Remote management of facilities

文档序号：174615 发布日期：2021-10-29 浏览：53次中文

阅读说明：本技术 设施的远程管理 (Remote management of facilities ) 是由 N·卡纳于 2020-02-18 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明公开了与具有各种装置(例如,可切换光学装置)的站点的管理有关的系统、装置、方法和非暂时性计算机可读介质,所述管理包括对包括本地网络的站点的远程管理。(Systems, devices, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable media related to management of sites having various devices (e.g., switchable optical devices), including remote management of sites including local networks.)

1. A system for controlling one or more devices of a facility, the system comprising:

a controller hierarchy comprising a plurality of control levels, wherein a single control level is physically disposed in the facility, the single control level configured to communicatively couple to the one or more devices and control or direct control of the one or more devices disposed in the facility.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the single control level is controlled by at least one higher control level of the plurality of control levels.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the at least one higher level of control comprises one or more controllers physically disposed outside of the facility.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the at least one higher level of control comprises one or more controllers disposed in a cloud.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the at least one higher level of control comprises one or more controllers whose roles in the hierarchy of controllers are dynamically changed.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the one control level comprises at least one controller configured to directly control the one or more devices.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the at least one controller comprises a microcontroller.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the at least one controller comprises a switch.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein the at least one controller comprises less complex circuitry and/or logic than controllers of higher levels in the hierarchy of controllers.

10. The system of claim 6, wherein the at least one controller is configured to communicate with the one or more devices, the at least one controller configured to control or direct control of operation of the one or more devices.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the communication with the one or more devices comprises wired communication.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the communication with the one or more devices comprises wireless communication.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein logic of the controller hierarchy is disposed outside of the facility, the controller hierarchy communicatively coupled to the one or more devices.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein at least a portion of the logic of the controller hierarchy is disposed in a cloud.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the facility is free of control circuitry that is part of the controller hierarchy.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the facility is free of non-transitory computer-readable media having control logic embodied thereon.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more devices comprise a tintable window, a sensor, an emitter.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the transmitter comprises a buzzer, a light, an airflow system, a heater, a cooler, or a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more devices comprise an antenna.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein the one control level comprises one or more controllers comprising circuitry and logic.

21. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller hierarchy is communicatively coupled to at least one wiring network system disposed in the facility.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the one or more devices are communicatively coupled to the at least one network system.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein the at least one network system comprises a network management system.

24. The system of claim 21, wherein the at least one network system comprises an electrical cable and/or an optical cable.

25. The system of claim 21, wherein the at least one network system comprises twisted pair and/or coaxial line.

26. A non-transitory computer-readable medium for controlling one or more devices of a facility, the non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions embodied thereon, which when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform a method, the method comprising: control or direct control of the one or more devices disposed in the facility, the controller hierarchy including a plurality of control levels, wherein a single control level is physically disposed in the facility, the one control level configured to communicatively couple to the one or more devices.

27. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 26, wherein the one control level is controlled by at least one higher control level than the one control level, the at least one higher control level belonging to the plurality of control levels.

28. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 27, wherein the at least one higher level of control comprises one or more processors disposed outside the facility and/or in a cloud.

29. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 27, wherein the at least one higher level of control comprises one or more processors whose role in the controller hierarchy is dynamically changed.

30. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 26, wherein the one control level comprises at least one circuitry configured to directly control the one or more apparatuses.

31. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 30, wherein the at least one circuitry comprises a microcontroller.

32. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 30, wherein the at least one circuitry comprises a switch.

33. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 32, wherein the switch is an on-off switch.

34. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 30, wherein the at least one circuitry comprises a computer-readable medium of lower complexity than a higher level controller in the hierarchy of controllers.

35. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 30, wherein the at least one circuitry has a complexity that is lower than a complexity of the higher level controller in the controller hierarchy.

36. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 30, wherein the at least one circuitry is configured to communicate with the one or more apparatuses, the at least one circuitry configured to control or direct control of operation of the one or more apparatuses.

37. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 26, wherein the one or more processors having the non-transitory computer-readable medium disposed thereon are located outside of the facility, the one or more processors communicatively coupled to the one or more devices.

38. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 37, wherein at least a portion of the one or more processors on which the non-transitory computer readable medium is disposed in a cloud.

39. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 26, wherein the one or more processors having the non-transitory computer-readable medium disposed thereon are located outside of the facility, the one or more processors communicatively coupled to the one or more devices.

40. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 39, wherein at least a portion of the one or more processors are disposed in a cloud.

41. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 26, wherein the facility is free of the one or more processors as part of the controller hierarchy.

42. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 26, wherein the facility is free of non-transitory computer readable media having control logic embodied thereon.

43. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 26, wherein the one control level comprises one or more processors comprising circuitry and logic.

44. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 26, wherein the one or more processors having the non-transitory computer-readable medium disposed thereon are communicatively coupled to at least one wiring network system disposed in the facility.

45. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 44, wherein the one or more devices are communicatively coupled to the at least one network system.

46. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 44, wherein the at least one network system comprises a network management system.

47. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 44, wherein the at least one network system comprises an electrical and/or optical cable.

48. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 44, wherein the at least one network system comprises twisted pair and/or coaxial line.

49. A method for controlling one or more devices of a facility, the method comprising: controlling or directing control of the one or more devices disposed in the facility, the hierarchy of controllers including a plurality of control levels, wherein a single control level is physically disposed in the facility.

50. The method of claim 49, wherein said one control level is controlled by at least one higher control level than said one control level, said at least one higher control level belonging to said plurality of control levels.

51. The method of claim 50, wherein the at least one higher level of control comprises one or more controllers disposed outside of the facility.

52. The method of claim 50, further comprising dynamically changing roles in the controller hierarchy of the at least one higher control level.

53. The method of claim 49, wherein only a single level of control is physically located in the facility.

54. The method of claim 49, wherein the one control level comprises at least one controller configured to control or directly control the one or more devices.

55. The method of claim 54, wherein the at least one controller comprises logic of lower complexity than controllers of higher levels in the hierarchy of controllers.

56. The method of claim 54, wherein the at least one controller has a complexity that is lower than a complexity of the higher level controllers in the controller hierarchy.

57. The method of claim 49, wherein the one or more controllers are disposed outside of the facility.

58. The method of claim 57, wherein logic of the one or more controllers is located in a cloud.

59. The method of claim 49, wherein the facility is free of the one or more controllers as part of the hierarchy of controllers.

60. The method of claim 49, wherein the facility is free of non-transitory media having control logic inscribed thereon.

61. The method of claim 49, wherein the one or more controllers are communicatively coupled to at least one wiring network system disposed in the facility.

62. The method of claim 61, further comprising communicating with the one or more devices through the at least one network system.

63. The method of claim 61, wherein the at least one network system comprises a network management system controlled by the controller hierarchy.

64. The method of claim 61, wherein the at least one network system comprises electrical and/or optical cables.

65. The method of claim 61, wherein the at least one network system comprises twisted pair and/or coaxial line.

66. The method of claim 61, wherein the at least one network system comprises one network system for each building of the facility.

67. The method of claim 49, wherein the facility comprises one or more buildings.

Background

The present disclosure relates to techniques for managing sites having switchable optical devices, and more particularly to cloud-based techniques for remotely managing sites, each site including a local network of switchable optical devices.

Electrochromism is a phenomenon in which a material exhibits a reversible electrochemically-mediated change in optical properties when placed in different electronic states, typically when subjected to a change in voltage. The optical property is typically one or more of color, transmittance, absorbance and reflectance. One well-known electrochromic material is tungsten oxide (WO)₃). Tungsten oxide is a cathodic electrochromic material in which a color transition from transparent to blue occurs by electrochemical reduction.

Electrochromic materials may be incorporated into windows for home, commercial, and other uses, for example. The color, transmission, absorption and/or reflectance of such windows can be changed by causing a change in the electrochromic material, i.e., an electrochromic window is a window that can be electronically dimmed or brightened. A small voltage applied to the electrochromic device of the window will darken the window; reversing the voltage brightens the window. This ability allows control of the amount of light passing through the window and presents an opportunity to use the electrochromic window as an energy saving device.

Light switchable devices such as electrochromic windows (sometimes referred to as "smart windows") may be networked together over a local network such as a Controller Area Network (CAN) bus that includes an associated controller "CAN manager" in a particular installation, building site or structure ("site") for regulating communications over the CAN bus, and with one or more window controllers and/or network controllers. Improved techniques for interfacing with such networks are desirable.

Disclosure of Invention

In some aspects, techniques are disclosed herein for managing sites having switchable optical devices, including cloud-based techniques for remotely managing sites, each site including a local network of switchable optical devices. In another aspect, a system includes a building including an electrochromic window network and a window controller and at least one network controller, and a remote master network controller. In one embodiment, the network controller is configured to communicate (i) with the window controller, e.g., via a local data bus, and (ii) with a remote host controller, e.g., via an internet protocol.

In one embodiment, the cloud-based system includes one or both of computing and data storage resources. The cloud-based system is configured to communicatively couple with a plurality of remote sites, each site including a respective network of switchable optical devices and at least one associated network controller. The cloud-based system is further configured to receive data from the at least one network controller regarding the functionality of the respective network and to send data and/or control messages to the at least one associated network controller via the one or more interfaces.

In another embodiment, a building includes a plurality of electrochromic windows and window controllers and at least one network controller. The network controller is configured to communicate with the window controller over a local data bus and with the remote host controller by means of an internet protocol.

In another aspect, a cloud-based system includes one or both of computing and data storage resources, wherein the cloud-based system is configured to: (i) communicatively coupled with a plurality of remote sites, each site including (a) a respective network of switchable optical devices and (b) at least one associated network controller; (ii) receiving data regarding the functionality of the respective network from at least one associated network controller; and (iii) in response to the received data, sending data and/or control messages to at least one associated network controller.

In some embodiments, at least one of the remote sites is a building that includes (a) a Building Management System (BMS) and (B) a cloud-based system, by means of which one or both of the BMS and associated network controller are communicatively coupled with a respective network of switchable optical devices. In some embodiments, at least one of the remote sites is a building that includes a Building Management System (BMS), and the cloud-based system is communicatively coupled with the at least one remote site (e.g., only) by way of the BMS. In some embodiments, the cloud-based system is communicatively coupled (e.g., only) with at least one remote site by way of an associated network controller, e.g., whether or not the remote site includes a building management system. In some embodiments, the system is configured as a master network controller for at least one of the plurality of remote sites. In some embodiments, the system is communicatively coupled with at least one remote site by way of an application programming interface. In some embodiments, the system is configured to provide a human operator interface. In some embodiments, the human operator interface includes one or more consoles configured to present information to a human operator regarding the functionality of devices in remote sites.

In another aspect, a building includes (I) an electrochromic window network and (ii) a window controller; and (II) at least one network controller, wherein the network controller is designed to: (A) communicate with the window controller over a local data bus, and (B) communicate with a remote host controller, for example, by means of an internet protocol.

In another aspect, a system comprises: a building comprising a network of electrochromic windows and window controllers and at least one network controller; and a remote master network controller, wherein the network controller is configured to: (i) communicating with a window controller over a local data bus; and (ii) communicate with a remote host controller by means of an internet protocol.

In some embodiments, the remote master controller is configured to reside in a cloud-based system that includes one or both of computing and data storage resources. In some embodiments, the local data bus conforms to the Controller Area Network (CAN) standard. In some embodiments, the network controller includes a CAN manager including an application programming interface configured to receive HTTP input from a remote host controller over the internet and CAN interface to communicate with the window controller. In some embodiments, the building includes a Building Management System (BMS) and the remote master network controller is communicatively coupled to the electrochromic window network by way of one or both of the BMS and the network controller. In some embodiments, the building includes a Building Management System (BMS) and the remote master network controller is communicatively coupled with the building only by means of the BMS. In some embodiments, the remote master network controller is communicatively coupled with the electrochromic window network by means of the network controller only, whether or not the building includes a building management system. In some embodiments, the remote master network controller is communicatively coupled with the window controller by means of an application programming interface. In some embodiments, the network controller is configured to (i) send data regarding the functionality of the network to the remote master controller, and (ii) receive data and/or control messages from the remote master controller.

In another aspect, a method implemented on a cloud-based system coupled with a plurality of remote building sites, each site including an electrochromic window network and a window controller and at least one network controller, the method comprising: (a) receiving data regarding a function of a corresponding network from at least one network controller; (b) data and/or control messages are sent to at least one network controller.

In another aspect, a non-transitory computer-readable medium for controlling one or more devices of a facility, the non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions embodied thereon, which when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform a method, the method comprising: control or direct control of the one or more devices disposed in the facility, the controller hierarchy including a plurality of control levels, wherein a single control level is physically disposed in the facility, the single control level (e.g., one or more processors associated with the single control level) configured to be communicatively coupled to the one or more devices.

