COMBI-SENSOR SYSTEMS

• US 20170276542A1
• Filed: 09/29/2015
• Published: 09/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: View Incorporated
• Original Assignee: View Incorporated
• Inventors: Klawuhn, Erich R., Silkwood, Douglas S., Zedlitz, Jason, Brown, Stephen Clark, Shrivastava, Dhairya
• Granted Patent: US 10,539,456 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 2009/2464 featuring transparency control by applying voltage, e.g. LCD, electrochromic panels
• 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: G01J 1/0219 Electrical interface; User interface
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/0242 Control or determination of height or angle information of sensors or receivers; Goniophotometry
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/4228 arrangements with two or more detectors, e.g. for sensitivity compensation
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 2001/4266 for measuring solar light
• CPC Class Codes: G01W 1/12 Sunshine duration recorders measuring intensity of sunshine G01J

Abstract

Certain aspects pertain to a combination sensor comprising a set of physical sensors facing different directions proximate a structure, and configured to measure solar radiation in different directions. The combination sensor also comprises a virtual facade-aligned sensor configured to determine a combi-sensor value at a facade of the structure based on solar radiation readings from the set of physical sensors.

Claims

1. A combination sensor comprising:

a set of physical sensors facing different directions proximate a structure, and configured to measure solar radiation in different directions; and

a virtual facade-aligned sensor configured to determine a combi-sensor value at a facade of the structure based on solar radiation readings from the set of physical sensors.

2. The combination sensor of claim 1, wherein the combi-sensor value is determined by combining the solar radiation readings of the set of physical sensors, wherein the combi-sensor value applies to the facade at any orientation.

3. The combination sensor of claim 2, wherein the combi-sensor value is a maximum value of the solar radiation readings of the set of physical sensors.

4. The combination sensor of claim 2, wherein the combi-sensor value is an average value of the solar radiation readings of the set of physical sensors.

5. The combination sensor of claim 2, wherein the combi-sensor value is a sum of the solar radiation readings of the set of physical sensors.

6. The combination sensor of claim 1, wherein the combi-sensor value is an interpolated value from the solar radiation readings of two sensors of the set of physical sensors that are closest to the facade.

7. The combination sensor of claim 1, wherein the combi-sensor value of the virtual facade-aligned sensor is determined by shifting in time a solar radiation value of one of the set of physical sensors.

8. The combination sensor of claim 1, wherein the set of physical sensors comprises four approximately orthogonally-directed sensors.

9. The combination sensor of claim 8, wherein the four approximately orthogonally-directed sensors are directed to the North, East, South, and West.

10. The combination sensor of claim 1, wherein the set of physical sensors comprises three physical sensors.

11. The combination sensor of claim 1, wherein the three physical sensors are directed to face approximately W, E, and S.

12. The combination sensor of claim 1,

further comprising a mast mounted to the structure,

wherein the set of physical sensors is mounted to the mast in a ring sensor arrangement.

13. The combination sensor of claim 12, wherein the set of physical sensors comprises twelve physical sensors equally spaced about a central axis of the mast.

14. The combination sensor of claim 13, wherein the physical sensors are equally spaced about a central axis of the mast.

15. The combination sensor of claim 14, wherein the set of physical sensors comprises twelve physical sensors equally spaced about the central axis of the mast.

16. A method comprising:

determining solar radiation readings taken by a set of physical sensors; and

determining a combi-sensor value of a virtual facade-aligned sensor based on the solar radiation readings taken by the set of physical sensors.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein determining the combi-sensor value comprises combining the solar radiation readings of the set of physical sensors, wherein the combi-sensor value applies to the facade at any orientation.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein combining the solar radiation readings comprises determining a maximum value of the solar radiation readings of the set of physical sensors.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein combining the solar radiation readings comprises averaging the solar radiation readings of the set of physical sensors.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein combining the solar radiation readings comprises summing the solar radiation readings of the set of physical sensors.

21. The method of claim 16, wherein determining the combi-sensor value comprises interpolating from the solar radiation readings of two sensors of the set of physical sensors that are closest to the facade.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

determining solar radiation readings taken by the set of physical sensors taken for one or more clear sky days;

determining a degree of misalignment between a facade of the virtual facade-aligned sensor and each of the physical sensors; and

determining the two closest physical sensors of the set of physical sensors to the virtual facade-aligned sensor based on the determined degree of misalignment of each of the physical sensors.