Controlling transitions in optically switchable devices
First Claim
1. A method of making tint decisions for a tintable window, the method comprising:
- (a) determining a level of tint for the tintable window using scheduling information for a building having the tintable window, the scheduling information comprising a sun location using a time of day and a day of a year, wherein determination of the level of tint utilizes (I) microclimate information at the tintable window, which microclimate information is determined using signals received from one or more sensors and/or (II) a relationship between the scheduling information and the level of tint, which relationship specifies the level of tint for the tintable window based at least in part on whether the tintable window is transitioning {i} from a darker tint to a lighter tint or {ii} from a lighter tint to a darker tint;
(b) providing instructions to change tint of the tintable window to the level of tint determined in (a); and
(c) applying voltage or current to the tintable window to drive the change in the tint pursuant to the instructions provided in (b).
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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.
291 Citations
36 Claims
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1. A method of making tint decisions for a tintable window, the method comprising:
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(a) determining a level of tint for the tintable window using scheduling information for a building having the tintable window, the scheduling information comprising a sun location using a time of day and a day of a year, wherein determination of the level of tint utilizes (I) microclimate information at the tintable window, which microclimate information is determined using signals received from one or more sensors and/or (II) a relationship between the scheduling information and the level of tint, which relationship specifies the level of tint for the tintable window based at least in part on whether the tintable window is transitioning {i} from a darker tint to a lighter tint or {ii} from a lighter tint to a darker tint; (b) providing instructions to change tint of the tintable window to the level of tint determined in (a); and (c) applying voltage or current to the tintable window to drive the change in the tint pursuant to the instructions provided in (b). - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A controller for a tintable window, the controller comprising:
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(a) a processor or control circuit; (b) instructions for causing the processor or control circuit to determine a level of tint in the tintable window using scheduling information for a building having the tintable window, the scheduling information comprising a sun location using a time of day and a day of a year, which instructions for causing the processor or control circuit to determine the level of tint utilize (I) microclimate information at the tintable window, which microclimate information is determined using signals received from one or more sensors and/or (II) a relationship between the scheduling information and the level of tint, which relationship specifies the level of tint for the tintable window based at least in part on whether the tintable window is transitioning {i} from a darker tint to a lighter tint or {ii} from a lighter tint to a darker tint; and (c) at least one output for controlling, the level of tint in the tintable window. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method of determining a level of tint for a tintable window to reduce energy consumption in a building having one or more tintable windows including the tintable window, the method comprising:
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(a) receiving data from (i) one or more systems at the building, (ii) at least one sensor, (iii) one or more controllers, (iv) a device, and/or (v) a command; (b) determining the level of tint for the tintable window using the data received in (a), wherein the data used to determine the level of tint includes information corresponding with a sun location based at least in part on a time of day and a day of a year and, wherein the level of tint reduces energy consumption by the one or more systems in the building, wherein determination of the level of tint utilizes (I) microclimate information at the tintable window, which microclimate information is determined using signals received from one or more sensors and/or (II) a relationship between scheduling information and the level of tint, which relationship specifies the level of tint for the tintable window based at least in part on whether the tintable window is transitioning {i} from a darker tint to a lighter tint or {ii} from a lighter tint to a darker tint, wherein the scheduling information comprises the sun location using the time of day and the day of the year; (c) providing instructions to change tint of the tintable window to the level of tint determined in (b); and (d) applying voltage or current to the tintable window to alter the tint pursuant to the instructions provided in (c). - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. An energy management system, comprising:
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(a) one or more systems of a building that comprise (1) a heating system, (2) a cooling system, (3) a heating/ventilation/air conditioning system (HVAC), (4) a Building Management System (BMS), (5) a lighting control panel, (6) a lighting system, and/or (7) a security control system of the building; (b) a controller for controlling a level of tint of one or more tintable windows of the building, the controller comprising; (i) a processor or control circuit, (ii) at least one input for receiving data from {1} the one or more systems of the building, {2} a sensor, {3} one or more additional controllers, {4} one or more devices, and/or {5} a command, (iii) instructions for causing the processor or control circuit to determine the level of tint using a relationship between a received data and the level of tint, wherein the received data includes information corresponding with a sun location using a time of day and a day of a year, which instructions for causing the processor or control circuit to determine the level of tint utilize (I) microclimate information at the tintable window, which microclimate information is determined using signals received from one or more sensors and/or (II) a relationship between scheduling information and the level of tint, which relationship specifies the level of tint for the tintable window based at least in part on whether the tintable window is transitioning {1} from a darker tint to a lighter tint or {ii} from a lighter tint to a darker tint, wherein the scheduling information comprises the sun location using the time of day and the day of the year, and (iv) at least one output for controlling, the level of tint; and (c) a network over which the controller, the one or more systems, the sensor, the one or more controllers, the one or more devices, and/or the command, communicate. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36)
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Specification