Controlling transitions in optically switchable devices
First Claim
1. A method of limiting energy consumption in a facility having at least one tintable window between an interior and exterior of the facility, wherein the level of tinting in the tintable window can be controlled automatically, the method comprising:
- (a) receiving output signals from any two or more sensors selected from the group consisting of an exterior photosensor, an interior photosensor, an occupancy sensor, an exterior temperature sensor, and a transmissivity sensor;
(b) determining a level of tint for said tintable window using a relationship between the received output signals and the level of tint, the relationship being based in part on scheduling information for the facility and whether the window is transitioning from a darker tint to a lighter tint or from a lighter tint to a darker tint; and
(c) providing instructions to change the tint of the tintable window to the level of tint determined in (b).
7 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
This disclosure provides systems, methods, and apparatus for controlling transitions in an optically switchable device. In one aspect, a controller for a tintable window may include a processor, an input for receiving output signals from sensors, and instructions for causing the processor to determine a level of tint of the tintable window, and an output for controlling the level of tint in the tintable window. The instructions may include a relationship between the received output signals and the level of tint, with the relationship employing output signals from an exterior photosensor, an interior photosensor, an occupancy sensor, an exterior temperature sensor, and a transmissivity sensor. In some instances, the controller may receive output signals over a network and/or be interfaced with a network, and in some instances, the controller may be a standalone controller that is not interfaced with a network.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. A method of limiting energy consumption in a facility having at least one tintable window between an interior and exterior of the facility, wherein the level of tinting in the tintable window can be controlled automatically, the method comprising:
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(a) receiving output signals from any two or more sensors selected from the group consisting of an exterior photosensor, an interior photosensor, an occupancy sensor, an exterior temperature sensor, and a transmissivity sensor; (b) determining a level of tint for said tintable window using a relationship between the received output signals and the level of tint, the relationship being based in part on scheduling information for the facility and whether the window is transitioning from a darker tint to a lighter tint or from a lighter tint to a darker tint; and (c) providing instructions to change the tint of the tintable window to the level of tint determined in (b). - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of controlling at least one tintable window comprising:
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(a) receiving an output signal from each of two or more sensors selected from the group consisting of an exterior photosensor, an interior photosensor, an occupancy sensor, an exterior temperature sensor, and a transmissivity sensor; (b) providing the received two or more output signals to a lookup table in which levels of tint are specified for various combinations of output signal values; (c) obtaining a level of tint specified for the provided two or more output signals from the lookup table; and (d) providing instructions to change the tint of the tintable window to the obtained level of tint.
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15. A method of limiting energy consumption in a facility having at least one tintable window between an interior and exterior of the facility, wherein the level of tinting in the tintable window can be controlled automatically, the method comprising:
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(a) receiving output signals from any two or more sensors selected from the group consisting of an exterior photosensor, an interior photosensor, an occupancy sensor, an exterior temperature sensor, and a transmissivity sensor, wherein the output signals comprise a signal from the exterior photosensor and a signal from the interior photosensor, and; (b) determining a level of tint for said tintable window using a relationship between the received output signals and the level of tint wherein the relationship is an expression or look up table in which the level of tint is the dependent variable and the signals from the exterior photosensor and the interior photosensor are independent variables, the relationship further being based in part on scheduling information for the facility; and (c) providing instructions to change the tint of the tintable window to the level of tint determined in (b). - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A controller for a tintable window for a facility having at least one tintable window between an interior and exterior of the facility, the controller comprising:
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(a) a processor or control circuit; (b) at least one input for receiving output signals from two or more sensors selected from the group consisting of an exterior photosensor, an interior photosensor, an occupancy sensor, an exterior temperature sensor, and a transmissivity sensor; (c) instructions for causing the processor or control circuit to determine a level of tint for said tintable window by using a relationship between the received two or more output signals and the level of tint, the relationship being based in part on scheduling information for the facility, wherein the instructions include instructions for; providing the received two or more output signals to a lookup table in which levels of tint are specified for various combinations of the two or more output signals, and obtaining the level of tint specified for the provided output signals from the lookup table; and (d) at least one output for controlling, directly or indirectly, the level of tint of the tintable window based on the determined level of tint. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A controller for a tintable window for a facility having at least one tintable window between an interior and exterior of the facility, the controller comprising:
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(a) a processor or control circuit; (b) at least one input for receiving output signals from two or more sensors selected from the group consisting of an exterior photosensor, an interior photosensor, an occupancy sensor, an exterior temperature sensor, and a transmissivity sensor; (c) instructions for causing the processor or control circuit to determine a level of tint for said tintable window by using a relationship between the received two or more output signals and the level of tint, wherein the relationship (i) is an expression in which the level of tint is the dependent variable and the output signals are independent variables, and (ii) is based in part on scheduling information for the facility, the instructions including instructions for multiplying each of the two or more output signals by a respective weighting value, and the determining further including determining a sum of the products of the multiplications; and (d) at least one output for controlling, directly or indirectly, the level of tint of the tintable window based on the determined level of tint. - View Dependent Claims (31)
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Specification