Automated control method for a solar protection screen installation comprising retroreflecting-type slats

• US 8,581,163 B2
• Filed: 10/31/2008
• Issued: 11/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Somfy Activites SA (Somfy SA)
• Original Assignee: Somfy Sas (Somfy SA)
• Inventors: Grehant, Bernard, Lagarde, Eric
• Primary Examiner(s): Luu, Thanh
• Assistant Examiner(s): Naphas, Renee
• Application Number:
  US12/740,163
• Publication Number:
  US 20100262292A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,838 Days
• Field of Search: 250/203.4, 160/1, 160/5, 160/129
• US Class Current: 250/203.4
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 2009/6827 sensing light
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 9/32 Operating, guiding, or securing devices therefor operation of tilting bars E06B9/307
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 9/386 Details of lamellae

Abstract

An automated control method for a solar protection screen (SCR) installation (INST) comprising retroreflecting-type slats (B1, B2, B3) which can be inclined between two extreme inclinations, wherein, in the presence of direct solar radiation, the slats are inclined at a first intermediate inclination, equal to the maximum aperture inclination (AMAX) of the screen relative to a preferred direction, as long as an inclination threshold automatically controlled in relation to the height of the sun (ATH) remains less than the maximum aperture inclination.

Claims

1. An automated control method for a solar protection screen (SCR) installation (INST) comprising retroreflecting-type slats (B1, B2, B3) which can be inclined between two extreme inclinations, wherein, in the presence of direct solar radiation, the slats are inclined at a first intermediate inclination, equal to the maximum aperture inclination (AMAX) of the screen relative to a preferred direction, as long as an inclination threshold automatically controlled in relation to the height of the sun (ATH) remains less than the maximum aperture inclination,

wherein the maximum aperture inclination (AMAX) of the screen relative to the preferred direction is a position of inclination of the slats in which the areas of the slats projected in the preferred direction are minimal with respect to a view, wherein the inclination threshold automatically controlled in relation to the height of the sun (ATH) is determined by application of a model of daily and seasonal variation;

wherein parameters of the model of daily and seasonal variation are determined by a learning step in which an operator moves the slats so as to position them at a setting inclination, this setting inclination being the limit inclination of the slats in which the direct solar rays are reflected by the slats without affecting the other slats; and

wherein the inclination threshold automatically controlled in relation to the height of the sun (ATH) is defined to be dependent on the angle of incidence (ASUN) of direct solar radiation, the definition being the limit inclination for which direct solar rays are retroreflected by the slats without affecting the other slats.

2. The control method as claimed in claim 1, wherein, in the presence of direct solar radiation, the first intermediate inclination becomes equal to the inclination threshold automatically controlled in relation to the height of the sun (ATH) when the latter is greater than the maximum aperture inclination (AMAX).

3. The control method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the slats are placed at the maximum aperture inclination (AMAX) when the sky has no areas of strong luminance.

4. The control method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the slats are placed at a second inclination when one of the following events occurs:

command from the user,

detection of at least one area of strong sky luminance, excluding direct sunlight.

5. The control method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the second inclination is one of the extreme inclinations, this inclination being such that the screen is substantially closed to any light transmission.

6. The control method as claimed in claim 4, wherein when the event is the detection of at least one area of strong sky luminance, the second inclination corresponds to a position of the slats that is substantially perpendicular to the direction of strong sky luminance.

7. The control method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the maximum aperture inclination (AMAX) of the screen relative to a preferred direction has a default value as long as another value is not defined by the user.

8. The control method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the default value is zero degrees with respect to the ground.

9. The control method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the maximum aperture inclination (AMAX) of the screen relative to a preferred direction is automatically chosen from a table of values relative to user preference criteria.

10. A motor-driven solar protection screen installation (INST) comprising retroreflecting-type slats (B1, B2, B3) which can be inclined between two extreme inclination positions, wherein said installation comprises hardware means (CPU, CLK, SK1, SK2, MOT) and software means for implementing the control method as claimed in claim 1.

11. An automated control method for a solar protection screen (SCR) installation (INST) comprising retroreflecting-type slats (B1, B2, B3) which can be inclined between two extreme inclinations, wherein, in the presence of direct solar radiation, the slats are inclined at a first intermediate inclination, equal to the maximum aperture inclination (AMAX) of the screen relative to a preferred direction, as long as an inclination threshold automatically controlled in relation to the height of the sun (ATH) remains less than the maximum aperture inclination,

wherein the maximum aperture inclination (AMAX) of the screen relative to the preferred direction is a position of inclination of the slats in which the areas of the slats projected in the preferred direction are minimal with respect to a view,

wherein the inclination threshold automatically controlled in relation to the height of the sun (ATH) is determined by application of a model of daily and seasonal variation;

wherein parameters of the model of daily and seasonal variation are determined by a learning step in which an operator moves the slats so as to position them at a setting inclination, this setting inclination being the limit inclination of the slats in which direct solar rays are not retroreflected by the slats; and

wherein the inclination threshold automatically controlled in relation to the height of the sun (ATH) is defined to be dependent on the angle of incidence (ASUN) of direct solar radiation, the definition being the limit inclination for which direct solar rays are reflected by the slats without retroreflection.

12. The control method as claimed in claim 11, wherein, in the presence of direct solar radiation, the first intermediate inclination becomes equal to the inclination threshold automatically controlled in relation to the height of the sun (ATH) when the latter is greater than the maximum aperture inclination (AMAX).

13. The control method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the slats are placed at the maximum aperture inclination (AMAX) when the sky has no areas of strong luminance.

14. The control method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the slats are placed at a second inclination when one of the following events occurs:

command from the user,

detection of at least one area of strong sky luminance, excluding direct sunlight.

15. The control method as claimed in claim 14, wherein the second inclination is one of the extreme inclinations, this inclination being such that the screen is substantially closed to any light transmission.

16. The control method as claimed in claim 14, wherein when the event is the detection of at least one area of strong sky luminance, the second inclination corresponds to a position of the slats that is substantially perpendicular to the direction of strong sky luminance.

17. The control method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the maximum aperture inclination (AMAX) of the screen relative to a preferred direction has a default value as long as another value is not defined by the user.

18. The control method as claimed in claim 17, wherein the default value is zero degrees with respect to the ground.

19. The control method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the maximum aperture inclination (AMAX) of the screen relative to a preferred direction is automatically chosen from a table of values relative to user preference criteria.

20. A motor-driven solar protection screen installation (INST) comprising retroreflecting-type slats (B1, B2, B3) which can be inclined between two extreme inclination positions, wherein said installation comprises hardware means (CPU, CLK, SK1, SK2, MOT) and software means for implementing the control method as claimed in claim 11.