TW202001071A - Optically switchable windows for selectively impeding propagation of light from an artificial source - Google Patents

Abstract

A tintable window is described having a tintable coating, e.g., an electrochromic device coating, for regulating or blocking light transmitted through the window. In some embodiments, the window can receive, transmit and/or regulate wireless communication that uses electromagnetic waves as a communication medium. In some cases, a window can receive or transmit infrared, visible, or ultraviolet wireless light fidelity (LiFi) signals. A window can be configured, in some cases selectively configured, for blocking radiation and/or signals generated by LiFi, radio frequency (RF), laser or other devices from passing through the window. Windows configured for blocking signals may be configured as a communication firewall between an interior environment and an exterior environment, or vice-versa. Networks of tintable windows can communicate via LiFi and provide a communications network through which other devices, such as personal computing devices, can be connected to the internet or a remote network.

Description

Optically switchable window for selectively preventing the propagation of light from artificial sources

The embodiments disclosed herein relate generally to controlling wireless communication within or between buildings that include optically switchable windows, and more specifically, to the use of optically switchable windows that It is configured to selectively prevent the propagation of light or other electromagnetic energy from artificial sources.

Electrochromism is a phenomenon in which a material exhibits a reversible electrochemically-mediated change in optical properties when subjected to a voltage change when placed in different electronic states. The optical property is usually one or more of color, transmittance, absorption, and reflectance.

Electrochromic materials can be incorporated into windows for residential, commercial, and other uses as thin film coatings on window glass. The color, transmittance, absorption and/or reflectance of such windows can be changed by inducing changes in electrochromic materials. For example, electrochromic windows are windows that can be darkened or brightened electronically. A small voltage applied to the electrochromic device of the window will darken it; reversing the polarity of the voltage brightens the window. This capability allows controlling the amount of light passing through the window and presents the electrochromic window with an opportunity to be used as an energy saving device.

Optical switchable windows, sometimes called "smart windows" (whether electrochromic windows or other windows), have been used in buildings to control the transmission of solar energy. The switchable windows can be manually or automatically colored and decolored by heating, air conditioning and/or lighting systems to reduce energy consumption while maintaining occupant comfort.

An aspect of the present invention relates to a tintable window, the tintable window having: (i) at least one window sheet having a first surface facing a first environment and facing a second environment A second surface; (ii) an electrochromic device coating disposed on the first surface or the second surface of the at least one window pane; (iii) one or more controllers, which Having logic for (a) controlling a tone state of the coating of the electrochromic device, and (b) processing the light fidelity (LiFi) signal received at the tintable window; and (iv) one A receiver configured to receive wireless data and provide the wireless data to the controller, wherein the wireless data is transmitted via infrared, visible, and/or ultraviolet LiFi signals. In some embodiments, the receiver is further configured to receive wireless data transmitted via radio frequency (RF) signals.

In some embodiments, the tintable window has a shielding layer that is on the at least one window between the first surface and the second surface, wherein the shielding layer is configured to attenuate Or block the transmission of RF and/or LiFi signals between the first surface and the second surface. In some situations, the shielding layer can be adjusted between two states: a first state, which is configured to attenuate or block RF and/or LiFi signals on the first surface and the second Transmission between surfaces; and a second state that allows RF and/or LiFi signals to be transmitted between the first surface and the second surface. In some embodiments, the controller has firewall logic configured to filter the received wireless data and determine whether the shielding layer should be adjusted to the first state or based on the filtered wireless data The second state.

In some embodiments, the tintable window has a transmitter (controlled by the controller) that is configured to transmit wireless data via infrared, visible, or ultraviolet LiFi signals. The transmitter can also be configured to transmit wireless data via radio frequency (RF) signals. The tintable window may have a shielding layer that is between the first surface and the second surface on the at least one window, wherein the shielding layer is configured to attenuate or block RF and The LiFi signal is transmitted between the first surface and the second surface. In some situations, the shielding layer can be adjusted between two states: a first state, which is configured to attenuate or block RF and/or LiFi signals on the first surface and the second Transmission between surfaces; and a second state that allows RF and/or LiFi signals to be transmitted between the first surface and the second surface. In some embodiments, the controller has firewall logic configured to filter the received wireless data and determine based on the filtered wireless data that the shielding layer should adjust {2 to the The first state is also the second state. In some embodiments, the controller is configured to transmit wireless data via the transmitter, wherein the transmitted data includes wireless data received by the receiver. In some embodiments, the receiver is configured to receive wireless data from the first environment, and the transmitter is configured to transmit wireless data to the first environment. In some embodiments, the receiver is configured to receive wireless data from the first environment, and the transmitter is configured to transmit wireless data to the second environment.

In some embodiments, the controller is configured to adjust the hue state of the electrochromic device coating based at least in part on the received wireless data. In some embodiments, the transmitter includes a transparent display on the at least one window pane. In some embodiments, the transparent display is an organic light emitting diode display.

Another aspect of the present invention relates to a tintable window, the tintable window having: (i) at least one window panel, the at least one window panel has a first surface facing a first environment and facing a first A second surface of the two environments; (ii) an electrochromic device coating, which is disposed on the first surface or the second surface of the at least one window; (iii) a transmitter, which Configured to transmit wireless data via infrared, visible or ultraviolet fidelity LiFi signals; and (iv) one or more controllers having a tone state for (a) controlling the coating of the electrochromic device , And (b) control the logic of the wireless data transmitted by the transmitter.

Another aspect of the present invention relates to a tintable window, the tintable window having: (i) at least one window panel, the at least one window panel has a first surface facing a first environment and facing a first A second surface of two environments; (ii) an electrochromic device coating, which is disposed on the first surface or the second surface of the at least one window; (iii) one or more controls A device having logic for controlling a tone state of the coating of the electrochromic device; and (iv) a shielding layer between the first surface and the second surface On a window, wherein the shielding layer is configured to attenuate or block the transmission of RF and/or LiFi signals between the first surface and the second surface.

Another aspect of the invention relates to a building having: (i) a plurality of tintable windows, each of which has an electrochromic device coating; (ii) a plurality of controllers, which Configured to control the electrochromic device coating on the plurality of colorable windows; and (iii) a network connected to a plurality of controllers. The network includes: multiple receivers configured to receive wireless data transmitted via infrared, visible or ultraviolet fidelity (LiFi) signals; and multiple transmitters configured to transmit infrared and visible Or ultraviolet LiFi signal to transmit wireless data.

In some embodiments, the network connected to the controller is a mesh network. In some embodiments, the controller is configured to receive commands via a LiFi signal to control the colorable window, the LiFi signal being provided via the network. In some embodiments, the network connecting the plurality of controllers includes a receiver for receiving radio frequency (RF) signals and/or 2] a transmitter for transmitting radio frequency (RF) signals.

In some embodiments, the network is configured to send data to and/or receive data from mobile devices in or near a building via the receiver and transmitter. The network can be connected to the Internet.

In some embodiments, the network is configured to communicate via one or more LiFi transmitters facing a second building and one or more LiFi receivers facing the second building to the A second mesh network in the second building.

The network may include firewall logic configured to regulate data transmitted via LiFi signals. In some embodiments, at least one of the tintable windows has a shielding layer that is configured to block or attenuate radio frequency (RF) and/or LiFi signals from passing through the at least A tintable window. In some embodiments, the shielding layer on the at least one colorable window can be adjusted between two states: one of blocking or attenuating RF and/or LiFi signals, and permitting RF and/or LiFi The signal passes a state of the at least one colorable window. The shielding layer can be configured to prevent RF and/or LiFi signals from leaving and/or entering the building.

Another aspect of the invention relates to a controller for controlling an electrochromic window between an interior and an exterior of a building. The controller is configured to: (i) receive infrared, visible or ultraviolet wireless optical fidelity signals with instructions for controlling the optical state of at least one electrochromic window; and (ii) based on The instructions in the received infrared, visible or ultraviolet wireless light fidelity signals control the optical state of one or more electrochromic windows.

In some embodiments, the controller is further configured to transmit infrared, visible or ultraviolet wireless optical fidelity signals. The controller may be configured to transmit infrared, visible or ultraviolet wireless optical fidelity signals and status information of the at least one electrochromic window. The state information may include efficiency data or cycle data of the at least one electrochromic window.

In some embodiments, the controller is configured to transmit infrared, visible or ultraviolet wireless optical fidelity signals to a window controller and/or a building management system (BMS). The controller may include a diode laser configured to transmit the infrared, visible, or ultraviolet wireless optical fidelity signal.

In some cases, the controller is configured to receive infrared, visible, or ultraviolet wireless fidelity signals via a fiber optic cable. In some cases, the controller is configured to receive infrared, visible or ultraviolet wireless fidelity signals transmitted via free space.

In some cases, the controller is a window controller with a microcontroller that is configured to send information by optical fidelity signals.

Another aspect of the present invention relates to a system for controlling optically switchable windows on a network, wherein each of the optically switchable windows is between an interior and an exterior of a building. The system has: a first controller configured to transmit optical fidelity signals, the signal having instructions for controlling the optical state of at least one optically switchable window; and a second controller, which is It is configured to receive the transmitted optical fidelity signal and control the optical state of the at least one optically switchable window based on the transmitted instruction.

In some cases, the optical fidelity signal includes visible light, infrared light, and/or near ultraviolet light. In some embodiments, the first controller includes a light emitting diode (LED) for transmitting the optical fidelity signal. The LED can be controlled by a user to provide visible illumination in the building. In some embodiments, the LED includes a perovskite material (eg, cesium lead bromide).

In some cases, the second controller may have an optical detector configured to receive the transmitted optical fidelity signal. In some cases, the second controller is configured to transmit additional optical fidelity signals, the signal has status information for the at least one electrochromic window, and the first controller is configured To receive the additional optical fidelity signal transmitted by the second controller. In some embodiments, the status information includes efficiency data or cycle data of the at least one optically switchable window. In some embodiments, the second controller is configured to transmit the additional optical fidelity signal to a building management system (BMS).

In one embodiment, the invention includes a system that defines an interior and an exterior, the system including: a plurality of tintable windows disposed between the interior and the exterior, wherein each window includes an interior-facing The pane and at least one facing the exterior pane, and wherein at least one of the panes has an electrochromic device coating disposed thereon; and at least one controller configured to control the multiple A tint of the electrochromic device coating on at least one of the tintable windows to selectively form a shielding layer that is configured to attenuate or block sources from artificial or artificial sources ( "Artificial light") transmission of infrared or visible light without passing it through at least one of the panes of the at least one of the plurality of colorable windows. In one embodiment, the coating is disposed on the at least one outward facing pane of the window. In one embodiment, the coating is disposed on the inner side of one of the at least one outer-facing pane. In one embodiment, the artificial light is generated by a LiFi device. In one embodiment, the artificial light is generated by a laser. In one embodiment, the system further includes at least one detector functionally coupled to the at least one controller. The controller is configured to control the hue of at least one of the plurality of colorable windows in response to detection of artificial light by the at least one detector.

In one embodiment, the present invention includes: a method of controlling artificial light through a tintable window by using the following steps: the controller includes controlling a hue of the tintable window with a controller to block visible or infrared light Transmit without passing it through at least one of the panes of the tintable window, wherein the infrared or visible light is from an artificial source. In one embodiment, the window includes an electrochromic coating disposed on at least one pane of the window. In one embodiment, the window is part of a building, and wherein the coating is disposed on one of the windows facing the exterior pane. In one embodiment, the coating is disposed on the inner side of one of the outward-facing panes. In one embodiment, the artificial light is generated by a LiFi device. In one embodiment, the artificial light is generated by a laser. In one embodiment, the method further includes using a detector to detect the presence of the artificial light and responding to the detection of the artificial light by the detector to be controlled by the controller A step of the hue of the window.

These and other aspects of the invention will be described in more detail below.

100‧‧‧Electrochromic device

102‧‧‧ substrate

104‧‧‧Transparent conductive layer (TCL)/component

106‧‧‧Electrochromic layer (EC)/component

108‧‧‧ ion conductive layer or area (IC)/component

110‧‧‧ counter electrode layer (CE)/component

114‧‧‧Second transparent conductive layer (TCL)

116‧‧‧Voltage source

120‧‧‧Electrochromic stacking

200‧‧‧Insulated glass unit (IGU)

204‧‧‧First pane/window/substrate

206‧‧‧Second pane/window/substrate

208‧‧‧ Internal volume

210‧‧‧Electrochromic device (ECD)

212‧‧‧ storey

214‧‧‧ storey

216‧‧‧ storey

218‧‧‧ spacer

220‧‧‧Sealant/first primary seal

222‧‧‧sealant/secondary primary seal

224‧‧‧Secondary seals

226‧‧‧Bus bar

228‧‧‧Bus bar

300‧‧‧Window control system

301‧‧‧Control network

302‧‧‧Master network controller/master controller

304‧‧‧Network Controller

306‧‧‧Window controller

308‧‧‧Optical switchable window

309‧‧‧For Internet

402‧‧‧Electrochromic (EC) device coating

404‧‧‧radio frequency (RF) shield

406‧‧‧ storey

501‧‧‧Anti-reflection layer

502‧‧‧Transboundary layer/conductive layer

503‧‧‧ Mezzanine area

Section 510‧‧‧

511‧‧‧section/shield stack

612‧‧‧Shield stack

613‧‧‧Shield stack

700‧‧‧Shielding film

701‧‧‧First film layer/constrained outer layer

702‧‧‧Shield stack

703‧‧‧ Laminated adhesive layer

704‧‧‧Second film layer

705‧‧‧Install the adhesive layer

710‧‧‧Surface

711‧‧‧Surface

800‧‧‧Room

801‧‧‧Colorable window

802‧‧‧Colorable window

803‧‧‧Colorable window

804‧‧‧Colorable window

811‧‧‧window controller

811‧‧‧window controller

813‧‧‧Window controller

820‧‧‧Fidelity (LiFi) receiver

900‧‧‧Building

901‧‧‧window

902‧‧‧window

903‧‧‧Fidelity (LiFi) transmitter

905‧‧‧ installation

910‧‧‧Fidelity (LiFi) signal

911‧‧‧window

912‧‧‧Fidelity (LiFi) signal

1000‧‧‧Colorable window

1002‧‧‧Electromagnetic shielding layer

1004‧‧‧Window/substrate

1006‧‧‧Window

1008‧‧‧side/optional layer

1010‧‧‧side/optional layer

1012‧‧‧EC device coating

1014‧‧‧Fidelity (LiFi) receiver

1015‧‧‧Fidelity (LiFi) receiver

1016‧‧‧Fidelity (LiFi) transmitter

1017‧‧‧Fidelity (LiFi) transmitter

1020‧‧‧Window controller

1022‧‧‧window control system

1024‧‧‧External network

1026‧‧‧Fidelity (LiFi) transmitter

1028‧‧‧Fidelity (LiFi) receiver

1030‧‧‧Fidelity (LiFi) logic

1100‧‧‧Colorable window

1102‧‧‧Internal environment

1104‧‧‧Internal environment

1106‧‧‧External environment

1108‧‧‧External environment

1110‧‧‧ radio frequency (RF) signal

1112‧‧‧ radio frequency (RF) signal

1114‧‧‧ radio frequency (RF) signal

1116‧‧‧ radio frequency (RF) signal

1118‧‧‧Signal

1119‧‧‧Signal

1120‧‧‧window controller

1201 to 1209‧‧‧Colorable window

1220‧‧‧Mobile device

1221‧‧‧Installation

1222‧‧‧ Computer

1224‧‧‧Building

1230‧‧‧Wireless device

1231‧‧‧Wireless communication

1232‧‧‧Wired communication

1234‧‧‧External network

1244‧‧‧Fidelity (LiFi) communication path

1300‧‧‧Urban

1301‧‧‧ Building

1302‧‧‧Building

1303‧‧‧Building

1310‧‧‧device

C‧‧‧Height/Interval

D‧‧‧Width

E‧‧‧Distance

S1‧‧‧First surface

S2‧‧‧Second surface

S3‧‧‧First surface

S4‧‧‧Second surface

T‧‧‧thickness

W‧‧‧Width

Figure 1 shows a cross-sectional view of an electrochromic device that can be used in a tintable window.

Figure 2 shows a cross-sectional side view of a tintable window constructed as an insulated glass unit ("insulated glass unit; IGU").

Figure 3 depicts a window control network provided by a window control system with one or more tintable windows.

Figures 4a to 4c provide several configurations for electrochromic device coatings and electromagnetic shielding layers within the IGU.

Figure 5 depicts two shield stacks that can be used in a tintable window to provide electromagnetic shielding.

Figure 6 depicts a shield stack with two conductive layers and three conductive layers, respectively.

Figure 7 depicts a shielding film that can be installed on the surface of the window to provide electromagnetic shielding.

Figure 8 depicts a tintable window configured with a LiFi transmitter and/or receiver.

Figures 9a to 9c depict several examples of LiFi data delivery in buildings.

Figure 10 depicts a colorable window configured for wireless communication.

Figure 11 depicts a colorable window configured for wireless communication.

Figure 12 provides a plan view of a building where the window control system provides a communication network that can be accessed inside or near the building.

Figures 13a and 13b illustrate how LiFi-equipped buildings can provide communication networks in urban areas.

introduction

For the purpose of describing the disclosed aspects, the following embodiments are directed to certain examples or implementations. However, the teachings in this article can be applied and implemented in many different ways. In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings. Although the disclosed embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the embodiments, it should be understood that these examples are not limiting; other embodiments can be used and changes can be made to the disclosed embodiments. Do not deviate from its spirit and scope. Furthermore, although the disclosed embodiments focus on electrochromic windows (also known as optically switchable windows, tintable and smart windows), the concepts disclosed herein can be applied to other types of switchable optical devices, Examples include liquid crystal devices and suspended particle devices, among others. For example, liquid crystal devices or suspended particle devices rather than electrochromic devices may be incorporated into some or all of the disclosed implementations. In addition, unless otherwise indicated, where appropriate, this article intends to understand the conjunction "or" in an inclusive sense; for example, the phrase "A, B or C" is intended to include "A", "B", "C ", "A and B", "B and C", "A and C" and "A, B and C".

LiFi-Fidelity ("Light fidelity; LiFi") is a method of wireless communication between devices that use light to transmit data. Similar to WiFi, LiFi transmits data through the electromagnetic spectrum instead of using radio waves, and Li-Fi uses visible, ultraviolet, and/or infrared light. A significant advantage of LiFi over radio frequency ("radio frequency; RF") communications is that it can be used to transmit a wide spectrum of optical communications. The visible light spectrum is about 1000 times larger than the entire 300GHz radio, microwave and millimeter wave radio spectrum alone. This increased bandwidth has the potential to solve many congestion problems associated with wireless communications where the WiFi band becomes saturated in many settings. Another advantage of LiFi is that it can be easily contained because LiFi signals cannot pass through opaque surfaces such as most walls and ceilings, thus reducing the risk that wireless communications may be monitored for deviations. By modulating the intensity of light through a LiFi transmitter, the data can be coupled to the optical transmission. The emitted light is received at the LiFi receiver, where the light emission is demodulated into an electronic form. In the case where LiFi utilizes light having a wavelength between about 780 nm and about 375 nm, communication is also referred to as visible light communication (visible light communication; VLC). When using VLC, the light can be modulated in a manner (for example, by quickly pulsed at a sufficient frequency) so that the modulation is imperceptible to the human eye. It has recently been demonstrated that when using infrared wavelengths, LiFi can support communications at a speed of 40 gbp. As will be described in more detail herein, one or more controllers on the window network may be configured to send and/or receive LiFi signals.

The following description relates to a window control system equipped for LiFi communication transmission and/or shielding. In a window control system, a window (usually with an integrated glass unit or "integrated glass unit; IGU" structure) is configured as a communication node and can be equipped with one of a LiFi receiver, a LiFi transmitter, and a LiFi shielding layer or More. LiFi transmitters use light emitting diodes ("light emitting diodes; LEDs") or other light sources to generate LiFi communication signals. LiFi receivers typically use light detectors and are configured to receive LiFi communication signals. The window with the LiFi shield is configured so that some or all of the LiFi communication and under some conditions the WiFi communication is substantially attenuated or effectively blocked without passing through the window. Unless stated otherwise, "blocking" and "attenuating" are used interchangeably herein. For example, when the window is described as "blocking" the LiFi signal, the LiFi signal can be simply attenuated, so that the receiving device cannot at least reliably receive the LiFi signal. Therefore, although the signal may only be attenuated, communication via LiFi may be blocked. The LiFi shielding layer may be a passive layer, or it may be selectively controlled to switch between a mode that permits LiFi communication and a mode that blocks (or attenuates) LiFi communication. In some embodiments, the EC device coating may be colored, causing light of certain wavelengths to be attenuated or blocked. In various embodiments, the shielding layer is separate from the EC layer. In some such embodiments, the shielding layer may block or simply attenuate all or part of the LiFi signal, as described in more detail below.

In some cases, the window network can be configured as a LiFi repeater. For example, the LiFi signal received by the light detector on one side of the window can be replayed by the transmitter associated with that window. In some situations, the received communication may be transmitted via a wired or fiber optic network, and then replayed via different LiFi transmitters in the building. Replaying LiFi signals can increase the range of LiFi communication networks that may be restricted by line-of-sight communication. When LiFi shielding is configured, the window described in this article can be used as a firewall that can control which communication signals can communicate between the internal space and the external space. In some situations, a window control system as described herein can be used as part of a LiFi network that can be accessed by personal computing devices such as phones, laptops, and computers, and/or other building systems. The LiFi network provided by the window control system can be used to replace the conventional WiFi network or can be used in combination with the conventional WiFi network. The window-based LiFi network is described herein with reference to FIGS. 10 to 12 and their associated descriptions, for example.

Colorable window-A colorable window (sometimes referred to as an optically switchable window) is a window that exhibits a controllable and reversible change in optical properties when an excitation such as an applied voltage is applied. The tintable window can be used to control the lighting conditions and temperature in the building by adjusting the transmission of solar energy and thus the heat load imposed on the inside of the building. The control can be manual or automatic, and can be used to maintain occupant comfort while reducing energy consumption of heating, air conditioning, and/or lighting systems. In some situations, the tintable window may respond to environmental sensors and user control. In the present invention, colorable windows are most commonly described with reference to electrochromic windows located between the interior and exterior of a building or structure. However, this need not be the case. In some cases, the tintable windows can be located inside the building, for example between the conference room and the corridor. In some cases, tintable windows can be used in cars, trains, airplanes, and other vehicles. The tintable window can be operated using a liquid crystal device, a suspended particle device, or any technology now known or later developed technology that is configured to control light transmission through the window.

~0.3))中之嵌入使氧化鎢自透明狀態改變至藍色狀態。如本文中所描述之EC裝置塗層 位於可著色窗之可檢視部分內，使得EC裝置塗層之著色可用以控制可著色窗之光學狀態。 Electrochromic (EC) device coating-An EC device coating (sometimes referred to as an EC device (ECD)) is a coating that includes at least one layer of electrochromic material that is applied when a potential is applied across the EC device The material layer exhibits a change from one optical state to another. The transition of the electrochromic layer from one optical state to another can be caused by reversible ion insertion into the electrochromic material (eg, by means of intercalation) and corresponding injection of charge-balanced electrons. In some cases, ions responsible for a certain fraction of the optical transformation are irreversibly bound in the electrochromic material. In many EC devices, some or all of the irreversibly bound ions can be used to compensate for the "blind charge" in the material. In some embodiments, suitable ions include lithium ions (Li+) and hydrogen ions (H+) (ie, protons). In some other embodiments, other ions may be suitable. Lithium ions such as tungsten oxide (WO _3-y (0<y

~0.3)) embedding changes tungsten oxide from transparent state to blue state. The EC device coating as described herein is located within the viewable portion of the tintable window, so that the coloration of the EC device coating can be used to control the optical state of the tintable window.

A schematic cross-section of an electrochromic device 100 according to some embodiments is shown in FIG. The EC device 100 includes a substrate 102, a transparent conductive layer (TCL) 104, an electrochromic layer (EC) 106 (sometimes referred to as a cathode dye layer or a cathode color layer), an ion conductive layer or region (IC ) 108, a counter electrode (CE) 110 (sometimes referred to as an anode dyeing layer or anode coloring layer), and a second TCL 114. The elements 104, 106, 108, 110, and 114 collectively constitute the electrochromic stack 120. A voltage source 116 operable to apply a potential across the electrochromic stack 120 achieves the transition of the electrochromic coating from, for example, a clear state to a colored state. In other embodiments, the order of the layers is reversed with respect to the substrate. That is, the layers are in the following order: substrate, TCL, counter electrode layer, ion conductive layer, electrochromic material layer, TCL.

In various embodiments, the ion conductor region 108 may be formed from a portion of the EC layer 106 and/or from a portion of the CE layer 110. In such embodiments, the electrochromic stack 120 may be deposited to include a cathode dyed electrochromic material (EC layer) in direct physical contact with the anode dyed counter electrode material (CE layer). Ion conductor region 108 (sometimes referred to as an interface region or ionically conductive substantially electrically insulating layer or region) may then be formed where EC layer 106 and CE layer 110 meet, for example, via heating and/or other processing steps. Electrochromic devices manufactured without depositing dissimilar conductor materials are further discussed in US Patent Application No. 13/462,725, entitled "Electrochromic Devices (ELECTROCHROMIC DEVICES)" filed on May 2, 2012 The patent application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. In some embodiments, the EC device coating may also include one or more additional layers, such as one or more passive layers. For example, the passive layer can be used to improve certain optical properties to provide moisture resistance or scratch resistance. These or other passive layers may also provide services to hermetically seal the EC stack 120. In addition, various layers including transparent conductive layers (such as 104 and 114) can be treated with anti-reflection or protective oxide or nitride layers.

In some embodiments, the electrochromic device reversibly cycles between a clear state and a colored state. In the clear state, a potential is applied to the electrochromic stack 120, so that available ions in the stack that can make the electrochromic material 106 in a colored state mainly reside in the opposing electrode 110. When the potential applied to the electrochromic stack is reversed, ions are transported across the ion conductive layer 108 to the electrochromic material 106 and put the material into a colored state.

It should be understood that the reference to the transition between the clear state and the coloring state is non-limiting and suggests only one of many examples of electrochromic transitions that can be implemented. Unless otherwise specified herein, as long as reference is made to the transition between the clear state and the coloring state, the corresponding device or procedure covers other optical state transitions, such as non-reflective to reflective, transparent to opaque, etc. In addition, the terms "clear" and "bleaching" refer to optically neutral states, such as uncolored, transparent, or translucent. Furthermore, unless otherwise specified herein, the "color" or "hue" of the electrochromic transition is not limited to any particular wavelength or range of wavelengths. As understood by those skilled in the art, the appropriate electrochromic and counter electrode material selection controls the related optical transitions.

In some embodiments, all materials that make up the electrochromic stack 120 are inorganic, solid (ie, in a solid state), or both inorganic and solid. Because organic materials tend to degrade over time, especially when colored building windows are exposed to heat and UV, inorganic materials give the advantage of a reliable electrochromic stack that can function for extended periods of time. Materials in solid form also give the advantage of not containing containment and leakage problems, because materials in liquid form often have containment and leakage problems. It should be understood that any one or more of the layers in the stack may contain a certain amount of organic material, but in many embodiments, one or more of the layers contain little or no organic matter. The same can be said for liquids that can be present in small amounts in one or more layers. It should also be understood that solid materials may be deposited or otherwise formed by processes using liquid components (such as certain processes using sol-gel or chemical vapor deposition).

2 shows a cross-sectional view of an example tintable window in the form of IGU 200 in accordance with some implementations. In general, unless stated otherwise, the terms "IGU", "colorable window" and "optically switchable window" are used interchangeably. For example, the convention described here is usually used because it is common and because IGU may need to be used to provide an electrochromic pane (also known as a "window") for installation in The basic structure of holding electrochromic panes in buildings. The IGU window or pane can be a single substrate or a multi-substrate configuration, such as a laminate of two substrates. IGU, especially IGU with dual-pane or triple-pane configuration can provide several advantages over single-pane configuration; for example, when compared with single-pane configuration, multi-pane configuration can provide enhanced Thermal insulation, noise insulation, environmental protection and/or durability. For example, the multi-pane configuration can also provide increased protection of ECD because the electrochromic film and associated layers and conductive interconnects can be formed on the inner surface of the multi-pane IGU and be The inert gas filling in the internal volume 208 of the IGU is protected. The inert gas filler provides at least some of the (thermal) insulation functions of the IGU. Electrochromic IGUs have added thermal barrier capabilities by means of colorable coatings that absorb (or reflect) heat and light.

FIG. 2 more specifically shows an example implementation of an IGU 200 that includes a first pane 204 with a first surface S1 and a second surface S2. In some embodiments, the first surface S1 of the first pane 204 faces the external environment, such as outdoor or external environment. The IGU 200 also includes a second pane 206 having a first surface S3 and a second surface S4. In some embodiments, the second surface S4 of the second pane 206 faces an internal environment, such as an internal environment of a house, building, or vehicle, or a room or compartment within the house, building, or vehicle.

In some implementations, each of the first pane 204 and the second pane 206 is transparent, or at least translucent to light in the visible light spectrum. For example, each of the panes 204 and 206 may be formed from glass materials, and in particular from architectural glass or other shatter-resistant glass materials such as silicon oxide (SO _x )-based glass materials. As a more specific example, each of the first pane 204 and the second pane 206 may be a soda lime glass substrate or a float glass substrate. Such a glass substrate may be composed of, for example, about 75% of silicon dioxide (SiO ₂ ) as well as Na ₂ O, CaO, and several trace additives. However, each of the first pane 204 and the second pane 206 may be formed of any material with suitable optical, electrical, thermal, and mechanical properties. For example, other suitable substrates that can be used as one or both of the first pane 204 and the second pane 206 may include other glass materials as well as plastic, semi-plastic, and thermoplastic materials (eg, poly(methacrylic acid Ester), polystyrene, polycarbonate, allyl diethylene glycol carbonate, styrene acrylonitrile copolymer (SAN); poly(4-methyl-1-pentene), polyester, Polyamide) or mirror material. In some implementations, each of the first pane 204 and the second pane 206 can be strengthened, for example, by tempering, heating, or chemical strengthening.

Frequently, each of the first pane 204 and the second pane 206 and the IGU 200 are generally rectangular solids. However, in some embodiments, other shapes are possible and may be needed (eg, circular, elliptical, triangular, curvilinear, convex or concave shapes). In some specific implementations, the length "L" of each of the first pane 204 and the second pane 206 may be between about 20 inches (inch, in.) to about 10 feet (foot, ft.) Within the range, the width "W" of each of the first pane 204 and the second pane 206 may be in the range of about 20 inches to about 10 feet, and the first pane 204 and the second pane 206 The thickness "T" of each can be in the range of about 0.3 millimeters (mm) to about 10 mm (but other lengths, widths or thicknesses (both smaller and larger) are possible and can be based on specific users, Managers, Administrators, Builders, Architects or Owners are desirable). In the example where the thickness T of the substrate 204 is less than 3 mm, the substrate is usually laminated to an extra substrate that is thicker and thus protects the thin substrate 204. Additionally, although the IGU 200 includes two panes (204 and 206), in some other implementations, the IGU may include three or more than three panes. Furthermore, in some embodiments, one or more of the panes may itself be a laminated structure having two, three, or more than three layers or sub-panes.

In the illustrated example, the first pane 204 and the second pane 206 are spaced apart from each other by a spacer 218 to form an internal volume 208, which is usually a frame structure. In some embodiments, the internal volume is filled with argon (Ar), but in some other embodiments, the internal volume 208 may be filled with another gas, such as another inert gas (eg, krypton (Kr) or xenon ( Xe)), another (non-inert) gas or gas mixture (eg, air). Filling the internal volume 208 with gases such as Ar, Kr, or Xe may reduce heat transfer through the IGU 200 due to the low thermal conductivity of these gases, and improve sound insulation due to the increase in atomic weight. In some other embodiments, the internal volume 208 may be evacuated of air or other gases. The spacer 218 generally determines the height "C" of the internal volume 208; that is, the interval between the first pane 204 and the second pane 206. In FIG. 2, the thicknesses of ECD, sealant 220/222, and bus bars 226/228 are not to scale; these components are usually extremely thin, but they are only exaggerated here for ease of explanation. In some embodiments, the spacing "C" between the first pane 204 and the second pane 206 is in the range of about 6 mm to about 30 mm. The width "D" of the spacer 218 may be in the range of about 5 mm to about 25 mm (although other widths are possible and may be desirable).

Although not shown in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 2, the spacer 218 is generally a frame structure formed around all sides of the IGU 200 (eg, the top, bottom, left, and right sides of the IGU 200). For example, the spacer 218 may be formed of foam or plastic material. However, in some other embodiments, the spacer 218 may be formed of a metal or other conductive material, for example, a metal sleeve or channel structure with at least 3 sides, two sides for sealing to each of the substrates And one side is used to support and separate the window and serve as a surface for applying the sealant 224. The first primary seal 220 adheres and hermetically seals the spacer 218 and the second surface S2 of the first pane 204. The second primary seal 222 adheres and hermetically seals the first surface S3 of the spacer 218 and the second pane 206. In some embodiments, each of the primary seals 220 and 222 may be formed of an adhesive sealant such as polyisobutylene (PIB). In some embodiments, the IGU 200 further includes a secondary seal 224 that is hermetically sealed outside the spacer 218 around the entire IGU 200 boundary. For this purpose, the spacer 218 may be inserted a distance "E" from the edges of the first pane 204 and the second pane 206. The distance "E" may range from about 4 mm to about 8 mm (although other distances are possible and may be desirable). In some embodiments, the secondary seal 224 may be formed from: an adhesive sealant, such as a waterproof and polymeric material that adds structural support to the assembly, such as polysiloxane, polyurethane, and forming a watertight seal Similar structural sealant.

In the implementation shown in FIG. 2, the ECD 210 is formed on the second surface S2 of the first pane 204. In some other implementations, the ECD 210 may be formed on another suitable surface, such as the first surface S1 of the first pane 204, the first surface S3 of the second pane 206, or the second surface of the second pane 206 S4. The ECD 210 includes an electrochromic ("EC") stack, which may itself include one or more layers as described with reference to FIG. In the illustrated example, the EC stack includes layers 212, 214, and 216.

Window Controller -The window controller is associated with one or more tintable windows and is configured to control the optical state of the window by applying excitation to the window, such as by applying voltage or current to the EC device coating . The window controller as described herein may have many sizes, formats, and locations relative to the optically switchable window it controls. Generally, the controller can be attached to the window of the IGU or laminate, but it can also be tied in a frame that houses the IGU or laminate or even in a separate location. As mentioned previously, the tintable window may include one, two, three, or more than three individual electrochromic panes (electrochromic devices on a transparent substrate). In addition, individual panes of the electrochromic window may have electrochromic coatings that have independently colorable partitions. A controller as described herein can control all electrochromic coatings associated with such windows, whether the electrochromic coating is monomeric or partitioned.

If not directly attached to the tintable window, IGU or frame, the window controller is usually located near the tintable window, or at least in the same building as the window. For example, the window controller may be adjacent to the window, on the surface of one of the windows' windows, within the wall close to the window or within the frame of the individual window assembly. In some embodiments, the window controller is a "field" controller; that is, the controller is part of the window assembly, IGU, or laminate, and may not necessarily match the electrochromic window and be installed in the field, such as to control The device is transferred from the factory together with the window as part of the assembly. The controller can be installed in the window frame of the window assembly, or be part of the IGU or laminate assembly, such as installed on the pane of the IGU or the pane of the laminate or installed on the pane or layer of the IGU Between the panes of pressure. In the case where the controller is located on the visible part of the IGU, at least a part of the controller may be substantially transparent. Other examples of controllers on glass are provided in US Patent Application No. 14/951,410, entitled "Independent EC IGU (SELF CONTAINED EC IGU)", which was applied on November 14, 2015, and the patent application is cited in full Is incorporated into this article. In some embodiments, the local controller may be provided as more than one component, wherein at least one component (e.g., a memory component that includes information storing associated electrochromic windows) is provided as one component of the window assembly, and At least one other component is separate and configured to cooperate with at least one component that is a component of a window assembly, IGU, or laminate. In some embodiments, the controller may be an assembly of interconnected components that are not in a single housing but are spaced apart (eg, in the secondary seal of the IGU). In other embodiments, the controller is a compact unit, for example in a single housing or in a combination of two or more components such as docking and housing assemblies, the compact unit is close to glass and not in a viewable area Or install on the glass in the viewable area.

In one embodiment, the window controller is incorporated into or on the IGU and/or window frame before being installed in the tintable window. In one embodiment, the controller is incorporated into or on the IGU and/or window frame before leaving the manufacturing facility. In one embodiment, the controller is incorporated into the IGU, substantially within the secondary seal. In another embodiment, the controller is incorporated into or on the IGU, partially, substantially or completely within the perimeter defined by the main seal between the sealing divider and the substrate.

In the case where the controller is part of the IGU and/or window assembly, the IGU may possess the logic and features of the controller that is transferred with the IGU or window unit, for example. For example, when the controller is part of the IGU assembly, in the case where the characteristics of the electrochromic device change over time (eg, via degradation), the characterization function can be used, for example, to update the control parameter. In another example, if installed in the electrochromic window unit, the logic and characteristics of the controller can be used to calibrate the control parameters to match the desired installation, and for example, if installed, the control parameters can be recalibrated To match the performance characteristics of the electrochromic pane.

In other embodiments, the controller is not pre-associated with the window, but, for example, a docking assembly with components common to any electrochromic window is associated with each window at the factory. After the window is installed or otherwise in the field, the second component of the controller is combined with the docking component to complete the electrochromic window controller assembly. The docking assembly may include a wafer that is attached at the factory by a docking member to a specific window (for example, a surface that will face the interior of the building after installation, sometimes referred to as surface 4 or "S4") Physical characteristics and parameters are programmed. The second component (sometimes referred to as "carrier", "housing", "housing" or "controller") is mated with the docking member, and when powered, the second component can read the chip and store it on the chip according to Specific characteristics and parameters to configure itself to power the window. In this way, the shipped window only needs to have its associated parameters stored on the chip integrated with the window, and more complex circuitry and components can be combined later (eg, shipped separately and by the window manufacturer in the glass After the worker has installed the window, it is installed, followed by commissioning by the window manufacturer). Various embodiments will be described in more detail below. In some embodiments, the chip is included in a wire or wire connector attached to the window controller. Such wires with connectors are sometimes referred to as pigtail fibers.

As indicated above, "IGU" includes two (or more than two) substantially transparent substrates, such as two glass panes, at least one of which includes an electrochromic device disposed thereon, and the pane has The partition (spacer) placed therebetween. IGUs are usually hermetically sealed so as to have an internal area isolated from the surrounding environment. "Window assembly" may include an IGU or, for example, a separate laminate, and include electrical leads for connecting the IGU, laminate, and/or one or more electrochromic devices to a voltage source, switch, and the like , And may include a frame supporting IGU or laminate. The window assembly may include a window controller as described herein, and/or components (eg, docking members) of the window controller.

As used herein, the term outside means closer to the external environment, and the term inside means closer to the interior of the building. For example, in the case of an IGU with two panes, the pane located closer to the external environment is called the outer pane or outer pane, and the pane located closer to the interior of the building is called As the inner pane or inner pane. As marked in Figure 2, the different surfaces of the IGU can be referred to as S1, S2, S3, and S4 (assuming a dual pane IGU). S1 refers to the exterior-facing surface of the outside window (ie, the surface that can be physically touched by someone standing outside). S2 refers to the inner facing surface of the outer window. S3 refers to the outward facing surface of the inside window. S4 refers to the interior-facing surface of the inside window (that is, the surface that can be physically touched by someone standing inside the building). In other words, starting from the outermost surface of the IGU and counting inward, the surfaces are labeled S1 to S4. In the case where the IGU contains three panes, use this same convention (where S6 is a surface that can be physically touched by someone standing inside the building). In some embodiments using two panes, an electrochromic device (or other optically switchable device) is placed on S3.

Other examples of window controllers and their characteristics are presented in the following; US patent application filed on April 17, 2012 and entitled "CONTROLLER FOR OPTICALLY-SWITCHABLE WINDOWS" No. 13/449,248; US Patent Application No. 13/449,251 filed on April 17, 2012 and entitled "CONTROLLER FOR OPTICALLY-SWITCHABLE WINDOWS"; October 2016 US Patent Application No. 15/334,835, filed on the 26th and entitled "CONTROLLERS FOR OPTICALLY-SWITCHABLE DEVICES"; and filed on March 3, 2017, and entitled "Commissioning International Patent Application No. PCT/US17/20805 of "METHOD OF COMMISSIONING ELECTROCHROMIC WINDOWS", each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Window control system-When a building is equipped with tintable windows, the window controllers can be connected to each other and/or other entities via a communication network sometimes referred to as a window control network or window network. A network and various devices (eg, controllers and sensors) connected via a network (eg, wired or wireless power transmission and/or communication) are referred to herein as a window control system. The window control network can provide tone commands to the window controller, and window information to the main controller or other network entities, and the like. Examples of window information include the current tone state or other information collected by the window controller. In some cases, the window controller has one or more associated sensors that provide the sensed information via the network, including, for example, light sensors, temperature sensors, occupancy sensors, and/or gas sensors Device. In some cases, the information transmitted via the window communication network does not have to affect the window control. For example, information received at a first window configured to receive WiFi or LiFi signals can be transmitted via a communication network to a second window configured to wirelessly broadcast the information as, for example, WiFi or LiFi signals. The window control network need not be limited to providing information for controlling the tintable windows, but can also communicate communication information for other devices that interface with the communication network, such as HVAC systems, lighting systems, security systems, Personal computing devices and the like.

FIG. 3 provides an example of the control network 301 of the window control system 300. The network can distribute both control commands and feedback, and act as a power distribution network. The main controller 302 communicates and functions in conjunction with a plurality of network controllers 304, each of which can address a plurality of windows that apply voltage or current to control the tone state of one or more optically switchable windows 308 Controller 306 (sometimes referred to herein as a leaf controller). Communication between NC 304, WC 306, and window 308 may occur via a wired (eg, Ethernet) or via a wireless (eg, WiFi or LiFi) connection. In some embodiments, the main network controller 302 issues high-level commands (such as the final tonal state of the electrochromic window) to the NC 304, and the NC 304 then communicates the commands to the corresponding WC 308. Generally, the main network controller 302 can be configured to communicate with one or more externally facing networks 309. The window control network 301 may include any suitable number of distributed controllers having various capabilities or functions, and does not need to be configured in the hierarchical structure depicted in FIG. 3. As discussed elsewhere herein, the control network 301 can also be used as a communication network between decentralized controllers (eg, 302, 304, 306) acting as communication nodes to other devices or systems (eg, 309) road.

In some embodiments, the outward-facing network 309 is part of or connected to a building management system (BMS). BMS is a computer-based control system that can be installed in a building to monitor and control the mechanical and electrical equipment of the building. BMS can be configured to control the operation of HVAC systems, lighting systems, power systems, elevators, fire protection systems, security systems, and other security systems. BMS is frequently used in large buildings where the BMS functions to control the environment within the building. For example, BMS can monitor and control lighting, temperature, carbon dioxide content, and humidity in buildings. In this case, BMS can control the operation of boilers, air conditioners, blowers, vents, gas lines, water lines, and the like. In order to control the environment of the building, BMS can switch on and off these various devices according to rules established by, for example, the building manager. One function of BMS is to maintain a comfortable environment for the occupants of the building. In some implementations, the BMS can be configured to not only monitor and control building conditions, but also optimize the synergy between various systems, such as to save energy and reduce building operating costs. In some embodiments, the BMS may be configured with disaster response. For example, the BMS can initiate the use of backup generators and disconnect water and gas lines. In some situations, BMS has more centralized applications—for example, simply controlling HVAC systems—and parallel systems such as lighting systems, tintable windows, and/or security systems are standalone or interact with BMS. In other situations, the BMS integrates the functionality of a separate system or is integrated into the functionality of a separate system. For example, in one embodiment, the main controller 302 for controlling the tintable window may provide additional functionality of the BMS.

In some embodiments, the window control network 301 itself can provide services to buildings that are typically provided by BMS. In some cases, window controllers 302, 304, and 306 may give computing resources that can be used in other building systems. For example, the controllers on the window control network may individually or collectively execute software for one or more BMS applications as previously described. In some situations, the window control network 301 may provide communication to other building systems and/or provide power to other building systems. An example of how a window control network can be provided to monitor and/or control other systems in a building is further described on May 25, 2018 and is entitled "TINTABLE WINDOW SYSTEM for Building Services (TINTABLE WINDOW SYSTEM FOR BUILDING SERVICES)'s International Patent Application No. PCT/US18/29460, said international patent application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

In some embodiments, the network 309 is a remote network. For example, the network 309 can be operated in the cloud or on a device remote from a building with optically switchable windows. In some embodiments, the network 309 is a network that provides information or allows control of the optically switchable window via a remote wireless device. In some cases, the network 309 contains seismic event detection logic. Other examples of window control systems and their features are presented in US Patent Application No. 15/334,832, entitled "CONTROLLERS FOR OPTICALLY-SWITCHABLE DEVICES", filed on October 26, 2016 And International Patent Application No. PCT/US17/62634, entitled "AUTOMATED COMMISSIONING OF CONTROLLERS IN A WINDOW NETWORK", filed on November 23, 2016, Two patent applications are incorporated by reference in their entirety.

Affect the characteristics of LIFI window

LiFi and RF shield

In some embodiments, the window is equipped with a LiFi shield that blocks or substantially attenuates the LiFi signal from passing through the window. In some embodiments, the LiFi shield is also configured to block and/or attenuate radio frequency ("radio frequency; RF") transmission corresponding to, for example, Bluetooth or WiFi communications. Such shields are sometimes referred to as electromagnetic interference (EMI) shields. Since LiFi communications operate on a line-of-sight basis, LiFi shielded windows can be effectively used to regulate communications entering and/or leaving rooms or buildings. In some cases, the LiFi shield blocks light in all frequency bands used for LiFi communication from passing through the window, and in some cases, the LiFi shield only blocks certain frequency ranges corresponding to, for example, the LiFi communication protocol Light. For example, the LiFi protocol sometimes uses the first frequency band to carry data, and uses different frequency bands that generally do not overlap to carry control signals. If the LiFi data is carried in the visible frequency range and the LiFi control signal is carried in the infrared frequency range, then the LiFi shield can selectively block only the infrared frequency range.

In some embodiments, the shielding feature of the tintable window is controllable, and the LiFi shield can be switched between an on state and an off state. The firewall logic operating on the window control network can be used to determine the time to block LiFi communication by, for example, applying a potential or other driver to the LiFi shield, which causes the shield to be between a blocked state and a non-blocked state change.

In some embodiments, the LiFi blocking feature of the tintable window (eg, provided by a LiFi shielding film) is passive and is always enabled. This may be appropriate in certain privacy or security applications, such as secure rooms, where the privacy or control of communication is always required. Passive shielding features are usually limited to a specific limited frequency range in the infrared, ultraviolet, and/or visible spectrum. The passive shielding layer cannot block the entire range of the visible spectrum-otherwise the occupants will never be able to view through the window. Therefore, "always on" LiFi shields are usually limited to situations where LiFi communication requires at least some communication to occur outside the visible part of the EM spectrum. In some cases, the passive shield can effectively block the visible light communication required by LiFi by selectively blocking the narrow-band visible light. For example, a passive shield can block LiFi communication by blocking a frequency band having a wavelength range of less than about 50 nm or then less than about 10 nm or then less than about 5 nm, thus only causing a slight observable difference (if noticeable).

LiFi blocking occurs when LiFi transmission is absorbed or otherwise prevented by one or more physical layers of a LiFi shield. In some embodiments, LiFi blocking occurs when LiFi transmission is reflected, scattered, and/or diffracted by the shield. For example, low emissivity ("low e") films are commonly used in conventional windows to reflect infrared light and improve the insulation of buildings. In some embodiments, the LiFi shield blocks LiFi using both reflection and absorption. In some embodiments, a reflective layer can be placed between the absorption layers to increase attenuation at certain LiFi communication frequencies.

In some embodiments, the electrochromic device coating or another colored structural coating also acts as a LiFi shield. Therefore, the EC device coating can serve to block LiFi communication while providing coloration at the visible wavelength of light. In some embodiments, the EC layer, the IC layer, the CE layer, the TCL, or a combination of such layers (see FIG. 1: 104 to 110) is designed so that one or more layers absorb spectrum and LiFi communication takes place Radiation in the area.

In one example, it is known that LiFi communication occurs in the infrared region (or possibly the UV region) of the spectrum, and the first or second transparent conductive layer (104 or 114) is designed to transmit visible light but block IR light. In other examples, the electrochromic layer is configured so that it always blocks radiation in the region where LiFi transmission of the spectrum occurs, but variably transmits radiation in the visible portion of the spectrum. Of course, this assumes that LiFi transmission does not only occur in the visible area. In yet another example, some part of the visible region of the spectrum is required for LiFi transmission, while other regions of the visible spectrum are not required. In this situation, coloring can attenuate light transmission across the entire visible spectrum, while specific wavelengths used for LiFi transmission are always blocked or selectively blocked. In some embodiments, colorable window coloring is only effective in reducing wavelength transmission that is not used for LiFi communication.

In some cases, the operation of the electrochromic device coating itself is used to control LiFi transmission. Under such conditions, LiFi transmission or no LiFi transmission is consistent with the optical state of the tintable window. When the potential is applied to drive the hue of the tintable window to change, the absorption of the LiFi signal is correspondingly affected. An EC window in a clear or slightly colored state may be substantially transparent to visible light and allow a certain LiFi transmission, while an EC window in a darker tone state may have a sufficiently low visible light transmittance ("visual light transmittance; VLT") And attenuate the LiFi signal to an amount that can no longer be detected by the LiFi receiver. Since the tintable window does not transition to a completely opaque state, the electrochromic device coating only attenuates rather than completely blocks LiFi transmission in the visible range. Often, the attenuation of the LiFi signal is all that is needed to interrupt LiFi communication. Attenuation of the LiFi band to less than about 60%, less than about 40%, less than about 10%, or less than about 5% may be sufficient to interrupt LiFi communication under some conditions. For example, when communications on both sides of the window are using light of the same frequency, this attenuation may be sufficient to prevent LiFi communications on one side of the window from interfering with LiFi communications on the other side of the window. In other cases, the attenuation may only be sufficient to reduce the strength of the LiFi signal to below the level required to use the LiFi receiver to receive the LiFi signal. Due to the non-linear relationship between the transmittance and the perceptible difference in the color tone of the window, the attenuation or absorption rate does not have a 1:1 correlation with the perceptible color tone of the window. The perceived color effect is more closely aligned with the optical density, defined as the absolute value of the common logarithm of transmittance. Corresponding to this relationship, the human eye is more sensitive to changes in the window tone state in the low transmittance state. Therefore, under some conditions, sufficient attenuation of the LiFi signal in the visible spectrum can still be achieved without adjusting the tintable window to the darkest tone. For example, if the electrochromic window is configured to five optical tonal states (clear or TS 0, TS 1, TS 2) ranging from substantially clear (TS 0) to fully colored (TS 4) , TS 3 and TS 4), even the transition between TS 1 and TS 2 in a more transparent state or tonal state such as TS 0 and TS 1 can be enough to make the LiFi shield in the on state and off state Switch between. In one embodiment, the tintable window is configured with five optical tone states TS 0, TS 1, TS 2, TS 3, and TS 4, which have approximately 82%, 58%, 40%, 7%, and 1 respectively % Visible light transmittance. In some cases, the attenuation provided by adjusting between these tonal states may be sufficient to switch LiFi shielding.

The operation of the electrochromic device may be even more effective for blocking LiFi communication using infrared light. For example, the blacker tone states (eg TS 3 and TS 4) from the above example can substantially block infrared LiFi transmission, thereby reducing the transmission of infrared bands used for LiFi communication by less than about 3% and less than about 1% or less than about 0.1% in some cases. Therefore, the electrochromic device coating may be sufficient to use infrared light to selectively block LiFi communication using visible light under some conditions.

In some embodiments, the tintable window has a LiFi shield separate from the EC device coating of the tintable window. The LiFi absorption structure is generally one or more layers that are parallel (or substantially parallel) to the layer (or other colorable layer) of the EC device coating. In some embodiments, the LiFi shield has a surface that extends coextensive with the viewable area (sometimes referred to as the "visual area") of the electrochromic device coating. The coating may have the same footprint as the electrochromic device coating. However, this is not necessary, as long as the LiFi shield extends to the edge of the viewable area, thus blocking light in and out through the window.

The position of the LiFi shielding layer is positioned in parallel or substantially parallel orientation with the EC device. In some embodiments, the LiFi shield is separated from the EC device coating by a distance such that when, for example, the LiFi shield is switched between an on state and an off state, the potential applied to the EC device coating does not affect the LiFi shielding structure Performance. In the case where the shielding layer and the colorable layer are separated by air or an inert gas such as argon, the separation distance may be at least about 1 mm, or between about 5 and 50 mm. In some cases, the LiFi shield is separated from the EC device coating by a dielectric material. When separated by a dielectric material, the separation distance may be at least about 1 mm, or between about 1 and 10 mm.

In the case where the colorable window is an IGU or other multi-window colorable window structure, there are several configurations for placing LiFi shields and EC device coatings. Consider, for example, the IGU depicted in FIG. 2 where the EC device coating is on S2 of the window 204. In some embodiments, the LiFi shielding structure may be located on the same window as the EC coating (S1). In some embodiments, the LiFi shielding structure is located on different windows (S3 or S4 of window 206). This configuration can be beneficial to provide electrical insulation when the LiFi shield includes an electrical ground layer or layers held at a specific potential during LiFi blocking mode. In other embodiments, both the LiFi shielding structure and the EC device coating can be located on the same side of the same window (S2). In the last situation, the shielding layer may be between the substrate 204 and the EC device coating, or between the EC device coating and the internal volume of the IGU 208. As mentioned, there may be one or more dielectric layers that provide electrical insulation between the EC device coating and the LiFi shielding layer.

4a-4c depict several non-limiting configurations of an EC device coating 402 that is configured to function with LiFi and/or RF shielding layer 404 within an IGU. For clarity, some features have been omitted or not marked. In FIG. 4a, the EC device coating 402 and the LiFi and/or RF shield 404 are located on the split lamp of the IGU. Although the EC device coating 402 and LiFi and/or RF shield 404 are depicted on the inner window surfaces S2 and S3, these layers can also be positioned on the outer facing surfaces S1 and S4. In FIG. 4b, both the EC device coating 402 and the LiFi and/or RF shield 404 are located on S3 of the IGU. Under some conditions, for example, when the shield layer is grounded, the EC device coating 402 and the LiFi and/or RF shield 404 are electrically isolated by the intermediate dielectric layer. Although depicted on surface S3, layers 402, 404, and 406 may instead be tied on S4. 4c depicts an example of an EC device coating 402 on S2 and an LiFi and/or RF shield 404 on S1 of an IGU as an external coating or film. In some cases, in addition to blocking LiFi or RF communication, the LiFi and/or RF shield on the outward-facing surface (S1 or S4) can protect the IGU. It can also be understood that the configurations depicted in FIGS. 4a to 4c can be reversed so that S1 is facing the internal environment rather than the external environment.

Colorable windows can also be configured to provide electromagnetic shielding for structures or buildings, effectively transforming buildings, rooms, or spaces into Faraday cages, with the restriction that the structure itself attenuates electromagnetic signals (for example, the structure is made of materials such as steel or (The conductive material of aluminum is made of or properly grounded so that it can be blocked like the Faraday cage would otherwise block). A window configured for RF shielding can be characterized as sufficiently attenuating electromagnetic transmission across a frequency range, such as between 20 MHz and 10,000 MHz. Of course, some applications may allow for more restricted or more selective attenuation. For example, depending on the structure of the shield, one or more sub-ranges can be excluded from attenuation. RF shields can be used to prevent electromagnetic interference (EMI), allowing sensitive electromagnetic transmission to be observed in shielded spaces or blocking wireless communication and creating private spaces in which 2) external devices are prevented Eavesdropping originates from wireless transmissions in the space. For example, in some embodiments, electromagnetic radiation may be attenuated by about 10dB to 70dB over the selected range, or by about 20dB to 50dB over the selected range. Although the following embodiments are described with reference to blocking RF communications, those of ordinary skill in the art can understand the dimensions of the embodiments discussed herein, in particular the thickness of various layers, which can be used to block higher energy electromagnetic radiation Including infrared, visible and/or ultraviolet LiFi communication for adjustment purposes. Unless otherwise stated, it is intended that all the following embodiments are also applicable to blocking LiFi communication.

In some embodiments, the tintable window is configured to be used for RF or LiFi shielding when one or more layers of conductive material are fabricated to coextensive with the surface of the window sheet to provide attenuation of electromagnetic radiation. In some cases, when the conductive layer is grounded or held at a specific voltage to provide attenuation of electromagnetic radiation, the attenuation effect of the window configured for shielding may be increased. In some cases, one or more layers of conductive material are not connected to ground or an external circuit and have a floating potential. As described herein, the attenuation layer may be a mesh structure with a pitch selected to correspond to the wavelength of radiation sought to be shielded. Electromagnetic shielding for window applications has been previously described in, for example, US5139850A and US5147694A.

In various embodiments, the shielding structure includes a sheet of conductive material that spans an entire area where the transmission of electromagnetic radiation is blocked. For example, the structure can span the entire area of the window. In the case where the shielding structure is made of an opaque or reflective material such as metal (in its bulk form), the structure can be designed to minimize the attenuation of visible radiation while still strongly attenuating the longer commonly used in wireless communications Radiation at wavelength. One way to minimize the attenuation of visible radiation includes an anti-reflection layer next to a conductive layer such as a silver layer. As described herein, in general, the anti-reflection layer will have a different refractive index than the conductive layer it is close to. In some embodiments, the thickness and refractive index of the anti-reflection layer are selected to produce destructive interference of light reflected at the layer interface involving constructive interference of light transmitted through the layer interface. In some cases, the thickness and refractive index of the anti-reflection layer are specifically selected to produce destructive interference at the wavelength used for LiFi communication.

In some embodiments, two or more separate metal layers and an interlayer or anti-reflection layer between the metal layers are used, and together the foregoing effectively attenuate the transmission of electromagnetic radiation in the frequency used for wireless communication while transmitting Most of the radiation in the visible area. A multilayer structure for electromagnetic shielding that contains at least one conductive layer, at least one anti-reflection layer, and optionally an interlayer will be referred to herein as a shielding stack. Examples of the separation distance and thickness of such multilayer structures are shown below.

Some embodiments of the shielding stack are shown in FIG. 5 as sections 510 and 511, each section having at least one conductive layer 502 and at least two anti-reflection layers 501, a crossover layer 502. In the case of the shield stack 511, the interlayer region 503 separates the two conductive layers. The shielding stack can be placed on any surface (or inner area) of the substrate such as S1, S2, S3, S4 of FIG. 2, or any of the electrochromic devices, dielectric layers, transparent displays, or even layers containing window antenna structures On the surface. The shielded stack that can be used to block RF communication through the window is further described in the International Patent Application No. PCT/US17/31106 entitled "Window Antenna (WINDOW ANTENNAS)" and filed on May 4, 2017. The full text of the patent application is incorporated herein. When the shielding stack is disposed on the electrochromic device or antenna layer, the window may include an insulating layer that separates the shielding stack from the device or antenna.

In some embodiments, the shielding stack may include two or more conductive layers 502, where each conductive layer is sandwiched by an anti-reflection layer 501. 6 depicts an example of a shield stack 612 that includes two conductive layers 502 and a shield stack 613 that includes three conductive layers 502. FIG. In some embodiments, four or more conductive layers can be used in a single shielding stack.

In some embodiments, the shielding stack is placed on the mating window of the electrochromic IGU (the second or additional window in the IGU, for example different from the electrochromic window) or as a mating window in the laminate, One of the windows includes an electrochromic device coating and the other windows of the laminate have a shielding stack to selectively block or not block electromagnetic radiation, for example, by grounding the metal layer of the shielding stack with a switch. This function can be incorporated into, for example, an associated window controller. One embodiment is an electrochromic window that includes one window with an electrochromic device coating and another window with a shielding stack as described herein. In one embodiment, the shielding stack is selectively controlled to use the grounding function to shield or not shield. The grounding function can be controlled by the window controller, which also controls the switching function of the electrochromic device. In such embodiments where the shielding stack and the electrochromic device stack are on different substrates, the window may take the form of an IGU, a laminate, or a combination thereof, for example, one or two windows of the IGU are laminated IGU. In one example, the laminate windows of the IGU include a shielding stack, and the non-laminate windows of the IGU include an electrochromic device coating. In another embodiment, the two windows of the IGU are laminates, where one laminate window includes a shielding stack and the other laminate window includes an electrochromic device coating. In still other embodiments, the single laminate includes both the electrochromic device coating and the shield stack. The laminate itself may be a window of an IGU or a window that is not an IGU.

The conductive layer 501 may be made of various conductive materials such as: silver, copper, gold, nickel, aluminum, chromium, platinum, and mixtures, intermetallic compounds, and alloys thereof. The increased height of the conductive layer results in lower sheet resistance and usually produces a greater attenuation effect, however, the increased thickness also increases material cost and can reduce visible light transmittance.

In some embodiments, a conductive layer such as that used in shielding stack 612 may be made of or include a "metal sandwich structure" configuration having two or more different metal sublayers. For example, the metal layer may include a "metal sandwich" structure, such as a structure that includes Cu/Ag/Cu sub-layers instead of, for example, a single Cu layer. In another example, the conductive layer may include a NiCr/metal/NiCr "metal sandwich structure" structure, where the metal sub-layer is one of the aforementioned metals.

In some embodiments, such as when the shielding stack is positioned adjacent to the electrochromic device, the conductive layer or sublayer is a metal alloy. The electromigration resistance of metals can be increased by making alloys. Increasing the electromigration resistance of the metal layer in the metal conductive layer reduces the tendency of the metal to migrate into the electrochromic stack and interfere with the operation of the device. By using metal alloys, the migration of metal into the electrochromic stack can be slowed and/or reduced, which can improve the durability of the electrochromic device. For example, adding a small amount of Cu or Pd to silver can substantially increase the electromigration resistance of silver. In one embodiment, for example, a silver alloy with Cu or Pd is used in the conductive layer to reduce the tendency of silver to migrate into the electrochromic stack to slow or prevent this migration from interfering with normal device operation. In some cases, the conductive sublayer may include an alloy whose oxide has low resistivity. In one example, the metal layer or sublayer may further include another material (eg, Hg, Ge, Sn, Pb, As, Sb, or Bi) as a composite during the preparation of the oxide to increase density and/or decrease Resistivity.

In some embodiments, one or more metal sublayers of the composite conductive layer are transparent. Generally, the thickness of the transparent metal layer is less than 10 nm, for example, about 5 nm or less. In other embodiments, one or more metal layers of the composite conductor are opaque or not completely transparent.

In some cases, an anti-reflection layer is placed on either side of the conductive layer to enhance light transmission through the coated glass substrate with a shielding stack. Generally, the anti-reflection layer is a dielectric material or a metal oxide material. Examples of the anti-reflection layer include indium tin oxide (ITO), In2O3, TiO2, Nb2O5, Ta2O5, SnO2, ZnO, or Bi2O3. In some embodiments, the anti-reflection layer is a tin oxide layer having a thickness in the range of about 15 to 80 nm or about 30 to 50 nm. In general, the thickness of the anti-reflection layer may depend on the thickness of the conductive layer.

In some embodiments, the anti-reflection layer is a material layer having a relative electromagnetic susceptibility to the adjacent conductive metal layer. The electromagnetic susceptibility of a material refers to the ability to polarize in the applied electric field. The greater the magnetic susceptibility, the greater the ability of the material to respond to electric field polarization. Including a layer with a relative magnetic susceptibility can change the wavelength absorption characteristics to increase the transparency of the conductive layer and/or shift the wavelength transmitted through the combined layer. For example, the conductive layer may include a high-refractive-index dielectric material layer (eg, TiO2) adjacent to the metal layer to increase the transparency of the metal layer. In some cases, the added layer with relative magnetic susceptibility adjacent to the metal layer may make the metal layer that is not completely transparent more transparent. For example, a metal layer (for example, a silver layer) having a thickness of about 5 nm to about 30 nm or between about 10 nm and about 25 nm or between about 15 nm and about 25 nm may not be completely transparent by itself. However, when positioned next to an anti-reflection layer with relative magnetic susceptibility (eg, a TiO2 layer on top of the silver layer), the transmission through the combined layer is higher than the transmission of the individual metal or dielectric layers.

In some embodiments, the composite conductive layer may include one or more metal layers and one or more color tuning sub-layers also referred to as index matching sub-layers. These color tuning layers generally have high refractive index, low loss dielectric materials with magnetic susceptibility relative to one or more metal layers. Some examples of materials that can be used in the color tuning layer include silicon oxide, tin oxide, indium tin oxide, and the like. In such embodiments, the thickness and/or material used in one or more color tuning layers changes the absorption characteristics to shift the wavelength transmitted through the combination of material layers. For example, the thickness of one or more color tuning layers can be selected to tune the color of light transmitted through the shield stack. In another example, the tuning layer is selected and configured to reduce the transmission of certain wavelengths (eg, yellow) through the shielding stack. The tuning layer can be used, for example, to block specific frequency bands for communication.

In one embodiment, the shielding stack 510 includes a single layer of silver (or other conductive material) having a thickness of about 15 to 60 nm. Silver with a thickness greater than about 15 nm ensures that a low sheet resistance will be achieved, for example, a sheet resistance of less than 5 ohms/square. In some embodiments, the thickness of the single conductive silver layer will be between 7 and 30 nm, and the single conductive silver layer thus allows sufficient absorption of electromagnetic radiation in the communication frequency while maintaining a sufficiently high light transmittance. In this embodiment, the silver layer may be electrically coupled to ground by physical connection (eg, a bus bar) or by capacitive coupling between a conductive layer and a metal frame that at least partially overlaps the conductive layer.

In another embodiment, the shielding stack 511 includes two silver layers (or two layers of other conductive materials), each silver layer having a thickness of about 7 to 30 nm. It has been found that a shielding panel with reduced light reflection can be generated for a given attenuation compared to when a single but thicker silver layer is used. A conductive layer can be electrically coupled to ground by physical connection (eg, a bus bar) or by capacitive coupling between the conductive layer and a grounded metal frame that at least partially overlaps the conductive layer. The second conductive layer may be capacitively coupled to the first grounded conductive layer, thus connecting the second conductive layer to ground. In some embodiments, both the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer are physically connected to ground. In some embodiments, the two conductive layers have a floating potential (ie, they are not electrically connected to ground or the source of the defined potential). In this embodiment, most of the attenuation can be attributed to the reflection of electromagnetic radiation at the first conductive layer. Other attenuation occurs due to absorption in the interlayer between the conductive layers (or their adjacent anti-reflection layers). This is due to the fact that the path length of the incoming wave is due to the greatly increased reflection between the conductive layers, resulting in the interlayer Significant absorption of internally reflected radiation.

In another embodiment, a shielding stack such as stack 612 or stack 613 includes a silver conductive layer with a floating potential, where each silver layer has a thickness of about 10 nm to 20 nm. The anti-reflection layer, which may be made of indium tin oxide, may have a thickness of about 30 nm to about 40 nm when adjacent to a silver layer, and have a thickness of about 75 nm to about 85 nm when interposed between two silver layers.

In some embodiments, the interlayer may be made of several materials that are transparent to short-wave electromagnetic radiation in the visible spectrum while absorbing frequencies with longer wavelengths used for communication. The interlayer may be a single layer or a composite layer including several material layers. If the electrochromic window is manufactured without an insulating gas layer, or if the IGU includes additional windows placed between windows 204 and 206, such as polyvinyl butyral (“polyvinyl butyral; PVB”) or polyurethane Cast resin can be used as an interlayer to laminate two windows together, each with a conductive layer on top. In other embodiments, a single window sheet may be composed of two or more thin glass (or plastic) sheets laminated using an interlayer resin. In some embodiments, when a resin such as PVB is used, the thickness of the interlayer is in the range of about 0.25 mm to about 1.5 mm.

In yet another embodiment, the outer surface of a substrate (for example, S1 or S4) is coated with a transparent wear-resistant coating that includes a conductive semiconductor metal oxide layer that can be used to shield the stack or a portion of it . In the depicted embodiment, the window also includes a shielding stack 510 with a single layer of silver (or other conductive material) having a thickness of, for example, between about 15 and 50 nm, placed on the inner surface of the glass One of them (for example, S3 or S4), such as on the surface without an electrochromic stack or window antenna. If desired, the interlayer can be placed anywhere between the metal oxide layer and the shield stack to increase the absorption of reflected waves between the two conductive layers. In some cases, the metal oxide layer and the shield stack are placed on opposite windows of the IGU, so that there is a gap between the metal oxide layer and the shield stack. As an example, the wear-resistant coating may be made of metal oxides such as tin-doped indium oxide, doped tin oxide, antimony oxide, and the like. In this embodiment, the conductive layer and the wear-resistant coating are electrically coupled to ground by physical connection (eg, bus bar) or by, for example, capacitive coupling between the conductive layer and the metal frame, the grounded metal frame and The layers overlap at least partially.

When a shield stack with a single conductive layer (eg, 510) is used in combination with a semiconductor metal oxide layer, or when a shield stack with two conductive layers (eg, 511) is used, the required attenuation requirements for RF or LiFi transmission are achieved The spacing between the conductive layers may depend on the composition (eg, glass, air, gas, or EC device layer) and thickness of the layer between the two conductive layers.

The layers described for electromagnetic shielding can be manufactured using a variety of deposition processes, including other deposition processes used to manufacture electrochromic devices. In some cases, the steps for depositing the shield stack can be integrated into the manufacturing process for depositing the electrochromic device. Generally speaking, a shielding stack or a wear-resistant coating of a semiconductor metal oxide can be deposited on the substrate by physical and/or chemical vapor techniques at any step in the manufacturing process (eg, substrate 204 or 206 of FIG. 2) on. The individual layers (501, 502, and 503) of the shield stack are generally well suited for deposition by physical vapor deposition techniques such as sputtering. In some cases, the silver (or other metal) layer is deposited by techniques such as cold spray or liquid-based processes such as coating with metallic ink. In the case where a resin material such as PVB is used, the interlayer may be formed through a lamination process in which two substrates (having one or more layers thereon if necessary) are bonded together.

In yet another embodiment, a shielding stack for blocking RF or LiFi communication is incorporated into a flexible film, hereinafter referred to as a shielding film, which can be adhered or otherwise mounted to the window. For example, the IGU can be configured for electromagnetic shielding by attaching a shielding film to the surface S1 or S4 of the IGU window. Alternatively, during the assembly of the IGU, the window may be configured for shielding by attaching a shielding film to the surface S2 or S3 of the IGU window. The shielding film can also be embedded in the laminate and used as a mating window for the electrochromic IGU as described herein. For example, the IGU can be constructed so that S2 has an electrochromic film, and the mating window of the IGU is a laminate with a shielding film inside the two windows constituting the laminate.

The shielding film can block RF, IR and/or UV signals. For example, commercially available films such as SD2500/SD2510, SD 1000/SD 1010, and DAS ShieldTM films sold by Signals Defense of Owings Mills, Maryland may be suitable for the embodiments described herein .

7 depicts an embodiment of a shielding film 700 that can be installed on the surface of a window to provide electromagnetic shielding. The first thin film layer 701 is a constrained outer layer, and the shield stack 702 is deposited on the constrained outer layer. Next, the laminated adhesive layer 703 is used to bond the shield stack to the second film layer 704 so that the shield stack 701 is encapsulated within the flexible film (layers 701 and 704). Then, the mounting adhesive layer 705 can be used to bond the shielding film structure to the surface of the window. In some embodiments, an additional protective layer may be located on the surface 710. The protective layer changes under the window environment, and may include materials such as epoxy resin, resin, or any natural or synthetic material that provides sufficient protection for the shielding film structure. In some embodiments, the thin film structure 700 may be different from the illustrative embodiment depicted in FIG. 7. For example, in some embodiments, installing the adhesion layer can directly bond the shield stack 702 to the window surface, and the laminate layer 703 and the second film layer 704 can be omitted. In some embodiments, the total thickness of the shielding film when installed on the window is between about 25 μm and 1000 μm.

Many materials are suitable for the film layers 701 and 704, the laminated adhesive layer 703, and the mounting adhesive layer 704. In general, the material selected should be transparent to visible light and have a sufficiently low haze so that the optical properties of the window are not substantially reduced. Of course, this assumption is that the purpose of the shielding stack is not to block visible light communication. In some embodiments, the film layer has a thickness of less than about 300 μm (for example, a thickness between about 10 μm and 275 μm), and is made of a thermoplastic polymer resin. Examples of film materials include polyethylene terephthalate, polycarbonate, and polyethylene naphthalate. Those with ordinary knowledge in the field can choose from a variety of acceptable adhesion layers and installation adhesion layers. Different adhesives can be used depending on the thickness of the shielding stack, the placement of the film in the IGU unit, or the optical properties required for windows configured for electromagnetic shielding. In some embodiments, the mounting adhesive layer 704 may be made of a pressure-sensitive adhesive such as National Starch 80-1057 adhesive available from Ingredion Inc. Examples of other suitable adhesives include Adcote 76R36 and catalyst 9H1H available from Rohm & Haas and Adcote 89R3 available from Rohm & Haas. When the shielding film is transported before being installed on the glass window, the release film layer may be located on the surface 711. The release film layer can protect the installation adhesive layer 705 until the release film is removed and installed.

LiFi receiver

The LiFi receiver is used to convert the received LiFi transmission signal into an electrical signal. The LiFi receiver receives the LiFi signal through a light detector or a light sensor. Any light detector can be used as a LiFi receiver, as long as it has the sensitivity and sampling rate required to read the received LiFi signal. Suitable photodetectors include devices such as: photomultipliers, CMOS image sensors, charge coupled devices (CCD), LEDs reverse-biased to act as photodiodes, Photodiodes (eg, avalanche photodiodes), photovoltaic cells, and the like. Usually, the light from the LiFi signal is measured by voltage or current. In some cases, the LiFi receiver may have a demodulation or decoding circuit and/or logic that extracts information from the measured voltage and/or circuit and outputs a signal, which may be associated with a controller Or other electronic device interpretation. In some cases, the output signal is verified by wires to the window controller, network controller, and/or main controller. In some cases, the controller receives the original light measurement value (eg, via the measured voltage and/or current), and the controller has a demodulation or decoding circuit and/or logic, the demodulation or decoding circuit And/or logic is used to convert the original data into a format that can be interpreted by logic operating on a controller or window control system.

LiFi receivers are usually placed in positions to improve the likelihood that the photodetector has an uninterrupted direct line-of-sight to the LiFi transmitter that provides LiFi transmission. The LiFi receiver can be located in the window controller (attached to the corresponding window or positioned near the corresponding window), close to the IGU (eg, inside the frame of the window assembly), or located a short distance away from the IGU but electrically connected to the window Controller. Generally, the LiFi receiver can be located in a raised position, such as on a ceiling above a window, to reduce the chance that a occupant may block LiFi transmission. In some embodiments, the light detector may be transparent, for example, made of transparent photovoltaic cells. Under such conditions, the light detector can be placed at one or more of the lightable windows. In some cases, the light detectors built into the internal area of the IGU can be configured to receive LiFi signals from either side of the tintable window. In some cases, the window may be configured with multiple spare LiFi receivers or improved LiFi signal reception. If the LiFi transmission is blocked without reaching one of the LiFi receivers, the LiFi transmission can still reach the other LiFi receiver, allowing uninterrupted communication.

In some embodiments, a tintable window may have a LiFi receiver configured to receive LiFi communications in different frequency ranges. As an illustrative example, the first LiFi receiver may be configured to receive LiFi communication in the infrared range, and the second LiFi receiver may be configured to receive LiFi communication in the visible range. In some embodiments, LiFi receivers configured for LiFi communication at different bandwidths may have different uses. For example, the first LiFi receiver may be configured to receive commands for controlling the actions of the window controller (for example, controlling the hue of the window), and the second LiFi receiver may be configured to utilize the LiFi communication network Data transmitted from or to other systems. In some embodiments, the LiFi receiver can be very selective for certain wavelengths of light. This may be useful in reducing noise in the received signal LiFi or eliminating interference caused by LiFi signals transmitted at nearby wavelengths. In some cases, the LiFi receiver is configured to receive light of a specific bandwidth when one or more filters (eg, high-pass filter, low-pass filter, or band-pass filter) are located in front of the light detector . In some cases, the photodetector may have a photovoltaic (“photovoltaic; PV”) battery with different band gap energies, so that only light with sufficient energy (usually just below the LiFi frequency) is detected in the light Detected at the device.

LiFi transmitter

The LiFi transmitter is responsible for generating LiFi signals. The LiFi transmitter acquires data provided by, for example, a controller, a window control network, or another associated device, and converts the data into driving signals (eg, digital or analog signals) for controlling LiFi transmission. The drive signal specifies the lighting state via the transmitted LiFi signal. For example, the driving signal may specify the brightness of the LiFi signal, the wavelength of the WiFi signal, and/or the shaping associated with the modulation of the LiFi signal. The LiFi driving signal may be provided by the window controller, or may be generated by a circuit and/or logic integrated or in electrical communication with the LiFi transmitter. In some cases, the window controller or another controller on the window network may have circuits for generating driving signals. The drive signal is then provided to the light source and/or light modulation feature responsible for generating the LiFi signal. In some cases, the LED driver is provided with a drive signal specifying a series of voltage levels, and the LED driver generates a modulated photon signal corresponding to the series of voltages in the drive signal. In some cases, the transmitted LiFi signal is an Orthogonal Frequency Dimension Multiplex (OFDM) signal using many small bandwidth channels instead of a single large bandwidth channel.

Light emitting diodes (LEDs) or organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs) are commonly used as light sources for generating LiFi signals. So far, LEDs are based on the selection technology of the speed at which LEDs can be turned on and off. The LED can be turned on and off at a frequency of about 1 GHz and pulsates with sufficient brightness to transmit LiFi communication in most cases. For example, LEDs in the visible range usually need to operate at about or above 60 lux to ensure reliable LiFi communication, although the required brightness of the LED may depend on several factors, such as the ambient lighting conditions in the building and /Or the sensitivity of the LiFi receiver. LiFi transmitters usually use LEDs to generate LiFi signals, however, any light source can be used as long as it can quickly switch between several states (eg, on, off, or intermediate states), and its output is bright enough for corresponding LiFi Receiver to receive.

The LiFi transmitter associated with the window can be located where the LiFi receiver can be located. For example, the transmitter may be part of the window controller (attached to the corresponding window or located near the corresponding window), close to the IGU (eg, inside the frame of the window assembly), or located a short distance away from the IGU but Electrically connected to the window controller. Like the receiver, the LiFi transmitter is usually located in an elevated position, such as on a ceiling or above a window, to improve the likelihood of direct line-of-sight communication to the LiFi receiver.

FIG. 8 depicts a room 800 with colorable windows 801 to 804 having LiFi transmitters and/or LiFi receivers 820 along its perimeter. The LiFi transmitter 820 may include, for example, an LED strip that spans at least a portion of the corresponding window. Similarly, the LiFi receiver 820 may include light detectors distributed at one or more locations around the periphery of the window to receive LiFi signals. When the window has LiFi transmitters and/or receivers distributed in this way, the likelihood of uninterrupted line-of-sight communication to the corresponding device can be improved. In some cases, the transmitter and/or receiver are located in the frameable unit of the tintable window or in the spacer of the IGU. The window controllers 811 to 813 may be configured with LiFi logic that controls LiFi communication as described herein. In some embodiments, the tintable windows have separate controllers and are configured to send and/or receive communications, LiFi communications independently of each other. For example, the window controller 811 may send and receive LiFi communication via the window 801 independently of LiFi communication transmitted via the window 803, which is controlled by the window controller 812. In some embodiments, a single window controller can be used to control the tone state of more than one tintable window. In some cases, window controller 813 may be configured to control LiFi transmitters and/or receivers on both windows 803 and 804. For example, LiFi transmissions from windows 803 and 804 can be transmitted consistently, thus further reducing the chance that individuals or objects may interrupt LiFi communication to devices in room 800.

LEDs are very suitable for generating LiFi transmission, because LEDs can emit light in a very narrow frequency band. In situations where LiFi transmission is desired to be restricted to a specific wavelength, the optical filter can be placed in front of the LED or other light source. In some situations, this may help reduce interference with other LiFi communications. In some embodiments, such as when the location of the LiFi receiver is known or can be determined, the LiFi transmitter may direct LiFi transmission in the direction of the receiver. This can be performed by, for example, adjusting the mirror at the transmitter. When LiFi transmission is focused in the direction of the receiver rather than broadcasting in a wide field of view, the interference to other systems can be reduced and the optical signal can be strengthened-in some cases to reduce the transmitter's output requirements or the receiver's output Sensitivity.

In some cases, the LiFi transmitter may include a transparent LED (or OLED) located in the viewable portion of the 2] tintable window. The transparent LED may be located on any surface of the IGU (for example, S1 to S4 in FIG. 2). When placed in the viewable part of the IGU, LiFi transmission can be broadcast to the outside of both sides of the window. In some embodiments, such as when the tintable window has a LiFi shielding layer, the LiFi emission is only broadcast to the inside or outside of the tintable window. In some embodiments, the LiFi transmitter uses a transparent display located in the viewable portion of the tintable window. The transparent display may be, for example, OLED or LCD. The window display may have other functions, such as displaying a user interface to allow a user to control a tintable window or displaying a user interface of an operating system associated with a personal computing device. Under some conditions, the transparent display may intermittently generate LiFi transmission during normal display operation. For example, the image provided by the display can be temporarily interrupted while generating LiFi transmission. Due to the short duration and/or intermittent nature of LiFi transmission, LiFi transmission is undetectable to the naked eye. In some cases, only a portion of the transparent display is used to generate LiFi emissions, for example, in some embodiments, only the peripheral pixels of the transparent display are used. An example of a transparent display that can be used is provided in International Patent Application No. PCT/US18/29476, entitled "DISPLAYS FOR TINTABLE WINDOWS", filed on April 25, 2018, The full text of the patent application is incorporated herein.

In an embodiment where the window is configured with a LiFi shield that can be modulated between several shielding states, the modulation of the LiFi shield can be used to generate a LiFi signal. In this configuration, external light sources such as daylight can provide light for LiFi signals. As mentioned elsewhere, a dynamic LiFi shield that can be switched between an on state and an off state can be achieved by, for example, selectively grounding or applying a potential to one or more of the viewable areas across the tintable window A transparent conductive layer to operate. LiFi shields can be used to generate LiFi communications in the infrared, visible, and/or ultraviolet frequency range when modulated in a manner similar to an LED or other light source. The tintable window configured to generate the LiFi signal via the shielding layer may also have a circuit for generating a driving signal for controlling the state of the LiFi shielding layer. In some embodiments, the shielding layer may be configured to transition between more than two states. For example, in addition to the state of blocking and allowing LiFi radiation, there may be a state of simply attenuating the intermediate state of LiFi transmission and/or selectively blocking light of some wavelengths but not of other wavelengths.

In some embodiments, the window may use electrowetting transparent display technology. An electrowetting display is a pixelated display, where each pixel has one or more cells. Each cell may oscillate between a substantially transparent optical state and an opaque optical state at frequencies above 30 Hz, above 60 Hz, or above 120 Hz, for example. Cells use surface tension and electrostatic force to control the movement of hydrophobic and hydrophilic solutions within the cell. The cell may be, for example, white, black, cyan, magenta, yellow, red, green, blue, or some other color in its opaque state (determined by the hydrophobic solution or hydrophilic solution in the cell). The colored pixels may have cyan, magenta, and yellow cells in a stacked configuration, for example. The perceived color is generated by oscillating the cells of the pixel (each cell with a different color) at various frequencies. Such displays can have thousands or millions of individually addressable cells, which can produce high-resolution images and are further described in International Patent Application No. PCT/US18/29476. The case has been incorporated by reference as before. In some cases, electrowetting displays can be used to generate LiFi signals by modulating the light transmitted through the window and/or modulating the light reflected by a transparent electrowetting display. In some embodiments, each pixel on the transparent display can be controlled synchronously to generate a LiFi signal. In other situations, the LiFi signal can be generated by controlling the pixels of the display asynchronously. In some cases, both the hydrophobic solution and the hydrophilic solution in the cell are substantially transparent, but one of the solutions contains a phosphor or quantum dot (QD) material that generates light Wavelength conversion. In other words, instead of having a clear state and an opaque state, the cell has a first substantially transparent state, and a second substantially transparent state with an optical signature of phosphor or quantum dot (QD) material. Some of the light hitting the phosphor or photon point (QD) material is absorbed and re-emitted at the frequency used for LiFi communication. For example, in some embodiments, quantum dots can absorb UV and visible light, and emit near-infrared light or infrared light. In some cases, phosphors or QD materials may be included in the color electrowetting display to generate LiFi signals

In some embodiments, the colorable window may have a LiFi transmitter configured to generate LiFi communication using different wavelengths or different sets of wavelengths (eg, in the case of OFDM signals). As an illustrative example, the first LiFi transmitter may be configured to transmit LiFi communication in the infrared range, and the second LiFi transmitter may be configured to transmit LiFi communication in the visible range. LiFi transmitters that operate at different wavelengths can be used for different purposes. For example, one LiFi transmitter can be used to send communications about window control, while another LiFi transmitter can be used to transmit data over the network LiFi.

In some cases, the window may be configured with both a LiFi transmitter and/or a LiFi receiver-enabling the tintable window to have bidirectional communication via LiFi. The transmitter and receiver can be separated in space, or they can share a common housing. In some cases, the transmitter shares a common circuit configured to both generate drive signals and decode received LiFi transmissions. In some embodiments, the LiFi transmitter and receiver are housed in the housing of the window controller.

When the tintable window is configured with the ability to send and receive LiFi communications, it does not need to rely on other forms of wired or wireless communications to communicate with the rest of the window control system. The window configured to send and receive wireless communication may be configured to act as a LiFi repeater that resends the received LiFi transmission. As a LiFi repeater, the colorable window can extend the coverage area of the LiFi network. In some cases, the LiFi repeater is configured to increase the strength of LiFi communication by transmitting amplified copies of the received LiFi signal.

LiFi logic

The logic used to control LiFi communications in buildings (and other wireless communications such as WiFi and Bluetooth) can be implemented via the window control network. The logic can reside on the window controller, network controller, main controller, or any controller that communicates with the window control network. In some cases, the logic used to control LiFi communication is stored in the cloud. As described herein, the logic used to control LiFi communication (hereinafter sometimes referred to as LiFi logic) is separate from the logic used to control the hue of the window, although the two types of logic can be co-located on the same physical controller and/or Or use a common circuit operation.

The LiFi logic can be configured to send, receive, and/or block any LiFi communication protocol that is known, known, or later developed. In some cases, LiFi logic is configured to use one of the IEEE 802 standards (eg, 802.11 and 802.15.7) incorporated herein by reference for LiFi communication. In some embodiments, the LiFi logic may be divided into logic components for handling control signals of the window control network (eg, transmission of tone commands) and logic components for handling other data passed through the window network.

The LiFi logic can be configured to adjust LiFi by permitting some wireless transmissions and not other wireless transmissions (and in some cases, RF communication). When a building is equipped with windows for RF and/or LiFi shielding, the windows can be configured as access points, and communications from phones, computers, and other mobile devices must leave the building before entering or entering the building or under certain conditions. Pass through the access point. The LiFi logic can be configured to permit communication originating from (or delivered to) authorized devices or authorized users. In this way, a window configured to receive, transmit, and block LiFi and/or RF signals can act as a firewall to control the form of wireless communication permitted within the building. In some situations, LiFi logic may reject incoming signals to retransmit to their desired destination. In some situations, the LiFi logic may be configured to communicate to the device to inform the device that the communication request has been rejected. If LiFi communication is approved, then it can be followed by LiFi (eg, by a LiFi transmitter on the other side of the tintable window or in another part of the building), by an RF transmitter (eg, via WiFi or Bluetooth) ) Retransmit LiFi communication or to external network.

In some cases, buildings with existing electrochromic windows can be updated so that the electrochromic windows provide dynamic LiFi shielding. For example, the updated software may be deployed on one or more controllers of the window control system to adjust the hue state of the electrochromic window, the adjustment is based on, for example, LiFi blocking preferences (e.g. (In the user application of the optical switchable window) It is turned on or off. In some cases, adjusting the window to the tinted state may make it necessary for devices that can communicate via LiFi to switch to Bluetooth, WiFi, or wired connections while the window remains in the tinted state.

LiFi network

9a to 9c depict three non-limiting examples of network operations that can be performed with tintable windows to deliver data to the device 905, which is equipped to receive LiFi in the building 900 Communication. In FIG. 9a, the window 901 receives the data via the LiFi signal 910, and transmits the data via the LiFi signal on the other side as the window 911, so that the data is delivered to the device 905. In FIG. 9b, window 901 receives data via LiFi signal 910, and transmits data via the window control network (eg, via wire, fiber, WiFi, or LiFi), and transmits the data from another window 902 via LiFi signal 912. If, for example, window 901 does not have a direct line-of-sight to device 905, this communication path can be used. In FIG. 9c, the window 901 receives data via the LiFi signal 910, and transmits the data via the window control network (eg, via wire, fiber, WiFi, or LiFi), and transmits the data via the LiFi transmitter 903 connected to the window control network述资料。 The information. The LiFi transmitter may be, for example, one or more LED bulbs that provide lighting in the building 900.

FIG. 10 depicts a colorable window 1000 that is configured for receiving, sending, and adjusting LiFi communications. For simplicity, various features (for example, the layer of the EC device coating as shown in FIG. 2) have been omitted. In addition, it should be understood that in the context of the present application, FIG. 10 depicts multiple embodiments corresponding to the window having only a sub-combination of the depicted features and/or corresponding to when the features are located at different positions relative to the colorable window 1000 Multiple embodiments. As depicted, the tintable window 1000 is between the internal environment and the external environment. In other embodiments, the tintable window may be tied between two interior spaces, such as a room and a corridor. The window 1000 has an associated window controller 1020 for controlling the optical state of the window via the EC device coating 1012 and wireless communication that is received, transmitted, and/or blocked by the window. As mentioned elsewhere, the window controller 1020 may be an on-site controller or otherwise positioned near the window 1000. In the illustrated example, the window 1000 has an electromagnetic shielding layer 1002 disposed adjacent to the surface S3. The electromagnetic shield can be configured to block wireless communications, such as Bluetooth, WiFi, and/or LiFi transmission. In some embodiments, the window controller 1020 can switch the shielding layer 1002 between "on", "off", and/or intermediate attenuation states. On the inside of the shielding layer 1002, the window 1000 has a LiFi receiver 1015 and a LiFi transmitter 1017, which are configured to receive and transmit LiFi communications to one or more devices or windows in an internal direction. On the outer side of the shielding layer 1002, the window 1000 has a LiFi receiver 1015 and a LiFi transmitter 1016 facing, which is configured to receive and transmit LiFi communication to the device and/or window in an external direction. As depicted, the LiFi transmitter and receiver are placed outside the viewable area of the window 1000 in the sealant area between the IGU spacer of the IGU and the two windows (1004 and 1006). However, as mentioned elsewhere, there are many other possible locations for LiFi transmitters and receivers, such that they are for example part of the window assembly or located close to the IGU. When the shielding layer 1002 does not exist, is not configured to block LiFi communication, or is switched to the "off" state (ie, LiFi transmission is allowed to pass through the window), the LiFi transmitter and/or receiver may be located in the window. In the viewing section, and can be configured to send or receive communications to internal and external environments. In some embodiments, the shielding layer 1002 is configured for LiFi shielding and can be quickly modulated between two or more states, so that LiFi transmission is selectively blocked by light rather than selective light Produced. When the window is configured to receive light from an external light source such as the sun, the window controller 1020 may be configured to selectively modulate natural or external lighting at one or more LiFi frequencies through the control of the LiFi shield to internally LiFi transmission occurs in the environment.

In some embodiments, window 1000 may include one or more window antennas that are configured to receive RF communications, such as cellular, Bluetooth, and WiFi communications. When the window has a shielding layer 1002 configured to block RF transmission, the window may have a window antenna on either side of the shielding layer (1008 and 1010). When located in the viewable area of the tintable window 1000, the window antenna is substantially transparent. In some cases, the window antenna pointing to the internal or external environment is located on or in a framed structure such as a window or at another location within the window control unit. When the window does not have a shielding layer 1002 configured to block RF transmission, or when the shielding functionality of the window antenna is turned off, the window may have a configuration configured to send and/or receive to both internal and external environments Antenna for wireless communication (for example, an antenna located on S2 or S3). Window antennas are further described in International Patent Application No. PCT/US17/31106 entitled "WINDOW ANTENNAS", which has been incorporated into this application by reference.

In some embodiments, the tintable window may further include one of the interior-facing environment (e.g., placed within layer 1010) or the exterior environment (e.g., placed within layer 1008) in the viewable portion of the window or Multiple transparent displays. Transparent displays and window antennas are usually placed on separate layers of the IGU. For simplicity, here, the separation layers are shown as optional layers 1008 and 1010. The transparent display can be configured to provide images and is controlled by the window controller 1020. In some cases, the displayed image or video signal data is received via the window antenna, LiFi receiver, or via the window control network. In some situations, the transparent display is configured to operate as a LiFi transmitter that broadcasts the LiFi transmission to the internal environment or the external environment. In some cases, the transparent display can replace a dedicated LiFi transmitter (1016 or 1017) or work together with the LiFi transmitter. When the shielding layer 1002 does not exist, it is not configured to block LiFi communication, or is switched to the "off" state (ie, allowing LiFi transmission to the window), the transparent display can be located in the viewable part of the window , And is configured to send or receive LiFi communications to both internal and external environments. Transparent displays are further described in the previously incorporated International Patent Application No. PCT/US18/29476 entitled "DISPLAYS FOR TINTABLE WINDOWS".

In the illustrated example, the window controller 1020 is connected to a window control system 1022 (see FIG. 2), which has a system for transferring data between the controller in the system and other devices and is used in some situations Control network for power transmission. In some cases, communications are transmitted via wired connections such as Ethernet connections or fiber optic connections. In some embodiments, the window controller is communicated via the window control system via a wireless connection, such as via WiFi or LiFi communication. When a building has multiple windows configured to send, receive, and/or block wireless communications, the wireless network can be installed throughout the building where the windows are installed. In some cases, the window control network may include one or more LiFi transmitters 1026 or LiFi receivers 1028, which may be used to extend the LiFi network to, for example, an internal area of a building. In some situations, LiFi transmission can be provided via the building's lighting system. The window control system can also be connected to an external network (for example, a cellular network or the Internet), and the window control network can be used as a gateway through which electronic devices in the building can be connected to the external network.

Colorable windows such as window 1000 of FIG. 10 can be used as communication nodes or network access points for various types of communication. 11 depicts a colorable window 1100 (similar to window 1000 of FIG. 10), which can be configured as a communication node for electrical, RF, and WiFi communications.

In some cases, the window 1100 is a node for LiFi to LiFi communication. For example, based on the LiFi signal received from the internal environment 1102, the LiFi signal can then be transmitted back into the internal environment 1104 and/or towards the exterior 1106 of the window. Similarly, if a LiFi signal is received from the external environment 1108, the LiFi signal can be transmitted back to the external environment 1106 and/or to the internal environment 1102. In some cases, based on the LiFi signal received at the window (eg, 1108 or 1108), the window controller 1120 may be configured to send the electrical signal 1118 (eg, via Ethernet) to the window control network, Or send RF signals (1110 or 1114) such as WiFi or Bluetooth signals out of one or both sides of the window. When the electrical signal 1119 is received via the wired connection at the window controller 1120, the tintable window 1100 may be configured to transmit the electrical signal 1118, the LiFi signal (1102 and/or 1106) and/or the RF signal (1110 and/or Or 1114) to respond. Similarly, if the window receives RF signals (1112 or 1116), the window controller may be configured to transmit electrical signals 1118, LiFi signals (1102 and/or 1106) and/or RF signals (1110 and/or 1114) )Responded. Although the signals 1118 and 1119 are described as electrical signals transmitted via wires, in some embodiments, the window controller may be connected to the window control system via LiFi communication, which is transmitted via optical fiber.

