PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-11747539-B1
Application Number: US-202217574751-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B1

Title: Light-control panel with layered optical components

Abstract:
Light-control panels including layered optical components are described in this application. An example of a light-control panel includes first and second glazing layers and first and second switchable components extending between the first and second glazing layers. The light-control panel also includes a thermal coating extending between the first switchable component and the first glazing layer and a filter extending between the first and second switchable components.

Claims:
What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A panel, comprising:
 a first switchable component extending between first glazing layers; 
 a second switchable component extending between second glazing layers; and 
 an air gap defining a distance between an innermost layer of the first glazing layers and an outermost layer of the second glazing layers, 
 wherein an outermost layer of the first glazing layers has a frosted or etched inner surface. 
 
     
     
       2. The panel of  claim 1 , comprising:
 a thermal coating extending between the outermost layer of the first glazing layers and the first switchable component. 
 
     
     
       3. The panel of  claim 2 , wherein the thermal coating is directly applied to the frosted or etched inner surface of the outermost layer of the first glazing layers. 
     
     
       4. The panel of  claim 1 , wherein the first switchable component is operated according to a first on-off pattern, wherein the second switchable component is operated according to a second on-off pattern, wherein the second on-off pattern is inversely related to the first on-off pattern, and wherein, based on the first and second on-off patterns, light generated by the second switchable component is blocked from visibility at a position outside of the first glazing layers and is visible from a position inside of the second glazing layers. 
     
     
       5. The panel of  claim 4 , wherein the first switchable component is a liquid crystal device and the second switchable component is a light guide device. 
     
     
       6. The panel of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first filter disposed within the second switchable component. 
 
     
     
       7. The panel of  claim 6 , wherein light generated by the second switchable component passes through the first filter such that only predetermined, narrow RGB wavelengths of light reach a position inside of the second glazing layers from the second switchable component. 
     
     
       8. The panel of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a second filter extending between the second switchable component and an outermost layer of the second glazing layers. 
 
     
     
       9. The panel of  claim 8 , wherein light generated by the second switchable component passes through the second filter such that the predetermined, narrow RGB wavelengths of light are blocked from view at a position outside of the first glazing layers. 
     
     
       10. The panel of  claim 9 , wherein the first filter is a band-pass-type filter and the second filter is a notched-type filter. 
     
     
       11. A panel, comprising:
 first and second glazing layers; and 
 first and second switchable components extending between the first and second glazing layers, 
 a lamination layer extending between the first and second switchable components, 
 wherein the first switchable component is operated according to a first on-off pattern, 
 wherein the second switchable component is operated according to a second on-off pattern, and 
 wherein the first on-off pattern is inversely related to the second on-off pattern such that light generated by the first switchable component is visible through the first glazing layer and is blocked from visibility through the second glazing layer. 
 
     
     
       12. The panel of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a thermal coating extending between the second switchable component and the second glazing layer, wherein the second glazing layer has a frosted or etched surface and the thermal coating is directly applied to the frosted or etched surface. 
 
     
     
       13. The panel of  claim 11 , wherein the first switchable component is a light guide device. 
     
     
       14. The panel of  claim 13 , wherein the second switchable component is a liquid crystal device. 
     
     
       15. The panel of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a first filter disposed in the first switchable component, wherein light generated by the first switchable component passes through the first filter such that only predetermined, narrow RGB wavelengths of light are visible through the first glazing layer. 
 
     
     
       16. The panel of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 a second filter extending between the first switchable component and the second switchable component, 
 wherein light generated by the first switchable component passes through the second filter such that the predetermined, narrow RGB wavelengths of light are blocked from visibility through the second glazing layer, and 
 wherein the first filter is a band-pass-type filter and the second filter is a notched-type filter. 
 
     
     
       17. A panel for a vehicle cabin, comprising:
 a first switchable component operated according to a first on-off pattern to provide a light source visible at a position within the vehicle cabin; and 
 a second switchable component operated according to a second on-off pattern that blocks light emitted from the first switchable component from visibility at a position outside the vehicle cabin, 
 wherein the first on-off pattern is inversely related to the second on-off pattern. 
 
     
     
       18. The panel of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 a first filter extending between the first and second switchable components, wherein light generated by the first switchable component passes through the first filter such that predetermined, narrow RGB wavelengths of light are blocked from view at the position outside the vehicle cabin. 
 
     
     
       19. The panel of  claim 18 , wherein the first switchable component is a light guide device and the second switchable component is a liquid crystal device, further comprising:
 a second filter disposed in the light guide, wherein light generated by the light guide passes through the second filter such that only predetermined, narrow RGB wavelengths of light reach the position within the vehicle cabin from the light guide. 
 
     
     
       20. The panel of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 a glazing layer; and 
 a thermal coating extending between the second switchable component and the glazing layer.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/751,575, filed on Jan. 24, 2020, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/813,210, filed on Mar. 4, 2019. The content of the foregoing applications are incorporated herein by reference for all purposes. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This disclosure relates generally to light-control panels and in particular to light-transmissive panels formed from laminated glass or glazing that use a variety of layered, complementary optical components to produce, direct, and block light transmission. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Panels or glazings, such as those made of glass, polycarbonate, plastic, composite, or other light-transmissive material, have optical properties that determine functionality of the panel, such as panel transmittance. Optical components, such as guest-host liquid crystal (GHLC) films, light-guide plates, and thermal coatings, can be used in laminated glass, glazing, or panels formed from other light-transmissive materials to selectively modify various optical properties of the panel, such as to selectively provide thermal shielding from radiation such as sunlight, single or bi-directional illumination, or wavelength-specific filtering for privacy within a vehicle cabin or office, thus serving as various types of light-control panels. 
     SUMMARY 
     One aspect of the disclosed embodiments is a panel that includes first glazing layers; a first switchable component extending between the first glazing layers; second glazing layers disposed adjacent to and spaced from the first glazing layers by a distance defined by an air gap; and a second switchable component extending between the second glazing layers. 
     Another aspect of the disclosed embodiments is a panel that includes first glazing layers; a thermal coating extending between the first glazing layers; second glazing layers disposed adjacent to and spaced from the first glazing layers by a distance defined by an air gap; first and second switchable components extending between the second glazing layers; and a lamination layer extending between the first and second switchable components. 
     Another aspect of the disclosed embodiments is a panel that includes first and second glazing layers; first and second switchable components extending between the first and second glazing layers; a thermal coating extending between the first switchable component and the first glazing layer; and a filter extending between the first and second switchable components. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a plan view illustration showing a light-control panel. 
         FIGS.  2 A and  2 B  are exploded cross-sectional views of the panel of  FIG.  1    taken along line  2 - 2  of  FIG.  1    including layered optical components. 
         FIGS.  3 A and  3 B  are exploded cross-sectional views of the panel of  FIG.  1    taken along line  3 - 3  of  FIG.  1    including layered optical components. 
         FIGS.  4 A and  4 B  are exploded cross-sectional views of the panel of  FIG.  1    taken along line  4 - 4  of  FIG.  1    including layered optical components. 
         FIG.  5    is a block diagram that shows a panel control system. 
         FIG.  6    is an illustration showing an example of a hardware configuration for a controller. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Light-control panels for use in vehicle cabins or office buildings can be formed from laminated glass or other light-transmissive materials layered with various optical components such as thermal coatings, light guide plates, filters, air gaps, suspended particle devices, electrochromic devices, polymer dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) devices, or guest host liquid crystal (GHLC) devices in order to provide features such as adjustable tint, in-glass lighting, privacy, diffuse reflection, thermal protection, and NVH performance. The optical components can be included in a stack-up designed to optimize overall performance of the light-control panel while providing combinations of the described features. The term optical component is used to identify various portions of the light-control panel providing specified optical properties. Each optical component may be of singular, uniform construction or may alternatively comprise multiple sub-parts, layers, or other features that together to achieve the specified optical properties described for the given optical component. 
       FIG.  1    is a plan view illustration showing a laminated glazing or panel, designated generally as panel  100 . The panel  100  may be used, for example, in a vehicle windshield, side window, sunroof, or backlight, or in another application, such as in building construction as an office window. The panel  100  can include various internal layers having optical properties, safety properties, and adhesive properties in various stack-ups further described below. 
     The panel  100  can have outer edges  102  and can include at least one switchable component  104  designated in dotted line to indicate its internal position within the panel  100 . The term “switchable” is used to denote that a state change is possible for the component, such as between on and off states, between opaque and translucent states, or between bright and dim states, for example. Other state changes for the switchable component  104  are also possible. The at least one switchable component  104  can extend near or adjacent to the outer edges  102  of the panel  100  without reaching the outer edges  102  as shown. The switchable component  104  can also extend fully to the outer edges  102  of the panel  100 . The panel  100  can include an edge treatment (not shown) suitable for allowing the panel to be held, for example, in a frame (not shown). 
     The panel  100  can include an electrical connection  106 . The electrical connection  106  is connected to a power source and/or to a controller to provide electrical power and/or control signals to the at least one switchable component  104  that is incorporated in the panel  100 . Electrical power and/or control signals passing through the electrical connection  106  to the at least one switchable component  104  can be used to modify a degree of light transmission through the panel  100 . For example, an amount of light transmitted through the panel  100  may be controllable by a voltage of a control signal delivered to the switchable component  104  by the electrical connection  106 , producing, for example, a tint or darkening of the panel  100  as perceived by an occupant inside a vehicle or a pedestrian outside the vehicle. The electrical connection  106  may incorporate transparent electrodes, such as indium tin oxide (ITO) electrodes, to allow control of the variable light-transmissive properties of the at least one switchable component  104  within the panel  100 . 
       FIGS.  2 A and  2 B  are exploded cross-sectional views of the panel  100  of  FIG.  1    taken along line  2 - 2  of  FIG.  1   . For clarity, the cross-sections in  FIGS.  2 A and  2 B  will be described as panel  200 . The panel  200  includes a pair of embedded switchable components, for example, a GHLC device  204  serving as a first switchable component and light guide device  205  serving as a second switchable component. The first and second switchable components extend between or are otherwise sandwiched among glazing layers  208 ,  209 , lamination layers  210 , thermal coatings  212 , filters  214 ,  215 , and an air gap  216  in combinations further described below to provide adjustable tint, in-glass lighting, privacy, diffuse reflection, thermal protection, and NVH performance features. The panel  200  is formed by stacking, sandwiching, layering, or otherwise combining optical components one on top of the other or one disposed within another, and when one layer or optical component is described as extending between others, its location within the stack-up is being described. The layers or optical components within the panel  200  may be co-extensive, or gaps or fillers may also be present to form the panel  200 . 
     The GHLC device  204  can be used to provide adjustable tint. Examples of GHLC technologies include, for example, dichroic dyes having absorbing orientations and non-absorbing orientations and polymer-dispersed liquid crystals (PDLC) in the form of liquid crystal droplets dispersed in a polymer matrix that have optical axes that orient differently depending on whether an electric field is applied. In short, application of an electric field to liquid crystal can adjust an amount of light transmission through the GHLC device  204 . Other films, devices, or other adjustable tint technologies are also possible. The GHLC device  204  in  FIGS.  2 A and  2 B  is located in the top, upper, or outermost half of the panel  200 , between upper or first glazing layers  208 . In this location, any heat generated by operation of the GHLC device  204  is generally isolated from the bottom, lower, or innermost half of the panel  200 . In addition, positioning the GHLC device  204  as shown provides heat reduction, for example, when in the GHLC device  204  is in a state that blocks light transmission through the panel  200 . This keeps the bottom, lower, or innermost half of the panel  200  cool to the touch, for example, when used as a sunroof or window for a vehicle cabin. 
     The light guide device  205  in  FIGS.  2 A and  2 B  is located in the bottom, lower, or innermost half of the panel  200 , between lower or second glazing layers  209 . The light guide device  205  can be used to provide in-glass lighting. In-glass lighting technologies include, for example, a light guide plate, a light guide film, or other light guide device intended to evenly distribute and emit light. For example, in some light guide plates, light sources such as light-emitting diodes (LEDs) that are located at an edge or an end of the light guide plate are used in combination with polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA, e.g. acrylic) outer surfaces of the light guide plate along with filters or films to create a distributed, surface-based light source that can serve as the light guide device  205 . Other light guide devices  205  or films are also possible. 
     The GHLC device  204  and the light guide device  205  can be used together to provide privacy. For example, the light guide device  205  can be pulsed according to a first on-off pattern at a speed higher than the human eye can perceive (e.g., no flicker is detected) such that an interior of a vehicle cabin is lit by the light guide device  205  using the panel  200 . At the same time, the GHLC device  204  can be pulsed according to a second on-off pattern that is inversely related to the first on-off pattern, blocking the light from the light guide device  205  from being seen by a pedestrian outside of the vehicle cabin. There is no flashing or strobe effect, either inside or outside of the vehicle cabin, instead, the occupants within the vehicle cabin have a light source and the pedestrians or occupants in other vehicles outside of the vehicle cabin perceive that the panel  200  is dark or opaque. This is especially useful, for example, in the absence of solar radiation, that is, when an external environment around a vehicle cabin is generally dark. In this example, the occupants within the vehicle cabin are able to use light generated by the light guide device  205  within the vehicle cabin without allowing pedestrians in the dark environment outside of the vehicle cabin to see inside of the vehicle cabin. 
     The order in which the GHLC device  204  and the light guide device  205  are located within the stack-up of the panel  200  is important. First, the GHLC device  204  is used to block light generated by the light guide device  205  to provide privacy when viewed from one side of the panel  200  (in this example, from above the top or outermost layer of the first glazing layers  208 , described as a position outside or above the panel). Second, the light guide device  205  is used to provide a source of light when viewed from the other side of the panel  200  (in this example, from below the bottom or innermost glazing layer of the second glazing layers  209 , described as a position inside or below the panel). The GHLC device  204  would (selectively) block light should it be located between the light guide device  205  and the innermost glazing layer of the second glazing layers  209 . 
     The glazing layers  208 ,  209  serve as the outermost and innermost layers of the panel  200  as a whole. The glazing layers  208 ,  209  also serve as the outermost and innermost layers of portions of halves of the panel  200  as shown in the example of  FIGS.  2 A and  2 B . In other words, the first glazing layers  208  serve as the outermost and innermost layers of the top half of the panel  200  and the second glazing layers  209  serve as the outermost and innermost layers of the bottom half of the panel  200 , the halves being physically separated by the air gap  216 . The first and second glazing layers  208 ,  209  can be formed from glass or polycarbonate. Other glazing materials are also possible, with the glazing materials generally being solid in form as well as having light-transmissive material properties. The first and second glazing layers  208 ,  209  can also have strength and safety properties, such as anti-shatter or bulletproof-type construction. 
     The lamination layers  210  can be used to adhere the various optical components in the panel  200  together. The lamination layers  210  can be formed from polyvinyl butyral (PVB), thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), or other optically-clear adhesives (OCA) having low color indices that allow for high transparency. Other lamination materials are also possible, with the lamination materials generally having light-transmissive, heat-softening, and adhesive-bonding material properties. The various optical components of the panel  200  can be laminated in the described stack-ups using heat, pressure, and adhesion of lamination layers  210  to the optical components according to a traditional lamination and curing process, for example, using vacuum bagging and autoclaving. Other lamination processes to adhere the optical components are also possible. Though lamination layers  210  are shown as present between most of the optical components in the panel  200 , some of the optical components may alternatively extend directly along or adjacent to other optical components should at least one of the co-extensive optical components have adhesive or bonding material properties. 
     The thermal coatings  212  can be used to provide thermal protection using reflection and absorption. The thermal coatings  212  can be conductive coatings with laser etching or non-conductive coatings that allow antenna signals such as radio signals to pass through the panel  200  while reflecting or absorbing, for example, solar radiation. The use of thermal coatings  212  to reduce heat caused by solar radiation can both improve performance of the switchable components embedded in the panel  200  and improve comfort for occupants in a vehicle cabin having laminated surfaces formed of the panel  200 . The thermal coatings  212  in the panel  200  are located directly below the top, upper, or outermost first glazing layer  208  to provide efficient heat reduction, providing thermal protection both to other optical components within the panel  200  and, for example, to occupants within a vehicle cabin using the panel  200 . 
     The thermal coatings  212  can also be used to provide diffuse reflection. Diffuse reflection can be a used as a cosmetic feature to provide a matte look or a mirror look when the panel  200  is viewed, for example, from a position outside of a vehicle cabin, that is, outside of or above the panel  200  as shown. The cosmetic appearance of the panel  200  can be similar to that of anodized aluminum while at the same time providing haze-free or fully-clear optical performance. In  FIG.  2 A , diffuse reflection is achieved by surrounding a structured film and thermal coating  212  with lamination layers  210  under an outermost first glazing layer  208  of the panel. In  FIG.  2 B , diffuse reflection is achieved by applying a thermal coating  212  directly to a frosted or etched surface of the outermost first glazing layer  208 , the frosted or etched surface indicated by the jagged surface representation of these optical components in  FIG.  2 B . In the example of  FIG.  2 B , a lamination layer  210  is also adhered to the thermal coating  212  in a manner that fills gaps and avoids refraction through the outermost first glazing layer  208 . 
