# US 2017/0285433 A1 · Monitoring sites containing switchable optical devices and controllers

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- Number: US 2017/0285433 A1
- Document ID: US20170285433A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 15/623,237
- Filed: 2017-06-14
- Published: 2017-10-05
- Earliest claimed: 2014-03-05
- Assignees: View, Inc.
- Applicants: View, Inc.
- Inventors: Dhairya Shrivastava; Stephen Clark Brown; Vijay Mani
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170285433A1

## CPC

- G05B 13/0265: {the criterion being a learning criterion}
- E06B 9/24: 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)
- G02F 1/163: Operation of electrochromic cells, e.g. electrodeposition cells; Circuit arrangements therefor
- G06Q 10/06: Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
- G06Q 50/10: Services
- E06B 2009/2464: {featuring transparency control by applying voltage, e.g. LCD, electrochromic panels}
- Y02P 90/84: Greenhouse gas [GHG] management systems
- G05B: CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS (systems for controlling or regulating non-electric variables G05D; systems for regulating electric or magnetic variables G05F; control devices or systems insofar as characterised by mechanical features only G05G)
- E06B: FIXED OR MOVABLE CLOSURES FOR OPENINGS IN BUILDINGS, VEHICLES, FENCES OR LIKE ENCLOSURES IN GENERAL, e.g. DOORS, WINDOWS, BLINDS, GATES (shades or blinds for greenhouses A01G9/22; curtains A47H; lids for car boots or bonnets B62D25/10; skylights E04B7/18; sunshades, awnings E04F10/00)
- G02F: OPTICAL DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIGHT BY MODIFICATION OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS INVOLVED THEREIN; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING OF LIGHT; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS
- G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS

## Abstract

A site monitoring system may analyze information from sites to determine when a device, a sensor, a controller, or other structure associated with optically switchable devices has a problem. The system may, if appropriate, act on the problem. In certain embodiments, the system learns customer/user preferences and adapts its control logic to meet the customer's goals.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A system comprising:
(a) a plurality of sites, wherein at least one of the sites comprises:
a plurality of windows, each window of the plurality of windows having at least one switchable optical device;
a plurality of end window controllers configured to control the tint level of the at least one switchable optical device of each window of the plurality of windows;
a plurality of intermediate controllers, each intermediate controller coupled with one or more of the plurality of end window controllers; and
a master controller coupled with each of the plurality of intermediate controllers, and configured to couple with an external network,
wherein control of the plurality of windows is distributed across the plurality of end window controllers, the plurality of intermediate controllers, the master controller, and the external network; and
(b) a processing center configured to communicate with each of the plurality of sites, the processing center comprising:
logic for analyzing data gathered from at least some of the plurality of windows and/or controllers in the plurality of sites and learning a modification and/or a mode of operation; and
logic for applying the modification to the at least one site such that the control of the plurality of windows is based in part on the modification and/or mode of operation learned by the logic;
wherein the data gathered from at least some of the plurality of windows and/or controllers in the plurality of sites is collected and provided to the external network.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of sites further comprises a plurality of sensors, wherein the data gathered is sensor data from the plurality of sensors and provided to the logic to analyze.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the data gathered is data on energy savings for at least one of the plurality of sites.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the modification and/or mode of operation is based at least in part on a user preference.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the system is configured to respond to a remote-control device.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, further comprising:
a plurality of communication interfaces coupled with the plurality of end window controllers.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the master controller is configured to utilize the logic for applying control algorithms that incorporate the data collected on the external network.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the master controller is configured to couple with at least one third-party device for sending and receiving control signals.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the control of the plurality of windows employs the data collected and provided to the external network.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The system of claim 9, wherein the control of the plurality of windows is further based at least in part on a user input from the external network.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein distribution of the control of the plurality of windows is changeable by increasing or decreasing the number of end window controllers or windows.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the control of the plurality of windows is based at least in part on a user input.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the logic for analyzing data is configured to analyze data gathered on weather for at least one of the plurality of sites, and wherein the control of the plurality of windows is based at least in part on weather data.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the control of the plurality of windows controls the temperature of at least one of the plurality of sites.

### Claim 15

A method implemented on a plurality of sites, wherein at least one of the sites comprises:
a plurality of windows, each window of the plurality of windows having at least one switchable optical device;
a plurality of end window controller to control the tint level of the at least one switchable optical device of each window of the plurality of windows;
a plurality of intermediate controllers, each intermediate controller coupled with one or more of the plurality of end window controllers; and
a master controller coupled with each of the plurality of intermediate controllers, and configured to couple with an external network,
wherein control of the plurality of windows is distributed across the plurality of end window controllers, the plurality of intermediate controllers, the master controller, and the external network,
the method comprising:
(a) analyzing data, by logic, gathered from at least some of the plurality of windows and/or controllers in the plurality of sites and learning a modification and/or a mode of operation;
(b) applying, by the logic, the modification to the at least one site such that the control of the plurality of windows is based in part on the modification and/or mode of operation learned by the logic; and
(c) providing the data gathered from at least some of the plurality of windows and/or controllers in the plurality of sites to an external system.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, wherein the plurality of sites further comprises a plurality of sensors, wherein the data gathered is sensor data from the plurality of sensors and provided to the logic to analyze.

### Claim 17 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, wherein the data gathered is data on energy savings for at least one of the plurality of sites.

### Claim 18 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, wherein the modification and/or mode of operation is based at least in part on a user preference.

### Claim 19 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, the method further comprises responding to a remote-control device.

### Claim 20 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, wherein at least one of the sites further comprises:
a plurality of communication interfaces coupled with the plurality of end window controllers.

### Claim 21 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, wherein the master controller is configured to utilize the logic for applying control algorithms that incorporate the data collected on the external network.

### Claim 22 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, wherein the master controller is configured to couple with at least one third-party device for sending and receiving control signals.

### Claim 23 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, wherein the control of the plurality of windows employs the data collected and provided to the external network.

### Claim 24 (depends on 23)

The method of claim 23, wherein the control of the plurality of windows is further based at least in part on a user input from the external network.

### Claim 25 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, wherein distribution of the control of the plurality of windows is changeable by increasing or decreasing the number of end window controllers or windows.

### Claim 26 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, wherein the control of the plurality of windows is based at least in part on a user input.

### Claim 27 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, wherein analyzing data comprises analyzing data gathered on weather for at least one of the plurality of sites, and wherein the control of the plurality of windows is based at least in part on weather data.

### Claim 28 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, wherein the control of the plurality of windows controls the temperature of at least one of the plurality of sites.