Skylight sensor and control system
First Claim
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1. A skylight sensor and control system for the control of the interior illumination of an area having fenestration means and controllable artificial light source means, including:
- light sensor means having an active area adapted to be mounted so as to expose said active area to the exterior of said fenestration means;
said light sensor means including a plurality of adjacent segments with said segments shielded from each other so that each of said segments form light gathering means;
a front portion for each of said segments and a corresponding rear portion for each of said segments;
said front portion of each of said segments exposed to the exterior of said fenestration means;
said rear portion of each of said segments including light responsive means collecting light from said active area;
discriminator means including input connection means connected to said light responsive means, and said discriminator means further having output means;
said discriminator means providing said output means with a voltage from the light responsive means having the lowest level of illumination; and
lighting power controller means adapted to control said artificial light source means to lower the level of illumination from said artificial light source means in response to an increase in the light at said light sensor means.
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Abstract
A lighting control system is provided which utilizes a light responsive sensor means and a control system to respond to the skylight illumination while rejecting direct sunlight as a control parameter. The skylight illumination level is used to control lighting power controllers that can dim interior lighting equipment in a defined pattern to maintain a uniform light level at a work surface and to conserve electrical energy.
73 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A skylight sensor and control system for the control of the interior illumination of an area having fenestration means and controllable artificial light source means, including:
- light sensor means having an active area adapted to be mounted so as to expose said active area to the exterior of said fenestration means;
said light sensor means including a plurality of adjacent segments with said segments shielded from each other so that each of said segments form light gathering means;
a front portion for each of said segments and a corresponding rear portion for each of said segments;
said front portion of each of said segments exposed to the exterior of said fenestration means;
said rear portion of each of said segments including light responsive means collecting light from said active area;
discriminator means including input connection means connected to said light responsive means, and said discriminator means further having output means;
said discriminator means providing said output means with a voltage from the light responsive means having the lowest level of illumination; and
lighting power controller means adapted to control said artificial light source means to lower the level of illumination from said artificial light source means in response to an increase in the light at said light sensor means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
- light sensor means having an active area adapted to be mounted so as to expose said active area to the exterior of said fenestration means;
Specification