Sky camera system utilizing circadian information for intelligent building control

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11060351-B2
Application number	US-202016815644-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 11, 2020
Priority date	May 6, 2004
Publication date	Jul 13, 2021
Grant date	Jul 13, 2021

Abstract

Intelligent building control systems utilize sky information from a camera or cameras to facilitate control of building systems such as lighting, motorized window coverings, electrochromic glazings, HVAC systems, and so forth. Based on the sky information, interior lighting intensity and/or color temperature may be modified, for example in order to achieve a desired circadian effect for building occupants. In this manner, energy efficiency and occupant comfort and convenience are improved.

First claim

We claim:

1. A method, comprising:
predicting, by a processor and utilizing a first camera image of a sky and using a predictive algorithm, a predicted circadian impact associated with a location of interest associated with a building, in advance of the circadian impact impacting the location of interest; and
performing, by the processor, at least one of:
(i) communicating, to a building management system, information regarding the predicted circadian impact at the location of interest in advance of the circadian impact impacting the location of interest,
(ii) activating a motor to adjust a window covering associated with the location of interest in advance of the circadian impact impacting the location of interest,
(iii) activating a glass controller to adjust a variable characteristic of a glass associated with the location of interest in advance of the circadian impact impacting the location of interest,
(iv) communicating, to a lighting control system, information regarding the predicted circadian impact at the location of interest in advance of the circadian impact impacting the location of interest, or
(v) adjusting, by the processor, a circadian impact of a lighting fixture associated with the location of interest in advance of the circadian impact impacting the location of interest.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the predicting the predicted circadian impact is based on at least one of averaging a color temperature in a multi-pixel representation of the sky, segmenting the color temperature at a pixel level, or averaging the color temperature within a section of the sky comprising a plurality of pixels.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the adjusting the circadian impact of the lighting fixture comprises independently adjusting a light level and a color temperature.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the adjusting the circadian impact of the lighting fixture comprises modifying a color temperature of an overall light output of the lighting fixture by varying a relative output of a first set of LEDs and a second set of LEDs, while a luminance of the overall light output stays similar.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the adjusting the circadian impact of the lighting fixture comprises creating a transparent building by creating a similar color temperature profile as would exist if there were no obstructions to natural light above the location of interest.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the adjusting the circadian impact of the lighting fixture to at least one of approximate external conditions or compensate for less desirable external conditions.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising at least one of qualifying or quantifying a lux level relative to a condition of the sky, based on a daylight sensor at the location of interest detecting the lux level and average color temperature.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the predicting is further based on receiving input from a sensor located at least one of on or near an individual at the location of interest, wherein the input from the sensor includes at least one of preferences of the individual, working shift information for the individual, travel schedule information for the individual, chronotype information for the individual, conditions that improve a circadian rhythm of the individual, health related information of the individual, movements of the individual or physical changes of the individual.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the adjusting the circadian impact of the lighting fixture comprises adjusting luminance and color temperature to replicate a passage of time of sky conditions throughout a day across a floorplan that includes the location of interest.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the adjusting the circadian impact of the lighting fixture comprises adjusting to a warmer setting to mix with a cooler color temperature from an external light impacting the location of interest to obtain a desired overall color temperature profile.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the adjusting the circadian impact of the lighting fixture is based on address mapping information for the lighting fixture and an evaluation of natural light contribution factors to the location of interest.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the adjusting the circadian impact of the lighting fixture includes a control strategy over at least one of the lighting fixture, a room, a zone, a floor or a building level.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the predicting the predicted circadian impact associated with the location of interest is based on mitigating solar glare by blocking the solar glare from the location of interest.

14. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
measuring, by a daylight sensor, a brightness level associated with the location of interest;
determining, based on the brightness level and the predicted circadian impact, light exposure information for the location of interest; and
communicating, by the processor and to a wearable electronic device of a building occupant, the light exposure information.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising measuring, by the daylight sensor, a circadian impact associated with the location of interest.

16. The method of claim 1 , further comprising communicating, via the lighting control system and utilizing one or more visible light fixtures, information to a wearable electronic device of a building occupant.

17. The method of claim 1 , further comprising adjusting lighting conditions that reinforce the predicted circadian impact with melanopic light intensity adjustments associated with the location of interest.

18. The method of claim 1 , wherein the communicating to the lighting control system comprises applying a first level of light to a daylight zone and applying a second level of light outside the daylight zone.

19. The method of claim 1 , further comprising using visible light communication wherein lighting fixtures send information to opto-electronic devices.

Assignees

• Mechoshade Sys Llc

Inventors

• Hebeisen Stephen P
• Greenspan Alex
• Berman Joel

Classifications

• Y02B20/40

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• E06B9/40

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