JP6870216B2 - Electrochromic element control device and electrochromic element control method - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an element control device and an element control method.

An electric dimming element that controls the light transmittance by an electric signal is different from a dimming element that uses a photochromic phenomenon in which the light transmittance changes due to light irradiation such as ultraviolet rays, and the user can freely control the light transmittance. It has merits such as being able to control.

Among the electric dimming elements, an element driven by energization such as an electrochromic element has high transparency in a neutral state and can exhibit a high optical density, so that not only a high contrast ratio can be obtained but also a high contrast ratio can be obtained. Since it is possible to express gradation by controlling the coloring density according to the supplied voltage value, various developments have been made so far.

In order to prevent deterioration (cycle life) of an element driven by energization of the electrochromic element or the like, a constant current circuit or a current protection circuit is used to prevent an excessive current from flowing through the element. A drive device for adjusting the current flowing through the element has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
Further, in recent years, development of battery-powered wearable devices and portable devices has been promoted, and for example, dimming sunglasses using an element driven by energization such as the electrochromic element have been proposed.

An object of the present invention is to provide an element control device capable of suppressing deterioration of a battery and an element, optimizing the response speed of the element, and reducing current consumption.

The element control device of the present invention as a means for solving the above-mentioned problems includes an element driven by energization, a battery electrically connected to the element and supplying an electric current to the element, and a battery supplied from the battery. A current measuring unit that measures the value of the current, a current adjusting unit that adjusts the current, and a control unit that adjusts the current by the current adjusting unit based on the current value measured by the current measuring unit. Has.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an element control device capable of suppressing deterioration of a battery and an element, optimizing the response speed of the element, and reducing current consumption.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the element control device of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing an example of the current adjusting unit shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a block diagram for explaining an energized state in which the electrochromic element is colored by using the element control device shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a block diagram for explaining an energized state in which the electrochromic element is decolorized by using the element control device shown in FIG. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a flow of controlling the value of the current supplied from the battery to be equal to or less than the value of the maximum discharge current of the battery by using the element control device shown in FIG.

(Element control device)
The element control device of the present invention includes an element driven by energization, a battery that is electrically connected to the element and supplies a current to the element, and a current measuring unit that measures the value of the current supplied from the battery. A current adjusting unit that adjusts the current, and a control unit that adjusts the current by the current adjusting unit based on the value of the current measured by the current measuring unit. It has the members of.

In the element control device of the present invention, in the drive device of the electrochromic element (hereinafter, also referred to as “EC element”) described in Patent Document 1, a current protection circuit is connected between the power supply and the EC element. Therefore, since the current flowing through the EC element is simply adjusted, when the EC element is configured in a wearable device or the like and a battery is used as a power source, the inrush current generated when the EC element is colored or decolorized is used. As the current consumption increases, the voltage value drops (drops) and an excessive discharge current that exceeds the battery performance is generated, which damages the battery and the EC element, and when the battery is repeatedly applied and discolored, the battery is used. And it is based on the finding that the life of the EC element may be shortened.
Further, in order to reduce the inrush current, if the current supplied to the EC element at the time of color change is limited too low by a constant current circuit or the like, the speed at which the current flows through the EC element becomes slow, and the response to color loss It is based on the finding that the speed may worsen.
Further, when the EC element is replaced when a constant current circuit or the like is used, it is necessary to sequentially change the current setting value of the constant current circuit due to individual differences of the EC element, and the response speed of the EC element is changed. It is based on the finding that it cannot be optimally controlled.

Hereinafter, the element control device of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
Since the element control performed by the control unit in the element control device of the present invention is synonymous with implementing the element control method of the present invention, the element control method of the present invention will be described through the description of the element control device of the present invention. Details will also be revealed.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the element control device of the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 1, the element control device 10 of the present invention includes an EC element 110 as the element, a battery 150, a current measuring unit 120, the current adjusting unit 160, and a control unit 140. It is preferable to have a first switch unit 131, a second switch unit 132, a third switch unit 133, and a fourth switch unit 134 as the plurality of switch units.

The EC element 110 is driven by energization, and the coloring density can be changed by injecting and discharging electric charges based on the voltage supplied to both electrodes, and maintains the colored state and the decolorized state in terms of response speed and current consumption. It is preferable to have a memory property that can be achieved.

