Systems and methods for automated control of electrochromic glass

• US 9,360,731 B2
• Filed: 08/18/2014
• Issued: 06/07/2016
• 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:
  US14/461,619
• Publication Number:
  US 20140355098A1
• Time in Patent Office: 659 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 2009/2464 featuring transparency control by applying voltage, e.g. LCD, electrochromic panels
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 2009/6818 using sensors
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 2009/6827 sensing light
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 9/68 Operating devices or mechanisms, e.g. with electric drive
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/163 Operation of electrochromic cells, e.g. electrodeposition cells; Circuit arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 13/04 involving the use of models or simulators
• 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

Automated shade systems may comprise controllers that use algorithms to control operation of the automated shade control system and components thereof, for example window coverings, glass having variable characteristics, and so forth. These algorithms may include information such as: 3-D models of a building and surrounding structures, shadow information, reflectance information, lighting and radiation information, information regarding one or more variable characteristics of glass, 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 glass controller configured to adjust a variable characteristic of a glass; and

a central controller configured to control the glass controller, wherein the central controller utilizes a clear sky algorithm.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the clear sky algorithm is an ASHRAE clear sky algorithm.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the central controller instructs the glass controller to adjust the variable characteristic of the glass in advance of a change in the environment of the glass.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the glass is divided into a first band and a second band, and wherein the variable characteristic of the glass is adjustable in the first band independently from the second band.

5. A system, comprising:

a glass controller configured to adjust a variable characteristic of a glass; and

a central controller configured to control the glass controller,

wherein the central controller utilizes a proactive algorithm, and wherein the proactive algorithm is configured to utilize at least one of lighting information, radiation information, or brightness information to calculate a total solar heat load on the glass.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the proactive algorithm is configured to utilize at least one of lighting information, radiation information, or brightness information to calculate a brightness on the glass.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the proactive algorithm instructs the glass controller to adjust the variable characteristic of the glass to achieve improved occupant comfort, thermal regulation, or brightness regulation.

8. A method for controlling a glass having a variable characteristic, the method comprising:

using, by an automated control system, information related to at least one of solar penetration through the glass or solar load on the glass to establish a standard management routine for the glass; and

overriding, by the automated control system, the standard management routine responsive to the presence of an override condition.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the glass at least partially forms at least one of a window, a wall, a door, a skylight, or an animal enclosure.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the override condition is at least one of:

determining, by the automated control system, the presence of calculated reflected light on the glass;

determining, by the automated control system, the presence of calculated shadow on the glass;

or

determining, by the automated control system, that at least one of an actual British thermal unit (BTU) load on the glass or a calculated BTU load on the glass exceeds a predetermined value.

11. A method, comprising:

modeling, by an automated control system, at least a portion of a building and at least a portion of the surroundings of a building to create a shadow model;

using, by the automated control system, the shadow model a first time to calculate the presence of calculated shadow at a first location of interest; and

communicating, to a glass controller, an instruction configured to adjust a variable characteristic of a glass responsive to the calculated shadow at the first location of interest.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the glass is divided into a first band and a second band, and wherein the variable characteristic of the glass is adjustable in the first band independently from the second band.

13. A method, comprising:

modeling, by an automated control system, at least a portion of a building and at least a portion of the surroundings of a building to create a reflectance model;

using, by the automated control system, the reflectance model a first time to calculate the presence of calculated reflected light at a first location of interest; and

communicating, to a glass controller, an instruction configured to adjust a variable characteristic of a glass responsive to the calculated reflected light at the first location of interest.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the glass is divided into a first band and a second band, and wherein the variable characteristic of the glass is adjustable in the first band independently from the second band.