Controllers for optically-switchable devices
AssigneeView, Inc.
InventorsStephen Clark Brown, Dhairya Shrivastava
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
This disclosure relates generally to optically-switchable devices, and more particularly, to systems, apparatus, and methods for controlling optically-switchable devices. In some implementations, the apparatus includes an interface for communicating with window controllers, and the apparatus includes one or more processors. A processor can be configured to cause status information received from a window controller to be processed. The status information can indicate at least a tint status of one or more optically-switchable devices controlled by the window controller. In response to receiving the status information, one or more tint commands can be sent via the interface to the window controller.
Claims32
An apparatus for controlling a facility, the apparatus comprising:
- an interface for communicating with window controllers that are communicatively coupled to a control network configured to control the facility;
- and
- a network controller operatively coupled to the window controllers and to the interface, which network controller is included in the control network, which network controller is configured to cause:
- (i) sending a status request from the network controller to one or more of the window controllers, the status request requesting a current tint status of one or more optically switchable devices that are disposed in the facility and that are controlled by one or more of the window controllers,
- (ii) processing status information received at the network controller from the one or more of the window controllers responsive to the status request, the status information indicating at least the current tint status of the one or more optically switchable devices controlled by the one or more of the window controllers, and
- (iii) sending, responsive to processing the status information, one or more tint commands via the interface to the one or more of the window controllers.
A method for controlling a facility, the method comprising:
- sending, by a network controller to one or more window controllers, a status request requesting a current tint status of one or more optically switchable devices that are disposed in the facility and that are controlled by one or more of the window controllers;
- processing status information received from the one or more of the window controllers responsive to the status request, the status information indicating at least the current tint status of the one or more optically switchable devices controlled by the one or more of the window controllers;
- and
- sending, responsive to processing the status information, one or more tint commands via the interface to the one or more of the window controllers.
A method for controlling at least one tintable window, the method comprising:
- controlling tint of the at least one tintable window using a network that is (A) operatively coupled to redundant controllers, (B) operatively coupled to (I) an air flow sensor and/or (II) an occupancy sensor configured to detect occupant presence, and/or (C) is configured to (a) consider a surface area of the at least one tintable window and (b) adjust power requirements nonlinearly with respect to the surface area, which power requirements are for tinting the at least one tintable window.
An apparatus for controlling at least one tintable window, the apparatus comprising at least one controller configured to:
- control tint of the at least one tintable window using a network that is (A) operatively coupled to redundant controllers including the at least one controller, (B) operatively coupled to (I) an air flow sensor and/or (II) an occupancy sensor configured to detect occupant presence, and/or (C) is configured to (a) consider a surface area of the at least one tintable window and (b) adjust power requirements nonlinearly with respect to the surface area, which power requirements are for tinting the at least one tintable window
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.