The EC element 110 includes a first electrode, a second electrode arranged to face the first electrode, an electrolyte filled between the first electrode and the second electrode, and an electrolyte. It has an electrochromic layer arranged so that the first electrode and the second electrode are in contact with at least one of the facing surfaces.
In the EC element 110, when the first electrode is an oxidizing electrode and the second electrode is a reducing electrode, the first electrode is a + potential and the second electrode is a reference potential (GND). A charge is injected into the EC element 110 to bring it into a colored state. Further, when the second electrode is set to the + potential and the first electrode is set to the reference potential, the electric charge injected at the time of coloring is released from the EC element 110 to be in a decolorized state. Further, the coloring density of the EC element 110 changes according to the amount of electric charge injected into the EC element 110, and the voltage between the first electrode and the second electrode also changes.
The voltage supplied to bring the EC element 110 into a colored state may be referred to as a "coloring voltage", and the voltage supplied to bring the EC element 110 into a decoloring state may be referred to as a "decoloring voltage".

Since the EC element 110 has characteristics structurally similar to those of a capacitor when the coloring voltage and the decoloring voltage are applied, that is, when a current is supplied and the color is decolorized. It is easy to generate an inrush current from the battery 150. The value of the inrush current is a unique value depending on the structure of the EC element and the like.

The battery 150 is connected to the first electrode and the second electrode of the EC element 110, and can supply a current to the EC element 110.
Examples of the battery 150 include a primary battery and a secondary battery.
Examples of the primary battery include manganese dry batteries, alkaline manganese dry batteries, and oxyride dry batteries.
Examples of the secondary battery include a lithium ion secondary battery and a lithium ion polymer secondary battery.

The plurality of switch units can switch the positive and negative directions of the current supplied from the battery 150 to the EC element 110.
Examples of the first switch unit 131, the second switch unit 132, the third switch unit 133, and the fourth switch unit 134 include mechanical switches such as relays, analog switches made of semiconductors, and transistors.
The first switch unit is connected in series between one terminal of the battery 150 and one electrode of the EC element 110, and switches the energized state on and off according to the input first switch control signal. Be done.
The second switch unit is connected in series between the other terminal of the battery 150 and the other electrode of the EC element 110, and switches the energized state on and off according to the input second switch control signal. Be done.
The third switch unit is connected in series between one electrode of the EC element 110 and the reference potential, and the energized state can be switched on and off according to the input third switch control signal.
The fourth switch unit is connected in series between the other electrode of the EC element 110 and the reference potential, and the energized state can be switched on and off according to the input fourth switch control signal.

The current measuring unit 120 is connected in parallel to the EC element 110, measures the value of the current supplied from the battery 150 in response to the input current measurement control signal 142, and transmits the measured current value to the control unit 140. Output.
The format of the data of the current value measured by the current measuring unit 120 is not particularly limited and can be appropriately selected according to the purpose. Even if it is an analog value, it can be analog-used by an operational amplifier, an A / D converter, or the like. Any format may be used as long as it can be digitally converted and compared with the value of the maximum discharge current of the battery 150.
In order to perform the analog-to-digital conversion, an A / D converter built in the microcontroller or the like used in the control unit 140 may be used, or an external A / D converter may be used in the control unit 140. Good.
The connection point of the current measuring unit 120 is not particularly limited as long as the current value can be measured, and can be appropriately selected according to the purpose.

The current adjusting unit 160 is connected to a place where a current flows between the battery 150 and the EC element 110, and can adjust the current supplied from the battery 150 according to the input current adjusting signal.
The current adjusting unit 160 is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. For example, the current adjusting unit 160 may be composed of a circuit or an element, but the EC element 110 has the highest coloring density. However, it is preferable that the EC element 110 can be supplied with a current having a value of the maximum discharge current of the battery 150. Specific examples thereof include a field effect transistor (JFET) and a variable constant current driver (IC).
The state in which the coloring density of the EC element 110 is the highest means a state in which the transmittance is 10% or less or the maximum load voltage of the EC element 110 is applied.
Examples of the circuit include a constant current circuit and a constant voltage circuit.
Examples of the element include semiconductor elements such as transistors, diodes, and integrated circuits.

Examples of the other member include a coloring button, a decoloring button, a gradation button, and a power button pressed by the user.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing an example of the current adjusting unit shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 2, the current adjusting unit 160 includes a constant current circuit 161 connected in series with the battery 150 and a field effect transistor 162 in which a drain terminal is connected to the output of the constant current circuit 161. preferable.
Due to the nature of the field effect transistor 162, it is possible to control the flow of a current corresponding to the voltage applied to the gate (hereinafter, also referred to as “gate voltage”) between the source and drain. For example, when the gate voltage is 0.5 V, the current flowing between the source and drain is 40 mA, and when the gate voltage is 1.0 V, the current flowing between the source and drain is 20 mA, and the gate voltage is set. Consider a case where the EC element 110 having a maximum allowable current amount of 20 mA is controlled by using a field effect transistor 162 in which the current flowing between the source and the drain is 10 mA when the voltage is 1.5 V.
When the gate voltage is 0.5 V, the current flowing between the source and the drain becomes 40 mA, which exceeds the maximum allowable current amount of the EC element 110, and the deterioration of the EC element 110 progresses. Therefore, the gate voltage is not set to 0.5V.
When the gate voltage is 1.0 V, the current flowing between the source and drain is 20 mA, that is, the maximum allowable current amount of the EC element 110, and the response speed of the EC element 110 can be maximized.
When the gate voltage is 1.5 V, the current flowing between the source and the drain is 10 mA, and this gate voltage is used for the normal color transfer of the EC element 110 to reduce the current consumption.

