US 11,041,752 B2 · Daylight sensor for automated window shading

Abstract

A daylight sensor for automated window-shading applications that incorporates at least one (and optionally more than one) of three aspects: an optimized Field-of-View (FOV), angle-diversity sensing (via at least two sub-sensors with different FOVs, whose outputs are processed in a particular way to yield the overall sensor output), and multi-spectral sensing (via at least two sub-sensors with differing spectral responses and, optionally, different FOVs, whose outputs are processed in a particular way to yield the sensor output). These aspects improve the correlation between the sensor output and the subjectively-perceived daylight level (especially under glare-inducing conditions, such as in the presence of low-angle direct sunlight), thereby enabling more effective automatic control of daylight admitted into a room.

Claims10

Dependent claims

A method of operating a window-shading device to block glare produced by direct sunlight, said method including the steps of:

(a) obtaining a sunlight signal from a sunlight sensor and a reference signal from a reference sensor, said sunlight sensor having a first spectral response and said reference sensor having a second spectral response, said first spectral response overlapping an atmospheric transmission window, said second spectral response overlapping an atmospheric transmission window, said first spectral response being displaced toward longer wavelengths with respect to said second spectral response whereby said sunlight signal is less sensitive than said reference signal to Rayleigh scattering of said direct sunlight by the atmosphere;
(b) obtaining a glare signal which increases with said sunlight signal and decreases with said reference signal;
and
(c) closing said shading device if said glare signal exceeds a threshold.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Daylight sensor for automated window shading

Life of this patent

Daylight sensor for automated window shading

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims10