Distributed device network-based control system with decoupled intelligence for smart windows

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9470947-B2
Application number	US-201514821371-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 7, 2015
Priority date	Jan 12, 2015
Publication date	Oct 18, 2016
Grant date	Oct 18, 2016

Abstract

A distributed device control system is provided. The system includes a plurality of windows, each window of the plurality of windows having at least one electrochromic window, a voltage or current driver for the at least one electrochromic window, and a first control system local to the window. The system includes a plurality of window controllers, each window controller configured to couple to one or more of the plurality of windows and having a second control system, for the one or more of the plurality of windows, local to the window controller. The system includes a command and communication device configured to couple to each of the plurality of window controllers, configured to couple to a network, and having a third control system, for the plurality of windows, wherein control of the plurality of windows is distributed across the plurality of windows, the plurality of window controllers, the command and communication device, and a portion of the network.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A distributed device control system, comprising:
a plurality of windows, each window of the plurality of windows having at least one electrochromic window, a voltage or current driver for the at least one electrochromic window, and a first control system local to the window;
a plurality of window controllers, each window controller configured to couple to one or more of the plurality of windows and having a second control system, for the one or more of the plurality of windows, local to the window controller; and
a command and communication device configured to couple to each of the plurality of window controllers, configured to couple to a network, and having a third control system, for the plurality of windows, wherein control of the plurality of windows is distributed across the plurality of windows, the plurality of window controllers, the command and communication device, and a portion of the network, wherein a server coupled to the network gathers information from smart windows in a plurality of buildings and develops profiles or modes, and wherein the distributed control of the plurality of windows is based in part on the profiles or modes developed in the server.

2. The distributed device control system of claim 1 , further comprising:
each of the plurality of windows including at least one sensor for light, sound, imaging, video, temperature, vibration, motion, or smoke detection; and
each of the plurality of windows having a wireless interface for coupling to one of the plurality of window controllers.

3. The distributed device control system of claim 1 , further comprising:
the third control system of the command and communication device having a rules engine with adaptive algorithms that incorporate information from the plurality of windows and information from the network.

4. The distributed device control system of claim 1 , further comprising:
each of the plurality of window controllers configured to couple to at least one third-party device for input information or control output.

5. The distributed device control system of claim 1 , further comprising:
the command and communication device routing system communication when the network is available; and
the third control system of the command and communication device at least partially controlling the plurality of windows when the network unavailable.

6. The distributed device control system of claim 1 , further comprising:
the command and communication device, the plurality of window controllers, and the plurality of windows configured to store time-bound or event-bound instructions that provide continuity of operation in event of a device or network failure.

7. The distributed device control system of claim 1 , wherein:
each of the plurality of windows is configured to operate in accordance to first rules of the first control system, unless overridden by one of the plurality of window controllers or overridden by the command and communication device;
each of the window controllers configured to operate in accordance to second rules of the second control system, unless overridden by the command and communication device; and
the command and communication device configured to operate in accordance to third rules of the third control system, unless overridden by the portion of the network.

8. A distributed device control system, comprising:
a command and communication device having a third control system for windows, the command and communication device configured to couple to a network to obtain information for use in controlling the windows;
a plurality of window controllers configured to couple to the command and communication device, each window controller having a second control system for the windows; and
a plurality of electrochromic windows configured to couple to at least one of the plurality of window controllers, each electrochromic window of the plurality of electrochromic windows having a first control system for the electrochromic window, wherein the third control system of the command and communication device, the second control system of each of the plurality of window controllers, the first control system of each of the plurality of electrochromic windows, and the information obtainable from the network form a distributed control system, wherein a server coupled to the network gathers information from smart windows in a plurality of buildings and develops profiles or modes, and wherein distributed control of the plurality of windows is based in part on the profiles or modes developed in the server.

9. The distributed device control system of claim 8 , further comprising:
the command and communication device having integrated firewall and malware protection, applicable to the network.

10. The distributed device control system of claim 8 , further comprising:
the command and communication device configured to authenticate each of the plurality of window controllers or each of the plurality of electrochromic windows; and
the command and communication device configured to authenticate itself to the network.

11. The distributed device control system of claim 8 , further comprising:
the distributed control system being scalable by addition or deletion of one or more window controllers or electrochromic windows.

12. The distributed device control system of claim 8 , further comprising:
the distributed control system being expandable by addition of sensors to the plurality of electrochromic windows or the plurality of window controllers.

13. The distributed device control system of claim 8 , further comprising:
the command and communication device configured to perform a handshake via the network, using a secure sockets layer authentication certificate.

14. The distributed device control system of claim 8 , further comprising:
the command and communication device and the plurality of window controllers configured to convey a user request from the network, to control the plurality of electrochromic windows.

15. The distributed device control system of claim 1 , further comprising:
the third control system of the command and communication device configured to gather weather information from the network and control the plurality of windows based at least in part on the weather information.

16. The distributed device control system of claim 1 , further comprising:
the second control system of each of the plurality of window controllers configured to override the first control system of at least one of the plurality of windows to control the at least one of the plurality of windows.

17. The distributed device control system of claim 1 , further comprising:
the third control system of the command and communication device configured to override the first control system of at least one of the plurality of windows and the second control system of at least one of the plurality of window controllers to control the at least one of the plurality of windows.

18. The distributed device control system of claim 8 , further comprising:
at least one of the plurality of electrochromic windows and the first control system thereof configured to receive first user input at the electrochromic window;
at least one of the plurality of window controllers and the second control system thereof configured to receive second user input at the window controller; and
the command and communication device and the third control system configured to receive third user input at the command and communication device and receive fourth user input from the netw

Assignees

• Kinestral Tech Inc

Inventors

• Nagel Paul
• Barnum Wally
• Coffin Stephen
• Ziebarth Jonathan

Classifications

• G02F1/163 Primary

  Operation of electrochromic cells, e.g. electrodeposition cells; Circuit arrangements therefor · CPC title

• E06B9/24

  Screens or other constructions affording protection against light, especially against sunshine; Similar screens for privacy or appearance; {Slat blinds}(operating, guiding or securing devices or arrangements for roll-type closures E06B9/56; free-hanging flexible screens A47H23/00) · CPC title

• E06B2009/2464

  featuring transparency control by applying voltage, e.g. LCD, electrochromic panels · CPC title