KR102824265B1 - Method and apparatus for driving electrochromic device - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method and device for controlling the driving of an electrochromic device, and more specifically, to a method and device for controlling the driving of an electrochromic device that can supply a voltage for driving an electrochromic device more efficiently, thereby improving the durability and reliability of the device.
To this end, the driving control device of the electrochromic element of the present invention includes a driving voltage supply unit that supplies a square wave driving voltage to the electrochromic element; a device voltage measuring unit that measures a device voltage of the electrochromic element that changes color by the supplied square wave voltage; a device current measuring unit that measures a device current of the electrochromic element that changes color by the supplied square wave voltage; and a driving power control unit that controls the driving voltage supply unit to supply a driving voltage having a different magnitude for each section to the electrochromic element such that the device voltage of the electrochromic element measured by the device voltage measuring unit reaches a final target voltage after passing through at least one section target voltage from the device start voltage.

Description

{Method and apparatus for driving electrochromic device}

The present invention relates to a method and device for controlling the driving of an electrochromic device, and more specifically, to a method and device for controlling the driving of an electrochromic device that can supply a voltage for driving an electrochromic device more efficiently, thereby improving the durability and reliability of the device.

In general, electrochromism is a phenomenon in which color changes reversibly depending on the direction of the electric field when power is applied, and devices with this characteristic are called electrochromic devices. Such electrochromic devices are formed by a structure in which a discoloring material and an electrolyte are interposed between transparent electrodes at a predetermined interval.

Electrochromic elements do not show color when there is no external electron movement, but when power is supplied to the transparent electrode, electrons are supplied and the chromic material is reduced or oxidized when it loses electrons, and the material takes on color. Conversely, when there is no external electron supply, the chromic material shows color, but when electrons are supplied and reduced or when electrons are lost and oxidized, the color disappears.

In particular, electrochromic devices have recently attracted great interest for application to large areas such as building window panes. However, when applied to large areas, the discoloration reaction is slow due to the distance between the edge and center of the device where voltage is applied, and there is also a problem in that the light transmittance discolors differently depending on the location due to the voltage difference between the edge and center.

In order to induce faster and more uniform discoloration over a large area, a high level of power must be applied. However, this may cause the element to deteriorate, reducing the reliability and durability of the element. In severe cases, the element may be damaged.

Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2006-0092362 (Title of invention: Electrochromic device and its manufacturing method) Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2020-0128374 (Title of invention: Electrochromic device)

The problem to be solved by the present invention is to propose a method and device for controlling the operation of an electrochromic device that changes color more quickly and uniformly.

Another problem that the present invention seeks to solve is to propose a method and device for controlling the operation of an electrochromic device that does not reduce the durability of the device.

To this end, the driving control device of the electrochromic element of the present invention includes a driving voltage supply unit that supplies a square wave driving voltage to the electrochromic element; a device voltage measuring unit that measures a device voltage of the electrochromic element that changes color by the supplied square wave voltage; a device current measuring unit that measures a device current of the electrochromic element that changes color by the supplied square wave voltage; and a driving power control unit that controls the driving voltage supply unit to supply a driving voltage having a different magnitude for each section to the electrochromic element such that the device voltage of the electrochromic element measured by the device voltage measuring unit reaches a final target voltage after passing through at least one section target voltage from the device start voltage.

To this end, the driving control method of the electrochromic element of the present invention includes the steps of: measuring the element voltage and element current of the electrochromic element that changes color by the supplied square wave voltage; and, when the measured element voltage reaches the section target voltage set in the first section or the measured element current drops to the set current set for each section, moving to a second section and supplying the square wave driving voltage having the set size in the second section to the electrochromic element; wherein at least two sections are set in the order of the first section and the second section, and the square wave driving voltage having a different size is set for each section so that the element voltage of the electrochromic element reaches the final target voltage after passing through at least one section target voltage from the element start voltage.

The method and device for controlling the driving of an electrochromic device according to the present invention have the advantage of enabling rapid and uniform discoloration by controlling the driving voltage applied to the device using the current or voltage measured in the device.

