US5397888A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Light control apparatus to control the quantity of incident light with a plurality of electrochromic panels
Assignee: Panasonic Holdings Corp
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Filing: 1992-12-21
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Granted: 1995-03-14
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Expires: 2012-12-21
Abstract
Abstract A light control board comprises a plurality of electrochromic panels which are composed of electrochromic elements and which are situated in one plane. Control means controls the optical transmissivity of each of the electrochromic panels. Thus, the quantity of light passing through the light control board is controlled with resultant illumination control of an empty space. By employing belt-shaped electrochromic panels, it is possible to block or pass the light partially at the surface of the light control board for effective utilization of light according to an intended purpose. Furthermore, by incorporating measurement means into the light control apparatus to detect environmental conditions inside as well as outside, it is also possible to utilize light more efficiently in compliance with changes in surrounding conditions.
Inventors
- 👤 Rikuo Muramatsu
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 23:10
CPC Classifications
E; E06; E06B; E06B9/00; E06B9/24; G; G02; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/01; G02F1/15; G02F1/163; E06B2009/2464; Y; Y02; Y02A; Y02A30/00; Y02A30/24; Y02B; Y02B80/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
75 words
A light control apparatus comprising: a light control board which has a plurality of electrochromic panels spread over its surface; and control means for controlling the quantity of incident light passing through said light control board by separately controlling the optical transmissivity of each one of said plural electrochromic panels; wherein each of the plurality of electrochromic panels is a circular belt-shaped and the light control board has said plurality of panels in one plane.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
75 words
A light control apparatus comprising: a light control board which has a plurality of electrochromic panels spread over its surface; and control means for controlling the quantity of incident light passing through said light control board by separately controlling the optical transmissivity of each one of said plural electrochromic panels; wherein each of the plurality of electrochromic panels is a circular belt-shaped and the light control board has said plurality of panels in one plane.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
133 words
A light control apparatus comprising: a light control board which has a plurality of electrochromic panels spread over its surface; and control means for controlling the quantity of incident light passing through said light control board by separately controlling the optical transmissivity of each one of said plural electrochromic panels; wherein each of said plurality of electrochromic panels has a first surface and a second surface, a lamination of a transparent substrate and a transparent electroconductive layer formed on each one of said first surface and said second surface respectively, and an electrochromic layer and an electrolyte layer, both being formed between said lamination formed on said first surface and said lamination formed on said second surface, and wherein the control means controls the voltage to be applied across said transparent electroconductive layer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
133 words
A light control apparatus comprising: a light control board which has a plurality of electrochromic panels spread over its surface; and control means for controlling the quantity of incident light passing through said light control board by separately controlling the optical transmissivity of each one of said plural electrochromic panels; wherein each of said plurality of electrochromic panels has a first surface and a second surface, a lamination of a transparent substrate and a transparent electroconductive layer formed on each one of said first surface and said second surface respectively, and an electrochromic layer and an electrolyte layer, both being formed between said lamination formed on said first surface and said lamination formed on said second surface, and wherein the control means controls the voltage to be applied across said transparent electroconductive layer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
88 words
A light control apparatus comprising: a light control board which has a plurality of electrochromic panels spread over its surface; and control means for controlling the quantity of incident light passing through said light control board by separately controlling the optical transmissivity of each one of said plural electrochromic panels; wherein each of the plurality of electrochromic panels is belt-shaped and the light control board has said plurality of panels in one plane in order to control transmission of the incident light passing through said light control board.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
88 words
A light control apparatus comprising: a light control board which has a plurality of electrochromic panels spread over its surface; and control means for controlling the quantity of incident light passing through said light control board by separately controlling the optical transmissivity of each one of said plural electrochromic panels; wherein each of the plurality of electrochromic panels is belt-shaped and the light control board has said plurality of panels in one plane in order to control transmission of the incident light passing through said light control board.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
105 words
A light control apparatus comprising: a light control board which has a plurality of electrochromic panels spread over its surface; and control means a) for controlling the quantity of incident light parsing through said light control board by separately controlling the optical transmissivity of each one of said plural electrochromic panels and b) for adjusting the optical transmissivity of one of said plural electrochromic panels to a first optical transmissivity level and the optical transmissivity of another of said plural electrochromic panels to a second optical transmissivity level at substantially the same time, said first optical transmissivity level different from said second optical transmissivity level.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
105 words
A light control apparatus comprising: a light control board which has a plurality of electrochromic panels spread over its surface; and control means a) for controlling the quantity of incident light parsing through said light control board by separately controlling the optical transmissivity of each one of said plural electrochromic panels and b) for adjusting the optical transmissivity of one of said plural electrochromic panels to a first optical transmissivity level and the optical transmissivity of another of said plural electrochromic panels to a second optical transmissivity level at substantially the same time, said first optical transmissivity level different from said second optical transmissivity level.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
98 words
A light control apparatus comprising: a light control board which has a plurality of electrochromic panels spread over its surface; and control means for controlling the quantity of incident light passing through said light control board by separately controlling the optical transmissivity of each one of said plural electrochromic panels; light condition measurement means for measuring the intensity of light illumination at a predetermined location and for outputting an illumination signal, wherein said control means is for separately controlling the optical transmissivity of each one of said plurality of electrochromic panels as a function of said illumination signal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
98 words
