METHOD FOR THE INDIVIDUALIZED AND AUTOMATED CONTROL OF THE MEANS FOR CLOSING OFF AT LEAST ONE WINDOW, CONTROL ASSEMBLY FOR IMPLEMENTING SAID METHOD, AND PARAMETER-SETTING TOOL FOR SAID ASSEMBLY

• US 20130263510A1
• Filed: 11/24/2011
• Published: 10/10/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Schneider Electric Industries SAS (Schneider Electric SE)
• Original Assignee: Schneider Electric Industries SAS (Schneider Electric SE)
• Inventors: Gassion, Romain
• Granted Patent: US 9,194,167 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 49/1
• 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 15/77 using wireless control
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/00 Application of doors, windows, wings or fittings thereof
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/106 for garages
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 2009/2417 Light path control; means to control reflection
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 2009/6827 sensing light
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 9/26 Lamellar or like blinds, e.g. venetian blinds for vehicles B60J1/2088
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 9/32 Operating, guiding, or securing devices therefor operation of tilting bars E06B9/307

Abstract

A method for individualized control of means for closing off at least one window, by: determining coordinates of a dazzle cone associated with a window and with a dazzle-sensitive zone, the dazzle cone defined by a vertex positioned at the dazzle-sensitive zone and a directrix curve superimposed on the perimeter of the window; determining the orientation of direct rays of sunlight, and defined by a solar azimuth and a solar elevation; periodically checking whether the orientation falls within a predetermined dazzle cone; the directions of the rays of sunlight being parallel to one of the directions within the dazzle cone and passing through the vertex of the cone; and acting on closing-off means associated with the window for which orientation of rays of sunlight falls within a dazzle cone.

Claims

1. A method for individualized and automated control of means for closing off at least one window of a building, the method comprising acting on closing-off means associated with at least one window according to the orientation of direct rays of sunlight as defined by a solar azimuth and a solar elevation by

determining coordinates of at least one dazzle cone associated with a window and with a dazzle-sensitive zone situated inside the building in which said window resides, said at least one dazzle cone being defined by, on the one hand, a vertex positioned at the dazzle-sensitive zone and a directrix curve superimposed on the perimeter of said at least one window;

periodically checking whether the orientation of the rays of sunlight falls within at least one predetermined dazzle cone, the direction of the rays of sunlight being parallel to one of the directions within the dazzle cone and passing through the vertex of said cone; and

acting on the closing-off means associated with said at least one window for which the orientation of the rays of sunlight falls within at least one dazzle cone.

2. The control method as claimed in claim 1, additionally comprising

determining the light intensity outside in an environment close to said at least one window that is to be closed off,

comparing the measured light intensity against a closing-off threshold (Soc), and

acting on the closing-off means if the closing-off threshold is crossed.

3. The control method as claimed in claim 1, additionally comprising acting on the closing-off means of at least one window adjacent to said at least one window for which the orientation of the rays of sunlight falls within at least one dazzle cone.

4. The control method as claimed in claim 1, additionally comprising voltage control of the closing-off means comprising a glass of electrochromic type positioned in a recess of said window.

5. The control method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the closing-off means act gradually on the glass of electrochromic type to darken said glass between a minimum threshold that allows a maximum amount of light through and a maximum threshold that allows a minimum amount of light through.

6. The control method as claimed in claim 5, additionally comprising measuring the light intensities outside and inside, and acting on the closing-off means so that the light intensity on the inside is constant.

7. The control method as claimed in claim 1, additionally comprising converting all of the coordinates to the same spatial frame of reference so that the coordinates of the directions of the cone, of the solar azimuth and of the solar elevation can be expressed in an absolute or relative frame of reference.

8. The control method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the directrix curve of the dazzle cone is a rectangle, the dazzle cone being defined by at least:

a first directional axis passing through the vertex of said cone and through a first geographical reference point on the perimeter of the window and defined by a first azimuth (A1) and a first elevation (E1); and

a second directional axis passing through the vertex of said cone and through a second geographical reference point on the perimeter of the window and defined by a second azimuth (A2) and a second elevation (E2).

9. The control method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the directrix curve of the dazzle cone is a rectangle, the dazzle cone being defined by:

a first directional axis passing through the vertex of said cone and through a first vertex of the rectangle;

a second directional axis passing through the vertex of said cone and through a second, opposite vertex of the rectangle;

the first and second opposite vertices of the rectangle being adjacent each other.

10. An assembly for individualized and automated control means for closing off at least one window of a building, which assembly comprises:

a dazzle sensor for supplying a value representative of dazzle inside a room into which said window opens; and

,

a control unit comprising;

a controller connected to means for closing off at least one window and able to deliver control orders to said closing means; and

,

storage means for storing programs able to control transmission of control orders according to values representative of dazzle which are supplied by the dazzle sensor.

11. The control assembly as claimed in claim 10, wherein the dazzle sensor is capable of supplying a value representative of the dazzle at a dazzle-sensitive zone situated inside the building.

12. The control assembly as claimed in claim 10, wherein:

the control unit comprises means for determining an orientation of the direct rays of sunlight, said orientation being defined by a solar azimuth and a solar elevation, and

the dazzle sensor comprises means for determining coordinates of at least one dazzle cone associated with a window and with a dazzle-sensitive zone situated inside the building into which said window opens, said dazzle cone being defined, on the one hand, by a vertex positioned at the sensitive zone and a directrix curve superimposed on the perimeter of said at least one window,

the controller of the control unit for delivering control orders to the closing-off means associated with said at least one window for which the orientation of the rays of sunlight falls within at least one dazzle cone.

13. The control assembly as claimed in claim 10, which comprises means for measuring light intensity outside and/or light intensity inside in an environment close to said at least one window that is to be closed off;

programs stored in the memory of the control unit being able to control the transmission of control orders according to values representative of the dazzle which are supplied by the dazzle sensor in relation to the values representative of the light intensity outside and/or of the light intensity inside and of the temperature.

14. The control assembly as claimed in claim 10, which comprises means for measuring the temperature outside and/or the temperature inside in an environment close to said at least one window that is to be closed off;

programs stored in the memory of the control unit for controlling the transmission of control orders according to values representative of the dazzle supplied by the dazzle sensor in relation to values representative of the temperature outside and/or of the temperature inside, and of the temperature.

15. The control assembly as claimed in claim 10, wherein the storage means store the orientation of the direct rays of sunlight and coordinates of at least one dazzle cone.

16. The control assembly as claimed in claim 10, which comprises communication means of the wired or radio type, able to communicate with external parameter-setting tools.

19. The parameter-setting tool for setting parameters of at least one dazzle cone associated with a window of a building, which tool comprises:

sighting means allowing alignment between a dazzle-sensitive zone situated inside a building and at least two points positioned on the perimeter of at least one window which opens into said building; and

processing means for determining, for each alignment, a directional axis defined by an azimuth (A1) and an elevation (E1),

and which additionally comprises communication means for communicating with a control assembly as claimed in claim 10 for transmitting coordinates of at least one dazzle cone to said assembly.

17. A tool for setting parameters of at least one dazzle cone associated with a window of a building, which tool comprises:

sighting means allowing alignment between a dazzle-sensitive zone situated inside a building and at least two points positioned on the perimeter of at least one window which opens into said building; and

processing means for determining, for each alignment, a directional axis defined by an azimuth (A1) and an elevation (E1).

18. The parameter-setting tool as claimed in claim 17, wherein the processing means is for determining, according to the directional axes, the coordinates of at least one dazzle cone associated with a window and with a dazzle-sensitive zone situated inside the building.