In addition, the method and device for controlling the driving of a photochromic element have the advantage of not reducing the durability of the element by controlling the driving voltage applied to the element using the current or voltage measured in the element.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a driving voltage waveform applied to an electrochromic element according to one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 illustrates a driving control device for an electrochromic device according to one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 illustrates the size of the voltage supplied from a driving voltage supply unit according to one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating operations performed in a driving power control unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating operations performed in a driving power control unit according to another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 illustrates a driving method performed in a driving power control unit according to another embodiment of the present invention.

The above-described and additional aspects of the present invention will become more apparent through the preferred embodiments described with reference to the attached drawings. Hereinafter, these embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail so that those skilled in the art can easily understand and reproduce them.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a driving voltage waveform applied to an electrochromic element according to an embodiment of the present invention. The driving control device of the electrochromic element according to the present invention is a device that applies a driving voltage to change the color of the electrochromic element by discoloration or coloring, and applies a square wave voltage having a voltage application section (t _on ) in which the voltage is applied and a floating section (t _off ) in which the voltage is not applied.

FIG. 2 illustrates a driving control device for an electrochromic device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Hereinafter, the driving control device for an electrochromic device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail using FIG. 2.

According to FIG. 2, the driving control device (200) of the electrochromic element includes a driving voltage supply unit (202), an element voltage measuring unit (204), an element current measuring unit (206), a square wave counter (208), and a driving power control unit (210). Of course, other components than the above-described components may be included in the driving control device of the electrochromic element proposed in the present invention.

The driving voltage supply unit (202) supplies the square wave voltage illustrated in Fig. 1 to the electrochromic element according to the control command of the driving power control unit (210). Of course, the size of the voltage supplied from the driving voltage supply unit (202) varies according to the control command of the driving power control unit (210).

The element voltage measurement unit (204) is configured to measure the element voltage by connecting the measurement terminal to the electrode terminal of the electrochromic element and is controlled by the driving power control unit (210) to measure the voltage of the electrochromic element. At this time, the element voltage measurement unit (204) measures the element voltage in the floating section (t _off ) where the driving voltage is not applied, and as multiple driving voltages are applied, the element voltage is measured for each floating section where the driving voltage is not applied. The element voltages measured in this manner are compared and judged by the driving power control unit (210).

The element current measuring unit (206) is configured to measure the element current by connecting the measuring terminal to the electrode terminal of the electrochromic element and is controlled by the driving power control unit (210) to measure the current of the electrochromic element. At this time, the element current measuring unit (206) measures the element current in the floating section (t _off ) where the driving voltage is not applied, and as multiple driving voltages are applied, the element current is measured for each floating section where the driving voltage is not applied. The element currents measured in this manner are compared and judged by the driving power control unit (210).

The square wave counter (208) measures the number of square wave voltages supplied by the driving voltage supply unit (202). The square wave counter (208) measures the number of times during a voltage application section in which the driving voltage is applied among the square waves, or measures the number of times during a floating section in which the driving voltage is not applied. The number of times of the driving voltages measured in this manner is compared and judged by the driving power control unit (210).

The driving power control unit (210) receives the device voltage measured by the device voltage measurement unit (204) and compares it with the section target voltage, and if the device voltage does not reach the section target voltage, controls the driving voltage supply unit (202) to apply a square wave voltage having the same size as the previously supplied driving voltage to the device. If the device voltage reaches the section target voltage, the driving power control unit (210) controls the driving voltage supply unit (202) to supply a square wave voltage having a relatively lower size than the previously supplied driving voltage to the device.

The driving power control unit (210) receives the device current measured by the device current measuring unit (206) and compares it with the set current, and if the device current is lower than the set current, controls the driving voltage supply unit (202) to supply a square wave voltage having a relatively lower magnitude than the magnitude of the previously supplied driving voltage to the device.

The driving power control unit (210) compares the number of times the square wave voltage is supplied from the square wave counter (208) with the set number of times, and if the number of times the square wave voltage is supplied exceeds the set number of times, it controls the driving voltage supply unit (202) to supply a square wave voltage having a relatively lower size than the size of the previously supplied driving voltage to the element.

In this way, the driving power control unit (210) proposed in the present invention proposes a method of controlling the size of the supply voltage supplied to the element by using the number of times the element voltage, element current, or square wave voltage is supplied to the element.

Fig. 3 illustrates the magnitude of the voltage supplied from the driving voltage supply unit according to one embodiment of the present invention. Hereinafter, the magnitude of the voltage supplied from the driving voltage supply unit according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail using Fig. 3. Of course, as described above, the magnitude of the voltage supplied from the driving voltage supply unit is performed according to the control command of the driving power control unit.

The voltage referred to in the present invention is divided into a driving voltage, a target voltage, and a device voltage, and the target voltage is divided into a section target voltage and a final target voltage. The driving voltage is a voltage supplied from a driving voltage supply unit, the target voltage is a voltage targeted by the device due to the driving voltage, and the device voltage means a voltage measured by the device due to the supplied driving voltage.

The driving voltages proposed in the present invention do not have the same magnitude but have different voltages. That is, the driving voltage has a first magnitude in the first section, a second magnitude in the second section, and a third magnitude in the third section. The first magnitude is relatively larger than the second magnitude, and the second magnitude is relatively larger than the third magnitude.

In addition, the lengths of the first to third sections can be set to be the same or different. In addition, the number of sections can also be different. That is, the driving voltage can have at least two sizes.

According to FIG. 3, the driving voltage has a size of Vmax_S1 in the first section, a size of Vmax_S2 in the second section, and a size of Vmax_S3 in the third section. Of course, although it is not explicitly shown in FIG. 3, the first section does not supply one square wave, but at least two square waves. That is, in the first section, the driving voltage supply unit supplies a square wave having a voltage application section and a floating section to the element.

The segment target voltage refers to the target element voltage in each segment by the driving voltage. The segment target voltage has a size a in the first segment, a size b in the second segment, and a size c in the third segment. The a size is relatively smaller than the b size, and the b size is relatively smaller than the c size.

The final target voltage refers to the voltage that the device targets for discoloration. That is, the device receives multiple target voltages and then reaches the final target voltage as the target.

When the element voltage in the first section reaches magnitude a, the driving voltage supply unit moves to the second section and supplies a driving voltage having a second magnitude to the element. When the element voltage in the second section reaches magnitude b, the driving voltage supply unit moves to the third section and supplies a driving voltage having a third magnitude to the element.

The section setting current means the minimum current required in each section by the driving voltage. The first section has the first section setting current, the second section has the second section setting current, and the third section has the third section setting current. In addition, the first section setting current is greater than the second section setting current, and the second section setting current is greater than the third section setting current. In Fig. 3, the first section setting current is illustrated as Im_S1, the second section setting current is illustrated as Im_S2, and the third section setting current is illustrated as Im_S3.

When the device current in the first section falls below the first section set current, the driving voltage supply unit moves to the second section and supplies a driving voltage having a second magnitude to the device. When the device voltage in the second section falls below the second section set current, the driving voltage supply unit moves to the third section and supplies a driving voltage having a third magnitude to the device.

In this way, the driving voltage supply unit proposed in the present invention controls the size of the voltage supplied to the device by using not only the device voltage measured in the device but also the device current measured in the device.

The present invention sets the number of times a voltage is applied to a device for each section differently according to the number of target voltages for each section, and can set the number of target voltages for each section differently according to the difference between the start voltage of the device and the final target voltage.

In addition, the present invention proposes a set number of times, which means the number of waveforms of the square wave voltage supplied in each section. When the number of waveforms of the square wave voltage supplied in each section reaches the set number of times, the driving voltage supply unit supplies the voltage of the next section to the element even if the section target voltage is not reached. That is, even if the element voltage measured by the element does not reach the section target voltage until the set number of times is reached by the supply voltage supplied to the element in the first section, the device moves to the second section and supplies the second voltage to the element.

In relation to the present invention, a method for controlling discoloration of a chromic element (chromic film, chromic window) can be divided into voltage control and current control.

Voltage control repeats Vmax_S at t _on and t _off , and the reason for repeating t _on and t _off is to measure the value of Vm_S (device voltage) charged at t _off . In addition, Imax_S (section maximum set current) plays a role in limiting the current so that it does not exceed the corresponding current. Supplying Vmax_S to reach Vm_S (target voltage) is the basis of discoloration. However, if the expected normal current value is exceeded when Vmax_S is supplied, it may shock the discoloration film (discoloration window), so it is desirable to set Imax_S.

Before supplying Vmax_S, the voltage is sequentially increased, and if the IMax_S (section maximum setting current) value is exceeded before reaching Vmax_S, t _on and t _off are repeated based on a lowered Vmax_S value that is lowered by the setting value from the Vmax_S value at the moment of exceeding it. If Vmax_S is reached without exceeding the IMax_S value, t _on and t _off are repeated based on the Vmax_S value.

As described above, in the case of Im_S1, the Min value is used, and when Vmax_S is applied and it becomes lower than Im_S, it moves to the next section. Of course, time control can be performed during voltage control, and in the case of time control, a time is set for each section, and if the section target voltage is not reached during the set time, it moves to the next section.

In addition, discoloration can be controlled using current, and discoloration is controlled using current without t _off rather than repeating t _on and t _off for Vmax_S. That is, discoloration is controlled by supplying voltage until Imax_S is reached, and reducing the supply voltage for a set period of time when Im_S (target current) is reached.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an operation performed in a driving power control unit according to an embodiment of the present invention. Hereinafter, the operation performed in a driving power control unit according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail using FIG. 4.

In particular, Fig. 4 illustrates an operation performed by the driving power control unit in a first section having a first size for convenience of explanation. As described above, the driving power control unit determines whether to enter a second section having a second size using the element voltage and element current.

In step S400, the driving power control unit compares the device voltage with the section target voltage, and if the device voltage reaches the section target voltage, it moves to step S402 and supplies a driving voltage having a second size set in the second section to the device.

If the component voltage does not reach the target voltage for the section, the process moves to step S404 to supply a driving voltage having a first magnitude. In addition, as described above, the driving voltage is a square wave voltage having a voltage application section and a floating section.

In step S410, the driving power control unit compares the device current with the section setting current, and if the device current is lower than the section setting current, it moves to step S412 and supplies a driving voltage having the second size of the second section to the device.

If the device current is not lower than the section setting current, the process moves to step S414 and supplies a driving voltage having the first size.

In addition, as described above, the process of comparing the element voltage and the section target voltage and the process of comparing the element current and the set current in the driving power control unit are performed independently of each other.

In addition, as described above, the operation of the driving power control unit performed in the second or third section is identical to the operation of the driving power control unit performed in the first section.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating operations performed in a driving power control unit according to another embodiment of the present invention. Hereinafter, the operations performed in the driving power control unit will be described in detail using FIG. 5. In particular, FIG. 5 illustrates a procedure for supplying a driving voltage while maintaining the final target voltage in a state where the element voltage has reached the final target voltage.

In step S500, the driving power control unit checks the set number of driving voltage application times, and if the set number of driving voltage application times is reached, the process ends; if the set number of driving voltage application times is not reached, the process moves to step S502.

In step S502, if the element voltage measured by the element voltage measurement unit reaches the final target voltage, the driving power control unit moves to step S500, and if the measured element voltage is lower than the final target voltage, the unit moves to step S504.

In S504, the driving power control unit applies a square wave voltage, increases the number of times the driving voltage is applied by 1, and then moves to step S500. Of course, it is desirable for the driving power control unit to wait for a set time after performing step S504 and then move to step S500.

FIG. 6 illustrates a driving method performed in a driving power control unit according to another embodiment of the present invention. Hereinafter, an operation performed in a driving power control unit according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail using FIG. 6.

According to Fig. 6, it illustrates a case where the final target voltage of the device is four. That is, it illustrates four final target voltages consisting of the first final target voltage to the fourth final target voltage. The driving voltage control unit applies a square wave voltage to reach the final target voltage from the starting voltage.

division Starting Element Voltage Starting voltage 1 Starting voltage 2 Starting voltage 3 Starting voltage 4 Final target voltage Final target voltage1 - Vm_M21_S1 to S3 Vm_M31_S1 to S3 Vm_M41_S1 to S3 Final target voltage 2 Vm_M21_S1 to S3 - Vm_M32_S1 to S3 Vm_M42_S1 to S3 Final target voltage 3 Vm_M13_S1 to S3 Vm_M23_S1 to S3 - Vm_M21_S1 to S3 Final target voltage 4 Vm_M14_S1 to S3 Vm_M24_S1 to S3 Vm_M34_S1 to S3 -

In Vm_Mab_S1:S3, a represents the starting device voltage, and b represents the final target voltage. Starting device voltage 1 is the same as final target voltage 1, starting device voltage 2 is the same as final target voltage 2, starting device voltage 3 is the same as final target voltage 3, and starting device voltage 4 is the same as final target voltage 4.