     Several filters  214 ,  215 , either separately or in combination, can be used to provide privacy, for example, in place of or in addition to using synchronized, opposing, on-off pulsation of the GHLC device  204  and the light guide device  205  as described above. Though two filters  214 ,  215  are shown in  FIG.  2 B , privacy for occupants within a vehicle cabin can be achieved with use of each of the filters  214 ,  215  located in different panels or in different locations within the same panel (not shown, but described below). 
     For example, as shown in  FIG.  2 B , the filter  214  is disposed within the light guide device  205  and acts as a band-pass-type filter between a light source and a light guide plate within the light guide device  205 . The band-pass-type filter can allow specific, narrow bands within visible wavelengths to pass from the light source to the light guide plate of the light guide device  205 . For example, the filter  214  can be configured to allow predetermined, narrow bands within the broader red, green, and blue (RGB) spectrum to pass from the light source to the light guide plate. In this manner, the light guide device  205  can further distribute this filtered light in both directions through the panel  200  and natural light can also pass through the panel  200 . 
     Also shown in  FIG.  2 B , the filter  215  that is located between the light guide device  205  and the air gap  216  can be designed as a notched-type filter to block wavelengths in the predetermined, narrow RGB wavelength bands that are allowed through the band-pass-type filter  214  while allowing other wavelength bands of visible light to pass through the filter  215 . The filter  215  thus blocks the predetermined, narrow bands of RGB light emitted by the light guide device  205  from being perceived by pedestrians outside of the vehicle cabin, achieving a privacy feature for occupants within the vehicle cabin. At the same time, the narrow bands of RGB light generated by the light guide device  205  pass through the innermost second glazing layer  209  into the vehicle cabin such that the occupants within the vehicle cabin experience lighting from the predetermined RGB wavelength bands of light produced by the light guide device  205 . Though the filters  214 ,  215  are described as band-pass-type and notched-type, respectively, other types of filters can be used as well to modify light transmission. 
     In another example (not shown), the light guide device  205  including the band-pass-type filter  214  can be present in a roof panel or backlight while the notched-type filter  215  is present and the light guide device  205  is absent in a vehicle side window, allowing the roof panel or backlight to supply predetermined, narrow RGB wavelengths of light into the vehicle cabin while the side windows block the same RGB wavelengths of light from being perceived by pedestrians outside of the vehicle cabin. In this example, only side window privacy is achieved for occupants in a vehicle cabin, as any pedestrian able to see the roof panel would be able to view light generated by the light guide device  205  as well as light generated within the vehicle cabin in absence of additional filtering. This privacy solution can also be implemented with, for example, light-generating user devices such as smart phones or tablets in use by occupants within a vehicle cabin should the light-generating device employ a filter that allows only predetermined, narrow RGB wavelengths of light to be emitted by the light-generating device. That is, the notched-type filter  215  can also be used to block predetermined, narrow RGB wavelengths from the light-generating user device from view by pedestrians outside of the vehicle cabin. 
     The air gap  216  is used in the panel  200  to improve noise-vibration-harshness (NVH) performance of the panel  200  and to lower repair and replacement costs. The location of the air gap  216  in  FIGS.  2 A and  2 B  allows for ease of repair or replacement of a portion of the panel  200  instead of an entirety of the panel  200  by defining a physical gap between two halves of the panel, with either half of the panel  200  being replaceable should damage occur only to that half. The air gap  216  can be formed between the two central first and second glazing layers  208 ,  209  in the panel  200  as shown by using spacers (not shown) adhered to perimeters of the two central first and second glazing layers  208 ,  209 . In other words, the air gap  216  can extend between the central-most first and second glazing layers  208 ,  209  as shown in  FIGS.  2 A and  2 B . The air gap  216  of  FIGS.  2 A and  2 B  reduces a solar load on a bottom or lower portion of the panel  200  and allows for efficient function of both the GHLC device  204  and the light guide device  205  by isolating these devices from each other. 
     Though the air gap  216  of  FIGS.  2 A and  2 B  is shown as extending between the innermost or central-most first and second glazing layers  208 ,  209 , in some embodiments (not shown) the air gap  216  can extend between the innermost second glazing layer  209 , for example, the upper or top layer of the bottom or innermost half of the panel  200 , and the GHLC device  204 , for example, when the GHLC device  204  forms the bottom or lowermost layer of the top or outermost half of the panel  200  (not shown). The use of this style of air gap  216  would reduce the number of first glazing layers  208  in the panel  200  from two to one, reducing cost of the overall panel  200 . 
       FIGS.  3 A and  3 B  are cross-sectional views of the panel  100  of  FIG.  1    taken along line  3 - 3  of  FIG.  1   . For clarity, the cross-sections in  FIGS.  3 A and  3 B  will be described as panel  300 . The panel  300  includes a pair of embedded switchable components, for example, GHLC device  304  and light guide device  305 . The switchable components extend between or are otherwise sandwiched or layered among first and second glazing layers  308 ,  309 , lamination layers  310 , thermal coatings  312 , filters  314 ,  315 , and an air gap  316  having functions and combinations similar to those described in reference to the panel  200  of  FIGS.  2 A and  2 B . 
     The various optical components work together in the panel  300  to provide adjustable tint, in-glass lighting, privacy, diffuse reflection, thermal protection, and NVH performance features. Some aspects of the panel  300  in  FIGS.  3 A and  3 B  differ from the panel  200  in  FIGS.  2 A and  2 B , and these differences are further described below. Similarities between the panel  200  of  FIGS.  2 A and  2 B  and the panel  300  of  FIGS.  3 A and  3 B  are not described below for the sake of brevity. One difference between the panel  300  and the panel  200  is the location of the switchable components within the stack-up. In the panel  300  of  FIGS.  3 A and  3 B , the GHLC device  304  and the light guide device  305  are both disposed within a lower, bottom, or innermost portion of the panel  300 , between the second glazing layers  309 . The co-location of the switchable components in the same portion of the panel  300  can reduce a cost of repair for the panel  300 . 
     For example, in the panel  300  of  FIGS.  3 A and  3 B , the upper, top, or outermost portion includes only the first glazing layers  308 , the lamination layers  310 , and the thermal coatings  312 , whereas the upper, top, or outermost portion of the panel  200  of  FIGS.  2 A and  2 B  includes a potentially more expensive switchable component (i.e., the GHLC device  204 ). The upper, top, or outermost portion of the panel  300  is the portion most likely to experience damage, for example, when the panel  300  serves as a roof panel, backlight, or side window of a vehicle cabin since debris or other environmental forces could most easily impact and damage the upper, top, or outermost portion of the panel  300 . By moving both of the switchable components, specifically, the GHLC device  304  and the light guide device  305 , into the lower, bottom, or innermost portion of the panel  300  between the second glazing layers  309 , repair costs can be lowered when only the upper, top, or outermost portion of the panel  300  needs to be replaced due to damage. 
       FIGS.  4 A and  4 B  are cross-sectional views of the panel  100  of  FIG.  1    taken along line  4 - 4  of  FIG.  1   . For clarity, the cross-sections in  FIGS.  4 A and  4 B  will be described as panel  400 . The panel  400  includes a pair of embedded switchable components, for example, a GHLC device  404  and a light guide device  405 . The switchable components extend between or are otherwise sandwiched or layered between glazing layers  408 , lamination layers  410 , thermal coatings  412 , and filters  414 ,  415  having functions similar to those described in reference to the panel  200  of  FIGS.  2 A and  2 B  and the panel  300  of  FIGS.  3 A and  3 B . 
     The various optical components work together in the panel  400  to provide adjustable tint, in-glass lighting, privacy, diffuse reflection, and thermal protection features. Some aspects of the panel  400  in  FIGS.  4 A and  4 B  differ from the panel  200  in  FIGS.  2 A and  2 B  and the panel  300  in  FIGS.  3 A and  3 B , and these differences are further described below. Similarities between the panel  400  of  FIGS.  4 A and  4 B , the panel  200  of  FIGS.  2 A and  2 B , and the panel  300  of  FIGS.  3 A and  3 B  are not described below for the sake of brevity. 
     One difference between the panel  400  and the panels  200 ,  300  is the absence of an air gap within the stack-up. In the panel  400  of  FIGS.  4 A and  4 B , there are only two glazing layers  408  that serve as the upper, top, or outmost and lower, bottom, or innermost layers of the panel  400 . Another difference between the panel  400  and the panels  200 ,  300  is that the total number of lamination layers  410  is reduced in the panel  400  when compared to the panels  200 ,  300 . The absence of an air gap and the reduction in number of the lamination layers  410  can lower the thickness, weight, and overall cost of the panel  400  when compared to the panels  200 ,  300 . 
       FIG.  5    is a block diagram that shows a panel system  500 . The panel system  500  can include a user interface  518 , a controller  520 , sensors  522 , and one or more light-control panels  524 , such as the panels  200 ,  300 ,  400  described above. 
     The user interface  518  allows a user to modify aspects of the operation of the panel system  500  and to set a desired state for the panel system  500 , such as a state of privacy or a state of transparency associated with the light-control panels  524 . That it, the user interface  518  can allow modification of operating parameters of the light-control panels  524 , for example, based on user preferences. 
     The controller  520  coordinates operation of the panel system  500  by communicating electronically (e.g., using wired or wireless communications) with the user interface  518 , the sensors  522 , and the light-control panels  524 . The controller  520  may receive information (e.g., signals and/or data) from the user interface  518 , from the sensors  522  and/or from other portions (not shown) of the panel system  500 . 
     The sensors  522  may capture or receive information related, for example, to an external environment where the panel system  500  is located. The external environment can be an exterior or an interior of a vehicle or an office, and information captured or received by the sensors  522  can relate to weather, such as a presence of rain or sunshine, or lighting conditions, such as a use of lighting by occupants within the vehicle or the office. 
     The panel system  500  can change an amount of light transmission through the light-control panels  524  based on a control signal, such as a signal from the controller  520 . The control signal may cause the light-control panels  524  to modify a current light transmission characteristic, for example, from a first light transmission value to a second light transmission value that is different than the first light transmission value, or from a light transmitting state to a light blocking or reflecting (mirror) state. Technologies that may be used to implement the light-control panels  524  include switchable components such as light guide devices, suspended particle devices, electrochromic devices, polymer dispersed liquid crystal devices, and guest host liquid crystal devices. 
       FIG.  6    shows an example of a hardware configuration for a controller  600  that may be used to implement the controller  520  and/or other portions of the panel system  500 . In the illustrated example, the controller  600  includes a processor  626 , a memory device  628 , a storage device  630 , one or more input devices  632 , and one or more output devices  634 . These components may be interconnected by hardware such as a bus  636  that allows communication between the components. 
     The processor  626  may be a conventional device such as a central processing unit and is operable to execute computer program instructions and perform operations described by the computer program instructions. The memory device  628  may be a volatile, high-speed, short-term information storage device such as a random-access memory module. The storage device  630  may be a non-volatile information storage device such as a hard drive or a solid-state drive. The input devices  632  may include sensors and/or any type of human-machine interface, such as buttons, switches, a keyboard, a mouse, a touchscreen input device, a gestural input device, or an audio input device. The output devices  634  may include any type of device operable to provide an indication to a user regarding an operating state, such as a display screen, a light-control panel, or an audio output. 
     As described above, one aspect of the present technology is the gathering and use of data available from various sources, such as from sensors  522  or user profiles, to improve the function of light-control panels such as panels  200 ,  300 ,  400 . The present disclosure contemplates that in some instances, this gathered data may include personal information data that uniquely identifies or can be used to contact or locate a specific person. Such personal information data can include demographic data, location-based data, telephone numbers, email addresses, twitter IDs, home addresses, data or records relating to a user&#39;s health or level of fitness (e.g., vital signs measurements, medication information, exercise information), date of birth, or any other identifying or personal information. 
     The present disclosure recognizes that the use of personal information data, in the present technology, can be used to the benefit of users. For example, the personal information data can be used to deliver changes to light-transmission through light-control panels to best match user privacy preferences. Other uses for personal information data that benefit the user are also possible. For instance, health and fitness data may be used to provide insights into a user&#39;s general wellness or may be used as positive feedback to individuals using technology to pursue wellness goals. 
     The present disclosure contemplates that the entities responsible for the collection, analysis, disclosure, transfer, storage, or other use of such personal information data will comply with well-established privacy policies and/or privacy practices. In particular, such entities should implement and consistently use privacy policies and practices that are generally recognized as meeting or exceeding industry or governmental requirements for maintaining personal information data private and secure. Such policies should be easily accessible by users and should be updated as the collection and/or use of data changes. Personal information from users should be collected for legitimate and reasonable uses of the entity and not shared or sold outside of those legitimate uses. Further, such collection/sharing should occur after receiving the informed consent of the users. 
     Additionally, such entities should consider taking any needed steps for safeguarding and securing access to such personal information data and ensuring that others with access to the personal information data adhere to their privacy policies and procedures. Further, such entities can subject themselves to evaluation by third parties to certify their adherence to widely accepted privacy policies and practices. In addition, policies and practices should be adapted for the particular types of personal information data being collected and/or accessed and adapted to applicable laws and standards, including jurisdiction-specific considerations. For instance, in the US, collection of or access to certain health data may be governed by federal and/or state laws, such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA); whereas health data in other countries may be subject to other regulations and policies and should be handled accordingly. Hence different privacy practices should be maintained for different personal data types in each country. 
