Building model generation and intelligent light control for smart windows

• US 10,316,581 B1
• Filed: 01/12/2016
• Issued: 06/11/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Halio Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Kinestral Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Nagel, Paul, Barnum, Wally, Coffin, Stephen, Nichols, Brandon, Dubois, Antoine
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu, Vu A
• Application Number:
  US14/994,092
• Time in Patent Office: 1,246 Days
• Field of Search: 700 83
• 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 9/68 Operating devices or mechanisms, e.g. with electric drive
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/163 Operation of electrochromic cells, e.g. electrodeposition cells; Circuit arrangements therefor

Abstract

A smart window system is provided. The system includes a plurality of smart windows, each having at least one electrochromic window and a plurality of sensors. The system includes a control system coupling the plurality of smart windows and the plurality of sensors. The control system is configured to couple to a network, and configured to generate a building model that includes information regarding the plurality of smart windows and is based on information from the plurality of sensors and information from the network.

Claims

1. A smart window system, comprising:

a plurality of smart windows, the system having at least one electrochromic window;

the plurality of smart windows including a plurality of sound sensors;

a voice control device for controlling the smart window system; and

a control system configured to determine sound level information from the plurality of sound sensors, deduce from the sound level information which of the plurality of smart windows is closest to a user who is speaking, and direct the deduced closest one of the plurality of smart windows to be controlled by the voice control device.

2. The smart window system of claim 1, wherein the voice control device comprises a user device.

3. The smart window system of claim 2, wherein the user device comprises a smart phone.

4. The smart window system of claim 2, wherein the user device wirelessly communicates with the smart window system.

5. The smart window system of claim 2, wherein the user device has speech recognition and recognizes a user giving directions.

6. The smart window system of claim 1, wherein the voice control device is a built-in voice control device in at least one of the smart windows.

7. The smart window system of claim 6, wherein the built-in voice control device comprises a sound sensor for voice recognition.

8. The smart window system of claim 7, wherein each of the smart windows comprises one of the plurality of sound sensors.

9. An electrochromic window system, comprising:

a plurality of electrochromic windows having a plurality of sound sensors;

a control system comprising a plurality of intelligent window drivers, a command and communication device, and wherein the control system is configured to couple to a network;

a voice control device; and

the control system configured to;

receive input from the plurality of sound sensors;

compare sound levels, based on the input from the plurality of sound sensors;

determine which one of the plurality of electrochromic windows is closest to a user who is speaking, based on comparing the sound levels; and

control, by the voice control device, the one of the plurality of electrochromic windows that is closest to the user.

10. The electrochromic window system of claim 9, wherein the voice control device is configured to communicate with the plurality of electrochromic windows wirelessly through the drivers.

11. The electrochromic window system of claim 9, wherein the voice control device is configured to communicate with the plurality of electrochromic windows wirelessly through the command and communication device.

12. The electrochromic window system of claim 9, wherein the voice control device is configured to communicate with the plurality of electrochromic windows though the network.

13. A method of controlling a smart window system, performed by the smart window system, comprising:

providing an instruction to at least one electrochromic window in the electrochromic window system from a voice control device;

determining, based on comparing sound levels from sensors at a plurality of electrochromic windows in the electrochromic window system, which electrochromic window is closest to a user who is speaking; and

changing a tint state of the electrochromic window that is closest to the user who is speaking, using the instruction.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein providing the instruction comprises the voice control device communicating with the smart window system wirelessly through a window driver.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein providing the instruction comprises the voice control device communicating with the smart window system wirelessly through a command and communication device.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein providing the instruction comprises the voice control device communicating with the smart window system.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein changing the tint state comprises decreasing the transmissivity of the at least one electrochromic device.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein changing the tint state comprises increasing the transmissivity of the device.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein changing the tint state of the smart window system comprises selectively tinting a first group of electrochromic windows differently than a second group of electrochromic windows to create a pattern effect in the smart window system.

20. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

dimming or brightening all electrochromic windows in a same room as the electrochromic window that is closest to the user who is speaking.