirms that the gear corresponding to the last gear shift signal is a dark gear, and the driver is also used to charge the electrochromic device that does not meet the target parameter range according to preset conditions. And / or, the processor confirms that the gear corresponding to the last gear shift signal is a bright gear, and the driver is further configured to charge the electrochromic device that does not conform to the target parameter range according to preset conditions; and / or, the processor confirms that the gear corresponding to the last gear shift signal is a dark gear, and the driver is further configured to discharge the electrochromic device that does not conform to the target parameter range according to preset conditions.

20. The control device for a plurality of electrochromic devices according to claim 18, characterized in that, The processor confirms that the gear corresponding to the last gear shift signal is a stable gear, and identifies the electrochromic device with a difference greater than a first preset value and the electrochromic device with a difference less than a negative first preset value; the driver is also used to discharge the electrochromic device with a difference greater than the first preset value according to preset conditions, and / or charge the electrochromic device with a difference less than a negative first preset value according to preset conditions.

21. The control device for a plurality of electrochromic devices according to claim 16, characterized in that, The driver is also used to: charge or discharge an electrochromic device that does not conform to the target parameter range at a preset voltage for a preset time, and then stop charging or discharging.

22. The control device for a plurality of electrochromic devices according to claim 21, characterized in that, The preset time is 1 to 10 seconds.

23. The control device for a plurality of electrochromic devices according to claim 16, characterized in that, The processor is also used to acquire the open-circuit voltage of each electrochromic device; determine the target open-circuit voltage range based on the open-circuit voltage of each electrochromic device; and filter out electrochromic devices whose open-circuit voltage does not conform to the target open-circuit voltage range.

24. The control device for a plurality of electrochromic devices according to claim 23, characterized in that, The processor is also used to perform one of the following steps: Determine whether the gear corresponding to the last gear shift signal of the electrochromic device is a stable gear. If so, determine that the electrochromic device whose open circuit voltage is not at (0±a)V is an electrochromic device that does not meet the target parameter range, where the value of a ranges from 0 to 0.

1. Determine whether the gear corresponding to the last gear shift signal of the electrochromic device is a stable gear. If not, after a first preset time after the last gear shift stops charging or discharging, determine the open-circuit voltage with the smallest absolute value among all electrochromic devices, and obtain the difference by subtracting the remaining open-circuit voltages from the open-circuit voltage with the smallest absolute value; determine that the electrochromic device whose difference is greater than the first preset value is an electrochromic device that does not meet the target parameter range. Determine whether the gear corresponding to the last gear shift signal of the electrochromic device is a stable gear. If not, after the second preset time after the last gear shift is completed, determine the open-circuit voltage with the largest absolute value among all electrochromic devices, and obtain the difference by subtracting the open-circuit voltage with the largest absolute value from the other open-circuit voltages. Determine that the electrochromic device with the difference value greater than the first preset value is an electrochromic device that does not meet the target parameter range.

25. The control device for a plurality of electrochromic devices according to claim 23, characterized in that, The processor is also used to obtain the aging degree of each electrochromic device; and to determine the compensation value of the open circuit voltage of each electrochromic device based on the aging degree. The processor is also used to acquire the measured open-circuit voltage of each electrochromic device, and to determine the open-circuit voltage of the electrochromic device based on the measured open circuit and the compensation value.

26. The control device for a plurality of electrochromic devices according to claim 25, characterized in that, The processor is also used to obtain the charge Q1 of each electrochromic device when it is adjusted from a stable state to a dark state, and the charge Q0 of each electrochromic device when it is initially adjusted from a stable state to a dark state, and to calculate the aging degree of the electrochromic device based on the charge Q1 and the charge Q0.

27. The control device for a plurality of electrochromic devices according to claim 24, characterized in that, The stable state is the state corresponding to the electrochromic device being at 0V±0.1V.

28. The control device for a plurality of electrochromic devices according to claim 16, characterized in that, The driver is also used to: charge or discharge an electrochromic device that does not conform to the target parameter range at a preset voltage until the charge reaches the median of the charge range corresponding to the target open circuit voltage range, and then stop charging or discharging.

29. The control device for a plurality of electrochromic devices according to claim 16, characterized in that, The processor is also used to acquire real-time images of each electrochromic device, calculate the brightness of each electrochromic device based on the real-time images of each electrochromic device, determine the target brightness range based on the brightness of each electrochromic device, and filter out electrochromic devices whose brightness does not conform to the target brightness range.

30. The control device for a plurality of electrochromic devices according to claim 16, characterized in that, The processor is also used to acquire the transmittance value of each electrochromic device; determine the target transmittance range based on the transmittance value of each electrochromic device; and filter out electrochromic devices whose transmittance values ​​do not conform to the target transmittance range.

31. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that, The computer-readable storage medium stores a computer program that, when run on an arithmetic unit, executes a control method for a plurality of electrochromic devices as described in any one of claims 1-15.

32. A control system for an electrochromic device, characterized in that, The device includes a terminal platform and a control device for a plurality of electrochromic devices as described in any one of claims 16-30, wherein the terminal platform and the control device for the plurality of electrochromic devices interact with each other.

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