The control unit 140 outputs a current adjustment signal 141 by the current adjustment unit 160 based on the value of the current measured by the current measurement unit 120, and controls the current supplied to the EC element 110.
The control unit 140 controls the current supplied to the EC element 110 by adjusting the current adjusting unit 160 so that the value of the current supplied from the battery 150 is equal to or less than the value of the maximum discharge current of the battery 150. .. By doing so, it is possible to suppress the inrush current generated when the EC element 110 is energized.
Further, the control unit 140 can be adjusted by the current adjusting unit 160 so as to stop the supply of the current.
The control unit 140 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) that controls each operation of the element control device 10, and executes various processes based on a control program for controlling the operation of the entire element control device 10.

The control unit 140 preferably has a storage means for storing the value of the maximum discharge current of the battery 150.
Examples of the storage means include a hard disk, RAM (Random Access Memories), and the like.

Next, a control method for putting the electrochromic element into a colored state and a decolorized state by using the element control device of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram for explaining an energized state in which the electrochromic element is colored by using the element control device shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3, in order to color the EC element 110, the control unit 140 outputs the first switch control signal and the fourth switch control signal, and outputs the first switch unit 131 and the first switch unit 131. The energized state of the switch unit 134 of 4 is switched on, the second switch control signal and the third switch control signal are output, and the energized state of the second switch unit 132 and the third switch unit 133 is changed. By switching off, current can be supplied from the battery 150 to the EC element 110.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram for explaining an energized state in which the electrochromic element is decolorized by using the element control device shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 4, in order to put the EC element 110 in the decolorized state, the control unit 140 outputs the first switch control signal and the fourth switch control signal, and the first switch unit 131. And the fourth switch unit 134 is switched off, the second switch control signal and the third switch control signal are output, and the second switch unit 132 and the third switch unit 133 are energized. By switching the state to on, the current can be supplied from the battery 150 to the EC element 110.

Next, the flow of controlling the value of the current supplied from the battery to be equal to or less than the value of the maximum discharge current of the battery by using the element control device of the present invention is according to the step represented by S in the flowchart of the flowchart shown in FIG. This will be described with reference to FIGS. 1, 3, and 4.

S101: The control unit 140 outputs the current measurement control signal 142 to the current measurement unit 120 to start the measurement of the current value, and outputs the signal of the obtained current value.
S102: The control unit 140 determines whether or not to end the main process based on a predetermined instruction, determination, and the like, and if it is determined not to end the main process, shifts the process to S103.
The predetermined instruction and determination are an instruction from the user, a determination of the control unit 140, and the like. The instruction from the user is issued by pressing a coloring button, a decoloring button, a gradation button, a power button, or the like. Further, the determination of the control unit 140 is a determination of shifting to a maximum coloring state, a decoloring state, a processing end, or the like based on the value of the current measured by the current measuring unit 120.
S103: The control unit 140 determines whether or not to color the EC element 110 based on the predetermined instruction, determination, and the like, and if it is determined that the EC element 110 is to be colored, the process shifts to S104, and the EC element 110 is transferred to the EC element 110. If it is determined that the color is not to be colored, the process shifts to S105.
S104: The control unit 140 outputs the first switch control signal and the fourth switch control signal to switch the energized state of the first switch unit 131 and the fourth switch unit 134 on, and the first switch unit 140. The switch control signal of 2 and the third switch control signal are output to switch off the energized state of the second switch unit 132 and the third switch unit 133. That is, as shown in FIG. 3, each switch unit is switched to supply a current from the battery 150 to the EC element 110.
S105: The control unit 140 outputs the first switch control signal and the fourth switch control signal to switch off the energized state of the first switch unit 131 and the fourth switch unit 134, and the first switch unit 140. By outputting the switch control signal of 2 and the third switch control signal, the energized state of the second switch unit 132 and the third switch unit 133 is switched on. That is, as shown in FIG. 4, each switch unit is switched to supply a current from the battery 150 to the EC element 110.
S106: When the control unit 140 determines that the value of the current measured by the current measurement unit 120 is equal to or greater than the value of the maximum discharge current of the battery 150, the process shifts to S107, and the value of the current is the maximum value of the battery 150. If it is determined that the value is not equal to or greater than the discharge current value, the process shifts to S108.
S107: The control unit 140 outputs a current adjustment signal 141 to control the current adjustment unit 160 so that the value of the current supplied from the battery 150 becomes less than the value of the maximum discharge current of the battery 150.
S108: The control unit 140 determines whether or not there is an instruction to set the upper limit value of the current based on the predetermined instruction, determination, etc., and if it is determined that "there is an instruction to set the upper limit value of the current", the process is performed in S107. When it is determined that "there is no instruction to set the upper limit value of the current", this process ends.
When the upper limit value of the current is set, the response speed of the color reduction can be maximized within the range of the value of the maximum discharge current of the battery 150. When the upper limit value of the current is not set, the current consumption can be reduced. Further, depending on the purpose of use, it is possible to adjust the trade-off between the response speed of color loss and the current consumption, and to systematically adjust the upper limit value of the current.

