Method of automatically controlling a motorized window treatment while minimizing occupant distractions
First Claim
1. A method of automatically controlling a position of a motorized window treatment, the motorized window treatment adapted to control the amount of sunlight entering a space of a building through a window, the position of the window treatment controllable between an open-limit position and a closed-limit position to control a sunlight penetration distance within the space, the method comprising:
- receiving a minimum time period that may occur between any two consecutive motorized window treatment movements;
prior to the start of a plurality of consecutive time intervals, calculating optimal positions of the motorized window treatment at a plurality of different times during each of the time intervals, where the optimal positions are calculated to prevent the sunlight penetration distance from exceeding the desired maximum sunlight penetration distance during the time intervals;
using the optimal positions to determine a respective controlled position to which the motorized window treatment will be controlled during each of the time intervals; and
subsequently adjusting the position of the motorized window treatment to the respective controlled position at the beginning of each of the time intervals, such that the sunlight penetration distance does not exceed the desired maximum sunlight penetration distance during the time intervals;
wherein each time interval has a length greater than or equal to the minimum time period that may occur between any two consecutive window treatment movements.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A load control system provides for automatically controlling a position of a motorized window treatment to control the amount of sunlight entering a space of a building through a window located in a façade of the building in order to control a sunlight penetration distance within the space and minimize occupant distractions. The load control system automatically generates a timeclock schedule having a number of timeclock events for controlling the position of the motorized window treatment during the present day. A user is able to select a desired maximum sunlight penetration distance for the space and a minimum time period that may occur between any two consecutive timeclock events. In addition, a maximum number of movements that may occur during the timeclock schedule may also be entered. The load control system uses these inputs to determine event times and corresponding positions of the motorized window treatment for each timeclock event of the timeclock schedule.
-
Citations
16 Claims
-
1. A method of automatically controlling a position of a motorized window treatment, the motorized window treatment adapted to control the amount of sunlight entering a space of a building through a window, the position of the window treatment controllable between an open-limit position and a closed-limit position to control a sunlight penetration distance within the space, the method comprising:
-
receiving a minimum time period that may occur between any two consecutive motorized window treatment movements; prior to the start of a plurality of consecutive time intervals, calculating optimal positions of the motorized window treatment at a plurality of different times during each of the time intervals, where the optimal positions are calculated to prevent the sunlight penetration distance from exceeding the desired maximum sunlight penetration distance during the time intervals; using the optimal positions to determine a respective controlled position to which the motorized window treatment will be controlled during each of the time intervals; and subsequently adjusting the position of the motorized window treatment to the respective controlled position at the beginning of each of the time intervals, such that the sunlight penetration distance does not exceed the desired maximum sunlight penetration distance during the time intervals; wherein each time interval has a length greater than or equal to the minimum time period that may occur between any two consecutive window treatment movements. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
-
-
9. A load control system for controlling the amount of sunlight entering a space of a building through a window, the load control system including a motorized window treatment adapted to control the amount of sunlight entering the space through the window, the position of the window treatment controllable between an open-limit position and a closed-limit position to control a sunlight penetration distance within the space, the load control system comprising:
-
a central controller configured to transmit digital commands to the motorized window treatment, the controller configured to receive a minimum time period that may occur between any two consecutive motorized window treatment movements; prior to the start of a plurality of consecutive time intervals, calculate optimal positions of the motorized window treatment at a plurality of different times during each of the time intervals, where the optimal positions are calculated to prevent the sunlight penetration distance from exceeding the desired maximum sunlight penetration distance during the time intervals; use the optimal positions to determine a respective controlled position to which the motorized window treatment will be controlled during each of the time intervals; and subsequently adjust the position of the motorized window treatment to the respective controlled position at the beginning of each of the time intervals, such that the sunlight penetration distance does not exceed the desired maximum sunlight penetration distance during the time intervals; wherein each time interval has a length greater than or equal to the minimum time period that may occur between any two consecutive window treatment movements. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
-
Specification