# US 2021/0277715 A1 · Sky camera system for analyzing cloud conditions > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2021/0277715 A1 - Document ID: US20210277715A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/328,771 - Filed: 2021-05-24 - 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/US20210277715A1 ## 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 method comprising: establishing, by a processor, an outline of clouds within a first camera image; and creating, by the processor, a translation of the outline of the clouds into a second camera image. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving, by the processor, information from a virtual sensor, wherein the virtual sensor is a point within a 3D computer model of a room within a building. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising analyzing, by the processor, pixels of the first camera image to determine red-green-blue content of the first camera image. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein a higher degree of blueness with higher blue channel values indicates that the pixels represent generally clear sky. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising at least one of performing edge detection, evaluating intensity or analyzing color of the first camera image to determine portions of the first camera image that represents clear sky. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising determining, by the processor, that the outline of the clouds includes clouds of a type that cause excessive at least one of brightness or glare. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising determining, by the processor, that the outline of the clouds includes clouds of a type that cause excessive at least one of brightness or glare on a first facade of a building and the outline of the clouds includes clouds of the type that cause less at least one of brightness or glare on a second facade of a building. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising restricting, by the processor, shade movement, in response to the outline of the clouds including clouds of a type that allow excessive brightness that is at least one of in limited scope or transitory in duration. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising restricting, by the processor, shade movement, in response to at least one of prior shade movement within a minimum allowable time period or repetitive changes in sky conditions over a limited time period. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising positioning, by the processor, a sky camera to look directly into a direction of at least one of sunrise or sunset. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving, by the processor, input from an internal camera to at least one of quantify impacts of external conditions, provide multi-pixel interior data or correlate external sky conditions with interior light levels, wherein the internal camera is internal to the building. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving, by the processor, user input about sky conditions to qualify at least one of a degree of overcast or a directionality of diffuse light. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising synchronizing, by the processor, sample times of the first camera image and the second camera image to capture timed images at a net sample rate for an overall system of cameras. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising combining, by the processor, the first camera image and the second camera image to improve the effective resolution of an overall system of cameras. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising correlating, by the processor, an archive of the first camera image and sensor data with undesirable shade operation to determine causes of the undesirable shade operation. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising obtaining, by the processor, the first camera image and the second camera image at least one of synchronously or asynchronously. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: capturing, by the processor, more images during rapidly changing conditions, based on sensor data; and capturing, by the processor, less images during stable conditions, based on sensor data. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising determining, by the processor and using a first camera image of a sky, a degree of overcast. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising determining, by the processor and using the first camera image of a sky, a directionality of diffuse light arising from the sky. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the creating the translation is based on an orientation and field of view of the second camera image.