In some embodiments, a single control level is controlled by at least one higher control level, which belongs to multiple control levels, than a single control level. In some embodiments, the at least one higher level of control comprises one or more processors disposed outside of the facility and/or in the cloud. In some embodiments, the at least one higher level of control includes one or more processors whose role in the controller hierarchy is dynamically changed. In some embodiments, only a single level of control is physically located in the facility. In some embodiments, the single control level includes at least one circuitry configured to directly control the one or more devices. In some embodiments, the at least one circuitry comprises a microcontroller. In some embodiments, the at least one circuitry comprises a switch. In some embodiments, the switch is an on-off switch. In some embodiments, the at least one circuitry includes a computer readable medium of lower complexity than any higher level controller in the hierarchy of controllers. In some embodiments, the at least one circuitry is less complex than any higher level controller in the controller hierarchy. In some embodiments, the at least one circuitry is configured to communicate with the one or more apparatuses, the at least one circuitry configured to control or direct control of the operation of the one or more apparatuses. In some embodiments, the one or more processors having the non-transitory computer-readable medium disposed thereon are located outside of the facility, the one or more processors communicatively coupled to the one or more devices. In some embodiments, at least a portion of the one or more processors having the non-transitory computer-readable medium disposed thereon is disposed in a cloud. In some embodiments, the facility is free of the one or more processors as part of the controller hierarchy. In some embodiments, the facility is free of a non-transitory computer-readable medium having control logic embodied thereon. In some embodiments, the one control level includes one or more processors comprising circuitry and logic. In some embodiments, the one or more processors having the non-transitory computer-readable medium disposed thereon are communicatively coupled to at least one wiring network system disposed in the facility. In some embodiments, the one or more devices are communicatively coupled to the at least one network system. In some embodiments, the at least one network system comprises a network management system. In some embodiments, the at least one network system comprises an electrical cable and/or an optical cable. In some embodiments, the at least one network system comprises twisted pair and/or coaxial line.

In another aspect, a method for controlling one or more devices of a facility, the method comprising: control or direct control of the one or more devices disposed in the facility, the hierarchy of controllers including a plurality of control levels, wherein a single control level (e.g., one or more controllers associated with the single control level) is physically disposed in the facility.

In some embodiments, a single control level is controlled by at least one higher control level, which belongs to multiple control levels, than a single control level. In some embodiments, the at least one higher level of control comprises one or more controllers disposed outside the facility. In some embodiments, further comprising dynamically changing roles in the controller hierarchy for the at least one higher level of control. In some embodiments, only a single level of control is physically located in the facility. In some embodiments, the single control level includes at least one controller configured to control or directly control the one or more devices. In some embodiments, the at least one controller includes logic having a complexity that is lower than a complexity of any higher level controller in the hierarchy of controllers. In some embodiments, the complexity of the at least one controller is lower than the complexity of any higher level controller in the hierarchy of controllers. In some embodiments, the one or more controllers are disposed outside of the facility. In some embodiments, the logic of the one or more controllers is located in the cloud. In some embodiments, the facility is free of the one or more controllers as part of the controller hierarchy. In some embodiments, the facility is free of non-transitory media having control logic inscribed thereon. In some embodiments, the one or more controllers are communicatively coupled to at least one wiring network system disposed in the facility. In some embodiments, further comprising communicating with the one or more devices through the at least one network system. In some embodiments, the at least one network system includes a network management system controlled by the controller hierarchy. In some embodiments, the at least one network system comprises an electrical cable and/or an optical cable. In some embodiments, the at least one network system comprises twisted pair and/or coaxial line. In some embodiments, the at least one network system comprises one network system for each building of the facility. In some embodiments, the facility includes one or more buildings.

In another aspect, the present disclosure provides methods of using (e.g., for its intended purpose) any of the systems and/or apparatuses disclosed herein.

In another aspect, the present disclosure provides a system, apparatus (e.g., controller) and/or non-transitory computer-readable medium (e.g., software) that implements any of the methods disclosed herein.

In another aspect, an apparatus includes at least one controller programmed to direct a mechanism for implementing (e.g., carrying out) any of the methods disclosed herein, wherein the at least one controller is operably coupled to the mechanism.

In another aspect, an apparatus includes at least one controller configured (e.g., programmed) to implement (e.g., practice) the methods disclosed herein. The at least one controller may implement any of the methods disclosed herein.

In another aspect, a system includes at least one controller programmed to direct operation of at least one other device (or component thereof) and the device (or component thereof), wherein the at least one controller is operably coupled to the device (or component thereof). The apparatus (or components thereof) may comprise any of the apparatuses (or components thereof) disclosed herein. The at least one controller may direct any of the apparatuses (or components thereof) disclosed herein.

In another aspect, a computer software product includes a non-transitory computer-readable medium having program instructions stored therein, which when read by a computer, cause the computer to direct a mechanism (e.g., any of the devices and/or components thereof) disclosed herein to implement (e.g., perform) any of the methods disclosed herein, wherein the non-transitory computer-readable medium is operatively coupled to the mechanism. The mechanism may comprise any of the devices (or any component thereof) disclosed herein.

In another aspect, the present disclosure provides a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising machine-executable code that, when executed by one or more computer processors, implements any of the methods disclosed herein.

In another aspect, the present disclosure provides a computer system comprising one or more computer processors and a non-transitory computer-readable medium coupled thereto. The non-transitory computer-readable medium comprises machine-executable code that, when executed by one or more computer processors, implements any of the methods disclosed herein and/or implements the instructions of the controller disclosed herein.

The contents of this summary section are provided as a simplified introduction to the present disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of any invention disclosed herein or the scope of the appended claims.

Additional aspects and advantages of the present disclosure will become readily apparent to those skilled in this art from the following detailed description, wherein only exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are shown and described. As will be realized, the disclosure is capable of other and different embodiments and its several details are capable of modifications in various obvious respects, all without departing from the disclosure. Accordingly, the drawings and description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature, and not as restrictive.

These and other features and embodiments will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Is incorporated by reference

All publications, patents and patent applications mentioned in this specification are herein incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each individual publication, patent or patent application was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference.

Drawings

The novel features believed characteristic of the invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. A better understanding of the features and advantages of the present invention will be obtained by reference to the following detailed description that sets forth illustrative embodiments, in which the principles of the invention are utilized, and the accompanying drawings (also referred to herein as "figures"), wherein:

FIG. 1 depicts a schematic cross section of an electrochromic device;

fig. 2A depicts a schematic cross-section of an electrochromic device in a bleached state (or transitioning to a bleached state);

FIG. 2B depicts the schematic cross-section of the electrochromic device shown in FIG. 2A but in a colored state (or transitioning to a colored state);

FIG. 3 depicts a simplified block diagram of components of a window controller;

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a room including a tintable window and at least one sensor, according to a disclosed embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of an example of a building and a Building Management System (BMS), according to some embodiments;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of components of a system for controlling the functionality of one or more tintable windows of a building, according to some embodiments;

fig. 7 is a schematic diagram of a window controller and associated components.

Fig. 8 illustrates an example of a site monitoring and control system according to an embodiment;

FIGS. 9A and 9B depict an example of a building network block diagram;

FIG. 10 is a block diagram of components of a system for controlling the functionality of one or more tintable windows of a building, according to some embodiments;

fig. 11 is a simplified block diagram of a building site interfacing with a cloud-based monitoring and control system, according to some embodiments;

FIG. 12 illustrates features of a CAN manager according to some embodiments; and is

Fig. 13 is a flow chart showing an example of a method of monitoring and/or controlling a remote building site using a cloud-based system.

The figures and components therein may not be drawn to scale. The various components of the figures described herein may not be drawn to scale.

Detailed Description

While various embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described herein, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that such embodiments are provided by way of example only. Numerous variations, changes, and substitutions will now occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the invention. It should be understood that various alternatives to the embodiments of the invention described herein may be employed.

Terms such as "a", "an" and "the" are not intended to refer to only a single entity, but include the general class of which a particular instance may be used for illustration. The terminology herein is used to describe specific embodiments of the invention, but its use is not limiting of the invention.

When a range is referred to, the range is meant to be inclusive unless otherwise indicated. For example, a range between the value 1 and the value 2 is inclusive and includes the value 1 and the value 2. The inclusive range will span any value from about value 1 to about value 2. As used herein, the term "adjacent" or "adjacent" includes "immediately adjacent", "abutting", "contacting", and "proximate".

The terms "operatively coupled" or "operatively connected" refer to a first element (e.g., a mechanism) coupled (e.g., connected) to a second element to allow for the intended operation of the second element and/or the first element. Coupling may include physical or non-physical coupling. The non-physical coupling may include signal inductive coupling (e.g., wireless coupling). Coupling may include physical coupling (e.g., a physical connection) or non-physical coupling (e.g., via wireless communication).

An element (e.g., a mechanism) that is "configured to" perform a function includes a structural feature that causes the element to perform the function. The structural features may include electrical features such as circuitry or circuit elements. The structural features may include circuitry (e.g., including electrical or optical circuitry). The electrical circuitry may include one or more wires. The optical circuitry may include at least one optical element (e.g., a beam splitter, a mirror, a lens, and/or an optical fiber). The structural features may include mechanical features. The mechanical features may include latches, springs, closures, hinges, chassis, supports, fasteners, or cantilevers, etc. Performing the function may include utilizing the logic feature. The logic features may include programming instructions. The programming instructions are executable by at least one processor. The programming instructions may be stored or encoded on a medium accessible by one or more processors.

In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the presented embodiments. The disclosed embodiments may be practiced without some or all of these specific details. In other instances, well known process operations have not been described in detail in order not to unnecessarily obscure the disclosed embodiments. Although the disclosed embodiments will be described in conjunction with specific embodiments, it will be understood that it is not intended to limit the disclosed embodiments. It should be understood that while the disclosed embodiments focus on electrochromic windows (also referred to as smart windows), the aspects disclosed herein may be applied to other types of tintable windows. For example, a tintable window comprising a liquid crystal device or a suspended particle device may be incorporated in any of the disclosed embodiments in place of an electrochromic device.

In order to accommodate the reader with embodiments of the systems and methods disclosed herein, a brief discussion of electrochromic devices and window controllers is provided. This initial discussion is for the purpose of context only, and the embodiments of the systems, window controllers, and methods described subsequently are not limited to the specific features and manufacturing processes discussed initially.

Fig. 1 schematically depicts a cross-section of an electrochromic device 100. The electrochromic device 100 includes a substrate 102, a first Conductive Layer (CL)104, an electrochromic layer (EC)106, an ion conductive layer (IC)108, a counter electrode layer (CE)110, and a second Conductive Layer (CL) 114. Layers 104, 106, 108, 110, and 114 are collectively referred to as an electrochromic stack 120. A voltage source 116 operable to apply a potential across the electrochromic stack 120 effects a transition of the electrochromic device from, for example, a bleached state to a colored state. The order of the layers may be reversed relative to the substrate.

Electrochromic devices having the different layers described can be fabricated as all solid state devices and/or all inorganic devices. Such Devices and methods of making them are described in more detail in U.S. patent application serial No. 12/645,111 entitled "Low-defect Electrochromic Devices" filed 12/22 in 2009 and entitled Mark Kozlowski et al, and in U.S. patent application serial No. 12/645,159 entitled "Electrochromic Devices" filed 12/22 in 2009 and entitled Zhongchun Wang et al, each of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. However, it should be understood that any one or more layers in the stack may contain a certain amount of organic material. The same is true for liquids that may be present in small amounts in one or more layers. It is also understood that the solid material may be deposited or otherwise formed by processes employing liquid components, such as certain processes employing sol-gel or chemical vapor deposition.

Further, it should be understood that reference to a transition between a bleached state and a colored state is non-limiting and only one example of the many electrochromic transitions that can be made of these is presented. Unless otherwise indicated herein (including the foregoing discussion), whenever reference is made to a bleached-colored transition, the corresponding device or process includes other optical state transitions, such as non-reflective to reflective, transparent to opaque, and the like. Furthermore, the term "bleached" refers to an optically neutral state, such as colorless, transparent, or translucent. Still further, unless otherwise specified herein, the "color" of the electrochromic transition is not limited to any particular wavelength or range of wavelengths. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the selection of appropriate electrochromic and counter electrode materials determines the relevant optical transitions.

In embodiments described herein, the electrochromic device reversibly cycles between a bleached state and a colored state. In some cases, when the device is in a bleached state, a potential is applied to the electrochromic stack 120 such that the available ions in the stack are primarily located in the counter electrode 110. When the potential on the electrochromic stack is reversed, ions transport across the ion conducting layer 108 to the electrochromic material 106 and cause the material to transition to a colored state. In a similar manner, the electrochromic devices of the embodiments described herein can reversibly cycle between different tint levels (e.g., a bleached state, a darkest colored state, and an intermediate level between the bleached state and the darkest colored state).

Referring again to fig. 1, the voltage source 116 may be configured to operate with radiation and other environmental sensors. The voltage source 116 interfaces with a device controller (not shown in this figure) as described herein. In addition, the voltage source 116 can interface with an energy management system that controls the electrochromic device according to various criteria such as time of year, time of day, and measured environmental conditions. Such energy management systems in combination with large area electrochromic devices (e.g., electrochromic windows) can significantly reduce the energy consumption of a building.

Any material having suitable optical, electrical, thermal and mechanical properties may be used as the substrate 102. Such substrates include, for example, glass, plastic, and mirror materials. Suitable glasses include clear or colored soda lime glass, including soda lime float glass. The glass may be tempered or untempered.

