Adjusting window tint based at least in part on sensed sun radiation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11175178-B2
Application number	US-202016871976-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 11, 2020
Priority date	Oct 6, 2015
Publication date	Nov 16, 2021
Grant date	Nov 16, 2021

Abstract

Various implementations relate generally to a multi-sensor device. Some implementations more particularly relate to a multi-sensor device including a ring of radially-oriented photosensors. Some implementations more particularly relate to a multi-sensor device that is orientation-independent with respect to a central axis of the ring. Some implementations of the multi-sensor devices described herein also include one or more additional sensors. For example, some implementations include an axially-directed photosensor. Some implementations also can include one or more temperature sensors configured to sense an exterior temperature, for example, an ambient temperature of an outdoors environment around the multi-sensor. Additionally or alternatively, some implementations can include a temperature sensor configured to sense an interior temperature within the multi-sensor device. Particular implementations provide, characterize, or enable a compact form factor. Particular implementations provide, characterize, or enable a multi-sensor device requiring little or no wiring, and in some such instances, little or no invasion, perforation or reconstruction of a building or other structure on which the multi-sensor device is mounted.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus of sensing sun radiation for adjusting tint of one or more tintable windows, the apparatus comprising:
a rigid structure having a closed circumference, which the rigid structure is configured to connect to a mast disposed externally to a building and connected to the building, wherein (I) the mast comprises a first portion and a second portion that is separable from the first portion and/or (II) the closed circumference of the rigid structure comprises at least one light diffusing element;
a plurality of photosensors disposed in the closed circumference and/or disposed along the closed circumference, which plurality of photosensors is (i) configured to sense the sun radiation, (ii) disposed adjacent to the rigid structure, and (iii) configured to generate data used to control tinting of the one or more tintable windows of the building, which the rigid structure is configured to enable the sun radiation to reach the plurality of photosensors; and
connectors configured to connect to cables including an electricity cable and a communication cable communicatively coupled to a control system that utilizes the data to control tinting of the one or more tintable windows.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein one or more of the photosensors are configured to point in a direction outward of the apparatus.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the rigid structure has a closed geometric circumference.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the closed geometric circumference is a ring or a polygon.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the plurality of photosensors includes a subset of photosensors that is disposed (i) about a vertical axis and (ii) directed outward from the vertical axis.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the mast is configured to attach to a roof of the building.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of photosensors comprises four or more sensors.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of photosensors comprises an array of sensors.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the cables comprise Ethernet or coaxial cables.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the cables comprise an analog cable.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the connectors comprise a serial interface.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the connectors comprise a connector having at least four pins.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is configured to couple to, or includes, a network interface.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the network interface comprises an Ethernet port.

15. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the connectors comprise a connector configured to facilitate transmission of communication configured according to an internet protocol.

16. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the closed circumference of the rigid structure comprises the at least one light diffusing element.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein at least one photosensor of the plurality of photosensors is disposed above the at least one light diffusing element, and wherein above is in a direction away from the building.

18. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the closed circumference of the rigid structure comprises the at least one light diffusing element, and wherein the mast comprises the first portion and the second portion that is separable from the first portion.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein at least one photosensor of the plurality of photosensors is disposed above the at least one light diffusing element, and wherein above is in a direction away from the building.

20. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the mast comprises the first portion and the second portion that is separable from the first portion.

21. The apparatus of claim 20 , wherein the rigid structure is configured to connect to the first portion of the mast, and wherein the second portion of the mast is connected to the building.

22. The apparatus of claim 20 , wherein the cables are disposed along the first portion of the mast and along the second portion of the mast.

23. The apparatus of claim 20 , wherein the first portion of the mast is moveable with respect to the second portion of the mast.

24. A method of adjusting tint of one or more tintable windows, the method comprising:
(a) sending instructions to a sensing system to (I) sense sun radiation, and (II) generate data utilized to control tinting of the one or more tintable windows of a building onto which the sensing system is mounted by a mast, which the sensing system comprises:
(i) a rigid structure having a closed circumference, which the rigid structure is configured to connect to the mast that is disposed externally to the building and that is connected to the building, wherein (A) the mast comprises a first portion and a second portion that is separable from the first portion and/or (B) the closed circumference of the rigid structure comprises at least one light diffusing element
(ii) a plurality of photosensors disposed in the closed circumference and/or disposed along the closed circumference, which the plurality of photosensors is configured to sense the sun radiation, which the rigid structure is configured to enable the sun radiation to reach the plurality of photosensors, and
(iii) connectors configured to connect to cables including an electricity cable and a communication cable communicatively coupled to a control system that utilizes the data to control tinting of the one or more tintable windows;
(b) receiving the data from the sensing system; and
(c) using the data to control the tinting of at least one of the one or more tintable windows.

25. The method of claim 24 , further comprising attaching the sensing system to the mast that is connected to a roof of the building.

26. The method of claim 24 , further comprising transmitting the instructions in an Ethernet communication.

27. The method of claim 24 , further comprising transmitting instructions in a communication configured according to an internet protocol.

28. The method of claim 24 , wherein the closed circumference of the rigid structure comprises the at least one light diffusing element.

29. The method of claim 28 , wherein at least one photosensor of the plurality of photosensors is disposed above the at least one light diffusing element, and wherein above is in a direction away from the building.

30. The method of claim 24 , wherein the closed circumference of the rigid structure comprises the at least one light diffusing element, and wherein the mast comprises the first portion and the second portion that is separable from the first portion.

31. The method of claim 30 , wherein at least one photosensor of the plurality of photosensors is disposed above the at least one light diffusing element, and wherein above is in a direction away from the building.

32. The method of claim 24 , wherein the mast comprises the first portion and the second portion that is separable from the first portion.

33. The method of claim 32 , wherein the rigid structure is configured to connect to the first portion of the mast, and wherein the second portion of the mast is connected to the building.

34. The method of claim 32 , wherein the cables are disposed along the first portion of the mast and

Assignees

• View Inc

Inventors

• Brown Stephen Clark
• Shrivastava Dhairya
• Zedlitz Jason
• Frank Trevor
• Wang Jue
• Rumer Alexander
• Mullins Dennis
• Kaneshiro Kevin

Classifications

• G02F2201/58

  Arrangements comprising a monitoring photodetector · CPC title

• G01J2001/4233

  with selection of detector · CPC title

• G01J2001/067

  for angle scan · CPC title

• G01J1/0403

  Mechanical elements; Supports for optical elements; Scanning arrangements · CPC title

• G01J1/0474

  Diffusers (cavities G01J2001/0481) · CPC title