# US 2021/0277714 A1 · Sky camera system utilizing circadian information for intelligent building control > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2021/0277714 A1 - Document ID: US20210277714A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/327,434 - Filed: 2021-05-21 - Published: 2021-09-09 - Earliest claimed: 2004-05-06 - Assignees: Mechoshade Systems, LLC - Applicants: Mechoshade Systems, LLC - Inventors: Stephen P. Hebeisen; Alex Greenspan; Joel Berman - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210277714A1 ## CPC - E06B 9/68: Operating devices or mechanisms, e.g. with electric drive - F24F 11/30: for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring - F24F 11/62: characterised by the type of control or by internal processing, e.g. using fuzzy logic, adaptive control or estimation of values - G05B 15/02: electric - G05B 17/02: electric - H04L 12/2827: {Reporting to a device within the home network; wherein the reception of the information reported automatically triggers the execution of a home appliance functionality} - H05B 45/20: Controlling the colour of the light - H05B 47/105: in response to determined parameters - H05B 47/11: by determining the brightness or colour temperature of ambient light - 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) - E06B 9/40: Roller blinds (usable only as awnings E04F10/06) - E06B 2009/2464: {featuring transparency control by applying voltage, e.g. LCD, electrochromic panels} - E06B 2009/6809: {Control} - E06B 2009/6818: {using sensors} - E06B 2009/6827: {sensing light} - E06B 2009/6863: {sensing wind speed} - G05B 2219/2642: Domotique, domestic, home control, automation, smart house - Y02A 30/24: Structural elements or technologies for improving thermal insulation - Y02B 20/40: Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection - Y02B 80/00: Architectural or constructional elements improving the thermal performance of buildings - 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) - F24F: AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING (removing dirt or fumes from areas where they are produced B08B15/00; vertical ducts for carrying away waste gases from buildings E04F17/02; tops for chimneys or ventilating shafts, terminals for flues F23L17/02) - 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) - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) - H05B: ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL - Y02A: TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE - Y02B: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS ## Abstract Intelligent building control systems utilize sky information from a camera or cameras to facilitate control of building systems such as lighting, motorized window coverings, electrochromic glazings, HVAC systems, and so forth. Based on the sky information, interior lighting intensity and/or color temperature may be modified, for example in order to achieve a desired circadian effect for building occupants. In this manner, energy efficiency and occupant comfort and convenience are improved. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system comprising: a processor; and a tangible, non-transitory memory configured to communicate with the processor, the tangible, non-transitory memory having instructions stored thereon that, in response to execution by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising: predicting, by the processor and utilizing a camera image of a sky, a predicted circadian impact associated with a location of interest, in advance of the circadian impact impacting the location of interest; and performing, by the processor, at least one of: (i) communicating, to a building management system, information regarding the predicted circadian impact at the location of interest in advance of the circadian impact impacting the location of interest, (ii) causing an adjustment of a window shade associated with the location of interest in advance of the circadian impact impacting the location of interest, (iii) causing activation of a glass controller to adjust a variable characteristic of a glass associated with the location of interest in advance of the circadian impact impacting the location of interest, (iv) communicating, to a lighting control system, information regarding the predicted circadian impact at the location of interest in advance of the circadian impact impacting the location of interest, or (v) causing an adjustment of a lighting fixture associated with the location of interest in advance of the circadian impact impacting the location of interest. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the predicting the predicted circadian impact is based on at least one of averaging a color temperature in a multi-pixel representation of the sky, segmenting the color temperature at a pixel level, or averaging the color temperature within a section of the sky comprising a plurality of pixels. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the causing the adjustment of the lighting fixture comprises independently causing the adjustment of a light level and a color temperature. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the causing the adjustment of the lighting fixture comprises modifying a color temperature of an overall light output of the lighting fixture by varying a relative output of a first set of LEDs and a second set of LEDs, while a luminance of the overall light output stays similar. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the causing the adjustment of the lighting fixture comprises creating a similar color temperature profile as would exist if there were no obstructions to natural light above the location of interest. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the causing the adjustment of the lighting fixture comprises the lighting fixture being adjusted to at least one of approximate external conditions or compensate for less desirable external conditions. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one of qualifying or quantifying a lux level relative to a condition of the sky, based on a daylight sensor at the location of interest detecting the lux level. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising receiving, by the processor, inputs of at least one of lux level information or color temperature information from a daylight sensor for use by the predictive algorithm. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the predicting is further based on receiving input from a sensor located at least one of on or near an individual at the location of interest, wherein the input from the sensor includes at least one of preferences of the individual, working shift information for the individual, travel schedule information for the individual, chronotype information for the individual, conditions that improve a circadian rhythm of the individual, health related information of the individual, movements of the individual or physical changes of the individual. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the causing the adjustment of the lighting fixture comprises causing the adjustment of luminance and color temperature to replicate a passage of time of sky conditions throughout a day across a floorplan that includes the location of interest. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the causing the adjustment of the lighting fixture comprises causing the adjustment to a warmer setting to mix with a cooler color temperature from an external light impacting the location of interest to obtain a desired overall color temperature profile. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the causing the adjustment of the lighting fixture is based on address mapping information for the lighting fixture and an evaluation of natural light contribution factors to the location of interest. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the predicting the predicted circadian impact associated with the location of interest is based on mitigating solar glare by blocking the solar glare from the location of interest. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising: measuring, by the processor in communication with a daylight sensor, a brightness level associated with the location of interest; determining, based on the brightness level and the predicted circadian impact, light exposure information for the location of interest; and communicating, by the processor and to a wearable electronic device of a building occupant, the light exposure information. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising communicating, via the lighting control system and utilizing one or more visible light fixtures, information to a wearable electronic device of a building occupant. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising adjusting lighting conditions that reinforce the predicted circadian impact with melanopic light intensity adjustments associated with the location of interest. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the communicating to the lighting control system comprises applying a first level of light to a daylight zone and applying a second level of light outside the daylight zone. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising using visible light communication wherein lighting fixtures send information to opto-electronic devices. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising reducing external sky contributions on the location of interest by at least one of enhance a lighting effect created by the lighting fixture by lowering the window covering in front of a windowed area impacting the location of interest or reducing visible light transmission into the location of interest in a building by the causing activation of the glass controller. ### Claim 20 The method comprising: predicting, by a processor and utilizing a camera image of a sky, a predicted circadian impact associated with a location of interest, in advance of the circadian impact impacting the location of interest; and performing, by the processor, at least one of: (i) communicating, to a building management system, information regarding the predicted circadian impact at the location of interest in advance of the circadian impact impacting the location of interest, (ii) causing an adjustment of a window shade associated with the location of interest in advance of the circadian impact impacting the location of interest, (iii) causing activation of a glass controller to adjust a variable characteristic of a glass associated with the location of interest in advance of the circadian impact impacting the location of interest, (iv) communicating, to a lighting control system, information regarding the predicted circadian impact at the location of interest in advance of the circadian impact impacting the location of interest, or (v) causing an adjustment of a lighting fixture associated with the location of interest in advance of the circadian impact impacting the location of interest.