Automated shade control method and system

• US 8,125,172 B2
• Filed: 04/09/2009
• Issued: 02/28/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mechoshade Systems, LLC.
• Original Assignee: Mechoshade Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Berman, Joel, Berman, Jan, Greenspan, Alex, Hebeisen, Stephen P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Masih, Karen
• Application Number:
  US12/421,410
• Publication Number:
  US 20090222137A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,055 Days
• Field of Search: 318/480, 318/466, 318/471, 318/446, 318/468, 318/286, 318/484, 160/5
• US Class Current: 318/480
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 9/322 Details of operating devices, e.g. pulleys, brakes, spring drums, drives operating devices E06B9/68 ; devices of general interest specially adapted or mounted for storing and repeatedly paying-out and re-storing lengths of material B65H75/34
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 9/68 Operating devices or mechanisms, e.g. with electric drive
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 30/24 Structural elements or technologies for improving thermal insulation
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 80/00 Architectural or constructional elements improving the thermal performance of buildings

Abstract

This invention generally relates to automated shade systems. An automated shade system comprises one or more motorized window coverings, sensors, and controllers that use one or more algorithms to control operation of the automated shade control system. These algorithms may include information such as: 3-D models of a building and surrounding structures; shadow information; reflectance information; lighting and radiation information; ASHRAE clear sky algorithms; log information related to manual overrides; occupant preference information; motion information; real-time sky conditions; solar radiation on a building; a total foot-candle load on a structure; brightness overrides; actual and/or calculated BTU load; time-of-year information; and microclimate analysis.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a motor;

a window covering, wherein said motor is configured to actuate said window covering; and

a central controller configured to control said motor using a proactive algorithm, said proactive algorithm incorporating at least one of shadow information or reflectance information.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said reflectance information is based on at least one of cityscape conditions or topographical conditions.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said shadow information is based on at least one of cityscape conditions or topographical conditions.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the reflectance information is calculated based on at least one of a body of water, an expanse of snow, an expanse of sand, a glass surface, or a metal surface.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the reflectance information comprises a reflective surface table.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one of a radiometer or a photometer to detect at least one of lighting information or radiation information.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein said proactive algorithm is configured to utilize at least one of said lighting information, said radiation information, said reflectance information, said shadow information, brightness information, or solar heat gain to calculate a total foot-candle load on a structure.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the central controller uses the proactive algorithm.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the central controller incorporates the proactive algorithm.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the central controller is a centralized control system (CCS).

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the central controller controls the motor via a motor controller.

12. A method, comprising:

providing a system configured to facilitate control of daylighting of an interior space, the system configured with at least one of a shadow program or a reflectance program;

coupling said system to a remote communication link; and

communicating a first movement request to a first motor via said remote communication link, wherein said first movement request is generated responsive to at least one of shadow information or reflectance information.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said first movement request is generated responsive to said system determining the existence of a clear sky condition.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising communicating a second movement request to a second motor via said remote communication link,

wherein said second movement request is generated responsive to at least one of shadow information or reflectance information,

wherein said first motor is part of a first motor zone, and

wherein said second motor is part of a second motor zone.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said first motor zone is associated with a first tenant, and wherein said second motor zone is associated with a second tenant.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said first tenant is associated with a first part of a building, and said second tenant is associated with a second part of said building.

17. A method, comprising:

generating, at a centralized control system configured with a shadow program, and responsive to shadow information, a first movement request configured to move a first window covering into a first configuration; and

generating, at the centralized control system, and responsive to shadow information, a second movement request configured to move a second window covering into a second configuration, wherein said first configuration and said second configuration are different.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising generating, at the centralized control system, and responsive to shadow information, a third movement request configured to move a third window covering into a third configuration.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein said first configuration, said second configuration, and said third configuration are different.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising storing information related to at least one of position information for said first window covering and said second window coverings, or movement history information for said first window covering and said second window covering.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein the first movement request is generated responsive to a measured solar radiation value exceeding 60% of an ASHRAE theoretical clear sky solar radiation value.

22. The method of claim 17, wherein said first movement request and said second movement request are generated responsive to brightness information acquired by at least one of a photometer or a radiometer exceeding a predetermined value.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the at least one of a photometer or a radiometer is located on the external portion of a building.

24. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, if executed by a system, cause the system to perform operations comprising:

generating, at a centralized control system configured with a shadow program, and responsive to shadow information, a first movement request configured to move a first window covering into a first configuration; and

generating, at the centralized control system, and responsive to shadow information, a second movement request configured to move a second window covering into a second configuration, wherein said first configuration and said second configuration are different.