In many cases, the substrate is a glass pane sized for residential window applications. The dimensions of such glass panes can vary widely depending on the specific needs of the dwelling. In other cases, the substrate is architectural glass. Architectural glass is commonly used in commercial buildings, but may also be used in residential buildings, and typically, but not necessarily, separates the indoor environment from the outdoor environment. In certain embodiments, the architectural glass is at least 20 inches by 20 inches, and may be larger, for example up to about 80 inches by 120 inches. Architectural glass is typically at least about 2mm thick, and typically between about 3mm and about 6mm thick. Of course, electrochromic devices may be scaled relative to smaller or larger substrates than architectural glass. Further, the electrochromic device may be disposed on any size and shape of mirror.

On top of the substrate 102 is a conductive layer 104. In certain embodiments, one or both of the conductive layers 104 and 114 are inorganic and/or solid. The conductive layers 104 and 114 can be made of many different materials, including conductive oxides, thin metal coatings, conductive metal nitrides, and composite conductors. Typically, the conductive layers 104 and 114 are transparent at least in the wavelength range in which the electrochromic layer exhibits electrochromism. The transparent conductive oxide comprises a metal oxide and a metal oxide doped with one or more metals. Examples of such metal oxides and doped metal oxides include indium oxide, indium tin oxide, doped indium oxide, tin oxide, doped tin oxide, zinc aluminum oxide, doped zinc oxide, ruthenium oxide, doped ruthenium oxide, and the like. Since oxides are commonly used for these layers, they are sometimes referred to as "transparent conductive oxide" (TCO) layers. Substantially transparent thin metal coatings, and combinations of TCO and metal coatings may also be used.

The function of the conductive layer is to spread the potential provided by the voltage source 116 over the surface of the electrochromic stack 120 to the interior regions of the stack with a relatively small ohmic potential drop. The electrical potential is transferred to the conductive layer through an electrical connection to the conductive layer. In some embodiments, bus bars (one in contact with conductive layer 104 and one in contact with conductive layer 114) provide electrical connections between voltage source 116 and conductive layers 104 and 114. The conductive layers 104 and 114 may also be connected to a voltage source 116 using other conventional methods.

Overlying conductive layer 104 is an electrochromic layer 106. In some embodiments, the electrochromic layer 106 is inorganic and/or solid. The electrochromic layer may comprise any one or more of a number of different electrochromic materials, including metal oxides. Such metal oxides include tungsten oxide (WO3), molybdenum oxide (MoO3), niobium oxide (Nb2O5), titanium oxide (TiO2), copper oxide (CuO), iridium oxide (Ir2O3), chromium oxide (Cr2O3), manganese oxide (Mn2O3), vanadium oxide (V2O5), nickel oxide (Ni2O3), cobalt oxide (Co2O3), and the like. During operation, the electrochromic layer 106 transfers ions to and receives ions from the counter electrode layer 110 to cause an optical transition.

In general, the coloration (or any change in optical properties-e.g., absorbance, reflectance, and transmittance) of an electrochromic material is caused by reversible ion insertion (e.g., intercalation) into the material and corresponding charge-balanced electron injection. Typically, a portion of the ions responsible for the optical transition are irreversibly bound in the electrochromic material. Some or all of the irreversibly bound ions are used to compensate for "blind charges" in the material. In most electrochromic materials, suitable ions include lithium ions (Li +) and hydrogen ions (H +) (i.e., protons). However, in some cases, other ions will be suitable. In various embodiments, lithium ions are used to create the electrochromic phenomenon. Lithium ions are intercalated into tungsten oxide (WO3-y (0< y.ltoreq. 0.3)) to change the tungsten oxide from a transparent (bleached state) to a blue (colored state).

Referring again to fig. 1, in electrochromic stack 120, ion conducting layer 108 is sandwiched between electrochromic layer 106 and counter electrode layer 110. In some embodiments, the counter electrode layer 110 is inorganic and/or solid. The counter electrode layer may comprise one or more of a number of different materials that serve as ion reservoirs when the electrochromic device is in a bleached state. During the electrochromic transition initiated by, for example, application of an appropriate potential, the counter electrode layer transfers some or all of the ions it holds to the electrochromic layer, changing the electrochromic layer to a colored state. Meanwhile, in the case of NiWO, the counter electrode layer is colored with loss of ions.

In some embodiments, suitable materials for counter electrodes complementary to WO3 include nickel oxide (NiO), nickel tungsten oxide (NiWO), nickel vanadium oxide, nickel chromium oxide, nickel aluminum oxide, nickel manganese oxide, nickel magnesium oxide, chromium oxide (Cr)₂O₃) Manganese oxide (MnO)₂) And prussian blue.

When charge is removed from the counter electrode 110 made of nickel tungsten oxide (i.e., ions are transported from the counter electrode 110 to the electrochromic layer 106), the counter electrode layer will transition from the transparent state to the colored state.

In the depicted electrochromic device, between the electrochromic layer 106 and the counter electrode layer 110, an ion conducting layer 108 is present. The ionically conductive layer 108 serves as a medium through which ions (in the form of an electrolyte) are transported when the electrochromic device transitions between the bleached state and the colored state. Preferably, ion conducting layer 108 has a high conductivity for the ions associated with the electrochromic layer and the counter electrode layer, but a sufficiently low electronic conductivity such that negligible electron transfer occurs during normal operation. Thin ion conducting layers with high ion conductivity allow fast ion conduction and thus fast switching for achieving high performance electrochromic devices. In certain embodiments, ion conducting layer 108 is inorganic and/or solid.

Examples of suitable ion-conducting layers (for electrochromic devices with different IC layers) include silicates, silicon oxides, tungsten oxides, tantalum oxides, niobium oxides, and borates. These materials may be doped with different dopants, including lithium. The lithium doped silica comprises lithium silicon-aluminum-oxide. In some embodiments, the ion-conducting layer comprises a silicate-based structure. In some embodiments, silicon-aluminum-oxide (SiAlO) is used for the ion conductive layer 108.

Electrochromic device 100 may include one or more additional layers (not shown), such as one or more passive layers. A passivation layer for improving certain optical properties may be included in the electrochromic device 100. Passive layers for providing moisture or scratch resistance may also be included in the electrochromic device 100. For example, the conductive layer may be treated with an antireflective or protective oxide or nitride layer. Other passive layers may be used to hermetically seal the electrochromic device 100.

Fig. 2A is a schematic cross-section of an electrochromic device in a bleached state (or transitioning to a bleached state). According to a particular embodiment, the electrochromic device 200 includes a tungsten oxide electrochromic layer (EC)206 and a nickel-tungsten oxide counter electrode layer (CE) 210. Electrochromic device 200 also includes substrate 202, Conductive Layer (CL)204, ion conducting layer (IC)208, and Conductive Layer (CL) 214.

The power supply 216 is configured to apply a potential and/or current to the electrochromic stack 220 through suitable connections (e.g., bus bars) to the conductive layers 204 and 214. In some embodiments, the voltage source is configured to apply a potential of about a few volts in order to drive a transition of the device from one optical state to another. The polarity of the potential as shown in fig. 2A is such that ions (lithium ions in this example) are predominantly present in the nickel-tungsten oxide counter electrode layer 210 (as indicated by the dashed arrows).

Fig. 2B is a schematic cross-section of the electrochromic device 200 shown in fig. 2A but in a colored state (or transitioning to a colored state). In fig. 2B, the polarity of the voltage source 216 is reversed, making the electrochromic layer more negative to accept additional lithium ions to transition to the colored state. As indicated by the dashed arrows, lithium ions are transported across the ion conducting layer 208 to the tungsten oxide electrochromic layer 206. The tungsten oxide electrochromic layer 206 is shown in a colored state. The nickel-tungsten oxide counter electrode 210 is also shown in a colored state. As explained, nickel-tungsten oxide gradually becomes more opaque as it gives up (deintercalates) lithium ions. In this example, there is a synergistic effect in that the transition to the colored state of both layers 206 and 210 helps to reduce the amount of light transmitted through the stack and the substrate.

As described above, an electrochromic device may include an Electrochromic (EC) electrode layer and a Counter Electrode (CE) layer, which are separated by an Ion Conductive (IC) layer having high conductivity to ions and high resistance to electrons. As conventionally understood, the ion conductive layer thus prevents a short circuit between the electrochromic layer and the counter electrode layer. The ion conducting layer allows the electrochromic electrode and the counter electrode to retain an electrical charge, thereby maintaining their bleached or colored states. In electrochromic devices having different layers, the components form a stack comprising an ion conducting layer sandwiched between an electrochromic electrode layer and a counter electrode layer. The boundaries between the three stacked components are defined by abrupt changes in composition and/or microstructure. Thus, these devices have three distinct layers interfacing with two mutations.

According to certain embodiments, the counter electrode and electrochromic electrode are formed in close proximity to each other, sometimes in direct contact, without separately depositing an ionically conductive layer. In some embodiments, electrochromic devices having an interface region rather than a different IC layer are used. Such devices and methods of making them are described in the following documents: U.S. patent No. 8,300,298 and U.S. patent application serial No. 12/772,075, filed on 30/2010 and U.S. patent application serial nos. 12/814,277 and 12/814,279, filed on 11/2010, 6/2010, each of which is entitled "Electrochromic Devices," inventors, Zhongchun Wang et al, are each incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

The window controller is used to control the tint level of the electrochromic device of the electrochromic window. In some embodiments, the window controller is capable of transitioning the electrochromic window between two tint states (levels), a bleached state and a colored state. In other embodiments, the controller may additionally transition the electrochromic window (e.g., with a single electrochromic device) to an intermediate tint level. In some disclosed embodiments, the window controller is capable of transitioning the electrochromic window to four or more tint levels. Some electrochromic windows allow for intermediate tint levels by using two (more than two) electrochromic louvers in a single IGU, where each louver is a dual-state louver.

If the window controller is able to transition each electrochromic device between two states (bleached and colored), the electrochromic window is able to reach four different states (tint levels): a colored state in which both electrochromic devices are colored, a first intermediate state in which one electrochromic device is colored, a second intermediate state in which the other electrochromic device is colored, and a bleached state in which both electrochromic devices are bleached. Embodiments of MULTI-PANE ELECTROCHROMIC WINDOWS are further described in U.S. patent No. 8,270,059, entitled "MULTI-PANE ELECTROCHROMIC window" by Robin Friedman et al, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

In some embodiments, the window controller is capable of transitioning an electrochromic window having an electrochromic device capable of transitioning between two or more tint levels. For example, the window controller may be capable of transitioning the electrochromic window to a bleached state, one or more intermediate levels, and a colored state. In some other embodiments, the window controller is capable of transitioning an electrochromic window comprising an electrochromic device between any number of tint levels between a bleached state and a colored state. Embodiments of methods and controllers for transitioning an electrochromic window to one or more intermediate tone levels are further described IN U.S. patent No. 8,254,013 to the inventor of dish Mehtani et al, entitled "CONTROLLING TRANSITIONS IN OPTICALLY SWITCHABLE DEVICES," which is hereby incorporated by reference IN its entirety.

In some embodiments, the window controller can power one or more electrochromic devices in the electrochromic window. Typically, this functionality of the window controller is enhanced by one or more other functions described in more detail below. The window controllers described herein are not limited to window controllers having functionality to power electrochromic devices associated therewith for control purposes. That is, the power supply for the electrochromic window may be separate from the window controller, where the controller has its own power supply and applies power from the window power supply to the window. However, it is convenient to include a power supply with a window controller and configure the controller to power the window directly, as it eliminates the need for separate wiring to power the electrochromic window.

Further, the window controllers described in this section are described as stand-alone controllers that can be configured to control the functionality of a single window or multiple electrochromic windows without integrating the window controllers into a building control network or Building Management System (BMS). However, the window controller may be integrated into a building control network or BMS, as further described in the building management systems section of the present disclosure.

Fig. 3 depicts a block diagram of some components of window controller 350 and other components of a window controller system of the disclosed embodiments. Fig. 3 is a simplified block diagram of a window controller, and more details about window controllers can be found in: U.S. patent application serial nos. 13/449,248 and 13/449,251, both Stephen Brown inventors, both entitled "CONTROLLER FOR OPTICALLY SWITCHABLE window-switched WINDOWS" and both filed 4/17/2012; and U.S. patent serial No. 13/449,235 entitled "CONTROLLING TRANSITIONS IN OPTICALLY SWITCHABLE DEVICES," the inventors of which are Stephen Brown et al and filed on 2012, 4/17, each of which is hereby incorporated by reference IN its entirety.

In fig. 3, the illustrated components of window controller 350 include a microprocessor 355 or other processor, a pulse width modulator 360, a signal conditioning module 365, and a computer-readable medium (e.g., memory) 370 having a configuration file 375. Window controller 350 is in electronic communication with one or more electrochromic devices 300 in the electrochromic window via network 380 (wired or wireless) to send instructions to one or more electrochromic devices 300. In some embodiments, the window controller 350 may be a local window controller that communicates with the master window controller over a network (wired or wireless).

