Patent ID: 8632034

Claim:
A dimmable window system for a vehicle, comprising: a sidewall panel assembly having at least one window opening; an electrically dimmable window mounted in the window opening on the sidewall panel; an inner window mounted within the window opening, inside of the dimmable window; a pair of photovoltaic energy harvesting devices for converting ambient light into electrical power; a seal comprising a boot surrounding the window opening and configured to seal an air gap between the dimmable window and an outer window of the vehicle, wherein the pair of photovoltaic energy harvesting devices are placed within folds of the boot within the air gap and substantially hidden from a line of sight of a person in an interior of the vehicle; and, a controller mounted in proximity to the dimmable window for controlling the opacity of the dimmable window using only the energy harvested by the energy harvesting device; all wiring associated with powering and controlling said dimmable window is internal to said sidewall panel assembly.