In some cases, the window need not be configured with each of the communication interfaces depicted in FIG. 11, but may only have a subset of the communication interfaces depicted. In some situations, the LiFi logic operating on the window controller 1120 or the window control system is responsible for determining whether the signal should be transmitted, and whether the signal should be transmitted as an electrical, RF, or LiFi signal. This may depend on various factors, such as the permission of the device or user given the signal and the desired destination of the signal.

When the building is equipped with tintable windows configured for wireless communication, the window control network can serve as a network for connecting various electronic devices in the building. Figure 12 depicts a building and illustrates how the tintable windows 1201 to 1209 can be used to provide a building-wide network. As illustrated, the window is configured to send and receive wireless communication 1231, such as LiFi communication or RF communication. The windows can also be connected to each other by wired communication 1232. Several non-limiting illustrative example communication paths will now be described.

In some situations, the tintable window can be adjusted and/or act as a gateway for wireless communication between wireless devices in the building and between wireless devices outside the building, such as wireless device 1230. The wireless device 1230 may be, for example, a cellular telephone tower, a LiFi capable tintable window on an adjacent building, or any device configured for wireless communication. In some situations, the window 1201 may allow LiFi or RF communication so that communication can be passed unhindered from devices outside the building 1230 to devices inside the building 1224. This may be because the window 1201 is not configured for RF and/or LiFi shielding, or because the shielding function is switched to "off" to allow communication through the window. In some situations, the window may act as a firewall for communication between devices external to the building 1230 and mobile devices 1220 within the building. For example, window 1202 may be configured for RF or LiFi shielding, and requires communication to be routed through a window controller associated with the window. As shown, windows on the network can use LiFi or RF signals to transfer data between each other (as described in various sets of windows such as 1201 and 1209). In some cases, the tintable windows can be connected electrically (e.g., by Ethernet) or by optical fiber (see wired connection 1232). The wired connection can also be directly connected to the personal computer 1220 or an external network 1232 such as the Internet. Therefore, the computer 1222 may communicate with the wireless device 1220 via a wired and wireless connection between multiple colorable windows. In some situations, such as when the device location is unknown, the LiFi signal received by the window communication network may be replayed in each room in the building by, for example, a LiFi transmitter. As can be seen from this illustration, the window control system can provide a platform through which electronic devices in or outside the building can communicate.

LiFi as a medium for communication via Windows

In some cases, a window control system equipped for LiFi can be used as the main communication network of a building, thereby providing connectivity to each other and the Internet for personal devices, building systems, IoT devices, and the like. Buildings such as the one in FIG. 12 provide a distributed network where each window configured for LiFi and/or WiFi communication acts as an access point via which the device can be connected. Window control systems configured to provide LiFi networks offer several advantages over conventional RF networks. As more and more devices are connected via RF communication and because devices are using a larger amount of data (for purposes such as video streaming), RF bandwidth is becoming more and more crowded. In crowded areas such as apartment buildings, WiFi congestion often creates connectivity issues. LiFi communication has the potential to greatly alleviate the RF congestion problem. This is because the LiFi frequency is about 1000 times larger than the radio frequency and does not cause interference with the RF frequency. By having so many available frequencies, the chance of signal interference caused by the use of shared frequencies is greatly reduced. The increased bandwidth also means that LiFi theoretically gives a significantly higher data density compared to RF communications such as WiFi. Since the LiFi signal is contained by the wall and the LiFi shield, it is much easier to adjust for wireless communication. It can adjust the physical space of the LiFi network to improve the security of the wireless network and reduce the chance of possible interference. Unlike WiFi networks that can often be extended to separate public networks (where the WiFi network can be monitored), LiFi networks are more secure because of the desire to connect to the network or monitor LiFi communication devices must be located within the line-of-sight and physical space of the LiFi network. The interference on LiFi is also reduced because the walls and LiFi shields also block external LiFi communication from entering the network area. This interference reduction provides a significant improvement over WiFi technology, which is susceptible to interference from a wide range of devices such as cordless phones, microwaves, and nearby WiFi networks. Since the LiFi network only extends as far as the illuminated area, LiFi communication in adjacent rooms occurs in the same LiFi frequency under some conditions without causing interference to each other. Compared to what RF communication requires, the hardware used for LiFi communication is also simpler and has much lower potential. Although RF communication requires radio circuits, antennas, and complex receivers, LiFi modules are much simpler, and in some cases, similar to infrared modulation hardware found in conventional television remote control systems.

Use Cases

One use case for installing windows configured for LiFi shielding is to regulate LiFi communications within a building. Colorable windows between the outside and inside of the building can be used to regulate the communication between the building and the building. On a larger scale, windows inside the building can be used to contain wireless communication to specific rooms or areas within the building. Features for enabling LiFi shielding have been described herein and are depicted in Figures 5-7. The tintable window used for LiFi shielding may have a LiFi receiver or LiFi transmitter, although this is not necessary to regulate LiFi communication. In some situations, the colorable window is always "on" and configured to block LiFi communication signals. For example, buildings used for private or sensitive matters may always wish to strictly regulate wireless communication, and the colorable window may be provided with a passive LiF blocking layer that is always in an "on" state. In other embodiments, the tintable window can be switched between "on" mode and "off" mode to block or allow LiFi communication. Selecting the masking mode of the window may involve interaction with the user of the wall switch, or, for example, with the user of the application used to control the tone state of the window. In a situation where LiFi shielding is selected by the user, the window control system does not need to be configured to receive or even decode LiFi communications. In some cases, the colorable window can also block RF communication. When the building has, for example, a steel and/or concrete structure, the RF communication path between the inside and the outside of the building may have been limited to windows. Under such conditions, the addition of passive RF shielding can significantly attenuate and block cellular, WiFi, or other RF communications from entering or leaving the building. In some situations, similar to LiFi shields, RF shields can be switched between "on" and "off" modes to block or allow RF communication. Although the use cases mainly refer to LiFi communication described in this article, it is intended that the following use cases can also be applied to RF communication unless otherwise stated. For example, LiFi shields, transmitters, and receivers can be replaced by or used in conjunction with RF shields, transmitters, and receivers.

In some situations, windows configured for LiFi shielding can be used to strengthen firewall systems and selectively adjust which communications are allowed within the building. The firewall logic operating on the window control system can determine whether the received LiFi signal meets the predetermined rules of the firewall logic. The LiFi signal can be received through a tintable window with a LiFi receiver or other LiFi receiver (eg, a third-party receiver) that communicates with the window network. The predetermined rules of the firewall logic may be similar to those rules on WiFi routers and network security systems used to regulate network traffic. Rules can be configured by the building manager or IT team; for simplicity, the various rules that are commonplace in firewall systems are not discussed further here.

Still referring to FIG. 12, several illustrative examples of LiFi firewalls in operation will now be described. In the first case, the window 1202 is equipped for LiFi shielding and has a LiFi receiver facing the external environment (see, for example, 1002 and 1015 in FIG. 10). The signal transmitted by the external device 1230 can be filtered by the firewall logic to determine whether the incoming communication meets predetermined rules. If the incoming signal is deemed acceptable by the firewall logic, the transmission can then be retransmitted to one or more devices in the building using LiFi, WiFi, wired connection, or a combination thereof (eg, 1220, 1222 and 1224). A tintable window facing the internal environment with a LiFi receiver can similarly be used to adjust outgoing LiFi data.

In some situations, firewall logic can be used to determine whether the LiFi shield is set to "on" mode or "off" mode. In some embodiments, window 1230 may be configured to listen for LiFi communication between devices (1230 and 1224) on either side of the window. If the communication between the two devices is determined to break the rules imposed by the firewall logic, the shielding functionality can be turned on to block further communication. In other cases, the LiFi shield may be in the "on" or blocked state first, and later shut down after determining that the communication from the device on either side of the window meets the rules of the firewall logic. In some embodiments, such as when LiFi communication is enhanced by switching the LiFi shield between the "on" state and the "off" state, the window need not be configured with a LiFi transmitter. This is also the case when the received LiFi signal is retransmitted via RF transmission or wired transmission on the other side of the window.

In some applications, windows are used to both receive and send LiFi communications. In this case, the window must have at least one transmitter and at least one receiver. In some cases, a tintable window configured to both send and receive LiFi communication may be configured as a LiFi repeater, such that on the side of the window that receives the LiFi signal or on the other side of the received LiFi signal A LiFi signal is relayed on the side. For example, in FIG. 12, window 1203 may relay the LiFi signal originally transmitted by window 1202 so that the relayed signal can be delivered to window 1205.

The logic and circuits on the LiFi transmitter, LiFi receiver, window controller, or window control network can be used to generate an electronic bit stream corresponding to the received LiFi signal. The received LiFi signal can be used or modified and is being generated Following LiFi. In some cases, the incoming LiFi signal is first processed by the firewall logic to determine whether the signal should be relayed, and in some cases, all incoming signals are relayed. In some cases, only the control signal and not the payload of the transmitted LiFi signal can be processed by logic control.

In some applications, a network of tintable windows can be used together as a LiFi repeater. For example, the first window may be configured to receive communication LiFi, which is processed and transmitted to another window through which the received LiFi transmission is relayed. For example, referring to FIG. 12, window 1205 can receive the signal and transmit the signal to window 1206, which then relays the LiFi signal in different areas of the building so that the signal can be delivered to device 1221. In this example, the LiFi window may communicate via optical fiber, wired communication, or RF communication such as WiFi. This may be useful, for example, when several signals are received on one floor of a building and then transmitted on different floors of the same building. In some embodiments, the LiFi signal received at the first window may be encrypted and retransmitted as a LiFi signal (in some cases, between multiple intermediate windows) before which the signal is unencrypted and Relay through the second window. In some cases, the encrypted signal may be received and retransmitted between one or more windows before it reaches the second window.

13a and 13b illustrate examples of how colorable windows configured for LiFi communication can be used to provide a communication network across urban area 1300. The urban area 1300 has three buildings—1301, 1302, and 1303—each building is configured with colorable windows for sending and receiving LiFi communications. In this example, there is also a building 1304 that has not been configured for LiFi communication. These two figures illustrate two possible ways in which LiFi networks of buildings 1301, 1302, and 1303 can be connected to create a larger communication network to allow data to be transferred between device 1301 and device 1303, even if the two devices Department in different buildings.

Figure 13a depicts a plan view of the urban area 1300. Building 1304 is not configured for LiFi communication and blocks the communication path that would otherwise be a line-of-sight communication path between building 1301 and building 1303. Due to the obstacles created by the building 1304, one possible communication path will send data through the building 1302, which has a line-of-sight view of the two buildings 1301 and 1303. In the depicted example, the data from the device 1310 is first transmitted to the edge of the building 1301 (eg, external window) via the internal LiFi network. An externally facing LiFi transmitter communicating with an external window is used to broadcast LiFi signals to an externally facing LiFi receiver located on the building 1302. The LiFi network of the building 1302 then relays the signal by broadcasting the signal to the building 1303, where the signal can be delivered to the device 1312. In general, LiFi transmissions over longer distances, such as LiFi transmissions between buildings are concentrated in some way to maintain signal strength, although this is not always necessary.

Figure 13b depicts front views of buildings 1301, 1304, and 1303. In the depicted situation, direct line-of-sight between the buildings 1301 and 1303 on the fourth floor of the two buildings is available. For data to be transmitted from the device 1310 to the external LiFi transmitter on the fourth floor, a communication path between floors and a path extending horizontally between one or more floors need to be traversed. Although it is possible for windows on different floors to be within line of sight of each other (thus allowing LiFi communication), this is usually not the case. Therefore, in this case, communication between floors (e.g., between colorable windows on separate floors) is usually via wires, optical fibers, or WiFi. In some situations, at least a portion of the transmission path within the floor may use one of these communication components. Once the data from the device 1310 reaches the external RF transmitter, the data is broadcast to the building 1303 via LiFi and delivered to the device 13012. In some situations, buildings may have dedicated LiFi transmitters and/or receivers to allow communication between buildings. In some situations, LiFi transmitters can generate LiFi laser beams between buildings. In some cases, instead of using the RF transmitter or receiver associated with the tintable window, the RF transmitter or receiver may be located on the roof of the building. In some cases, the RF transmitter and/or receiver may be incorporated into the roof sensor, which also provides lighting data to the window control network. The roof sensor is further described in U.S. Patent Application No. 15/287,646, entitled "MULTI-SENSOR", incorporated herein by reference in its entirety and titled "MULTI-SENSOR", filed on October 6, 2016 .

In some cases, the network extending between buildings (eg, buildings 1301, 1302, and 1303) may be a private network, and in some cases, the network may be a public network. In some situations, the network may provide some privacy (eg, privacy within each building) while still providing public communication services to larger networks that span multiple buildings. The firewall logic associated with the window control system in the building may have different rules that apply to the incoming data stream depending on the target destination of the data. For example, once it is determined that the signal should be relayed to the building 1303, the firewall logic associated with the building 1302 in the example of FIG. 13a may not perform any processing of data originating from the device 1310. In some situations, the building control system may divide its available LiFi bandwidth for different uses. For example, the first partition can be dedicated to the operation of the window control system, and the second partition can be set up for devices connected to the building's secure LiFi network. In some cases, another partition may be allocated for communications that only pass through the building's LiFi network (such as the communications depicted in Figure 13a). In some cases, LiFi networks that span multiple buildings can provide improved components for accessing the Internet in urban areas.

Based on the illustrated example that has been described and depicted in, for example, FIG. 12, it can be understood how LiFi communication can be used as part of the network backbone. In some cases, LiFi is not used to connect the device to the "last mile" connection of the Internet, but can be used as a large communication context in a communication network (see, for example, LiFi communication path 1244 in FIG. 12). Like WiFi and other forms of wireless communication, LiFi signals or packets can be sent to confirm that information has been received or request relay transmission (eg, if LiFi transmission is temporarily blocked). The LiFi signal can also transmit various delivery and information, which can determine how the LiFi signal is delivered via the window control network.

Under some conditions, the window control system configured for LiFi communication may be an automatic network or an automatic repair communication network in which the colorable window controller is installed when the window is first installed and turned on Recognize each other based on sensed and/or programmed input. Engagement can be performed by a combination of LiFi and/or WiFi communication that occurs between the tintable windows and/or controllers. One or more of the controllers, such as the master, can develop a map of the window based on the automatically networked network and the information provided by the sensed and programmed inputs. In other words, the system "self-virtualizes" by generating a model where each window is related to other windows and, as the case may be, a global location (eg, GPS location). In this way, the installation and control of the window is simplified, because the window itself does a lot of work on solving its positioning and how it is oriented. There is little or no need to individually program the position and orientation of each individual window.

A wireless mesh network can be used to connect each of the windows to each other. A wireless mesh network may include radio nodes or clients (eg, window/local window controller) organized in a mesh topology. In addition to mesh clients, for example, mesh networks may include mesh routers and gateways. The mesh router will forward the traffic to and from the gateway. In some embodiments, the gateway is connected to the Internet. The wireless nodes cooperate with each other to create a radio network that covers a physical area that can be referred to as a mesh cloud. The mesh cloud is different from the "cloud" often mentioned when discussing remote data storage and processing, although both may be used in some embodiments. For example, the data in the mesh cloud generated by the device can be stored and/or processed in the cloud (ie, remotely via the Internet).

The wireless mesh architecture is effective in providing a dynamic network in a specific coverage area (mesh cloud). For example, such inter-level radios or LiFi devices (nodes/clients) are used to build such architectures, which do not necessarily require cables to connect to wired ports compared to WLAN access points. The wireless mesh architecture can maintain signal strength by breaking long distances into a series of shorter distances. For example, there may be a single network controller located in the basement of the building and ten local controllers located on the 1st to 5th floors of the building. The conventional network architecture will require that the network controller be able to communicate directly with each of the ten local controllers. In some situations, the network controller may have difficulty communicating with the local controller, especially with the controller located furthest on the fifth floor. Where a mesh network is used, each local tintable window acts as an intermediate node. Intermediate nodes raise and send signals as needed. In other words, the intermediate nodes cooperatively make signal transmission decisions based on the knowledge of the network. Dynamic delivery algorithms can be implemented in each device to allow such delivery to occur. In this way, the signal only needs to be transmitted over a much smaller distance (eg, from the basement to floor 1, from floor 1 to floor 2, etc.). This means that the signal transmitter can have lower power and lower price. The mesh network may be centralized or decentralized (that is, it may include a specific network controller that controls the local window controller, or the network may simply be made by the local window controller). The mesh network with tintable windows is further described in the International Patent Application No. PCT/US17/20805 entitled "METHOD OF COMMISSIONING ELECTROCHROMIC WINDOWS", which was applied on March 3, 2017 In this, the application was previously incorporated herein by reference.

