Patent US5675487A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5675487A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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System for controlling energy through window
Assignee: Iowa State University Research Foundation Inc
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Filing: 1995-06-06
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Granted: 1997-10-07
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Expires: 2015-06-06
Abstract
Abstract Energy control system for a window comprises fenestration blinds, horizontal or vertical, disposed at the window and adjustable in angle to control solar radiation entering the window. First and second photovoltaic sensors are disposed proximate respective exterior and interior sides of the fenestration blinds for providing a signal representative of incident solar radiation at the respective exterior and interior sides. An electrical motor is can be disposed proximate the window and is operably connected to the fenestration blinds in a manner to controll the angle thereof. A microprocessor control device is provided for providing control signals to the motor to adjust the angle of the fenestration blinds. In a summer mode of operation, the microprocessor compares a ratio of the signals representative of solar radiation incident at the exterior and interior sides in response to adjustment of the angle and a preset ratio stored in the microprocessor representative of minimum direct light and maximum indirect light entering the window and continiues to provide control signals to the motor to adjust the angle until the ratio of the signals approximates the preset ratio. In the winter mode of operation, the microprocessor compares a signal representative of solar radiation incidient on the second, inner photovoltaic sensor only in response to adjustment of the fenestration angle and a preset signal representative of maximum direct light entering the window (where the fenestration angle is generally equal to the solar zenith angle) and continues to provide control signals to the motor until the signal approximates the preset signal.
Inventors
- 👤 James R. Patterson
- 👤 Greg R. Luecke
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 14:15
CPC Classifications
E; E06; E06B; E06B9/00; E06B9/24; E06B9/26; E06B9/28; E06B9/30; E06B9/32; F; F24; F24S; F24S50/00; F24S50/80; E06B9/56; E06B9/68; E06B2009/6809; E06B2009/6818; Y; Y02; Y02A; Y02A30/00; Y02A30/24; Y02B; Y02B10/00; Y02B10/20; Y02B80/00; Y02E; Y02E10/00; Y02E10/40
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim
216 words
Energy control system for a window, comprising: a) fenestration shade means disposed at the window and adjustable about an angle to control solar radiation entering the window, said fenestration shade means having an exterior side facing outwardly of said window and an interior side facing inwardly of said window, b) first light sensor means disposed proximate the exterior side of said fenestration shade means for providing a signal over time representative of changing incident solar radiation at said exterior side, c) second light sensor means disposed proximate the interior side of said fenestration shade means for providing a signal over time representative of changing incident solar radiation at said interior side, d) electrical motor means operably connected to said fenestration shade means for controlling the angle thereof, and e) microprocessor control means for providing control signals to said electrical motor means to automatically adjust said angle of said fenestration shade means in response to the signals of the first and second light sensor means which signals vary due to changes in incident solar radiation over time, said control means comparing a ratio of said signals and a preset ratio of said signals and providing said control signals to said electrical motor means to adjust said angle until the ratio of said signals approximates said preset ratio.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
216 words
Energy control system for a window, comprising: a) fenestration shade means disposed at the window and adjustable about an angle to control solar radiation entering the window, said fenestration shade means having an exterior side facing outwardly of said window and an interior side facing inwardly of said window, b) first light sensor means disposed proximate the exterior side of said fenestration shade means for providing a signal over time representative of changing incident solar radiation at said exterior side, c) second light sensor means disposed proximate the interior side of said fenestration shade means for providing a signal over time representative of changing incident solar radiation at said interior side, d) electrical motor means operably connected to said fenestration shade means for controlling the angle thereof, and e) microprocessor control means for providing control signals to said electrical motor means to automatically adjust said angle of said fenestration shade means in response to the signals of the first and second light sensor means which signals vary due to changes in incident solar radiation over time, said control means comparing a ratio of said signals and a preset ratio of said signals and providing said control signals to said electrical motor means to adjust said angle until the ratio of said signals approximates said preset ratio.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said fenestration shade means comprises a plurality of horizontal, angularly adjustable blinds disposed between a top and bottom of said window.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said fenestration shade means comprises a plurality of vertical, angularly adjustable blinds disposed between opposite sides of said window.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said first light sensor comprises a photovoltaic sensor disposed proximate said exterior side to receive incident sunlight.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said second light sensor means comprises a photovoltaic sensor disposed proximate said interior side to receive incident sunlight.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said electrical motor means is disposed proximate said window.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said electrical motor is operably connected to a support rail of said fenestration shade means so as to rotate said rail.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 7 wherein further including a gear reducer between said motor means and said suport rail.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system of claim 7 further including a rotational sensor on said rail to provide a reference signal to said control means representative of a full open position of said shade means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said electrical motor is a stepping motor that adjusts said angle in preset increments.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
50 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said microprocessor control means comprises a microprocessor having an analog to digital converter to convert analog signals from said first and second light sensor means to digital signals and a calculated ratio representative of solar radiation incident at said exterior side and interior side.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 1 further including a first current regulated photovoltaic power supply disposed proximate said exterior side for supplying electrical power to said control means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
37 words
The system of claim 12 wherein said microprocessor control device commands said motor means to close said fenestration shade means when incident solar radiation on said first current regulated photovoltaic power supply falls below a threshold level.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 12 further including a second photovoltaic power supply disposed proximate said exterior side for supplying electrical power to said electrical motor means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 14 wherein said second photovoltaic power supply charges a capacitor that supplies electrical power to said electrical motor means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
177 words
Energy control system for a window, comprising: a) fenestration shade means disposed at the window and adjustable about an angle to control solar radiation entering the window, said fenestration shade means having an exterior side facing outwardly of said window and an interior side facing inwardly of said window, b) light sensor means disposed proximate the interior side of said fenestration shade means for providing a signal over time representative of changing incident solar radiation at said interior side, c) electrical motor means operably connected to said fenestration shade means for controlling the angle thereof, and d) microprocessor control means for providing control signals to said electrical motor means to automatically adjust said angle of said fenestration shade means in response to the signal of the light sensor means which signal varies due to changes in incident solar radiation over time, said control means comparing said signal and a preset signal and providing said control signals to said electrical motor means to adjust said angle of said fenestration shade means until said signal approximates said preset signal.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
177 words
Energy control system for a window, comprising: a) fenestration shade means disposed at the window and adjustable about an angle to control solar radiation entering the window, said fenestration shade means having an exterior side facing outwardly of said window and an interior side facing inwardly of said window, b) light sensor means disposed proximate the interior side of said fenestration shade means for providing a signal over time representative of changing incident solar radiation at said interior side, c) electrical motor means operably connected to said fenestration shade means for controlling the angle thereof, and d) microprocessor control means for providing control signals to said electrical motor means to automatically adjust said angle of said fenestration shade means in response to the signal of the light sensor means which signal varies due to changes in incident solar radiation over time, said control means comparing said signal and a preset signal and providing said control signals to said electrical motor means to adjust said angle of said fenestration shade means until said signal approximates said preset signal.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
33 words
The system of claim 16 wherein said preset signal corresponds to a fenestration angle generally equal to the solar zenith angle such that the fenestration shade angle closely approximates said solar zenith angle.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 16 wherein said fenestration shade means comprises a plurality of horizontal, angularly adjustable blinds disposed between a top and bottom of said window.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 16 wherein said fenestration shade means comprises a plurality of vertical, angularly adjustable blinds disposed between opposite sides of said window.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 16 wherein said light sensor means comprises a photovoltaic sensor disposed to receive incident light.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 16 wherein said electrical motor means is disposed proximate said window.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 16 wherein said electrical motor is operably connected to a support rail of said shade means so as to rotate said rail.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 22 further including a gear reducer between said electrical motor and said suport rail.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
33 words
The system of claim 22 further including a rotational sensor on said rail to provide a reference signal to said control means representative of a full open position of said fenestration shade means.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 16 wherein said electrical motor is a stepping motor that adjusts said angle in preset increments.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system of claim 16 wherein said control means comprises a microprocessor having an analog to digital converter to convert analog signal from said light sensor means to digital signals.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 16 further including a first current regulated photovoltaic power supply disposed proximate said exterior side for supplying electrical power to said control means.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
37 words
The system of claim 27 wherein said microprocessor control device commands said motor means to close said fenestration shade means when incident solar radiation on said first current regulated photovoltaic power supply falls below a threshold level.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 16 further including a second photovoltaic power supply disposed proximate said exterior side for supplying electrical power to said electrical motor means.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 29 wherein said second photovoltaic power supply charges a capacitor and/or a battery that supplies electrical power to said electrical motor means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-10-06 | 2001-04-07 | 2001-10-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-10-06 | 2005-04-07 | 2005-10-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-10-06 | 2009-04-07 | 2009-10-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |