Method and apparatus for controlling building component characteristics

• US 7,610,910 B2
• Filed: 03/25/2005
• Issued: 11/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens Industry Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Building Technologies Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Ahmed, Osman
• Primary Examiner(s): Ford; John K
• Application Number:
  US11/090,925
• Publication Number:
  US 20050268629A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,684 Days
• Field of Search: 359265-275, 165/236, 700/276, 700/278, 700/299, 700/300, 126/633, 126/678, 126/640, 126/646, 126/595, 126/597, 521/713
• US Class Current: 126/595
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/30 for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/52 Indication arrangements, e.g. displays
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/875 by controlling heat-storage apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/00 Control inputs relating to air properties
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/20 Solar thermal

Abstract

A building component system includes a building component that is controllable between a first state and a second state in response to a sensed condition. The system may include a sensor on a first side of the building component and a sensor on the second side of the building component. The building component may be a window that is controllable between an opaque state and a clear state by a micro electromechanical system (MEMS) network that senses the conditions on both sides of the window.

Claims

1. A building component system comprising:

a building component located between a first area and a second area and controllable between a first state and a second state;

a first sensor for sensing a first condition in the first area;

a second sensor for sensing a second condition in the second area;

a controller for controlling the state of the component based upon the sensed first condition and the sensed second condition;

wherein the component comprises a window with a first layer controllable between the first state wherein energy is allowed to pass through the first layer and the second state wherein energy is restrained from passing through the first layer;

wherein the window comprises a second layer controllable between a third state wherein energy is allowed to pass through the second layer and a fourth state wherein energy is restrained from passing through the second layer;

wherein the first layer and the second layer are spaced apart and the window further comprises a thermal fluid compartment located between the first layer and the second layer; and

wherein the system further comprises

a thermal energy storage device for storing thermal energy, and

a pump for pumping thermal fluid between the thermal fluid compartment and the thermal energy storage device so as to transfer energy between the window and the thermal energy storage device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the first sensor is a micromechanical systems sensor located within a first module;

the controller is located within a second module; and

the first module and the second module are configured to communicate over a first wireless network.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the second sensor is located within a third module, and wherein the second module and the third module are configured to communicate over a second wireless network.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the thermal fluid comprises nano particles to increase the thermal energy transfer rate between the window and the thermal energy storage device.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the first sensor comprises a MEMS sensor disposed on an outer side of the window and the second sensor comprises a MEMS sensor disposed on an inner side of the window.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the first state is a transparent state and the second state is an opaque state.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the first sensor is disposed on an outer side of the window and the second sensor is disposed on an inner side of the window.

8. A building component system comprising:

a building component located in a partition between a first area and a second area and having first and second surfaces spaced apart from each other, at least one of the first and second surfaces having a controllable energy conductance;

a first sensor for sensing a first condition in the first area;

a second sensor for sensing a second condition in the second area;

a controller for controlling the energy conductance of at least one of the first and second surfaces based upon the sensed first condition and the sensed second condition

a thermal fluid compartment located between the first surface and the second surface,

a thermal energy storage device for storing thermal energy, and

a pump for pumping thermal fluid between the thermal fluid compartment and the thermal energy storage device so as to transfer energy between the thermal energy storage device and at least one of the first and second surfaces;

wherein the building component comprises a window with the first surface controllable between the first state wherein energy is allowed to pass through the first surface and the second state wherein energy is restrained from passing through the first surface; and

wherein the second surface is controllable between a third state wherein energy is allowed to pass through the second surface and a fourth state wherein energy is restrained from passing through the second surface.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein:

the first sensor is a micromechanical systems sensor located within a first module;

the controller is located within a second module; and

the first module and the second module are configured to communicate over a first wireless network.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the second sensor is located within a third module, and wherein the second module and the third module are configured to communicate over a second wireless network.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the thermal fluid comprises nano particles to increase the thermal energy transfer rate between the thermal energy storage device and the at least one of the first and second surfaces.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the first state is a transparent state and the second state is an opaque state.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the first sensor is disposed on an outer side of the window and the second sensor is disposed on an inner side of the window.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein the first sensor comprises a MEMS sensor disposed on an outer side of the window and the second sensor comprises a MEMS sensor disposed on an inner side of the window.