System, device, and method for controlling smart windows

• US 10,053,911 B2
• Filed: 02/17/2016
• Issued: 08/21/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: King Fahd University Of Petroleum And Minerals
• Original Assignee: King Fahd University Of Petroleum And Minerals
• Inventors: Fasi, Mohammed Abdul, Budaiwi, Ismail Mohammad
• Primary Examiner(s): Dinke, Bitew
• Application Number:
  US15/045,864
• Publication Number:
  US 20170234067A1
• Time in Patent Office: 916 Days
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/70 with automatic actuation
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/71 responsive to temperature changes, rain, wind or noise
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/73 responsive to movement or presence of persons or objects
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/79 using time control
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 2009/2464 featuring transparency control by applying voltage, e.g. LCD, electrochromic panels
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 2009/6809 Control
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 2009/6818 using sensors
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 2009/6827 sensing light
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 9/24 Screens or other constructions affording protection against light, especially against sunshine; Similar screens for privacy or appearance; Slat blindsoperating, guiding or securing devices or arrangements for roll-type closures E06B9/56; free-hanging flexible screens A47H23/00
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 9/32 Operating, guiding, or securing devices therefor operation of tilting bars E06B9/307
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 9/68 Operating devices or mechanisms, e.g. with electric drive
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 13/041 in which a variable is automatically adjusted to optimise the performance
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2642 Domotique, domestic, home control, automation, smart house
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 30/24 Structural elements or technologies for improving thermal insulation
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 80/00 Architectural or constructional elements improving the thermal performance of buildings

Abstract

A smart window controller includes circuitry configured to establish a representative model of one or more building zones based on occupancy, construction, lighting, or cooling properties of a building. A lighting control strategy is implemented for the one or more building zones based on the representative model or one or more user preferences input at a first user interface screen of an external device. Automatic operations of one or more smart windows, cooling systems, or artificial lighting systems are controlled based on trigger points associated with the lighting control strategy, and a performance level of the lighting control strategy for the one or more building zones is determined based on one or more predetermined financial metrics.

Claims

1. A smart window control device comprising:

circuitry configured to

establish a representative model of one or more building zones based on occupancy, construction, lighting, or cooling properties of a building,

implement a lighting control strategy for the one or more building zones based on the representative model or one or more user preferences input at a first user interface screen of an external device,

control automatic operations of one or more electrochromatic smart windows by varying a voltage applied to a stack of electrochromatic coating layers, or artificial lighting systems by modifying a fractional input power in discrete steps based on trigger points associated with the lighting control strategy, and

determine with the circuitry a performance level of the lighting control strategy for the one or more building zones based on one or more predetermined financial metrics that include a comparison of total building energy consumption to a threshold, wherein

the circuitry is further configured to determine a comfort score and an energy savings score indicating a relative importance of visual comfort and energy savings for the one or more building zones based on the representative model of the one or more building zones or the one or more user preferences,

the circuitry is further configured to implement a daylight control strategy as the lighting control strategy when the energy savings score is greater than an energy savings threshold or the comfort score is lower than a visual comfort threshold, and

the circuitry is further configured to implement a solar control strategy or a glare control strategy as the lighting control strategy when the energy savings score is less than or equal to an energy savings threshold and the comfort score is greater than or equal to a visual comfort threshold,

wherein the predetermined financial metrics include a predetermined payback period associated one or more building components based on a current energy costs, price of the one or more building components, and one or more financial health attributes of a building, and

wherein the circuitry is further configured to output a warning to the external device when an amount of energy savings associated with the one or more smart windows over a predetermined period of time does not meet the predetermined payback period associated with the one or more building components.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the circuitry is further configured to implement the daylight control strategy, the glare control strategy, or the solar control strategy based on the representative model of the one or more building zones or the one or more user preferences.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the circuitry is further configured to control the automatic operations of the one or more smart windows to achieve a predetermined daylight illuminance sensor set point when the daylight control strategy is implemented.

4. The device of claim 2, wherein the circuitry is further configured to control the automatic operations of the one or more electrochromatic smart windows to achieve a predetermined glare index set point when the glare control strategy is implemented.

5. The device of claim 2, wherein the circuitry is further configured to control the automatic operations of the one or more electrochromatic smart windows to achieve a predetermined solar radiation set point when the solar control strategy is implemented.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the circuitry is further configured to identify one or more interior and exterior illuminance sensors associated with each of the one or more building zones.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the circuitry is further configured to determine an impact weighting factor associated with each of the one or more interior and exterior illuminance sensors based on at least one of sensor value, time of day, or time of year.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the circuitry is further configured to define the one or more building zones based on a layout of heating or cooling system controls within a building.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the circuitry is further configured to determine an illumination deficit for the one or more building zones corresponding to a difference between a target illuminance and an amount of daylight illuminance from the one or more electrochromatic smart windows.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the circuitry is further configured to control an amount of artificial lighting to compensate for the illumination deficit.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the circuitry is further configured to modify the lighting control strategy to increase the amount of energy savings associated with the one or more electrochromatic smart windows over a predetermined period of time does not meet the predetermined payback period associated with the one or more building components.