Vehicle Window Electro-Optical Elements Merged Control Interface
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle and building glass systems with integrated electro-optical elements face issues of space consumption and mechanical stress due to numerous control lines, leading to disrupted transmission properties and reduced service life.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle window with integrated electro-optical elements that share a common supply voltage, controlled individually by logical units, featuring a plug connector with 3 or 4 electrical connections for the logical interfaces, allowing for efficient energy and control line management, and enabling selective control of optical transparency using electrochromic, suspended particle, or liquid crystal technologies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If numerous control lines are used to control individual electro-optical elements, then individual control capability is improved, but space consumption and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple control lines are merged into a single control line by integrating control logic directly into the pane structure. The control unit processes multiple control signals through one physical connection, eliminating the need for separate control lines for each electro-optical element while maintaining individual control capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The single control line serves multiple functions by carrying both address information and control commands for multiple electro-optical elements. The integrated control unit decodes and distributes these signals to the appropriate elements, making the control line universal rather than dedicated to a single element.
2Ease of operation
If numerous control lines are used to control individual electro-optical elements, then individual control capability is improved, but mechanical stress and connection reliability worsen
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple control connections are merged into a single robust physical interface. This consolidation reduces the number of connection points from many individual wire connections to one integrated connector, thereby reducing cumulative mechanical stress and potential failure points while maintaining the ability to individually address each electro-optical element.
3Ease of operation
If numerous control lines are used to control individual electro-optical elements, then individual control capability is improved, but transmission properties are disrupted
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple control lines are consolidated into a single control line that does not physically interfere with the optical path. The integrated control unit is positioned and routed such that the single control connection does not create the same optical disruptions that would result from multiple separate lines, thereby preserving transmission properties while maintaining individual control capability.
4Ease of operation
If a plug connector with multiple connections is used, then control capability is improved, but space requirements and assembly complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple separate connection points are merged into a single compact plug connector located at one edge of the pane. This consolidation reduces the total space required for connections from multiple distributed connection points to a single localized interface, thereby reducing space requirements while maintaining full control capability.
5Ease of operation
If a plug connector with multiple connections is used, then control capability is improved, but assembly damage risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple separate wiring connections are merged into a single plug connector assembly. This consolidation reduces the number of individual connection operations during assembly from many to one, thereby reducing the cumulative risk of mechanical damage to connections during the assembly process while maintaining the ability to individually control each electro-optical element.
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
This configuration minimizes space requirements, ensures safe and simple wiring, and extends service life by allowing precise control of optical properties with a reduced number of lines, suitable for various electro-optical technologies and applications in vehicles and buildings.
Implementation Method 1
Optically controllable elements can change their transmission properties under the influence of an applied voltage. For example, it is possible to switch from a transparent state to a 'frosted glass state' or to a 'darkened' state.
Implementation Method 2
the electro-optical elements are selected from a group comprising: electrochromic coating, suspended particle device, liquid crystal, polymer dispersed liquid crystal device
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to a vehicle window (1), comprising a plurality of integrated electro-optical elements (101, 102, 103,... 10N), wherein the electro-optical elements (101, 102, 103,... 10N) have a common supply voltage (20), the integrated electro-optical elements (101, 102, 103,... 10N) can be controlled individually or in groups (30, 301, 302, 303... 30N) such that the electro-optical elements change the optical properties of the window (1) at the location in question, a first logical interface for feeding in the common supply voltage (20) and a second logical interface for feeding in a common control signal are provided in order to control the electro-optical elements (101, 102, 103,... 10N) and to provide the common supply voltage (20), the control signal is converted, after the logical interface, into control signals for the control of the integrated electro-optical elements (101, 102, 103,... 10N) individually or in groups, the physical interface (40) is arranged on one of the outer faces (100, 400) of the window (1), and the physical interface has a total of three or four electrical connection points for the first logical interface and the second logical interface.