Displays for tintable windows

Abstract

A tintable window is described having a tintable coating, e.g., an electrochromic device coating, for regulating light transmitted through the window. In some embodiments, the window has a transparent display in the window's viewable region. Transparent displays may be substantially transparent when not in use, or when the window is viewed in a direction facing away from the transparent display. Windows may have sensors for receiving user commands and/or for monitoring environmental conditions. Transparent displays can display graphical user interfaces to, e.g., control window functions. Windows, as described herein, offer an alternative display to conventional projectors, TVs, and monitors. Windows may also be configured to receive, transmit, or block wireless communications from passing through the window. A window control system may share computational resources between controllers (e.g., at different windows). In some cases, the computational resources of the window control system are utilized by other building systems and devices.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A window comprising:
 a first lite;   an electrochromic device disposed on the first lite;   a display; and   an arrangement that mechanically couples the display with the first lite.   
     
     
         2 . The window of  claim 1 , wherein the first lite is or includes the display. 
     
     
         3 . The window of  claim 2 , wherein the first lite includes a laminated arrangement of the electrochromic device and the display. 
     
     
         4 . The window of  claim 1 , wherein an area of the display is co-extensive with a viewable area of the window. 
     
     
         5 . The window of  claim 1 , wherein the arrangement includes at least a portion of a controller of the electrochromic device and/or the display. 
     
     
         6 . The window of  claim 1 , wherein the display is a transparent organic light emitting diode (OLED) thin film transistor (TFT) or electrowetting display. 
     
     
         7 . The window of  claim 6 , wherein the display is located on a separate lite placed in front of an electrochromic lite and held in place by a framing structure. 
     
     
         8 . The window of  claim 1 , wherein the arrangement includes a docking or framing system that couples the display and the window. 
     
     
         9 . The window of  claim 8 , wherein the arrangement includes one or both of:
 a reversible connection between the display and the window configured to permit removal and/or replacement of the display without damaging the window; and   an accessible connection configured to permit removal and/or replacement of the display without removing the window from an installed location.   
     
     
         10 . The window of  claim 8 , wherein the arrangement is configured to route power and/or communications between the display and a component of the window. 
     
     
         11 . The window of  claim 8 , wherein the docking or framing system includes wireless transmitters and/or receivers for transmitting and/or receiving wireless control information for the display and/or the electrochromic device. 
     
     
         12 . The window of  claim 8 , wherein the docking or framing system includes one or more cameras or other sensors. 
     
     
         13 . The window of  claim 1 , wherein the arrangement includes a docking system that supports the display at one or more edges. 
     
     
         14 . The window of  claim 13 , wherein the docking system includes electrical connections for powering the display and/or for providing communication to the display. 
     
     
         15 . The window of  claim 13 , wherein the docking system includes one or more controllers that, singly or together, control the electrochromic device and the display. 
     
     
         16 . The window of  claim 13 , wherein the docking system is configured as a framing for the display. 
     
     
         17 . The window of  claim 1 , further comprising a touch-sensitive screen associated with the display. 
     
     
         18 . The window of  claim 17 , wherein the touch-sensitive screen is a capacitive touch sensor that at least partially covers a viewable area of the window and receives input when a user touches a surface of the window. 
     
     
         19 . The window of  claim 17 , wherein the display includes the touch-sensitive screen. 
     
     
         20 . The window of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more of a motion sensor, a camera, and a microphone. 
     
     
         21 . The window of  claim 1 , further comprising an inboard lite, wherein the display is a high definition transparent display disposed on or as the inboard lite. 
     
     
         22 . The window of  claim 21 , wherein the display includes touch and gesture sensors or microphones for receiving user inputs. 
     
     
         23 . The window of  claim 1 , further comprising a second lite configured to form, with the first lite, an insulated glass unit (IGU). 
     
     
         24 . The window of  claim 23 , wherein the arrangement is configured to reversibly mount the display to the first lite or the second lite. 
     
     
         25 . The window of  claim 24 , wherein the arrangement is configured to permit removal and/or replacement of the display without damaging the window. 
     
     
         26 . The window of  claim 23 , wherein the arrangement is configured to accessibly mount the display to the first lite or the second lite. 
     
     
         27 . The window of  claim 26 , wherein the arrangement is configured to permit removal and/or replacement of the display without removing the window from an installed location. 
     
     
         28 . The window of  claim 23 , wherein the arrangement includes a spacer disposed between the display and the first lite or the second lite. 
     
     
         29 . The window of  claim 28 , wherein the spacer is configured to provide a uniform distance between the display and the first lite or the second lite. 
     
     
         30 . The window of  claim 28 , wherein the spacer is configured to provide a hermetic seal between the display and the first lite or the second lite. 
     
     
         31 . The window of  claim 23 , wherein the arrangement includes a lamination of the display to the first lite or the second lite. 
     
     
         32 . The window of  claim 23 , wherein the second lite is or includes the display. 
     
     
         33 . The window of  claim 23 , wherein the display is a flexible panel laminated or otherwise attached to the first lite or the second lite. 
     
     
         34 . The window of  claim 23 , wherein the second lite is or includes the display and the arrangement includes a sealing spacer disposed between the first lite and the second lite. 
     
     
         35 . The window of  claim 34 , wherein the arrangement is configured to route power and communications between the display and the electrochromic device. 
     