A light control apparatus comprising: a light control board which has a plurality of electrochromic panels spread over its surface; and control means for controlling the quantity of incident light passing through said light control board by separately controlling the optical transmissivity of each one of said plural electrochromic panels; light condition measurement means for measuring the intensity of light illumination at a predetermined location and for outputting an illumination signal, wherein said control means is for separately controlling the optical transmissivity of each one of said plurality of electrochromic panels as a function of said illumination signal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
122 words
A light control apparatus comprising: a light control board which has a plurality of electrochromic panels spread over its surface, control means for controlling the optical transmissivity of each of said plurality of electrochromic panels, outdoor condition measurement means for measuring the intensity of outdoor illumination, indoor condition measurement means for measuring the intensity of indoor illumination; and computing means for processing illumination data outputted from said outdoor condition measurement means and said indoor condition measurement means and for producing a first output, wherein the control means controls the quantity of incident light passing through said light control board by controlling the optical transmissivity of each of said plurality of electrochromic panels in response to said first output of said computing means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
122 words
A light control apparatus comprising: a light control board which has a plurality of electrochromic panels spread over its surface, control means for controlling the optical transmissivity of each of said plurality of electrochromic panels, outdoor condition measurement means for measuring the intensity of outdoor illumination, indoor condition measurement means for measuring the intensity of indoor illumination; and computing means for processing illumination data outputted from said outdoor condition measurement means and said indoor condition measurement means and for producing a first output, wherein the control means controls the quantity of incident light passing through said light control board by controlling the optical transmissivity of each of said plurality of electrochromic panels in response to said first output of said computing means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
90 words
A light control apparatus according to claim 6, wherein each of said plurality of electrochromic panels has a first surface and a second surface, a lamination of a transparent substrate and a transparent electroconductive layer formed on each one of said first surface and said second surface respectively, an electrochromic layer and an electrolyte layer, both being formed between said lamination formed on said first surface and said lamination formed on said second surface, and wherein the control means controls the voltage to be applied across said transparent electroconductive layer.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
45 words
A light control apparatus according to claim 6, wherein each of the plurality of electrochromic panels is belt-shaped and the light control board has said plurality of panels in one plane in order to control transmission of the light passing through said light control board.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
32 words
A light control apparatus according to claim 6, wherein each of the plurality of electrochromic panels is circular belt-shaped and the light control board has said plurality of panels in one plane.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
47 words
A light control apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the plurality of electrochromic panels are divided into groups, each group comprising ones of said plurality of electrochromic panels and wherein the control means controls said plurality of electrochromic panels by controlling the optical transmissivity of said groups.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
141 words
A light control apparatus comprising: a light control board which has a plurality of electrochromic panels spread over its surface, control means for controlling the optical transmissivity of each of said plurality of electrochromic panels, outdoor condition measurement means for measuring the intensity of outdoor illumination, indoor condition measurement means for measuring the intensity of indoor illumination; sun light path angle measurement means for measuring sun light path angle; and computing means for processing illumination data outputted from said outdoor condition measurement means, said indoor condition measurement means and said sun light path angle measurement means and for producing a first output, wherein the control means controls the quantity of incident light passing through said light control board by controlling the optical transmissivity of each of said plurality of electrochromic panels in response to said first output of said computing means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
141 words
A light control apparatus comprising: a light control board which has a plurality of electrochromic panels spread over its surface, control means for controlling the optical transmissivity of each of said plurality of electrochromic panels, outdoor condition measurement means for measuring the intensity of outdoor illumination, indoor condition measurement means for measuring the intensity of indoor illumination; sun light path angle measurement means for measuring sun light path angle; and computing means for processing illumination data outputted from said outdoor condition measurement means, said indoor condition measurement means and said sun light path angle measurement means and for producing a first output, wherein the control means controls the quantity of incident light passing through said light control board by controlling the optical transmissivity of each of said plurality of electrochromic panels in response to said first output of said computing means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
91 words
A light control apparatus according to claim 11, wherein each of said plurality of electrochromic panels has a first surface and a second surface, a lamination of a transparent substrate and a transparent electroconductive layer formed on each one of said first surface and said second surface respectively, and an electrochromic layer and an electrolyte layer, both being formed between said lamination formed on said first surface and said lamination formed on said second surface, and wherein the control means controls the voltage to be applied across said transparent electroconductive layer.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
46 words
A light control apparatus according to claim 11, wherein each of the plurality of electrochromic panels is belt-shaped and the light control board has said plurality of panels in one plane in order to control transmission of the incident light passing through said light control board.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
35 words
A light control apparatus according to claim 11, wherein each of the plurality of electrochromic panels is circular belt-shaped and the light control board has said plurality of said plurality of panels in one plane.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
47 words
A light control apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the plurality of electrochromic panels are divided into groups, each group comprising ones of said plurality of electrochromic panels and wherein the control means controls said plurality of electrochromic panels by controlling the optical transmissivity of said groups.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-03-13 | 1998-09-12 | 1999-03-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-03-13 | 2002-09-12 | 2003-03-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-03-13 | 2006-09-12 | 2007-03-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |