Window louver control system
First Claim
1. A louver assembly, comprising:
- a) a tiltable array of generally parallel louvers, wherein the louvers are for light re-directing and are configured to be tilted to re-direct sunlight into an interior space, each of said louvers having a center axis and each of said louvers generally extends in a plane between opposing ends thereof,b) a means to determine an azimuthal and elevational direction of the sun,c) an actuator means for tilting the louvers,d) a header for supporting the array of generally parallel louvers and that includes the actuator means to tilt the generally parallel louvers,e) wherein the actuator means is operative to tilt each of said louvers from a negative tilt angle to a positive tilt angle by passing the plane of each of said louvers through a vertical orientation, wherein each of said louvers is supported to be tilted by pivoting approximately about the center axis and the actuator means is operative to tilt each of said louvers about a tilt axis that is parallel to and proximately spaced apart from the center axis of each of said louvers by a vertically moving positioning bar, wherein the positioning bar engages each of said louvers at a position distal from the tilt axis.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An automated ganged louver assembly is adjusted in orientation by an actuator in the louver header that suspends or supports the louver rotation mechanism. The actuator is energized in response to a determination of solar elevation, which is optionally from a light sensor output via a controller. The light sensor employs an optical element to detect at least one of the sun elevation and azimuth, as well as general exterior light levels. The solar elevation and azimuth can also be determined by calculations from the window orientation and latitude. The optical elements and the controller are coupled to at least one of the louvers or the louver header to provide a self contained system that does not require exterior power or controls, unless desired.
55 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A louver assembly, comprising:
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a) a tiltable array of generally parallel louvers, wherein the louvers are for light re-directing and are configured to be tilted to re-direct sunlight into an interior space, each of said louvers having a center axis and each of said louvers generally extends in a plane between opposing ends thereof, b) a means to determine an azimuthal and elevational direction of the sun, c) an actuator means for tilting the louvers, d) a header for supporting the array of generally parallel louvers and that includes the actuator means to tilt the generally parallel louvers, e) wherein the actuator means is operative to tilt each of said louvers from a negative tilt angle to a positive tilt angle by passing the plane of each of said louvers through a vertical orientation, wherein each of said louvers is supported to be tilted by pivoting approximately about the center axis and the actuator means is operative to tilt each of said louvers about a tilt axis that is parallel to and proximately spaced apart from the center axis of each of said louvers by a vertically moving positioning bar, wherein the positioning bar engages each of said louvers at a position distal from the tilt axis. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A louver assembly, comprising:
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a) a tiltable array of generally parallel louvers, wherein the louvers are for light re-directing and are configured to be tilted to re-direct sunlight into an interior space, each of said louvers having a center axis and each of said louvers generally extends in a plane between opposing ends thereof, b) a means to determine an azimuthal and elevational direction of the sun, c) an actuator means for tilting the louvers, d) a header for supporting the array of generally parallel louvers that includes the actuator means to tilt the generally parallel louvers and, e) wherein the actuator means is operative to tilt each of said louvers from a negative tilt angle to a positive tilt angle with respect to a vertical plane by passing the plane of each of said louvers through a vertical orientation, wherein each of said louvers includes a pair of support clips which receive and support the opposing ends thereof, f) a vertically suspended support bar that is connected to a tilt axis of each of said louvers, g) a positioning bar spaced apart from the vertically suspended support bar, wherein the positioning bar engages a portion of the support clips that is different than a portion of the support clips the vertically suspended support bar engages so that a majority of the mass of each of said louvers is supported by the vertically suspended support bar, wherein a vertical movement of the positioning bar is operative to tilt each of said louvers. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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15. A louver assembly, comprising:
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a) a tiltable array of louvers, wherein the louvers are for light re-directing and are configured to be tilted to re-direct sunlight into an interior space, each of said louvers having a center axis and each of said louvers generally extends in a plane between opposing ends thereof, c) an actuator means for tilting each of the louvers, d) a header for supporting the array of louvers and that includes the actuator means to tilt the louvers, e) wherein the actuator means is operative to tilt a plurality of said louvers from a negative tilt angle to a positive tilt angle by passing the plane of each of said louvers in the plurality of said louvers through a vertical orientation, and wherein the plurality of said louvers are supported at the opposing ends and are pivotable approximately about a respective one of the center axes, and the actuator means is operative to tilt each of said louvers in the plurality of said louvers about a tilt axis that is parallel to and spaced apart from the center axis thereof by a vertically moving positioning bar, wherein the vertically moving positioning bar is operative to engage one of the opposing ends of each of said louvers in the plurality of said louvers at a position distal from the center axis and the tilt axis. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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Specification