Examples of aspects of the present invention are as follows.
<1> An element driven by energization, a battery electrically connected to the element to supply a current to the element, a current measuring unit for measuring the value of the current supplied from the battery, and the current. The element control device is characterized by having a current adjusting unit for adjusting and a control unit for adjusting the current by the current adjusting unit based on the value of the current measured by the current measuring unit.
<2> The element control device according to <1>, wherein the element has a memory property capable of holding a colored state and a decolored state.
<3> The device according to any one of <1> to <2>, wherein the element is an electrochromic element and further has a plurality of switch portions for switching the positive and negative directions of the current supplied from the battery to the element. Element control device.
<4> The control unit adjusts the value of the current supplied from the battery to the element by the current adjusting unit so as to be equal to or less than the value of the maximum discharge current of the battery. The element control device according to any one of.
<5> The control unit adjusts the element so that the current of the maximum discharge current value of the battery is supplied to the element even when the color density of the element is the highest. The element control device according to any one of 1> to <4>.
<6> The element control device according to any one of <1> to <5>, wherein the control unit is adjusted by the current adjusting unit so as to stop the supply of the current.
<7> The element control device according to any one of <1> to <6>, wherein the control unit is adjusted by the current adjusting unit so as to suppress an inrush current generated when the element is energized. is there.
<8> The element control device according to any one of <1> to <7>, wherein the control unit has a storage means for storing the value of the maximum discharge current of the battery.
<9> In an element control device having an element driven by energization, a battery, a current measuring unit, a current adjusting unit, and a control unit, a current is supplied to the element by the battery and is supplied from the battery. The current value is measured by using the current measuring unit, and based on the current value measured by the current measuring unit, the current supplied from the battery by the control unit is measured by using the current adjusting unit. It is an element control method characterized by including adjustment.

The element control device according to any one of <1> to <8> and the element control method according to <9> can solve the conventional problems and achieve the object of the present invention. it can.

10 Element control device 110 EC element 120 Current measurement unit 140 Control unit 141 Current adjustment signal 142 Current measurement control signal 143 Switch control signal 150 Battery 160 Current adjustment unit

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 02-046428

Claims (5)

Electrochromic elements driven by energization and
Is electrically connected to the electrochromic device, a battery for supplying current to the electrochromic device,
A current measuring unit that measures the value of the current supplied from the battery, and
A current adjusting unit that adjusts the current,
It has a control unit that adjusts the current by the current adjusting unit based on the value of the current measured by the current measuring unit.
The control unit adjusts the value of the current supplied from the battery to the electrochromic element by the current adjusting unit so as to be equal to or less than the value of the maximum discharge current of the battery.
Wherein the control unit, said the current controller, the electrochromic is adjusted so as to suppress the inrush current generated when energizing the electrochromic device electrochromic device control apparatus according to claim Rukoto. Electrochromic device control device according to pre-Symbol battery to claim 1 having the electrochromic further a plurality of switch portions for switching the positive and negative directions of current supplied to the electrochromic element. A claim that the control unit adjusts the electrochromic element so that the current of the value of the maximum discharge current of the battery is supplied to the electrochromic element even when the coloring density of the electrochromic element is the highest. Item 2. The electrochromic element control device according to item 2. The electrochromic element control device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the control unit is adjusted by the current adjusting unit so as to stop the supply of the current. In an electrochromic element control device having an electrochromic element driven by energization, a battery, a current measuring unit, a current adjusting unit, and a control unit.
A current is supplied to the electrochromic element by the battery, and the electric current is supplied to the electrochromic element.
The value of the current supplied from the battery is measured using the current measuring unit, and the value is measured.
Based on the value of the current measured by the current measuring unit, the value of the current supplied from the battery by the control unit is adjusted by the current adjusting unit so as to be equal to or less than the value of the maximum discharge current of the battery. ,
A method for controlling an electrochromic element, which comprises adjusting the control unit by the current adjusting unit so as to suppress an inrush current generated when the electrochromic element is energized .

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