Control method for tintable windows
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of controlling tint of a tintable window in a room of a building, wherein the tintable window is located between the interior and exterior of the building, the method comprising:
- (a) determining a tint level for the tintable window at a future time based on a calculated penetration depth of sunlight through the tintable window into the room at the future time and space type of the room, wherein the space type is associated with occupant comfort; and
(b) providing instructions over a network to transition tint of the tintable window to the tint level determined in (a).
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Abstract
A method of controlling tint of a tintable window to account for occupant comfort in a room of a building. The tintable window is between the interior and exterior of the building. The method predicts a tint level for the tintable window at a future time based on a penetration depth of direct sunlight through the tintable window into the room at the future time and space type in the room. The method also provides instructions over a network to transition tint of the tintable window to the tint level.
252 Citations
38 Claims
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1. A method of controlling tint of a tintable window in a room of a building, wherein the tintable window is located between the interior and exterior of the building, the method comprising:
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(a) determining a tint level for the tintable window at a future time based on a calculated penetration depth of sunlight through the tintable window into the room at the future time and space type of the room, wherein the space type is associated with occupant comfort; and (b) providing instructions over a network to transition tint of the tintable window to the tint level determined in (a). - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A controller for controlling tint of a tintable window in a room of a building, wherein the tintable window is located between the interior and exterior of the building, the controller comprising:
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a processor configured to determine a tint level for the tintable window at a future time based on a calculated penetration depth of direct sunlight through the tintable window into the room and space type of the room, wherein the space type is associated with occupant comfort; and a pulse width modulator in communication with the processor and with the tintable window over a network, the pulse width modulator configured to receiving the tint level from the processor and send a signal with tint instructions over the network to transition the tint of the tintable window to the determined tint level. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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18. A master controller for controlling tint of a tintable window in a building, wherein the tintable window is located between the interior and exterior of the building, the master controller comprising:
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a computer readable medium having a configuration file with a space type associated both with the tintable window and with occupant comfort; and a processor in communication with the computer readable medium and in communication with a local window controller for the tintable window, wherein the processor is configured to; receive the space type from the computer readable medium, determine a tint level for the tintable window at a future time based on a calculated penetration depth of direct sunlight through the tintable window into a room and the space type, and send tint instructions over a network to the local window controller to transition tint of the tintable window to the determined tint level.
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19. A method of controlling tint of one or more tintable windows in a zone of a building, the method comprising:
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calculating a future time based on a current time and based on a determined transition time of a representative window of the zone, wherein the zone is associated with a space type and the space type is associated with occupant comfort; determining a solar position at the future time; determining a program designated by a user in a schedule, the program including logic for determining a tint level based on one or more independent variables; employing the determined program to determine the tint level based on the determined solar position at the future time and occupant comfort; and communicating instructions to the one or more tintable windows to transition tint to the determined tint level. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A window controller for controlling tint of one or more tintable windows in a zone of a building, the window controller comprising:
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a computer readable medium having predictive control logic, and site data and zone/group data associated with the zone, wherein the zone is associated with a space type and the space type is associated with occupant comfort; and a processor in communication with the computer readable medium and in communication with the tintable window, wherein the processor is configured to; calculate a future time based on a current time and a determined transition time of a representative window of the zone; determine a solar position at the future time; determine a program designated by a user in a schedule the program including logic for determining a tint level based on one or more independent variables; employ the determined program to determine a tint level using the determined solar position at the future time and based on occupant comfort; and communicate instructions to the one or more tintable windows in the zone to transition tint to the determined tint level. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38)
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Specification