S1 is the case where the final target voltage is reached after passing through one target voltage from the starting voltage, S2 is the case where the final target voltage is reached after passing through two target voltages from the starting voltage, and S3 is the case where the final target voltage is reached after passing through three target voltages from the starting voltage.

In this way, the driving voltage control unit proposed in the present invention can be set to reach the final target voltage after passing through one or at least two target voltages from the starting element voltage.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to an embodiment shown in the drawings, this is merely exemplary, and those skilled in the art will understand that various modifications and equivalent other embodiments are possible therefrom.

200: Electrochromic device driving control device
202: Driving voltage supply unit 204: Element voltage measurement unit
206: Element current measurement section 208: Square wave counter
210: Drive power control unit

Claims (10)

A driving voltage supply unit that supplies a square wave driving voltage to an electrochromic element;
A device voltage measuring unit for measuring the device voltage of an electrochromic device that changes color by a supplied square wave voltage;
A device current measuring unit that measures the device current of an electrochromic device that changes color by a supplied square wave voltage;
A driving power control unit that controls a driving voltage supply unit to supply a square wave driving voltage having a different size for each section to the electrochromic element so that the element voltage of the electrochromic element measured by the element voltage measurement unit reaches the final target voltage after passing through at least one section target voltage from the element start voltage; and
A square wave counter for calculating the number of times a voltage is applied to an electrochromic element;
The above driving power control unit,
At least two sections are set in the order of section 1 and section 2, and the number of voltage application times and driving voltage of the electrochromic element are set for each set section.
An electrochromic element drive control device characterized in that when the number of voltage application times measured by a square wave counter reaches the number of voltage application times in the first section, the device moves to the second section and controls the drive voltage supply section to supply the drive voltage set in the second section to the electrochromic element.
In the first paragraph, the driving power control unit,
At least two sections are set in the order of section 1 and section 2, and the target voltage and driving voltage of the electrochromic element are set for each set section.
An electrochromic device drive control device characterized in that when the device voltage measured by the device voltage measurement unit reaches the target voltage of the first section, the device moves to the second section and controls the drive voltage supply unit to supply the drive voltage set in the second section to the electrochromic device.
In the first paragraph, the driving power control unit,
At least two sections are set in the order of section 1 and section 2, and the section setting current and driving voltage of the electrochromic element are set for each set section.
An electrochromic device drive control device characterized in that when the device current measured by the device current measuring unit drops to the section setting current of the first section, the device moves to the second section and controls the drive voltage supply unit to supply the drive voltage set in the second section to the electrochromic device.
An electrochromic device drive control device, characterized in that in the first paragraph, the square wave voltage supplied to the device is divided into a voltage application section in which voltage is applied and a floating section in which no voltage is applied.
delete In the fourth paragraph, the component voltage measuring unit,
An electrochromic device drive control device characterized by measuring the device voltage of the electrochromic device in a floating section.
An electrochromic device drive control device characterized in that, in the first paragraph, the number of times the device voltage is applied to the electrochromic device is set differently for each section according to the number of target voltages for each section.
In paragraph 1,
An electrochromic device drive control device characterized in that the number of section target voltages is different depending on the difference between the device start voltage and the final target voltage.
A step of measuring the element voltage and element current of an electrochromic element that changes color by a supplied square wave voltage; and
A step of moving to a second section and supplying a driving voltage of a square wave having a size set in the second section to the electrochromic element when the measured element voltage reaches the section target voltage set in the first section or the measured element current drops to the section setting current set for each section; includes;
At least two sections are set in the order of Section 1 and Section 2,
The driving voltage of a square wave having a different size for each section is set so that the device voltage of the electrochromic device reaches the final target voltage after passing through at least one section target voltage from the device start voltage.
The step of supplying the driving voltage of the above square wave to the electrochromic element is as follows.
Set the number of times the voltage is applied to the device for each section.
A driving control method for an electrochromic element, characterized in that when the number of voltage application times measured by a square wave counter reaches the number of voltage application times in the first section, the method moves to a second section and supplies a driving voltage of a square wave having a size set in the second section to the electrochromic element. delete

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