     
         36 . The window of  claim 23 , wherein the first lite and the second lite are configured to form an insulated glass unit (IGU) and the arrangement includes a first framing structure. 
     
     
         37 . The window of  claim 36 , wherein the display is a third lite reversibly mounted to the IGU through the first framing structure to allow removal and/or replacement of the display without damaging the window. 
     
     
         38 . The window of  claim 37 , further comprising a display spacer disposed between the display and the IGU. 
     
     
         39 . The window of  claim 38 , further comprising sealing elements configured to prevent dust from entering a space between the display and the IGU. 
     
     
         40 . The window of  claim 38 , wherein the display spacer is configured to be adhesively attached to both the display and the IGU. 
     
     
         41 . The window of  claim 40 , wherein the display spacer is peripherally oriented along two or more sides of the window. 
     
     
         42 . The window of  claim 40 , wherein the display spacer is peripherally oriented along all sides of the window. 
     
     
         43 . The window of  claim 37 , wherein the first framing structure is configured to allow for insertion and/or removal of the display without removal of the first framing structure. 
     
     
         44 . The window of  claim 43 , wherein the first framing structure includes one or more components configured to be moveable from a first respective position and/or orientation to a second position and/or orientation, wherein:
 (a) in the first position and/or orientation, the components secure the display to the first framing structure; and   (b) in the second position and/or orientation, the components allow for insertion and/or removal of the display from the first framing structure.   
     
     
         45 . The window of  claim 36 , wherein the display is supported and/or secured by a second framing structure. 
     
     
         46 . The window of  claim 45 , wherein the second framing structure supports/secures the display proximal to the IGU and within the first framing structure. 
     
     
         47 . The window of  claim 46 , further comprising a controller, wherein the display is configured to present a graphical user interface for the controller. 
     
     
         48 . The window of  claim 45 , wherein the second framing structure is removably and accessibly attached to the first framing structure such that the second framing structure can be removed without damage to or removal of the first framing structure or the IGU. 
     
     
         49 . The window of  claim 45 , wherein the second framing structure includes a display frame that extends along one side, two sides, three sides, four sides, and/or all sides of the display. 
     
     
         50 . The window of  claim 36 , wherein:
 a coupling between the first framing structure and the display includes a fastener attached to the first framing structure; and   a retainer attached to the display, such that the retainer is configured to slidably engage with the fastener.   
     
     
         51 . The window of  claim 23  wherein the second lite is inboard of the first lite and is or includes the display. 
     
     
         52 . The window of  claim 51  wherein the second lite includes touch and gesture sensors that allow a user to interact with smart objects in a graphical user interface presented on the display. 
     
     
         53 . A building comprising:
 a plurality of electrochromic (EC) windows, wherein at least one EC window of the plurality of EC windows includes a first lite, an electrochromic device disposed on the first lite, a display and an arrangement that mechanically couples the display to the first lite.   
     
     
         54 . The building of  claim 53 , wherein the first lite is or includes the display. 
     
     
         55 . The building of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the display is a transparent organic light emitting diode (OLED) thin film transistor (TFT) or electrowetting display.   the display is located on a separate lite placed in front of an electrochromic lite and held in place by a framing structure.   
     
     
         56 . The building of  claim 53 , wherein the arrangement includes a docking or framing system that couples the display and the at least one window and includes one or both of:
 a reversible connection between the display and the window configured to permit removal and/or replacement of the display without damaging the window; and   an accessible connection configured to permit removal and/or replacement of the display without removing the window from an installed location.   
     
     
         57 . The building of  claim 53 , the at least one window further comprising an inboard lite, wherein:
 the display is a high definition transparent display disposed on or as the inboard lite; and includes touch and gesture sensors or microphones for receiving user inputs.   
     
     
         58 . The building of  claim 53 , the at least one window further comprising a second lite configured to form, with the first lite, an insulated glass unit (IGU), wherein the arrangement is configured to reversibly mount the display to the first lite or the second lite. 
     
     
         59 . The building of  claim 58 , wherein the arrangement is configured to permit removal and/or replacement of the display without damaging the at least one window. 
     
     
         60 . The window of  claim 59 , wherein the arrangement is configured to permit removal and/or replacement of the display without removing the window from an installed location. 
     
     
         61 . A method of constructing a building, the method comprising:
 installing a plurality of electrochromic (EC) windows, at least a first EC window of the plurality of EC windows comprising a first display, the first display being configured to present a graphical user interface (GUI) configured for use during construction of the building.   
     
     
         62 . The method of  claim 61 , further comprising
 using the GUI during commissioning of one or more of the plurality of EC windows.   
     
     
         63 . The method of  claim 61 , further comprising
 using the GUI during installation of at least some of the plurality of EC windows.   
     
     
         64 . The method of  claim 61 , further comprising
 presenting, on the first display, building plans or drawings.   
     
     
         65 . The method of  claim 61 , wherein the plurality of EC windows includes at least a second EC window comprising a second display, the method further comprising:
 using the first display and the second display for web-based video conferencing between workers located in disparate areas of the building.   
     
     
         66 . The method of  claim 61 , wherein at least one EC window of the plurality of EC windows includes a first lite, an electrochromic device disposed on the first lite, a display and an arrangement that mechanically couples the display to the first lite.