In disclosed embodiments, a building may have at least one room with an electrochromic window between the exterior and interior of the building. One or more sensors may be located outside the building and/or inside the room. In an embodiment, output from one or more sensors may be input to the signal conditioning module 365 of the window controller 350. In some cases, the output from one or more sensors may be input to the BMS, as further described in the "building management systems" section. Although the sensors of the depicted embodiment are shown as being located on an external vertical wall of a building, this is for simplicity, and the sensors may also be in other locations, such as inside a room or on external other surfaces. In some cases, two or more sensors may be used to measure the same input, which may provide redundancy in the event one sensor fails or has other erroneous readings.

Fig. 4 depicts a schematic (side) view of a room 400 having an electrochromic window 405 with at least one electrochromic device. Electrochromic window 405 is located between the exterior and interior of a building containing room 400. The room 400 also includes a window controller 350 connected to the electrochromic window 405 and configured to control the tint level of the electrochromic window. The exterior sensors 410 are located on vertical surfaces in the exterior of the building. In other embodiments, the internal sensor may also be used to measure ambient light in the room 400. In still other implementations, the occupant sensor can also be used to determine when an occupant is in the room 400.

The external sensor 410 is a device, such as a photosensor, capable of detecting radiated light incident on the device from a light source, e.g., the sun, or a flow of light reflected to the sensor from a surface, particles in the atmosphere, clouds, or the like. The external sensor 410 may generate a signal in the form of a current resulting from the photoelectric effect, and the signal may be a function of the light incident on the sensor 410. In some cases, the device may be based on the number of watts/m²Or other similar unit of irradiance detecting the radiated light. In other cases, the device may be detectable in footcandles or the likeLight in the visible wavelength range. In many cases, there is a linear relationship between these values of irradiance and visible light.

In some embodiments, external sensor 410 is configured to measure infrared light. In some embodiments, the external light sensor is configured to measure infrared light and/or visible light. In some embodiments, the external light sensor 410 may also include a sensor for measuring temperature and/or humidity data. In some embodiments, the smart logic may use one or more parameters (e.g., visible light data, infrared light data, humidity data, and temperature data) determined with external sensors or received from an external network (e.g., a weather station) to determine the presence of a blocking cloud and/or to quantify an obstacle caused by the cloud. Various METHODS of detecting CLOUDs using INFRARED sensors are described in international patent application PCT/US17/55631 entitled "INFRARED CLOUD DETECTOR system and method (INFRARED CLOUD DETECTOR SYSTEMS AND METHODS)" filed on 6.10.2017, which specifies the united states and is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Because the angle at which sunlight strikes the earth is changing, irradiance values from sunlight can be predicted based on the time of day and the time of year. The external sensor 410 may detect the radiated light in real time, accounting for reflected and blocked light due to buildings, weather changes (e.g., clouds), etc. For example, on cloudy days, sunlight will be obscured by clouds and the radiated light detected by the external sensor 410 will be lower than on cloudy days.

In some embodiments, there may be one or more external sensors 410 associated with a single electrochromic window 405. The outputs from one or more external sensors 410 may be compared to one another to determine, for example, whether one of the external sensors 410 is obstructed by an object, such as a bird that lands on the external sensor 410. In some situations, relatively few sensors may be required in a building, as some sensors may be unreliable and/or expensive. In certain embodiments, a single sensor or several sensors may be used to determine the current level of radiant light from the sun shining on the building or possibly on one side of the building. The clouds may pass in front of the sun or the construction vehicle may be parked in front of the sun. These will result in a deviation from the calculated amount of radiation from the sun that normally impinges on the building.

The external sensor 410 may be a type of photosensor. The external sensor 410 may be, for example, a Charge Coupled Device (CCD), a photodiode, a photoresistor, or a photovoltaic cell. Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that future developments in light sensors and other sensor technologies will also work because they measure light intensity and provide an electrical output indicative of light level.

In some embodiments, the output from the external sensor 410 may be input to the signal conditioning module 365. The input may be in the form of a voltage signal to the signal conditioning module 365. The signal conditioning module 365 passes the output signal to the window controller 350. The window controller 350 determines the tint level of the electrochromic window 405 based on various information from the configuration file 375, outputs from the signal conditioning module 365, and/or override values. The window controller 350 then instructs the PWM 360 to apply a voltage and/or current to the electrochromic window 405 to transition to the desired tint level.

In the disclosed embodiment, window controller 250 may instruct PWM 260 to apply a voltage and/or current to electrochromic window 405 to transition it to any one of four or more different tint levels. In the disclosed embodiment, the electrochromic window 405 can be converted to at least eight different tint levels, described as: 0 (brightest), 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 and 35 (darkest). The tint level may correspond linearly to the visual transmittance value and solar thermal gain coefficient (SHGC) value of light transmitted through the electrochromic window 405. For example, using the eight tone levels described above, the brightest tone level 0 may correspond to an SHGC value of 0.80, the tone level 5 may correspond to an SHGC value of 0.70, the tone level 10 may correspond to an SHGC value of 0.60, the tone level 15 may correspond to an SHGC value of 0.50, the tone level 20 may correspond to an SHGC value of 0.40, the tone level 25 may correspond to an SHGC value of 0.30, the tone level 30 may correspond to an SHGC value of 0.20, and the tone level 35 (darkest) may correspond to an SHGC value of 0.10.

The window controller 350, or a master controller in communication with the window controller 350, may use any one or more predictive control logic components to determine a desired level of tint based on signals from the external sensors 410 and/or other inputs. The window controller 350 may instruct the PWM 360 to apply a voltage and/or current to the electrochromic window 405 to transition it to a desired level of tint.

The window controller described herein is also suitable for integration with or within/as part of a BMS. BMS are computer-based control systems installed in buildings to monitor and control the mechanical and electrical equipment of the building, such as ventilation, lighting, electrical systems, elevators, fire protection systems, and safety systems. BMS consists of: hardware including an interconnection with one or more computers through a communications channel; and associated software for maintaining conditions in the building according to preferences set by occupants and/or building managers. For example, the BMS may be implemented using a local area network such as Ethernet (Ethernet). The software may be based on, for example, internet protocols and/or open standards. One example is software from Tridium corporation (riemerh, virginia). One communication protocol commonly used with BMS is the building automation and control network (BACnet).

BMS are most common in larger buildings and are often used at least to control the environment within the building. For example, BMS can control temperature, carbon dioxide levels, and humidity within buildings. Generally, there are many mechanical devices controlled by the BMS, such as heaters, air conditioners, blowers, vents, and the like. The BMS may turn on and off these various devices under defined conditions in order to control the building environment. A core function of a typical modern BMS is to maintain a comfortable environment for the occupants of a building while minimizing heating and cooling costs/requirements. Therefore, modern BMS are not only used for monitoring and control, but also for optimizing the synergy between the various systems, for example, to save energy and reduce building operating costs.

In some embodiments, a window controller is integrated with the BMS, wherein the window controller is configured to control one or more electrochromic windows (e.g., 405) or other tintable windows. In other embodiments, the window controller is within or part of the BMS and the BMS controls the functions of the tintable windows and other systems of the building. In one example, the BMS can control the functions of all building systems, including one or more zones of tintable windows in a building.

In some embodiments, each tintable window of one or more zones comprises at least one solid state and inorganic electrochromic device. In one embodiment, each tintable window of one or more zones is an electrochromic window having one or more solid state and inorganic electrochromic devices. In one embodiment, the one or more tintable windows comprise at least one all solid state and inorganic electrochromic device, but may comprise more than one electrochromic device, for example where each pane or pane of the IGU is tintable. In one embodiment, the Electrochromic window is a multi-state Electrochromic window, as described in U.S. patent application serial No. 12/851,514 entitled "multi-pane Electrochromic window" filed on 5.8.2010. Fig. 5 depicts a schematic diagram of an example of a building 501 and BMS 505 that manages multiple systems of the building system, including security systems, heating/ventilation/air conditioning (HVAC), lighting of the building, power systems, elevators, fire protection systems, and so forth. The security system may include magnetic card access, turnstiles, electromagnetic-driven door locks, surveillance cameras, burglar alarms, metal detectors, and the like. The fire protection system may include a fire alarm and a fire suppression system including a water pipe control. The lighting system may include interior lighting, exterior lighting, emergency warning lights, emergency exit signs, and emergency floor exit lighting. The power system may include a main power source, a backup generator, and an Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) grid.

In addition, the BMS 505 manages the window control system 502. The window control system 502 is a distributed network of window controllers that includes a master controller 503, network controllers 507a and 507b, and a terminal or leaf controller 508. The terminal or leaf controller 508 may be similar to the window controller 350 described with respect to fig. 3. For example, the main controller 503 may be near the BMS 505 and each floor of the building 501 may have one or more network controllers 507a and 507b, while each window of the building has its own terminal controller 508. In this example, each of the controllers 508 controls a particular electrochromic window of the building 501. Window control system 502 communicates with cloud network 510 to receive data. For example, window control system 502 may receive schedule information from a clear sky model maintained on cloud network 510. Although the main controller 503 is depicted in fig. 5 as being separate from the BMS 505, in another embodiment the main controller 503 is part of or within the BMS 505.

Each controller 508 may be located at a separate location from the electrochromic window it controls, or may be integrated into the electrochromic window. For simplicity, only ten electrochromic windows of the building 501 are depicted as being controlled by the master window controller 502. In a typical setting, there may be a large number of electrochromic windows in a building controlled by the window control system 502. The advantages and features of the electrochromic window controller and BMS as described herein are described in more detail below and with respect to fig. 5, where appropriate.

One aspect of the disclosed embodiments is a BMS comprising a multi-purpose electrochromic window controller as described herein. By incorporating feedback from the electrochromic window controller, the BMS can provide, for example, enhanced: 1) environmental control, 2) energy savings, 3) safety, 4) flexibility in control options, 5) improved reliability and service life due to less reliance and less maintenance of other systems, 6) information availability and diagnostics, 7) efficient use of personnel and higher productivity, and various combinations of these. In some embodiments, the BMS may not be present or the BMS may be present but may not communicate or communicate at a high level with the master controller. In certain embodiments, maintenance of the BMS does not disrupt control of the electrochromic window.

In some cases, the BMS 505 or other building network may operate according to a daily, monthly, quarterly, or yearly schedule. For example, lighting control systems, window control systems, HVAC and security systems may operate based on a 24 hour schedule that takes into account when people are in the building during the work day. At night, the building may enter an energy saving mode, and during the day, the system may operate in a manner that minimizes the building's energy consumption while providing occupant comfort. As another example, the system may shut down or enter a power saving mode during the vacation.

The BMS schedule may be integrated with geographical information. The geographical information may include the latitude and longitude of the building. The geographical information may also contain information about the direction each side of the building is facing. Using such information, different rooms on different sides of a building may be controlled in different ways. For example, for an eastern room of a winter building, the window controller may indicate that the window has no tint in the morning so that the room is warmed up due to sunlight shining in the room, and the lighting control panel may indicate that the lights are dimmed due to sunlight shining. The westernward window may be controlled by the occupants of the room in the morning because the tint of the west-side window may have no effect on energy savings. However, the operational modes of the eastern and western windows may be switched at night (e.g., when the sun is on, the western window is uncolored to allow sunlight in for heating and lighting).

Described below is one example of a building, such as building 501 in fig. 5, for example, that contains a building network or BMS, tintable windows for the exterior windows of the building (i.e., windows that separate the interior of the building from the exterior of the building), and many different sensors. Light from the exterior windows of a building typically has an effect on interior lighting in the building about 20 feet or about 30 feet from the window. That is, space in the building that is more than about 20 feet or about 30 feet from the exterior window receives little light from the exterior window. Such spaces remote from the exterior windows in the building are illuminated by the lighting system of the building.

Furthermore, the temperature inside the building may be influenced by external light and/or external temperature. For example, on cold weather and with the building heated by the heating system, the rooms closer to the doors and/or windows will lose heat faster than the interior zone of the building and be cooler than the interior zone.

For external sensors, the building may include external sensors on the roof of the building. Alternatively, the building may include an external sensor associated with each external window (e.g., as described with respect to room 400 of fig. 4) or external sensors on each side of the building. External sensors on each side of the building may track the irradiance of one side of the building as the sun changes position throughout the day.

When the window controller is integrated into a building network or BMS, the output from the external sensor 410 may be input to the BMS network and provided as input to the local window controller 350. For example, in some implementations, output signals from any two or more sensors are received. In some embodiments, only one output signal is received, and in some other embodiments, three, four, five or more outputs are received. These output signals may be received through a building network or BMS.

In some embodiments, the received output signals include signals indicative of energy or power consumption of heating systems, cooling systems, and/or lighting within the building. For example, energy or power consumption of a heating system, cooling system, and/or lighting of a building may be monitored to provide a signal indicative of the energy or power consumption. The device may interface with or attach to the circuitry and/or wiring of the building to enable such monitoring. Alternatively, the power system in the building may be installed such that the power consumed by the heating system, cooling system and/or lighting of individual rooms within the building or a group of rooms within the building may be monitored.

Hue instructions may be provided to change the hue of the tintable window to a determined level of hue. For example, referring to fig. 5, this may include the master controller 503 issuing commands to one or more network controllers 507a and 507b, which in turn issue commands to terminal controllers 508 controlling each window of the building. The terminal controller 508 may apply a voltage and/or current to the window to drive a change in hue in accordance with the instructions.

In some embodiments, a building comprising an electrochromic window and a BMS may join or participate in a demand response program run by a utility that provides power to the building. The program may be a program that causes the energy consumption of the building to be reduced when a peak load is expected to occur. The utility may send a warning signal before the expected peak load occurs. For example, the warning may be sent the day before the expected peak load occurs, the morning of the expected peak load occurs, or about the hour before the expected peak load occurs. For example, when the cooling system/air conditioner draws a large amount of power from the utility, peak load occurrences may be expected to occur on hot summer days. The warning signal may be received by a BMS of the building or by a window controller configured to control an electrochromic window in the building. The BMS may then instruct the window controller to switch the appropriate electrochromic device in the electrochromic window 405 to a dark tint level in order to help reduce power consumption of the cooling system in the building when peak load is expected.

In some embodiments, tintable windows for the exterior windows of a building (i.e., windows that separate the interior of the building from the exterior of the building) may be grouped into zones, with tintable windows in zones being indicated in a similar manner. For example, groups of electrochromic windows on different floors of a building or on different sides of a building may be in different zones. For example, at the first floor of a building, all of the east-facing electrochromic windows may be in zone 1, all of the south-facing electrochromic windows may be in zone 2, all of the west-facing electrochromic windows may be in zone 3, and all of the north-facing electrochromic windows may be in zone 4. As another example, all electrochromic windows on a first layer of a building may be in zone 1, all electrochromic windows on a second layer may be in zone 2, and all electrochromic windows on a third layer may be in zone 3. As yet another example, all of the east-facing electrochromic windows may be in zone 1, all of the south-facing electrochromic windows may be in zone 2, all of the west-facing electrochromic windows may be in zone 3, and all of the north-facing electrochromic windows may be in zone 4. As yet another example, an eastward-facing electrochromic window on one floor may be divided into different zones. Any number of tintable windows on the same side and/or different sides and/or different floors of a building may be assigned to a zone. In embodiments where individual tintable windows have independently controllable zones, a combination of the zones of the individual windows may be used to form a colored zone on a building facade, e.g., where an individual window may or may not have all of its zones colored.

In some embodiments, the electrochromic windows in a zone may be controlled by the same window controller. In some other embodiments, the electrochromic windows in a zone may be controlled by different window controllers, but the window controllers may all receive the same output signal from the sensor and use the same function or look-up table to determine the level of tint for the windows in the zone.

In some embodiments, the electrochromic windows in a zone may be controlled by one or more window controllers that receive output signals from the transmittance sensors. In some embodiments, the transmittance sensor may be mounted proximate to the window in the zone. For example, the transmittance sensor may be mounted in or on a frame containing the IGU (e.g., in or on a mullion, which is a horizontal sash of the frame) that is included in the zone. In some other embodiments, the electrochromic windows in a zone containing windows on a single side of a building may be controlled by one or more window controllers that receive output signals from the transmittance sensor.

In some embodiments, a sensor (e.g., a light sensor) may provide an output signal to a window controller to control the electrochromic window 405 of a first zone (e.g., a primary control zone). The window controller may also control the electrochromic window 405 in a second zone (e.g., a slave control zone) in the same manner as the first zone. In some other embodiments, another window controller may control the electrochromic window 405 in the second zone in the same manner as the first zone.

In some embodiments, a building manager, an occupant of a room in the second zone, or others can manually instruct (e.g., using a color-tone or transparent command or a command from a user console of the BMS) the electrochromic window in the second zone (i.e., the slave control zone) to enter a color-tone level, such as a colored state (level) or a transparent state. In some embodiments, when overriding the tint level of the window in the second zone with this manual command, the electrochromic window in the first zone (i.e., the main control zone) remains under the control of the window controller that receives the output from the transmittance sensor. The second zone may remain in the manual command mode for a period of time and then revert back to being controlled by the window controller receiving output from the transmittance sensor. For example, the second zone may remain in manual mode for one hour after receiving an override command, and then may revert back to being controlled by the window controller receiving output from the transmittance sensor.

In some embodiments, a building manager, an occupant of a room in the first zone, or other personnel can manually instruct (using, for example, a hue command or a command from a user console of the BMS) a window in the first zone (i.e., the main control zone) to enter a hue level, such as a colored state or a transparent state. In some embodiments, when overriding the tint level of the window in the first zone with this manual command, the electrochromic window in the second zone (i.e., the dependent control zone) remains under control of the window controller that receives output from the external sensor. The first zone may remain in the manual command mode for a period of time and then revert back to being controlled by the window controller receiving output from the transmittance sensor. For example, the first zone may remain in manual mode for one hour after receiving an override command, and then may revert back to being controlled by the window controller receiving output from the transmittance sensor. In some other embodiments, the electrochromic window in the second zone may remain in the level of tint at which it is located when receiving a manual override for the first zone. The first zone may remain in the manual command mode for a period of time and then both the first and second zones may revert back to under the control of the window controller receiving the output from the transmittance sensor.

Any of the methods of controlling a tintable window described herein may be used to control the tint of the tintable window, regardless of whether the window controller is a standalone window controller or is interfaced with a building network.

In some implementations, the window controllers described herein include means for wired or wireless communication between the window controller, the sensor, and a separate communication node. Wireless or wired communication may be accomplished with a communication interface that directly interfaces with the window controller. Such an interface may be native to the microprocessor, or provided by additional circuitry that implements these functions. In addition, other systems of the site network may contain components for wired or wireless communication between different system elements.

The separate communication node for wireless communication may be, for example, another wireless window controller, a terminal, an intermediate or main window controller, a remote control device, or a BMS. Using wireless communication in a window controller for at least one of: the electrochromic window 405 is programmed and/or operated, data from the EC window 405 is collected from the various sensors and protocols described herein, and the electrochromic window 405 is used as a relay point for wireless communications. The data collected from the electrochromic window 405 may also include count data, such as the number of times the EC device has been activated, the efficiency of the EC device over time, and the like. These wireless communication features are described in more detail below.

In one implementation, wireless communication is used to operate the associated electrochromic window 405, for example, via Infrared (IR) and/or Radio Frequency (RF) signals. In certain embodiments, the controller will include a wireless protocol chip, such as Bluetooth, EnOcean, Wi-Fi, Zigbee, and the like. The window controller may also have wireless communication via a network. The input to the window controller may be manually entered by an end user at a wall switch, either directly or through wireless communication, or the input may be from the BMS of the building of which the electrochromic window is a component.

In one embodiment, when the window controller is part of a distributed network of controllers, the wireless communication is for transmitting data to each of the plurality of electrochromic windows via the distributed network of controllers, each controller having a wireless communication component. For example, referring again to fig. 5, the master controller 503 is in wireless communication with each of the network controllers 507a and 507b, which in turn are in wireless communication with the terminal controllers 508, each associated with an electrochromic window. The master controller 503 may also communicate wirelessly with the BMS 505. In one embodiment, at least one level of communication in the window controller is performed wirelessly.

In some embodiments, more than one mode of wireless communication is used in a window controller distributed network. For example, the master window controller may communicate wirelessly with the intermediate controller via Wi-Fi or Zigbee, while the intermediate controller communicates with the terminal controller via bluetooth, Zigbee, EnOcean, or other protocol. In another example, the window controller has redundant wireless communication systems for end user flexibility in wireless communication options.

For example, wireless communication between the main window controller and/or the intermediate window controller and the end window controller provides the advantage of avoiding the installation of hard communication lines. The same is true for wireless communication between the window controller and the BMS. In one aspect, wireless communication in these roles can be used to communicate data to and from the electrochromic windows for operating the windows and providing data to, for example, a BMS to optimize environmental and energy savings in a building. Window position data and feedback from sensors are used cooperatively for such optimization. For example, granular (window-by-window) microclimate information is fed to the BMS to optimize various environments of the building.

Fig. 6 is a block diagram of components of a system 600 for controlling a function (e.g., transitioning to a different tint level) of one or more tintable windows of a building (e.g., building 501 shown in fig. 5), according to an embodiment. The system 600 may be one of the systems managed by a BMS (e.g., BMS 505 shown in fig. 5) or may operate independently of the BMS.

System 600 includes a window control system 602 having a network of window controllers that can send control signals to tintable windows to control their functions. The system 600 also includes a network 601 in electronic communication with a master controller 603. Predictive control logic, other control logic and instructions for controlling the function of the tintable windows, sensor data, and/or schedule information about a clear sky model may be communicated to the master window controller 603 over the network 601. The network 601 may be a wired or wireless network (e.g., a cloud network). In one embodiment, the network 601 may communicate with the BMS to allow the BMS to send instructions for controlling the one or more tintable windows to the one or more tintable windows in the building through the network 601.

The system 600 also includes an EC device 680 of a tintable window (not shown) and an optional wall switch 690, both in electronic communication with the master controller 603. In this illustrated example, the master controller 603 may send control signals to the EC device 680 to control the tint level of the tintable window with the EC device 680. Each wall switch 690 is also in communication with the EC window 680 and the main controller 603. An end user (e.g., an occupant of a room having tintable windows) may use the wall switch 690 to input and control the tint level and other functions of the tintable windows having EC devices 680.

In fig. 6, a window control system 602 is depicted as a distributed network of window controllers including a master controller 603, a plurality of network controllers 606 in communication with the master controller 603, and a multiplicity of a plurality of terminal or leaf window controllers 610. Multiple terminals or leaf window controllers 610 each communicate with a single network controller 606. The components of the system 600 shown in fig. 6 may be similar in some respects to the components described with reference to fig. 5. For example, master controller 603 may be similar to master controller 503, and network controller 606 may be similar to network controller 507. Each of the window controllers in the distributed network of fig. 6 may comprise a processor (e.g., a microprocessor) and a computer-readable medium in electrical communication with the processor.

In fig. 6, each leaf or end window controller 610 communicates with one or more EC devices 680 of a single tintable window to control the tint level of the tintable window in a building. In the case of an IGU, the leaf-end or terminal window controller 610 may communicate with EC devices 680 on multiple blades of the IGU to control the tint level of the IGU. In other embodiments, each leaf-end or terminal window controller 610 may be in communication with a plurality of tintable windows. The leaf or end window controller 610 may be integrated into the tintable window or may be separate from the tintable window it controls. The leaf and terminal window controller 610 in fig. 6 may be similar to the terminal or leaf controller 508 in fig. 5 and/or may also be similar to the window controller 350 described with respect to fig. 3.

In some cases, the signal from the wall switch 690 may override the signal from the window control system 602. In other conditions (e.g., high demand conditions), control signals from the window control system 602 may override control signals from the wall switch 690. Each wall switch 690 also communicates with the leaf or terminal window controller 610 to send information back to the main window controller 603 regarding control signals (e.g., time, date, requested tone level, etc.) sent from the wall switch 690. In some cases, the wall switch 690 may be manually operated. In other cases, the wall switch 690 may be wirelessly controlled by an end user using a remote device (e.g., cell phone, tablet, etc.), which transmits wireless communications with control signals, for example, using Infrared (IR) and/or Radio Frequency (RF) signals. In some cases, wall switch 690 may include a wireless protocol chip, such as bluetooth, EnOcean, Wi-Fi, Zigbee, and the like. Although the wall switch 690 depicted in fig. 6 is positioned on one or more walls, other embodiments of the system 600 may have switches positioned elsewhere in the room.

In certain embodiments, the control logic described herein uses filtered sensor values based on temperature readings from one or more infrared sensors and from an ambient temperature sensor to determine cloud conditions in the morning and evening and/or at a time just before sunrise. The one or more infrared sensors typically operate independently of the sun level, allowing the tint control logic to determine cloud conditions prior to sunrise and determine and maintain appropriate tint levels in the morning and evening when the sun is falling. Additionally, filtered sensor values based on temperature readings from one or more infrared sensors may be used to determine cloud conditions even when visible light photosensors are obscured or otherwise obscured.

Fig. 7 is a schematic diagram of a window controller and associated components. In the example shown, window controller 724 may be deployed, for example, as a "pluggable" interface 750 that may be easily removed from EC device 780 (e.g., for ease of repair, manufacture, or replacement). In some embodiments, the window controller 724 communicates with a network controller via a communication bus 762. For example, the communication bus 762 may be designed in accordance with the Controller Area Network (CAN) vehicle bus standard. In such embodiments, the first electrical input 752 may be connected to a first power line 764, while the second electrical input 754 may be connected to a second power line 766. In some embodiments, as described above, the power signals transmitted on the power lines 764 and 766 are complementary; that is, they collectively represent a differential signal (e.g., a differential voltage signal). In some embodiments, a wire 768 couples the third electrical input 756 to a system or building ground (e.g., earth ground). In such embodiments, communication over the CAN bus 762 (e.g., between microcontroller 774 and network controller 706) may continue along first and second communication lines 770 and 772, transmitted through electrical input/outputs 758 and 760, respectively, according to the CANopen communication protocol or other suitable open, proprietary, or overlay communication protocol. In some embodiments, the communication signals sent on communication lines 770 and 772 are complementary; that is, they collectively represent a differential signal (e.g., a differential voltage signal).

