Controlling transitions in optically switchable devices

A controller for at least one tintable window in a facility, the at least one tintable window between an interior and exterior of the facility, the controller comprising:

• (a) a processor or control circuit;
• (b) at least one input configured to receive output signals from one or more sensors over a network;
• (c) instructions for (i) causing the processor or control circuit to determine a level of tint in a tintable window by using the output signals from any two or more sensors selected from the group consisting of an exterior photosensor, an interior photosensor, an occupancy sensor, an exterior temperature sensor, and a transmissivity sensor which detects light passing through the tintable window from the exterior, and (ii) comparing the output signals from more than one exterior photosensor;
• and
• (d) at least one output configured to control, directly or indirectly, the level of tint in the at least one tintable window.

A controller for at least one tintable window in a facility, the at least one tintable window between an interior and exterior of the facility, the controller comprising:

• (a) a processor or control circuit;
• (b) at least one input configured to receive output signals from one or more sensors over a network;
• (c) instructions for causing the processor or control circuit to determine a level of tint in said at least one tintable window by using the output signals from any two or more sensors selected from the group consisting of an exterior photosensor, an interior photosensor, an occupancy sensor, an exterior temperature sensor, and a transmissivity sensor which detects light passing through the at least one tintable window from the exterior,
• further comprising instructions for causing the processor or control circuit to compare the output signals from more than one exterior photosensor;
• and
• further comprising instructions for determining the level of tint for a zone of tintable windows using output signals from sensors associated with the zone of tintable windows;
• and
• (d) at least one output configured to control, directly or indirectly, the level of tint in the at least one tintable window.

A method of controlling at least one tintable window between an interior and exterior of a facility, wherein the level of tinting in the at least one tintable window can be controlled automatically, the method comprising:

• (a) receiving output signals from an exterior photosensor and/or an interior photosensor comprising a photovoltaic cell, wherein receiving the output signals comprises receiving sensor output signals from a network comprising multiple window controllers configured to receive the output signals and provide instructions to the at least one tintable window, wherein the output signal of at least one of the two or more sensors is received at the multiple window controllers;
• (b) determining a level of tint for said at least one tintable window using a relationship between the received output signals and the level of tint;
• and
• (c) providing instructions to change the tint of the at least one tintable window to the level of tint determined in (b).

A method of controlling at least one tintable window located between an interior and exterior of a facility, wherein the level of tinting in the at least one tintable window can be controlled automatically, the method comprising:

• (a) receiving output signals from any two or more sensors,
• wherein a first of the sensors is selected from the group consisting of an exterior photosensor, an interior photosensor, an occupancy sensor, an exterior temperature sensor, and a transmissivity sensor which detects light passing through the tintable window from the exterior,
• wherein a second of the sensors is an exterior photosensor located on the roof of a building having the tintable window,
• wherein receiving the output signals comprises receiving sensor output signals from a network comprising multiple window controllers configured to receive the output signals and provide instructions to the at least one tintable window, and
• wherein the output signal of at least one of the two or more sensors is received at the multiple window controllers;
• (b) determining a level of tint for said at least one tintable window using the received output signals;
• and
• (c) providing instructions to change the tint of the at least one tintable window to the level of tint determined in (b).

A method of controlling at least one tintable window located between an interior and exterior of a facility, wherein the level of tinting in the at least one tintable window can be controlled automatically, the method comprising:

• (a) receiving output signals from more than one exterior photosensor, wherein receiving the output signals comprises receiving sensor output signals from a network;
• (b) comparing output signals from the exterior photosensors to one another;
• (c) determining a level of tint for said at least one tintable window using the received output signals;
• and
• (d) providing instructions to change the tint of the at least one tintable window to the level of tint determined in (c).

A method of controlling at least one tintable window located between an interior and exterior of a facility, wherein the level of tinting in the at least one tintable window can be controlled automatically, the method comprising:

• (a) receiving output signals from an exterior photosensor on each side of the facility, wherein receiving the output signals comprises receiving sensor output signals from a network comprising multiple window controllers configured to receive the output signals and provide instructions to the at least one tintable window;
• (b) determining a level of tint for said at least one tintable window using the received output signals;
• and
• (c) providing instructions to change the tint of the at least one tintable window to the level of tint determined in (b).

A method of controlling at least one tintable window located between an interior and exterior of a facility, wherein the level of tinting in the at least one tintable window can be controlled automatically, the method comprising:

• (a) receiving output signals from any two or more sensors selected from the group consisting of an exterior photosensor, an interior photosensor, an occupancy sensor, an exterior temperature sensor, and a transmissivity sensor which detects light passing through the tintable window from the exterior, wherein the output signals comprise output signals from sensors associated with a zone comprising multiple tintable windows,
• wherein receiving the output signals comprises receiving the sensor output signal from a network comprising multiple window controllers configured to receive the output signals and provide instructions to the at least one tintable window, and wherein the output signals at least one of the two or more sensors are received at the multiple window controllers;
• (b) determining a level of tint for said at least one tintable window using the received output signals;
• and
• (c) providing instructions to change the tint of the at least one tintable window to the level of tint determined in (b).

A controller for at least one tintable window in a facility, the at least one tintable window between an interior and exterior of the facility, the controller comprising:

• (a) a processor or control circuit;
• (b) at least one input configured to receive output signals from one or more sensors over a network;
• (c) instructions for causing the processor or control circuit to determine a level of tint in the at least one tintable window by using the output signals from any two or more sensors selected from the group consisting of an exterior photosensor, an interior photosensor, an occupancy sensor, an exterior temperature sensor, and a transmissivity sensor which detects light passing through the at least one tintable window from the exterior, wherein the output signals comprise a sensor output signal from an exterior photosensor located on a roof of a building having the at least one tintable window;
• (d) instructions for causing the processor or control circuit to (i) compare the output signals from more than one exterior photosensor, and (ii) determine whether one of the exterior photosensors is shaded based on the comparison;
• and
• (e) at least one output configured to control, directly or indirectly, the level of tint in the at least one tintable window.

A controller for at least one tintable window in a facility, the at least one tintable window between an interior and exterior of the facility, the controller comprising:

• (a) a processor or control circuit;
• (b) at least one input configured to receive output signals from one or more sensors over a network of controllers comprising (i) a master and/or intermediate window controller and (ii) an end window controller, and wherein the master and/or intermediate window controller and end window controller are configured to communicate by wireless communication;
• (c) instructions for causing the processor or control circuit to determine a level of tint in the at least one tintable window by using the output signals from any two or more sensors selected from the group consisting of an exterior photosensor, an interior photosensor, an occupancy sensor, an exterior temperature sensor, and a transmissivity sensor which detects light passing through the tintable window from the exterior, wherein the output signals comprise a sensor output signal from an exterior photosensor located on a roof of the facility having the at least one tintable window;
• and
• (d) at least one output configured to control, directly or indirectly, the level of tint in the at least one tintable window.

A controller for at least one tintable window in a facility, the at least one tintable window between an interior and exterior of the facility, the controller comprising:

• (a) a processor or control circuit;
• (b) at least one input configured to receive output signals from one or more sensors over a network of controllers comprising (i) a master and/or intermediate window controller and (ii) an end window controller, and wherein the master and/or intermediate window controller and end window controller are configured to communicate by wireless communication;
• (c) instructions for causing the processor or control circuit to determine a level of tint in the at least one tintable window by using the output signals from any two or more sensors selected from the group consisting of an exterior photosensor, an interior photosensor, an occupancy sensor, an exterior temperature sensor, and a transmissivity sensor which detects light passing through the tintable window from the exterior, wherein the output signals comprise sensor output signals from an exterior photosensor on each side of the facility;
• and
• (d) at least one output configured to control, directly or indirectly, the level of tint in the at least one tintable window.

A controller for at least one tintable window in a facility, the at least one tintable window between an interior and exterior of the facility, the controller comprising:

• (a) a processor or control circuit;
• (b) at least one input configured to receive output signals from one or more sensors over a network;
• (c) instructions for causing the processor or control circuit to determine a level of tint in the at least one tintable window by using the output signals from any two or more sensors selected from the group consisting of an exterior photosensor, an interior photosensor, an occupancy sensor, an exterior temperature sensor, and a transmissivity sensor which detects light passing through the at least one tintable window from the exterior,
• further comprising instructions for determining the level of tint for a zone of tintable windows using output signals from sensors associated with the zone of tintable windows
• further comprising instructions for causing the processor or control circuit to (i) compare the output signals from more than one exterior photosensor, and (ii) determine whether one of the exterior photosensors is shaded based on the comparison;
• and
• (d) at least one output configured to control, directly or indirectly, the level of tint in the at least one tintable window.

A controller for at least one tintable window in a facility, the at least one tintable window between an interior and exterior of the facility, the controller comprising:

• (a) a processor or control circuit;
• (b) at least one input configured to receive output signals from one or more sensors over a network of controllers comprising (i) a master and/or intermediate window controller and (ii) an end window controller, and wherein the master and/or intermediate window controller and end window controller are configured to communicate by wireless communication;
• (c) instructions for causing the processor or control circuit to determine a level of tint in the at least one tintable window by using the output signals from any two or more sensors selected from the group consisting of an exterior photosensor, an interior photosensor, an occupancy sensor, an exterior temperature sensor, and a transmissivity sensor which detects light passing through the tintable window from the exterior,
• further comprising instructions for determining the level of tint for a zone of tintable windows using output signals from sensors associated with the zone of tintable windows;
• and
• (d) at least one output configured to control, directly or indirectly, the level of tint in the at least one tintable window.