Optimization of load control environments

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12334729-B2
Application number	US-202017787520-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 18, 2020
Priority date	Dec 18, 2019
Publication date	Jun 17, 2025
Grant date	Jun 17, 2025

Abstract

A load control environment may be controlled by adjusting load control devices, such as a lighting intensity level, a level of the covering material for a motorized window treatment, and/or a temperature level to reduce and/or optimize the consumption of power. The optimization of power may include reducing the total cost and consumption of power, while maintaining a target or minimum level of comfort for occupants and/or a net monetary gain. The optimization of power consumption may be performed by adaptively controlling the load control devices to reduce the total power consumption of the load control environment, while maintaining a minimum level for comfort metrics indicating a level of occupant comfort and/or the net monetary gain associated with the comfort metrics.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system controller, the system controller comprising:
a control circuit configured to:
define a threshold for a comfort metric, wherein the comfort metric indicates a comfort level based on a plurality of comfort variables in a load control environment;
define a range for a power metric, wherein the power metric indicates a power level based on a plurality of power parameters in the load control environment;
receive, from each of one or more sensors disposed in the load control environment, a respective signal that includes data representative of at least one of the plurality of comfort variables;
receive, from each of one or more sensors, a respective signal that includes data indicative of at least one of the plurality of power parameters;
determine a value that corresponds to the comfort metric using the received data representative of the at least one of the plurality of comfort variables;
determine a value that corresponds to the power metric using the received data representative of the at least one of the plurality of power parameters; and
automatically control one or more load control devices in the load control environment to maintain the determined value that corresponds to the comfort metric above the defined threshold value for the comfort metric while maintaining the determined value that corresponds to the power metric within the defined range for the power metric.

2. The system controller of claim 1 , wherein the comfort metric may comprise at least one of a lighting level, a daylight glare level, or a thermal comfort level, wherein the lighting level is based at least on illuminance of the load control environment, wherein the daylight glare level is based at least on direct sun to the load control environment, and wherein the thermal comfort level is based at least on direct sun to the load control environment, outdoor temperature, the load control environment temperature, or occupant temperature.

3. The system controller of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of comfort variables comprise glare, temperature, light, or window treatment position.

4. The system controller of claim 1 , wherein the power metric may comprise at least one of conductive heat gain that is based at least outdoor temperature and the load control environment temperature, conductive heat loss that is based on at least outdoor temperature and the load control environment temperature, radiative heat gain that is based at least on solar heat, radiative heat loss that is based at least on solar heat, occupant heat to a room that is based at least on occupant temperature, light heat to a room that is based at least on radiant electric heat, plug-in load heat to a room, appliance heat to a room, or light power that is based at least on electricity used in the load control environment.

5. The system controller of claim 1 , wherein the one or more load control devices comprise at least one of a lighting controller, a motorized window treatment controller, or a temperature controller.

6. The system controller of claim 1 , wherein the control circuit is configured to:
determine the value that corresponds to the plurality of comfort variables and determine the value that corresponds to the plurality of power parameters by receiving data from an occupancy sensor in the load control environment for detecting whether the load control environment is occupied or unoccupied; and
control the one or more load control devices in response to the occupancy sensor.

7. The system controller of claim 6 , wherein, when the load control environment is occupied, the control circuit is configured to command the one or more load control devices to adjust a lighting intensity level to a predefined level to maintain the comfort metric above the defined threshold value.

8. The system controller of claim 6 , wherein, when the load control environment is occupied, the control circuit is configured to command the one or more load control devices to adjust a window treatment position to a predefined position to maintain the comfort metric above the defined threshold value.

9. The system controller of claim 6 , wherein, when the load control environment is occupied, the control circuit is configured to command the one or more load control devices to adjust a temperature level to a predefined level to maintain the comfort metric above the defined threshold value.

10. The system controller of claim 1 , wherein the threshold for a comfort metric is a minimum comfort level based on the plurality of comfort variables in the load control environment or a target comfort level based on the plurality of comfort variables in the load control environment.

11. The system controller of claim 1 , wherein the range for the power metric is a maximum level of power in a load control environment or a targeted level of power in a load control environment.

12. The system controller of claim 1 , wherein the control circuit is further configured to:
receive user input to control the one or more load control devices; and
adjust the threshold value for the comfort metric based on the user input.

13. A system controller, the system controller comprising:
a control circuit configured to:
define a threshold for a comfort metric, wherein the comfort metric indicates a comfort level based on a plurality of comfort variables in a load control environment;
define a range for a power metric, wherein the power metric indicates a power level based on a plurality of power parameters in the load control environment;
monitor the plurality of comfort variables and the plurality of power parameters;
compute the comfort metric based on the monitored plurality of comfort variables;
compute the power metric based on the monitored plurality of power parameters;
automatically control one or more load control devices in the load control environment to prevent the comfort metric from falling below the defined threshold for the comfort metric while maintaining the power level within the defined range for the power metric;
receive user input to control the one or more load control devices;
adjust the threshold for the comfort metric based on the user input;
determine the load control device of the one or more load control devices that is controlled by the received user input; and
control at least one load control device of the one or more load control devices that is not controlled by the received user input.

14. The system controller of claim 13 , wherein the power metric may comprise at least one of conductive heat gain that is based at least outdoor temperature and the load control environment temperature, conductive heat loss that is based on at least outdoor temperature and the load control environment temperature, radiative heat gain that is based at least on solar heat, radiative heat loss that is based at least on solar heat, occupant heat to a room that is based at least on occupant temperature, light heat to a room that is based at least on radiant electric heat, plug-in load heat to a room, appliance heat to a room, or light power that is based at least on electricity used in the load control environment.

15. The system controller of claim 13 , wherein the one or more load control devices comprise at least one of a lighting controller, a motorized window treatment controller, or a temperature controller.

16. The system controller of claim 13 , wherein the control circuit is configured to:
monitor the plurality of comfort variables and the plurality of power parameters by receiving data from an occupancy sensor in the load control environmen

Assignees

• Lutron Tech Co Llc

Inventors

• Protzman Brent
• Sapthasayee Rangasayee
• Casey Craig A

Classifications

• H02J2105/54

  according to a non-electrical condition, e.g. temperature · CPC title

• H02J2105/12

  supplying households or buildings · CPC title

• H05B47/105 Primary

  in response to determined parameters · CPC title

• H05B47/115

  by determining the presence or movement of objects or living beings · CPC title

• H05B47/11

  by determining the brightness or colour temperature of ambient light · CPC title