US 10,538,959 B2Granted

Window louver control system

AssigneeSerraLux Inc.

InventorsMark E Gardiner, David Allen Lockett, Robert Somers Ford

Life of this patent

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Abstract

An automated ganged louver assembly is adjusted in orientation by an actuator in the louver header that suspends or supports the louver rotation mechanism. The actuator is energized in response to a determination of solar elevation, which is optionally from a light sensor output via a controller. The light sensor employs an optical element to detect at least one of the sun elevation and azimuth, as well as general exterior light levels. The solar elevation and azimuth can also be determined by calculations from the window orientation and latitude. The optical elements and the controller are coupled to at least one of the louvers or the louver header to provide a self contained system that does not require exterior power or controls, unless desired.

Claims17

Dependent claims

A louver assembly, comprising:

a) a tiltable array of generally parallel louvers, wherein the louvers are for light re-directing and are configured to be tilted to re-direct sunlight into an interior space, each of said louvers having a center axis and each of said louvers generally extends in a plane between opposing ends thereof,
b) a means to determine an azimuthal and elevational direction of the sun,
c) an actuator means for tilting the louvers,
d) a header for supporting the array of generally parallel louvers and that includes the actuator means to tilt the generally parallel louvers,
e) wherein the actuator means is operative to tilt each of said louvers from a negative tilt angle to a positive tilt angle by passing the plane of each of said louvers through a vertical orientation, wherein each of said louvers is supported to be tilted by pivoting approximately about the center axis and the actuator means is operative to tilt each of said louvers about a tilt axis that is parallel to and proximately spaced apart from the center axis of each of said louvers by a vertically moving positioning bar, wherein the positioning bar engages each of said louvers at a position distal from the tilt axis.

2 more elements

A louver assembly, comprising:

a) a tiltable array of louvers, wherein the louvers are for light re-directing and are configured to be tilted to re-direct sunlight into an interior space, each of said louvers having a center axis and each of said louvers generally extends in a plane between opposing ends thereof,
c) an actuator means for tilting each of the louvers,
d) a header for supporting the array of louvers and that includes the actuator means to tilt the louvers,
e) wherein the actuator means is operative to tilt a plurality of said louvers from a negative tilt angle to a positive tilt angle by passing the plane of each of said louvers in the plurality of said louvers through a vertical orientation, and
wherein the plurality of said louvers are supported at the opposing ends and are pivotable approximately about a respective one of the center axes, and the actuator means is operative to tilt each of said louvers in the plurality of said louvers about a tilt axis that is parallel to and spaced apart from the center axis thereof by a vertically moving positioning bar, wherein the vertically moving positioning bar is operative to engage one of the opposing ends of each of said louvers in the plurality of said louvers at a position distal from the center axis and the tilt axis.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 14/850,762Filed 10 Sep 2015 · us provisional application
Priority: 12 Sep 2014
Published: US 2016/0186488 A130 Jun 2016
Granted: 21 Jan 2020
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification14 codes

E06B 9/264
Lamellar or like blinds, e.g. venetian blinds: combinations of lamellar blinds with roller shutters, screen windows, windows, or double panes;…
E06B 9/322
Operating, guiding, or securing devices therefor: details of operating devices, e.g. pulleys, brakes, spring drums, drives
F21S 11/00
Non-electric lighting devices or systems using daylight
F21S 11/007
Non-electric lighting devices or systems using daylight: characterised by the means for transmitting light into the interior of a building

Family

Application62/050,018Us provisional application · filed 12 Sep 2014
Application62/049,941Us provisional application · filed 12 Sep 2014
Application62/164,834Us provisional application · filed 21 May 2015
US 2016/0186488 A1Pre-grant publication · published 30 Jun 2016
US 10,538,959 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.