In some embodiments, component 750 couples CAN communication bus 762 into window controller 724, and in particular embodiments into microcontroller 774. In some such embodiments, microcontroller 774 is also configured to implement the CANopen communication protocol. Microcontroller 774 is also designed or configured (e.g., programmed) to implement one or more drive control algorithms in conjunction with a pulse width modulated amplifier or Pulse Width Modulator (PWM)776, smart logic 778, and signal conditioner 779. In some embodiments, microcontroller 774 is configured to generate command signal V, for example in the form of a voltage signal_CommandAnd then transmitted to PWM 776. PWM 776 is then based on V_CommandGenerating a pulse width modulated power signal including a first (e.g., positive) component V_PW1And a second (e.g. negative) component V_PW2. Then, the power signal V_PW1And V_PW2To the EC device 780, for example, through interface 788, to produce a desired optical transition in the electrochromic device 780. In some casesIn an embodiment, PWM 776 is configured to modify the duty cycle of the pulse width modulated signal such that signal V_PW1And V_PW2The duration of the pulses in (a) is not equal: for example, PWM 776 pulse V_PW1Having a first 60% duty cycle, and a pulse V_PW2The second 40% duty cycle. The duration of the first duty cycle and the duration of the second duty cycle together represent the duration t of each power cycle_PWM. In some embodiments, PWM 776 may additionally or alternatively modify signal pulse V_PW1And V_PW2The magnitude of (c).

In some embodiments, the microcontroller 774 is configured to be based on one or more factors or signals (e.g., any signal received over the CAN bus 762 and the voltage or current feedback signal V generated by the PWM 776, respectively_FBAnd I_FB) Generating V_Command. In some embodiments, microcontroller 774 is based on feedback signals I, respectively_FBOr V_FBDetermine the current or voltage level in the electrochromic device 780 and adjust V according to one or more of the rules or algorithms described above_CommandTo achieve a relative pulse duration (e.g. relative durations of the first and second duty cycles) or power signal V_PW1And V_PW2To produce a voltage profile as described above. Additionally or alternatively, microcontroller 774 may also adjust V in response to signals received from smart logic 778 or signal conditioner 779_Command. For example, can be responded to by the signal conditioner 779 from one or more networked or non-networked devices or sensors (e.g., external photosensor or photodetector 792, internal photosensor or photodetector 794, thermal or temperature sensor 796, or hue command signal V_TC) Generating the regulating signal V_Regulator. For example, signal conditioners 779 and V_RegulatorAdditional embodiments of (a) are also described in U.S. patent application serial No. 13/449,235 filed on day 4, 17, 2012 and previously incorporated by reference.

In certain embodiments, V_TCMay be an analog voltage signal between 0V and 10V, which may be provided by a user (e.g., a resident)Or a worker) to dynamically adjust the color tone of the EC device 780 (e.g., a user may use a thermostat-like controller in a room or building 501 area to fine tune or modify the color tone of the EC device 780 in the room or area), thereby introducing dynamic user input to the determination of V_CommandLogic within microcontroller 774. For example, when set in the range of 0 to 2.5V, V_TCCan be used to cause a transition to the 5% T state, and when set in the range of 2.51 to 5V, V_TCMay be used to cause a transition to the 20% T state and is similar for other ranges such as 5.1 to 7.5V and 7.51 to 10V, as well as other ranges and voltage examples. In some embodiments, signal conditioner 779 receives the above signals or other signals via communication bus or interface 790. In some implementations, PWM 776 is also based on signal V received from smart logic 778_IntelligenceGenerating V_Command. In some embodiments, intelligence logic 778 is implemented via, for example, an inter-integrated circuit (I)₂C) Communication bus transmission V of multi-host serial single-ended computer bus_Intelligence. In some other embodiments, the intelligence logic 778 communicates with the memory device 282 via a 1-WIRE device communication bus system protocol (developed by Dallas Semiconductor, germany).

In some implementations, microcontroller 774 includes a processor, chip, card, or board, or a combination of these, which includes logic for performing one or more control functions. The power and communication functions of microcontroller 774 may be combined in a single chip, e.g., a Programmable Logic Device (PLD) chip or a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) or similar logic. Such integrated circuits may combine logic, control, and power functions in a single programmable chip.

In some embodiments, microcontroller 774 may be communicatively coupled with a private or public network including, for example, the internet. In the example shown, microcontroller 774 includes input/outputs 763 and 765, which may provide ethernet and a Wi-Fi interface with such a cloud network, respectively.

In general, the logic for controlling the transitions of the electrochromic device may be designed or configured in hardware and/or software. In other words, the instructions for controlling the drive circuitry may be hard coded or provided as software. The instructions may be provided, as it were, by "programming". Such programming is understood to encompass any form of logic, including hard-coded logic in a digital signal processor and other devices having specific algorithms implemented in hardware. Programming is also understood to encompass software or firmware instructions that can be executed on a general purpose processor. In some embodiments, the instructions for controlling the application of voltage to the bus bar are stored on a memory device associated with the controller or provided over a network. Examples of suitable memory devices include semiconductor memory, magnetic memory, optical memory, and the like. The computer program code for controlling the applied voltage may be written in any conventional computer readable programming language, such as assembly language, C, C + +, Pascal, Fortran, and the like. The compiled object code or script is executed by the processor to perform the tasks identified in the program.

As noted above, in some embodiments, microcontroller 774 or window controller 724 may also generally have wireless capabilities, such as wireless control and power capabilities. For example, instructions may be sent to microcontroller 774 using wireless control signals, e.g., Radio Frequency (RF) signals or Infrared (IR) signals, and wireless communication protocols, e.g., Wi-Fi (as described above), bluetooth, Zigbee, EnOcean, etc., and microcontroller 774 sends data to, e.g., other window controllers, network controller 706, or directly to BMS 705. In various implementations, wireless communication may be used to at least one of program or operate electrochromic device 780, collect data or receive input from sensors, and use window controller 724 as a relay for other wireless communications. The data collected from the EC device 780 may also include count data such as the number of times the electrochromic device 780 has been activated (cycled), the efficiency of the EC device 780 over time, and other useful data or performance metrics.

The window controller 724 may also have wireless power capability. For example, the window controller may have one or more wireless power receivers that receive transmissions from one or more wireless power transmitters; and one or more wireless power transmitters that transmit power transmissions such that window controller 724 can wirelessly receive power and wirelessly distribute power to electrochromic device 780. Wireless power transfer includes, for example, induction, resonant induction, RF power transfer, microwave power transfer, and laser power transfer. For example, U.S. patent application serial No. 12/971,576 (attorney docket number SLDMP003), entitled "WIRELESS POWERED ELECTROCHROMIC window (WIRELESS POWERED ELECTROCHROMIC WINDOWS"), by Rozbicki as the inventor and filed on 12, 2010, 17, details various embodiments of WIRELESS power capability, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

In some embodiments, cloud-based techniques for monitoring and managing multiple sites incorporating optically switchable electrochromic devices are contemplated. As used herein and in the claims, "cloud-based" means that at least some of the computing and/or data storage resources used in the disclosed technology reside in one or more remote servers, rather than one or more monitored sites. In some embodiments, a web Application Programming Interface (API) used by a local network that sets up electrochromic devices at a building site may interface with a cloud-based site monitoring system and/or a cloud-based primary network controller. Using the API, the health and status of the electrochromic device and associated local network devices can be monitored and controlled. For example, the required CAN bus control settings CAN be determined remotely and transmitted to the API over the internet by means of HTTP.

Fig. 8 illustrates an example of a site monitoring and control system according to an embodiment. In the example shown, site monitoring and control system 800 interfaces with a plurality of monitored sites, sites 1-5. Each station has one or more switchable optical devices, such as electrochromic windows, and one or more controllers designed or configured to control the switching of the windows. Site monitoring and control system 800 also interfaces with a plurality of client machines-clients 1-4. The clients may be workstations, portable computers, mobile devices such as smart phones, etc., each capable of presenting information about the operation of the devices in the site. Personnel associated with site monitoring and control system 800 may access this information from one or more of the clients. In some cases, the clients are configured to communicate with each other. In some embodiments, personnel associated with one or more sites may access a subset of the information through the client. In various embodiments, the client machine runs one or more applications designed or configured to present views and analysis of optical device information for some or all of the sites.

Site monitoring and control system 800 may contain various hardware and/or software configurations. In the depicted embodiment, system 800 includes site interface 813, application server 815, and report server 817. Site interface 813 may communicate directly with a site and may include a data repository for storing data received from the site. For example, data from a site may be stored in a relational database or other data storage arrangement. In one embodiment, the data is stored in a database or other data repository, such as an Oracle DB, sequence DB, or custom designed database. Site interface 813 may obtain information from and send commands to any of a number of entities, such as a master network controller at a site. An application server 815 and a report server 817 interface with clients to provide application services and reports, respectively. In one embodiment, the report server runs a report generator of Tableau, Jump, Actuate, or custom design. In the depicted embodiment, site interface 813 and application server 815 each provide information to report server 817. Communication between site interface 813 and application server 815 is bi-directional, as are communication between site interface 813 and report server 817 and between application server 815 and report server 817.

As described above, a site may include: (a) a plurality of switchable optical devices (e.g., a plurality of switchable optical devices) each controlled directly by a (window) controller; (b) a plurality of sensors, such as illumination sensors; and (c) one or more higher level controllers, such as a network controller and a master network controller. In some embodiments, some or all of the functionality of a higher level controller (e.g., master controller 503 of fig. 5) is provided by site monitoring and control system 800. Thus, the on-site master controller can be greatly simplified or even eliminated.

In some embodiments, the site monitoring and control system may include a hierarchy of controllers. Fig. 6 shows an example of a hierarchy of controllers that includes three levels of the hierarchy, where (1) the lowest level includes one or more local window controllers (e.g., 601), (2) the middle level includes one or more network controllers (e.g., 606), and (3) the highest level includes a master controller 603. The hierarchy may include two or more levels. The hierarchy may include a master controller, a facility controller, a building controller, a floor controller, and/or a local controller. The local controller may be coupled (e.g., directly) to one or more devices. For example, a local controller may be coupled to (e.g., control) at least 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 12, 24, or 48 devices. The local controller can be coupled to (e.g., control) any number of devices between the aforementioned numbers (e.g., from 1 to 48, from 1 to 8, from 1 to 12, or from 1 to 24 devices). The coupling may comprise a communicative coupling. The coupling may be a wired and/or wireless coupling. The coupling may comprise optical coupling or electrical coupling. The wireless coupling may include the use of one or more antennas. The wireless coupling may include transmission of optical or audio signals. The optical coupling may comprise infrared radiation. The network controller may be a floor and/or building controller.

In some embodiments, the hierarchy level of the monitoring and control system includes physical circuitry. The physical circuitry may include a controller. The physical circuitry may include a processor. The physical circuitry may include a circuit board. The circuitry may be complex (e.g., a computer) or less complex (e.g., a controllable switch). The controllable switch is communicatively controllable (e.g., signal controlled). The controllable switches may be controlled by signals (e.g., electrical, audio, and/or optical signals) transmitted over the wiring network. The communicatively controlled switch may be different from a wall switch (e.g., 690). The communicatively controlled switch may be different than a manual switch. Higher-level circuitry may include more complex circuitry than lower-level circuitry. For example, the master controller may include a computer and the local controller may be a switch. At least one higher level of circuitry in the hierarchy may be more complex than the lowest hierarchy level (e.g., including a local controller). In some embodiments, the complexity of the circuitry may be a corresponding hierarchy, with the highest hierarchy (e.g., including the master controller) having the highest circuitry complexity and lower hierarchies (e.g., including the local controller) having the lowest circuitry complexity. The physical circuitry may include memory and/or data storage units. The memory may hold more or less data. A memory coupled to higher level circuitry may occupy more data than lower level circuitry. For example, the master controller may retain more data in its memory than the memory of the local controller. A memory coupled to (e.g., a portion of) at least one higher level circuitry in the hierarchy may retain more data than the lowest hierarchy level (e.g., including the local controller). In some embodiments, the amount of data retained by a memory coupled to (e.g., as part of) the circuitry may be a respective hierarchy in which the highest hierarchy (e.g., including the master) has the highest memory capacity and lower hierarchies (e.g., including the local controller) have the lowest memory capacity. The data storage unit may hold more or less data. Data storage units coupled to higher level circuitry may occupy more data than lower level circuitry. For example, the master controller may retain more data in its data storage unit than the data storage unit of the local controller. A data storage unit coupled to (e.g., a portion of) at least one higher level circuitry in the hierarchy may retain more data than the lowest hierarchy level (e.g., including a local controller). In some embodiments, the amount of data retained by a data storage unit coupled to (e.g., as part of) the circuitry may be a respective hierarchy, with the highest hierarchy (e.g., including the master) having the highest data storage capacity and lower hierarchies (e.g., including the local controller) having the lowest data storage capacity.

In some embodiments, a site monitoring and control system may include a hierarchy of controllers that control one or more devices. The apparatus may be provided in a facility. The facility may include one or more buildings. The site monitoring and control system may include or may be coupled to a communication network and/or a power network. The communication network and/or the power network may include one or more wires. The wire may comprise a light ray or an electrical wire. The wires may comprise coaxial wires or twisted pair wires. The communication network may include antennas (e.g., receive antennas and/or transmit antennas), transmitters, transceivers, receivers, or routers. The network may include or be coupled to a building management system.