     Despite the foregoing, the present disclosure also contemplates embodiments in which users selectively block the use of, or access to, personal information data. That is, the present disclosure contemplates that hardware and/or software elements can be provided to prevent or block access to such personal information data. For example, in the case of user-profile-based light transmission through a light-control panel, the present technology can be configured to allow users to select to “opt in” or “opt out” of participation in the collection of personal information data during registration for services or anytime thereafter. In addition to providing “opt in” and “opt out” options, the present disclosure contemplates providing notifications relating to the access or use of personal information. For instance, a user may be notified upon downloading an app that their personal information data will be accessed and then reminded again just before personal information data is accessed by the app. 
     Moreover, it is the intent of the present disclosure that personal information data should be managed and handled in a way to minimize risks of unintentional or unauthorized access or use. Risk can be minimized by limiting the collection of data and deleting data once it is no longer needed. In addition, and when applicable, including in certain health related applications, data de-identification can be used to protect a user&#39;s privacy. De-identification may be facilitated, when appropriate, by removing specific identifiers (e.g., date of birth, etc.), controlling the amount or specificity of data stored (e.g., collecting location data a city level rather than at an address level), controlling how data is stored (e.g., aggregating data across users), and/or other methods. 
     Therefore, although the present disclosure broadly covers use of personal information data to implement one or more various disclosed embodiments, the present disclosure also contemplates that the various embodiments can be implemented without the need for accessing such personal information data. That is, the various embodiments of the present technology are not rendered inoperable due to the lack of all or a portion of such personal information data. For example, changes in light transmission through light-control panels can be implemented for a given user by inferring user preferences based on non-personal information data, a bare minimum amount of personal information, other non-personal information available to the device, or publicly available information.

Metadata:
Filing Date: 20220113
Publication Date: 20230905
Grant Date: 20230905
Priority Date: 20190304
Inventors: Kingman, David E.
JONES, CHRISTOPHER D.
WILSON, JAMES R.
MELCHER, MARTIN
Masschelein, Peter F.
Assignee: APPLE INC
CPC Classifications: [{"code": "G02B6/0026", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02B6/005", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "C03C17/38", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02B6/0026", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02B6/0011", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02B6/0026", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B32B2605/08", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B32B2419/00", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "C03C2217/40", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "C03C2217/48", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "C03C2217/43", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "C03C17/366", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B32B7/12", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B32B17/10055", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B32B17/10504", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B32B17/10541", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B32B2307/41", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B32B2307/412", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B32B17/10761", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B32B17/10788", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B32B17/1077", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B32B27/30", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B32B27/306", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B32B27/40", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B32B2307/416", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B32B2307/408", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B32B2307/538", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B32B17/10449", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B32B2307/102", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B32B17/10293", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B32B17/10036", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B32B2307/202", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B32B17/10174", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B32B2255/20", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B32B17/10146", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02B6/005", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}]
Family ID: 80034581