Control methods and systems for networks of optically switchable windows during reduced power availability
First Claim
1. A method of determining tinting instructions for one or more optically switchable windows to reduce power usage at a site, the method comprising:
- (a) determining that a reduced power event has occurred at the site;
(b) determining a current amount of power available at the site;
(c) performing reduced power operations to determine new tinting instructions for the one or more optically switchable windows based on the current amount of power available at the site and transitioning the one or more optically switchable windows to one or more new tint levels based on the new tinting instructions; and
(d) repeating (b) and (c) at intervals during a period of the reduced power event.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Certain embodiments are directed to control methods, window controllers, and uninterruptible power supplies for determining tinting instructions for optically switchable windows to reduce power usage at a site during a reduced power event. In some cases, reduced power operations are initiated by a window controller upon receipt of a trigger signal from an uninterruptible power supply sent when it detects a power loss. In some cases, tinting instructions are based on the remaining charge left on the uninterruptible power supply. In some cases, reduced power operations are delayed for a period of time.
190 Citations
49 Claims
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1. A method of determining tinting instructions for one or more optically switchable windows to reduce power usage at a site, the method comprising:
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(a) determining that a reduced power event has occurred at the site; (b) determining a current amount of power available at the site; (c) performing reduced power operations to determine new tinting instructions for the one or more optically switchable windows based on the current amount of power available at the site and transitioning the one or more optically switchable windows to one or more new tint levels based on the new tinting instructions; and (d) repeating (b) and (c) at intervals during a period of the reduced power event. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A window controller for determining tinting instructions for one or more optically switchable windows to reduce power usage at a site, the window controller comprising:
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a computer readable medium storing control logic and zone data; a processor in communication with the computer readable medium, the processor configured to; (a) determine a reduced power event has occurred; (b) determine an amount of power available at the site; (c) perform reduced power operations to determine new tinting instructions for the one or more optically switchable windows based on the amount of power available at the site and transition the one or more optically switchable windows to one or more new tint levels based on the new tinting instructions; and (d) repeat (b) and (c) at intervals during a period of the reduced power event; and a communication interface in communication with the processor to receive the new tinting instructions and in communication with electrodes configured to apply power to the one or more optically switchable windows to implement the new tinting instructions. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A system of electrochromic windows with an integrated uninterruptable power supply, the system comprising:
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one or more networks of electrochromic windows; and a window controller communication network comprising one or more window controllers in communication with the integrated uninterruptable power supply and in communication with the one or more networks of electrochromic windows, wherein the integrated uninterruptable power supply is configured to detect a reduced power event and automatically provide power in response, and wherein the one or more window controllers are configured to determine tinting instructions for the one or more networks of electrochromic windows to reduce power usage at a site upon receiving a trigger signal sent from the integrated uninterruptable power supply upon detecting the reduced power event, and configured to transition one or more of the electrochromic windows of the one or more networks of electrochromic windows to one or more tint levels based on the tinting instructions. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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43. An uninterruptible power supply for determining tinting instructions for one or more optically switchable windows at a site, the uninterruptible power supply comprising:
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a power supply; a computer readable medium configured to store control logic and zone data; a processor in communication with the computer readable medium, the processor configured to; (a) detect a power outage; (b) automatically provide power to the site upon detecting the power outage; (c) determine power available at the site; (d) perform reduced power operations to determine new tinting instructions for the one or more optically switchable windows based on the determined power available at the site and transition the one or more optically switchable windows to one or more new tint levels based on the new tinting instructions; and (e) repeat (c) and (d) at intervals during the power outage; and a communication interface in communication with the processor to receive the new tinting instructions and in communication with electrodes configured to apply power to the one or more optically switchable windows to implement the new tinting instructions. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49)
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Specification