Autodimming Vehicle Window With Capacitive Touch Interface
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Solution Overview
Problem
Variable transmission windows, particularly those using electrochromic technology, face challenges due to high costs, complexity in mass production, and shorter lifespan compared to conventional windows, which has limited their commercial acceptance in architectural and vehicular applications. Additionally, existing user interfaces for these windows are often complicated and prone to malfunction, making them unsuitable for widespread use.
Innovation Solution
A variable transmittance window assembly with a user interface devoid of movable elements, featuring optically transparent substrates, fiber layers, and integrated light sources for illumination, allowing for intuitive control and improved durability, along with a dust cover and capacitive or optical sensors for operation, enhancing user interaction and reducing mechanical wear.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If electrochromic materials are used in variable transmission windows, then the window can control light transmission and reduce glare, but the cost and complexity of construction increase
Solution Approach 1:
The window assembly is divided into distinct functional layers including electrochromic cells, transparent substrates, and control components. This segmentation allows each layer to be optimized independently and simplifies manufacturing and assembly processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The transparent substrate serves multiple functions: it provides structural support, allows light transmission, and can be integrated with control interfaces. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed, thereby reducing overall complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If electrochromic materials are used in variable transmission windows, then the window can control light transmission, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple functional layers including electrochromic cells, transparent substrates, and control interfaces are merged into a single integrated assembly. This consolidation reduces the number of separate manufacturing steps and assembly operations, thereby reducing overall manufacturing cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The electrochromic materials undergo reversible color or transparency changes in response to electrical signals, enabling dynamic light transmission control. This property allows the window to provide adaptive functionality without requiring complex mechanical moving parts, simplifying manufacturing.
3Ease of operation
If conventional user interfaces with movable elements are used, then the window can be controlled, but the interface is prone to malfunction and mechanical wear
Solution Approach 1:
The control interface replaces mechanical moving parts with optical or capacitive sensing elements integrated into the transparent substrate. This substitution eliminates mechanical wear and failure modes while maintaining ease of operation through touch or proximity-based control.
Solution Approach 2:
An intermediary transparent substrate is used between the user and the electrochromic cell. This substrate can incorporate capacitive touch sensors or optical sensors that detect user input without requiring physical contact with moving parts, thereby improving reliability while maintaining ease of operation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution provides a cost-effective, durable, and user-friendly control system for variable transmittance windows, enabling efficient dimming and clearing operations while minimizing mechanical complexity and user interface malfunctions, thus addressing the limitations of existing technologies.
Implementation Method 1
variable transmittance electro-optic (EO) systems, such as electrochromic (EC) cell based optical filters
Implementation Method 2
at least one light source optically connected to each of the tabs
Data Source
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AI summary
An autodimming window assembly for a vehicle such as an aircraft including a UI devoid of movable elements and integrated with a dust cover of the window assembly. Dust cover is optionally includes a lightguide configured to deliver light from a light source associated with the assembly and indicia representing an operational characteristic of the UI and articulated to the dust cover.