In some embodiments, the light source used for LiFi transmission is used both to transmit data and to deliver power. For example, light can be used to provide power to transform windows and/or to provide power to devices in the room for purposes such as charging phones. In some examples, communication via the window control network occurs via fiber optic cables, where light is used to deliver power to the tintable window. When communication occurs via optical fiber, the communication may comply with the LiFi agreement as cited herein, however this is not necessary. Examples of photonic power and communication networks are further described in US Patent Application No. 14/423,085 entitled "PHOTONIC-POWERED EC DEVICES" and filed on February 20, 2015. The application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Although colorable windows for LiFi communication have been described with reference to the communication network in buildings, when colorable windows are used instead of conventional windows, similar communication systems can be activated for cars, trains, airplanes, and other vehicles . In some cases, the use of equipment for LiFi communication windows may provide unique advantages over other forms of communication that may be easier to interrupt or intercept. For example, on sunny days, LiFi can be particularly suitable for battlefield applications, allowing for more secure means of communication.

Some of the above embodiments have described the control of the tint of the tintable window to block the wavelength of the signal generated by the communication device. The invention also covers the use of colorable windows to block the wavelength of signals generated by other types of devices. It is well known that the reflection of the signal in the form of a laser beam pointing to one side of the pane of the window pane can be used to monitor the sound signal on the other side of the pane, because of the sound on the side of the pane Vibration in the glass is caused, which causes modulation to be imposed on the reflected signal, which can then be demodulated to obtain a sound representation. It is also known that in the case of using a window with two or more glass panes, the inner-facing pane is more vibrated by sound than the outer-facing pane. When the laser beam is directed at this multi-pane window, most of the modulation (if not all) imposed on the reflected signal will therefore be caused by vibrations facing the inner pane. Therefore, when the laser beam is used to monitor the communication inside the window with multiple glass panes, the detection of the reflection of the laser beam from most of the glass panes inside is preferable.

It is also well known that when monitoring is performed using a laser beam in the above manner, the laser beam may include wavelengths that are not visible to humans, for example, infrared wavelengths. Since the use of a colorable electrochromic layer has been described above as being able to block infrared wavelengths, the invention also covers that the colorable electrochromic layer provided on the window pane can also be used to substantially reduce or completely Eliminate the ability to use the infrared signal pointing to the window to monitor the sound on the other side of the window. Therefore, in one embodiment, where at least one colorable electrochromic layer is disposed on at least one of the multi-pane windows facing the outer pane, the layer substantially attenuates or completely blocks infrared signals without passing through the layer and generally Signals that are on or completely prevented from reflecting off the facing inner pane can be detected. In one embodiment, it is recognized that some of the signals may not initially be completely blocked, but after the reflection of the inner facing pane, the reflection of the signal may be substantially or completely by one or more facing outward The pane is blocked. In one embodiment, the signal includes an infrared signal. In one embodiment, the signal is embodied in the form of a signal leading from the outside of the building to the window of the building. In one embodiment, the signal includes a laser beam. In one embodiment, the laser beam includes an infrared laser beam. In one embodiment, the control of the hue of the electrochromic layer on the interior-facing side of the window-facing pane of the building is initiated in response to the detection of artificial light located outside the building. In one embodiment, the control of the hue of the electrochromic layer on the interior facing side of the pane of the exterior facing window of the building is initiated in response to the detection of laser light located outside the building. In one embodiment, the control of the hue of the electrochromic layer on the interior-facing side of the pane of the exterior-facing window of the building is initiated in response to the detection of infrared light positioned outside the building. In one embodiment, the detection of artificial light, laser light, or infrared light is initiated by a light sensor that is functionally coupled to one or more window controllers that are responsive to the detection The color of light is achieved by artificial light, laser light or infrared light.

in conclusion

Although the foregoing embodiments have been described in considerable detail for the purposes of understanding and clarity, it is obvious that certain changes and modifications can be practiced within the scope of the appended patent application. It should be noted that there are many alternative ways of implementing the programs, systems, and devices of the embodiments of the present invention. Therefore, the embodiments of the present invention are regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive, and the embodiments are not limited to the details given herein.

1000‧‧‧Colorable window

1002‧‧‧Electromagnetic shielding layer

1004‧‧‧Window/substrate

1006‧‧‧Window

1008‧‧‧side/optional layer

1010‧‧‧side/optional layer

1012‧‧‧EC device coating

1014‧‧‧Fidelity (LiFi) receiver

1015‧‧‧Fidelity (LiFi) receiver

1016‧‧‧Fidelity (LiFi) transmitter

1017‧‧‧Fidelity (LiFi) transmitter

1020‧‧‧Window controller

1022‧‧‧window control system

1024‧‧‧External network

1026‧‧‧Fidelity (LiFi) transmitter

1028‧‧‧Fidelity (LiFi) receiver

1030‧‧‧Fidelity (LiFi) logic

S1‧‧‧First surface

S2‧‧‧Second surface

S3‧‧‧First surface

S4‧‧‧Second surface

Claims (63)

A colorable window, the colorable window including: at least one window sheet having a first surface facing a first environment and a second surface facing a second environment; an electrochromic A device coating, which is disposed on the first surface or the second surface of the at least one window pane; one or more controllers, including (a) controlling the electrochromic device coating A tone state, and (b) logic to process the light fidelity (LiFi) signal received at the tintable window; and a receiver configured to receive wireless data and provide the wireless data to The controller, wherein the wireless data is transmitted via infrared, visible, and/or ultraviolet LiFi signals. The colorable window as described in item 1 of the patent scope, wherein the receiver is further configured to receive wireless data transmitted via radio frequency (RF) signals. The tintable window according to item 1 or item 2 of the patent application scope, further comprising a shielding layer on the at least one window between the first surface and the second surface, wherein the shielding The layer is configured to attenuate or block the transmission of RF and/or LiFi signals between the first surface and the second surface. The tintable window as described in item 3 of the patent application scope, wherein the shielding layer can be adjusted between the following two states: a first state, which is configured to attenuate or block RF and/or LiFi signals Transmission between the first surface and the second surface; and a second state that allows RF and/or LiFi signals to be transmitted between the first surface and the second surface. The colorable window as described in item 4 of the patent scope, wherein the controller further includes firewall logic configured to filter the received wireless data and determine the shielding based on the filtered wireless data Should the layer be adjusted to the first state or the second state. The colorable window as described in item 1 or item 2 of the patent application scope, which further includes a transmitter configured to transmit wireless data via infrared, visible or ultraviolet LiFi signals, wherein the transmitter is Controller control. The colorable window as described in item 6 of the patent scope, wherein the transmitter is further configured to transmit wireless data via radio frequency (RF) signals. The tintable window according to item 6 of the patent application scope, further comprising a shielding layer on the at least one window between the first surface and the second surface, wherein the shielding layer is configured To attenuate or block the transmission of RF and/or LiFi signals between the first surface and the second surface. A tintable window as described in item 8 of the patent scope, wherein the shielding layer can be adjusted between the following two states: a first state, which is configured to attenuate or block RF and/or LiFi signals Transmission between the first surface and the second surface; and a second state that allows RF and/or LiFi signals to be transmitted between the first surface and the second surface. The colorable window as described in item 9 of the patent scope, wherein the controller further includes firewall logic configured to filter the received wireless data and determine the location based on the filtered wireless data Should the shielding layer be adjusted to the first state or the second state. A colorable window as described in item 6 of the patent scope, wherein the controller is configured to transmit wireless data via the transmitter, wherein the transmitted data includes wireless data received by the receiver . A colorable window as described in item 6 of the patent scope, wherein the receiver is configured to receive wireless data from the first environment, and the transmitter is configured to transmit wireless data to the first One environment. A colorable window as described in item 6 of the patent scope, wherein the receiver is configured to receive wireless data from the first environment, and the transmitter is configured to transmit wireless data to the first Second environment. The tintable window of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the controller is configured to adjust the hue of the coating of the electrochromic device based at least in part on the received wireless data status. A tintable window as described in item 6 of the patent application range, wherein the transmitter includes a transparent display on the at least one window pane. The colorable window as described in item 15 of the patent application scope, wherein the transparent display includes an organic light emitting diode display. A colorable window, the colorable window including: at least one window sheet having a first surface facing a first environment and a second surface facing a second environment; an electrochromic Device coating, which is disposed on the first surface or the second surface of the at least one window; a transmitter configured to transmit wireless data via a fidelity LiFi signal of infrared, visible, or ultraviolet light And one or more controllers, including logic for (a) controlling a tone state of the coating of the electrochromic device, and (b) controlling the wireless data transmitted by the transmitter. A colorable window, the colorable window including: at least one window sheet having a first surface facing a first environment and a second surface facing a second environment; an electrochromic Device coating, which is disposed on the first surface or the second surface of the at least one window; one or more controllers, which include a color tone for controlling the electrochromic device coating Logic of state; and a shielding layer, which is between the first surface and the second surface on the at least one window, wherein the shielding layer is configured to attenuate or block RF and/or The LiFi signal is transmitted between the first surface and the second surface. A building comprising: a plurality of colorable windows, each of which has an electrochromic device coating; and a plurality of controllers configured to control the electroluminescence on the plurality of colorable windows Color changing device coating; and a network connected to the plurality of controllers, the network including: a plurality of receivers configured to receive signals transmitted via infrared, visible or ultraviolet fidelity (LiFi) Wireless data; and multiple transmitters configured to transmit wireless data via infrared, visible or ultraviolet LiFi signals. The building as recited in item 19 of the patent scope, wherein at least one of the plurality of tintable windows has a shielding layer configured to block or attenuate radio frequency (RF) and/or LiFi signals It is not allowed to pass through the at least one colorable window. The building according to item 19 or item 20 of the patent application scope, wherein the network connecting the plurality of controllers is a mesh network. The building as recited in item 19 or item 20 of the patent scope, wherein the plurality of controllers are configured to receive commands via a LiFi signal to control the plurality of colorable windows via the LiFi signal Internet provided. The building according to item 19 or item 20 of the patent application scope, wherein the network connecting the plurality of controllers further includes a receiver for receiving radio frequency (RF) signals. The building according to item 19 or item 20 of the patent application scope, wherein the network connecting the plurality of controllers further includes a transmitter for transmitting radio frequency (RF) signals. The building as described in item 19 or 20 of the patent application scope, wherein the network is further configured to send data and mobile devices within or near a building via the plurality of receivers and transmitters /Or receive data from the mobile device. The building as described in item 19 or item 20 of the patent application scope, wherein the network is connected to the Internet. The building as described in item 19 or item 20 of the patent scope, wherein the network is configured to pass through one or more LiFi transmitters facing a second building and facing the second building One or more LiFi receivers communicate to a second mesh network located in the second building. The building as described in item 19 or item 20 of the patent application scope, wherein the network further includes firewall logic configured to regulate data transmitted via LiFi signals. The building according to item 28 of the patent application scope, wherein the shielding layer on the at least one tintable window can be adjusted between two states: one of blocking or attenuating RF and/or LiFi signals , And permit RF and/or LiFi signals to pass through a state of the at least one colorable window. The building of claim 28, wherein the at least one tintable window with a shielding layer is configured to prevent RF and/or LiFi signals from leaving and/or entering the building. A controller for controlling an electrochromic window between an interior and an exterior of a building, wherein the controller is configured to: receive infrared, visible or ultraviolet wireless fidelity signals, the The signal includes an instruction for controlling an optical state of at least one electrochromic window; and controlling one or more electrochromic windows based on the instruction in the received infrared, visible or ultraviolet wireless light fidelity signal Of the optical state. The controller of claim 31, wherein the controller is further configured to transmit infrared, visible or ultraviolet wireless fidelity signals. The controller of claim 31 or claim 32, wherein the controller is configured to transmit infrared, visible or ultraviolet wireless optical fidelity signals and status information of the at least one electrochromic window. The controller of claim 33, wherein the status information includes efficiency data or cycle data of the at least one electrochromic window. A controller as described in item 31 or 32 of the patent application scope, wherein the controller is configured to transmit infrared, visible or ultraviolet wireless optical fidelity signals to a window controller and/or a building management system (BMS). The controller of claim 32, wherein the controller includes a diode laser configured to transmit the infrared, visible or ultraviolet wireless optical fidelity signal. The controller according to item 31 or 32 of the patent application scope, wherein the controller is configured to receive infrared, visible, or ultraviolet wireless fidelity signals via an optical fiber cable. The controller according to item 31 or 32 of the patent application scope, wherein the controller is configured to receive infrared, visible or ultraviolet wireless optical fidelity signals transmitted through free space. The controller as described in item 31 or 32 of the patent application scope, wherein the controller is a window controller including a microcontroller configured to be sent by optical fidelity signal News. A system for controlling optical switchable windows on a network, wherein each of the optical switchable windows is between an interior and an exterior of a building, the system includes: a first control Device configured to transmit optical fidelity signals including instructions for controlling the optical state of at least one optically switchable window; and a second controller configured to receive the transmitted light A fidelity signal and based on the transmitted instructions control the optical state of the at least one optically switchable window. The system according to item 40 of the patent application scope, wherein the optical fidelity signal includes visible light. The system as described in item 40 or 41 of the patent application scope, wherein the optical fidelity signal includes infrared or near ultraviolet light. The system of claim 40 or 41, wherein the first controller includes a light emitting diode (LED) for transmitting the optical fidelity signal. The system of claim 43, wherein the LED can be controlled by a user to provide visible illumination in the building. The system of claim 43, wherein the LED includes a perovskite material. The system of claim 43, wherein the LED includes cesium lead bromide. The system of claim 40 or claim 41, wherein the second controller has a photodetector configured to receive the transmitted optical fidelity signal. The system of claim 40 or claim 41, wherein the second controller is further configured to transmit an additional optical fidelity signal, the signal including for the at least one electrochromic window Status information, and wherein the first controller is further configured to receive the additional optical fidelity signal transmitted by the second controller. The system of claim 48, wherein the status information includes efficiency data or cycle data of the at least one optically switchable window. The system of claim 48, wherein the second controller is configured to transmit the additional optical fidelity signal to a building management system (BMS). A system defining an interior and an exterior, the system comprising: a plurality of colorable windows disposed between the interior and the exterior, wherein each window includes an interior facing pane and at least one exterior facing pane , And wherein at least one of the panes has an electrochromic device coating disposed thereon; and at least one controller configured to control at least one of the plurality of colorable windows A color tone of the coating of the electrochromic device to selectively form a shielding layer configured to attenuate or block infrared or visible light from passing through the plurality of colorable windows At least one of the at least one of the panes, wherein the infrared or visible light is from an artificial source. The system of claim 51, further comprising at least one detector functionally coupled to the at least one controller, wherein the controller is configured to respond to The detector detects artificial light and controls the hue of at least one of the plurality of colorable windows. The system of claim 51 or 52, wherein the coating is disposed on the at least one facing outward pane of the window. The system of claim 51 or 52, wherein the coating is disposed on one of the at least one exterior facing pane facing inward. The system of claim 51 or 52, wherein the light is generated by a LiFi device. A system as described in claim 51 or 52, wherein said light is generated by a laser. A method of controlling light passing through a tintable window, the method comprising: controlling a tint of the tintable window with a controller to block visible or infrared light transmission from passing through the pane of the tintable window At least one of, wherein the infrared or visible light is from an artificial source. The method according to item 57 of the patent application scope, wherein the window includes an electrochromic coating disposed on at least one pane of the window. The method according to item 58 of the patent application scope, wherein the window is part of a building, and wherein the electrochromic coating is disposed on one of the windows facing the exterior pane. The method as described in item 59 of the patent application range, wherein the electrochromic coating is disposed on the inner side of one of the outer facing panes. A method as described in item 57 or 58 of the patent application range, wherein the light is generated by a LiFi device. The method according to item 57 or 58 of the patent application scope, wherein the light is generated by a laser. The method of claim 57 or 58 of the patent application scope, which further includes detecting the presence of the light using a detector and responding to the detection of the artificial light by the detector The controller controls a step of the hue of the window.

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