In some embodiments, at least one controller (e.g., including circuitry) associated with at least one level of the hierarchy may be located external to the facility. For example, controllers associated with multiple hierarchical levels of control may be disposed (e.g., physically located) outside of a facility. For example, controllers associated with one or more higher-level control levels may be disposed (e.g., physically located) outside of the facility. For example, one or more controllers associated with (e.g., only) a lowest level of control may be provided in a facility. For example, one or more controllers associated with (e.g., only) a lowest level of control may be physically located in a facility. For example, only controllers associated with a single one of the hierarchy levels are physically located in the facility. For example, the controller associated with (e.g., only) the lowest of the hierarchy levels is physically located in the facility. For example, only the lowest level controllers (e.g.,) having (i) circuitry complexity, (ii) logic complexity, (iii) memory capacity, and/or (iv) data storage capacity are physically located in the facility. For example, the controller with the (e.g. only) lowest subordinate level is physically located in the facility. For example, controllers that are directly coupled (e.g., only) to one or more devices they control are physically located in the facility. In some embodiments, when the first controller is directly coupled to the device, there is no intervening second controller between the first controller and the device. In some implementations, when the first controller is directly coupled to the device, there is no other circuitry intervening between the first controller and the device. The circuitry may be electronic and/or optical circuitry (e.g., including one or more optical fibers).

In some embodiments, the logic associated with at least one level of the hierarchy may be located external to the facility. The logic may be embodied in at least a non-transitory medium readable by circuitry (e.g., a processor such as a computer). Logic may be in the form of code (e.g., ASCII, Java, C + +, or Python). For example, logic associated with multiple hierarchical control levels may be embedded in a non-transitory medium located outside of the facility. For example, logic associated with one or more higher-level control levels may be embedded in a non-transitory medium located (e.g., physically disposed) outside of the facility. For example, one or more logic associated with (e.g., only) a lowest level of control may be embedded in a non-transitory medium positioned in the facility. For example, one or more logic associated with (e.g., only) a lowest level of control may be embedded in a non-transitory medium physically located in the facility. For example, all logic associated with the control hierarchy may be embedded in a non-transitory medium physically located outside of the facility. Logic associated with (e.g., only) the control hierarchy may be embedded in a non-transitory medium physically located outside of the facility and transmitted (e.g., via one or more network systems) to the facility. The transmission may occur via signaling (e.g., optical, acoustic, and/or electrical signaling). The transmission may be to circuitry (e.g., circuitry of a local controller). The logic may be prepared by the circuitry of the controller hierarchy (e.g., any circuitry thereof).

In some embodiments, a plurality of devices may be operably (e.g., communicatively) coupled to a control system. The control system may include a hierarchy of controllers. The device canTo include emitters, sensors, or windows (e.g., IGUs). The device may be any device disclosed herein. At least two of the plurality of devices may be of the same type. For example, two or more IGUs may be coupled to the control system. At least two of the plurality of devices may be of different types. For example, the sensor and transmitter may be coupled to a control system. Sometimes, the plurality of devices may include at least 20, 50, 100, 500, 1000, 2500, 5000, 7500, 10000, 50000, 100000, or 500000 devices. The plurality of devices may be any number between the aforementioned numbers (e.g., from 20 devices to 500000 devices, from 20 devices to 50 devices, from 50 devices to 500 devices, from 500 devices to 2500 devices, from 1000 devices to 5000 devices, from 5000 devices to 10000 devices, from 10000 devices to 100000 devices, or from 100000 devices to 500000 devices). For example, the number of windows in a floor may be at least 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 40 or 50. The number of windows in a floor may be any number between the above numbers (e.g., from 5 to 50, from 5 to 25, or from 25 to 50). Sometimes, these devices may be located in a multi-storey building. At least a portion of the floors of the multi-storey building may have devices controlled by the control system (e.g., at least a portion of the floors of the multi-storey building may be controlled by the control system). For example, a multi-storey building may have at least 2, 8, 10, 25, 50, 80, 100, 120, 140 or 160 storeys controlled by the control system. The number of floors (e.g., devices therein) controlled by the control system may be any number between the above numbers (e.g., from 2 to 50, from 25 to 100, or from 80 to 160). The floor may have at least about 150m²、250m²、500m²、1000m²、1500m²Or 2000 square meters (m)²) The area of (a). The floor area may have an area between any of the aforementioned floor area values (e.g., from about 150 m)²To about 2000m²From about 150m²To about 500m²From about 250m²To about 1000m²From about 1000m²To about 2000m²)。

In some embodiments, the controller includes circuitry. The controller may be an automatic controller. The controller may be programmable. The controller may include programmable circuitry. The controller may include a Programmable Logic Device (PLD). Programmable logic devices may include complex programmable logic devices, field programmable gate arrays, general purpose array logic, programmable array logic, or programmable logic arrays. The controller may comprise a proportional, integral and derivative controller. The controller may comprise a microcontroller. The controller may include a switch (e.g., an electrical and/or optical switch), a capacitor, a resistor, or an actuator. The controller may include a signal booster.

In some embodiments, the controller hierarchy may be configured to control one or more devices. A device of the one or more devices may include a window, a sensor, an actuator, a transmitter, an antenna, and/or a receiver. The transmitter may include a buzzer, lights, a heater, a cooler, and/or a heating, cooling, ventilation, and air conditioning system (HVAC). The sensors may be configured to process, measure, analyze, detect, and/or react to one or more of: data, temperature, humidity, sound, force, pressure, electromagnetic waves, location, distance, motion, flow, acceleration, velocity, vibration, dust, light, glare, color, gas, and/or other aspects (e.g., characteristics) of the environment (e.g., of the housing). The housing may be facility. The gas may include Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs). The gas may include carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, water vapor (e.g., moisture), oxygen, radon, and/or hydrogen sulfide. The window may be a tintable window (e.g., an electrically tintable window such as an electrochromic window).

In some embodiments, the controller may include a processing unit (e.g., a CPU or GPU). The controller may receive input (e.g., from at least one sensor). The controller may include circuitry, wires, cables, sockets, and/or power sockets. The controller may deliver an output. The controller may include a plurality (e.g., sub) of controllers. The controller may be part of a control system (e.g., a hierarchy of controllers). The control system may include a master controller, a floor controller (e.g., including a network controller), a local controller. The local controller may be a window controller (e.g., controlling an optically switchable window), a housing controller, or a component controller. For example, the controller can be part of a hierarchical control system (e.g., including a master controller that directs one or more controllers, such as a floor controller, a local controller (e.g., a window controller), a housing controller, and/or a component controller). The controller may control one or more devices (e.g., directly coupled to the devices). The controller may be located in proximity to one or more devices it controls. For example, the controller may control a light-switchable device (e.g., an IGU), an antenna, a sensor, and/or an output device (e.g., a light source, a sound source, an odor source, a gas source, an HVAC outlet, or a heater). In one embodiment, the floor controller may direct one or more window controllers, one or more enclosure controllers, one or more component controllers, or any combination thereof. A floor (e.g., including a network) controller may control a plurality of local (e.g., including window) controllers. A plurality of local controllers may be provided in a portion of a facility (e.g., in a portion of a building). A portion of a facility may be a floor of the facility. For example, a floor controller may be assigned to a floor. In some embodiments, a floor may include multiple floor controllers, for example, depending on the size of the floor and/or the number of local controllers coupled to the floor controller. For example, a floor controller may be assigned to a portion of a floor. For example, a floor controller may be assigned to a portion of a local controller disposed in a facility. For example, a floor controller may be assigned to a portion of a floor of a facility. The master controller may be coupled to one or more floor controllers. The floor controller may be located in the facility. The master controller may be located within the facility or outside the facility. In some embodiments, the controller is part of or operably coupled to a building management system.

In some embodiments, the controller receives one or more inputs and/or generates one or more outputs. The controller may be a single input single output controller (SISO) or a multiple input multiple output controller (MIMO). The controller may interpret the received input signal. The controller may acquire data from one or more components (e.g., sensors). The obtaining may include receiving or extracting. The data may include measurements, estimates, determinations, generations, or any combination thereof. The controller may include feedback control. The controller may include a feed forward control. The control may include on-off control, Proportional Integral (PI) control, or Proportional Integral Derivative (PID) control. The control may include open loop control or closed loop control. The controller may comprise a closed loop control. The controller may include open loop control. The controller may include a user interface. The user interface may include (or be operatively coupled to) a keyboard, a keypad, a mouse, a touch screen, a microphone, a voice recognition package, a camera, an imaging system, or any combination thereof. The output may include a display (e.g., a screen), speakers, or a printer. In some embodiments, the local controller controls one or more IGUs, one or more sensors, one or more output devices (e.g., one or more transmitters), or any combination thereof. The controller may be operatively coupled (e.g., directly/indirectly and/or wired and/or wireless) to an external source. The external source may include a network (e.g., an electrical grid and/or a communications network). The external source may include one or more sensors or output devices. The external source may include a cloud-based application and/or a database. The communication may be wired and/or wireless. The external source may be located outside the facility. For example, the external source may include one or more sensors and/or antennas disposed, for example, on a wall or ceiling of the facility. The communication may be unidirectional or bidirectional.

The methods, systems, and/or devices described herein may include a control system. The control system may communicate with any of the devices described herein (e.g., sensors, transmitters, receivers, antennas, or windows). For example, as described herein, a device (e.g., an apparatus) may include at least two of the same type and/or at least two different types. For example, the control system may be in communication with the first device and/or the second device. The control system may control one or more devices. The control system may control one or more components of a building management system (e.g., a lighting, security, and/or air conditioning system). The controller may adjust at least one (e.g., environmental) characteristic of the enclosure. The control system may use any device, for example as disclosed herein, to regulate the enclosure environment. The control may include manual and/or automatic control. The control system may use any component of the building management system to regulate the enclosure environment. For example, the control system may regulate the energy supplied by the heating element and/or by the cooling element. For example, the control system may adjust the velocity of air flowing into and/or out of the enclosure through the vent. The control system may include a processor. The processor may be a processing unit. The controller may include a processing unit. The processing unit may be central. The processing unit may include a central processing unit (abbreviated herein as "CPU"). The processing unit may be a graphics processing unit (abbreviated herein as "GPU"). A controller or control mechanism (e.g., including a computer system) may be programmed to implement one or more methods of the present disclosure. The processor may be programmed to implement the method of the present disclosure. A controller may control at least one component of the forming systems and/or apparatus disclosed herein.

In some embodiments, the control system comprises a computer system. The computer system may control (e.g., direct, monitor, and/or adjust) various features of the methods, apparatus, and systems of the present disclosure, such as controlling heating, cooling, lighting, ventilation, or any combination thereof. The computer system may be part of or in communication with any of the devices disclosed herein. The computer can be coupled to one or more of the mechanisms disclosed herein and/or any portion thereof. For example, the computer may be coupled to one or more sensors, valves, switches, lights, windows (e.g., IGUs), motors, pumps, optical components, or any combination thereof.

A computer system may include a processing unit (also "processor," "computer," and "computer processor" are used herein). The computer system may include memory or memory locations (e.g., random access memory, read only memory, flash memory), electronic storage units (e.g., hard disk), a communication interface (e.g., a network adapter) for communicating with one or more other systems, and peripheral devices, such as cache, other memory, data storage, and/or an electronic display adapter. In some embodiments, the memory, storage unit, interface and/or peripheral devices communicate with the processing unit, for example, through a communication bus (solid lines) such as a motherboard. The storage unit may be a data storage unit (or data repository) for storing data. The data storage unit may be a memory. The computer system may be operatively coupled to a computer network ("network"), for example, with the aid of a communications interface. The network may include the internet, an internet and/or an extranet, or an intranet and/or extranet in communication with the internet. In some cases, the network includes a telecommunications and/or data network. The network may include one or more computer servers, which may implement distributed computing, such as cloud computing. In some cases, with the aid of a computer system, the network may implement a peer-to-peer network, which may enable a device coupled to the computer system to act as a client or server.

The processing unit may execute a series of machine-readable instructions, which may be embodied in a program or software. The instructions may be stored in a memory location such as memory. The instructions may be directed to a processing unit, which may then program or otherwise configure the processing unit to implement the methods of the present disclosure. Examples of operations performed by a processing unit may include fetch, decode, execute, and write-back. The processing unit may interpret and/or execute the instructions. The processor may include a microprocessor, a data processor, a Central Processing Unit (CPU), a Graphics Processing Unit (GPU), a system on a chip (SOC), a coprocessor, a network processor, an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), an application specific instruction set processor (ASIP), a controller, a Programmable Logic Device (PLD), a chipset, a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), or any combination thereof. The processing unit may be part of a circuit such as an integrated circuit. One or more other components of the computer system may be included in the circuitry.

The storage unit may store files such as drivers, libraries, and saved programs. The storage unit may store user data (e.g., user preferences and user programs). In some cases, the computer system may include one or more additional data storage units located external to the computer system, such as on a remote server in communication with the computer system via an intranet or the internet.

The computer system may communicate with one or more remote computer systems over a network. For example, the computer system may communicate with a remote computer system of a user (e.g., an operator). Examples of remote computer systems include a personal computer (e.g., a laptop PC), a tablet PC or tablet PC (e.g.,iPad、galaxy Tab), telephone, smartphone (e.g.,iPhone, Android enabled device,) Or a personal digital assistant. A user (e.g., a client) may access the computer system via a network.

The methods described herein may be implemented by way of machine (e.g., computer processor) executable code stored on an electronic storage location (e.g., memory or electronic storage unit) of a computer system. The machine executable or machine readable code may be provided in the form of software. In use, the processor may execute the code. In some cases, code may be retrieved from a storage unit and stored in memory for ready access by the processor. In some cases, the electronic storage unit may be eliminated and the machine-executable instructions stored in memory.

The code may be pre-compiled and configured for use with a machine adapted to execute the code, or may be compiled at runtime. The code may be provided in a programming language that is selected to enable the code to be executed in a pre-compiled or compiled form.

In some embodiments, a processor includes logic (e.g., in the form of code). The code may be program instructions. The program instructions may cause at least one processor (e.g., a computer) to direct a feed-forward and/or feedback control loop. In some embodiments, the program instructions cause the at least one processor to direct a closed-loop and/or open-loop control scheme. The control may be based at least in part on one or more sensor readings (e.g., sensor data). One controller may direct multiple operations. At least two operations may be directed by different controllers. In some embodiments, different controllers may direct at least two of operations (a), (b), and (c). In some embodiments, different controllers may direct at least two of operations (a), (b), and (c). In some embodiments, the non-transitory computer readable medium causes each different computer to direct at least two of operations (a), (b), and (c). In some embodiments, the different non-transitory computer readable medium causes each different computer to direct at least two of operations (a), (b), and (c). The controller and/or computer readable medium may direct any of the devices disclosed herein or components thereof. The controller and/or computer readable medium may direct any of the operations of the methods disclosed herein.

The site monitoring system may include one or more interfaces for communicating with remote sites. These interfaces are typically ports or connections for securely communicating via the internet. Of course, other forms of network interfaces may be used. The data may be compressed prior to transmission from the site to the site monitoring system. The site monitoring system may interface with the various sites via wireless or cable connections. In the exemplary embodiment shown in fig. 8, site monitoring and control system 800 is implemented in the "cloud". The site monitoring system may be centralized or decentralized and may be accessed from anywhere by authorized personnel using a client application. The various components of the system may be located together or separately in one or more sites, at a location remote from all sites, and/or in the cloud. Additional features, functions, modules, etc. of the site monitoring system may include data and event reporters, data and event logs and/or databases, data analyzers/reporters, and communicators.

While in many embodiments all or most of the site data analysis may be performed at the site monitoring and control system 800, this is not always the case. In some embodiments, some site level analysis, data compression, etc. is performed at the remote site before sending the site data to the site monitoring system. For example, the network or master network controller may have sufficient processing power and other resources for performing analysis, data compression, etc., and thus the processing may be decentralized to take advantage of this. This processing power allocation may not be fixed, i.e., the site monitoring and control system 800 may utilize a remote processor for performing the aforementioned tasks, or not, depending on what function is being performed. Thus, the site monitoring and control system 800 may be configured with the flexibility to use or not use a remote processor at the site.

By monitoring sensors and controllers in various facilities, site monitoring and control system 800 may provide any one or more of the following services:

a. the customer service-site monitoring and control system 800 may note when data from the switchable device, sensors, and/or controllers indicates a problem. The problem may be immediate, such as a failure, or an impending problem may be anticipated, for example, when the performance of the component drifts from certain parameters (while still operating properly). In response, the service personnel may access the remote location to correct the problem and/or communicate the problematic facility to the remote location. In the latter case, the service person may, for example, reprogram the controller of the switchable device to compensate for drift from specification. In some cases, potential problems are flagged and resolved before they become apparent at the site. For example, the aforementioned reprogramming may permanently provide sufficient performance from the window or until a field service person can access the site and replace or repair the unit. Additionally, the monitoring system may be configured to automatically correct problems with the site. Unless otherwise noted, heuristics in the site monitoring system may be used to automatically correct any of the problems, errors, etc. described herein. In one example, the monitoring system detects drift from specification in the electrochromic window and automatically reprograms the window's controller to compensate for the drift. The system also alerts service personnel about the event. The service personnel may then determine the optimal course of action, e.g., further reprogramming, replacement of windows, replacement of controllers, etc. The occupant may not have any indications of problems with the window and/or the controller, and the occupant's perception of window performance may not change during these processes. This system allows for quick resolution of the problem. For example, a dashboard interface may provide the ability to study questions according to a high level overview. According to a high level overview, the system has easy access to log file sections, schematics, pictures and reports based on site-specific context. In some embodiments, the system marks the entire site when one or more problems with the site are identified. In this way, individuals interacting with the system need not learn details about the problem until they want such information. Thus, for example, a service person may quickly select a marked site and investigate an actual problem, which may be, for example, a single window with non-critical issues. This allows the attendant to (a) quickly determine where the problem is present, (b) quickly determine the nature of the problem at each site, and (c) effectively prioritize any problems. The system may also provide look-ahead data to other systems of the site, such as HVAC systems, thereby enabling such systems to enhance user comfort and/or save energy.

b. The facility is customized based on the observed usage trends. User preferences may be incorporated into the program over time. As an example, the site monitoring system may determine the manner in which an end user (e.g., occupant) attempts to override the window control algorithm at a particular time of day and use this information to predict the user's future behavior. It may modify the window control algorithm to set the tone level according to learned user preferences.

c. The learned approach is deployed to other facilities (e.g., how to best tint windows when a thunderstorm approaches in the afternoon). Using collective experience and information from the installed base of switchable device networks achieves a number of benefits. For example, it facilitates fine tuning control algorithms, customizing window/web products for particular market segments, and/or testing new ideas (e.g., control algorithms, sensor placement).

The following description presents examples of certain types of site information that may be monitored by a site monitoring system. Information may be provided from a variety of sources, such as voltage and/or current versus time data for individual switchable devices, sensor output versus time, communications and network events and logs for the controller network, and so forth. The time variable may be associated with an external event such as sun location, weather, etc. Information having periodic components may be analyzed in the frequency domain as well as in the time domain.

For example, the following information may be derived from the window controller current/voltage data:

a. a change in peak current, which is sometimes produced during the application of a ramp to the drive voltage, is used to produce the optical transition. ]

b. A change in the holding (leakage) current, which may be observed in the final state of the switchable device. The increased ratio of leakage currents may be correlated to the likelihood of short circuits in the device. Sometimes, the short circuit can cause undesirable defects, such as halos in the device. These may be field serviceable using, for example, a portable defect mitigation device such as described in U.S. patent application No. 13/859,623 filed on 2013, 4, 9, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. ]

c. The required voltage compensation is the voltage change required to take into account the voltage drop in the conductive path from the power supply to the switchable device. ]

d. The change in the total charge transferred is measured over a period of time and/or during a certain state of the switchable device (e.g. during driving or during holding). ]

e. The change in power consumption [ power consumption can be calculated by (I × V) per window or controller. ]

f. Comparison with other Window Controllers (WC) on the same facade with the same load [ this allows the monitoring system to determine that a particular controller has a problem, rather than a particular device controlled by the controller. For example, a window controller may be connected to five insulated glass units, each of which exhibits the same problems. Because it is unlikely that all five devices will suffer the same problem, the monitoring system can conclude that the controller is the problem. ]

g. Case of abnormal distribution: for example, double coloring/double clearing [ double coloring/clearing refers to a situation where a normal drive cycle (voltage and/or current distribution) is applied and it is found that the switchable device has not yet switched (in which case a second drive cycle must be undertaken). ]

h. The switching characteristics are relative to the outside weather [ under certain temperature or weather conditions, a monitoring system expects a particular switching result or performance. Deviations from the expected response indicate a problem with the controller, switchable device, and/or sensor. ]

The changes and comparisons described herein may result from data collected at, for example, the network controller level. Historical data (day, week, month, year) is maintained in the site monitoring and control system and these data can be used for comparison. With such data, changes due to temperature can be identified and ignored where appropriate. Various modifications, together or in combination, may provide features of problems in windows, controllers, sensors, and the like. Any one or more of the above parameters may identify an increase in impedance at any location from the power source to (and including) the switchable device. This path may include a group of switchable devices, bus bars connected to the devices, leads attached to the bus bars, connectors to lead attachments or IGUs, wires between the connectors (IGUs) and the power source (sometimes referred to as "pigtails"). As an example, a change in any one or more of the parameters 1a to 1e may indicate corrosion caused by water in the window frame. Models using a combination of these parameters can identify the characteristics of such corrosion and accurately report this problem remotely.

As a further example, the following information may be derived from the window controller state and the zone state change:

a. any window controller that is not synchronized with its zone-this may be due to communication problems [ instance: if multiple controllers are present in a zone of a site and one of these controllers behaves as expected, the site monitoring system may infer that the anomalous controller did not receive or follow the command via the communication network. The site monitoring system may take steps to isolate the source of the problem and correct the problem. ]

b. The longest switching time of the zone and the adjustment to switch all glasses at the same rate the site monitoring system can identify a particular switchable device that does not switch at the required rate or the expected rate. Without replacing or modifying the device, the monitoring station may modify the switching algorithm so that the device switches at an expected rate. For example, if the device is observed to switch too slowly, its drive or ramping of the drive voltage may be increased. This may be done remotely, and automatically in certain implementations. ]

As yet another example, the following information may be derived from the system log:

a. any change in the frequency of communication errors-an increase in noise or device degradation received communications from the controller may slow down or stop. Alternatively, the sending communication may not be acknowledged or performed. ]

b. Connection degradation where the pigtail (or other connection) begins to exhibit disconnection [ in some embodiments, a connector, e.g., containing memory and/or logic, provides a signal indicating that it has become disconnected. The window controller may receive such signals, which may be recorded at a remote site monitoring system. Another description of pigtails and other electrical connection features is presented in U.S. patent application No. 14/363,769, filed 6/2014, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. ]

As yet another example, the following information may be derived from system photosensor data:

a. any degradation over time this may manifest as a reduction in signal amplitude. It may be caused by various factors including damage to the sensor, dirt on the sensor, obstacles present in front of the sensor, etc. ]

b. Correlation with external weather [ typically, a site monitoring system would assume that the photosensor output should be correlated with weather. ]

c. Comparison with zone state changes to ensure that the station's window control technique is functioning correctly [ the station monitoring system typically expects that a zone will change state when its photosensor output meets certain state change criteria. For example, if the sensor indicates a transition to sunny conditions, the switchable device in the zone should be colored. In certain embodiments, there are one or more photosensors per zone.

d. Any change in the surrounding environment after commissioning [ as an example, a tree grows in front of one or more sensors, a building is built in front of one or more sensors or a building scaffold stands in front of one or more sensors. Such changes in the ambient environment may be evidenced by multiple sensors being affected by changes that are similarly affected (e.g., their photosensor outputs fall simultaneously). Commissioning serves to provide information about the deployment of sensors, controllers and/or switchable optical devices in a station, among other purposes. Commissioning is further described in PCT application No. PCT/US2013/036456, filed on 12.4.2013, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. ]

As another example, the following information may be derived from a state change driven log file analysis:

a. per-zone override-further tuning the control algorithm for a zone the site monitoring system may learn the requirements of a particular site and adapt its learning algorithm to address the requirements. Various types of adaptive learning are described in PCT application No. PCT/US2013/036456, filed on 12.4.2013, which was previously incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. ]

b. Mobile device versus wall switch override-consumer preference when overrides are observed, the monitoring system can notice which type of device initiated the override, e.g., wall switch or mobile device. More frequent use of the wall switch may indicate a training problem or a problem with the window application on the mobile device. ]

c. Time/frequency of various states — usefulness of each state when multiple hue states are available and some are underutilized, it can indicate to a remote monitoring system that a problem exists with a particular state. The system may change the transmittance or other characteristics of the states. ]

d. Changes in market segments [ frequency of use (popularity) of certain states or other attributes of the switching characteristics of a site can be correlated to market segments. When the site monitoring system learns of this, it can develop and provide algorithms for the market. Examples of market segments include airports, hospitals, office buildings, schools, government buildings, etc. ]

e. Total number of transitions-expected number of cycles within warranty and life per market segment. This may provide in situ lifecycle information. ]

As a further example, the following information may be derived from the energy calculation:

a. energy saved by zone by season, total system energy savings by season [ the site monitoring system may compare energy savings from multiple sites to identify algorithms, device types, structures, etc. that provide improvements. Compare sites and improve lower performing sites. ]

b. Advanced energy load information is provided to the AC system by zones the building has a large thermal mass and therefore air conditioning and heating does not take effect immediately. In the case where a solar calculator or other predictive tool (described elsewhere herein) is used, the site monitoring system may provide advance notice to the HVAC system so it may begin transitioning earlier. This information may need to be provided in zones. Additionally, the site monitoring system may color one or more windows or zones to assist the HVAC system in completing its work. For example, if heat loads are expected on a particular facade, the site monitoring system may provide advance notice to the HVAC system and also tint windows on the sides of the building to reduce the cooling requirements that would otherwise be the cooling requirements of the HVAC. Depending on the speed of tinting of the window, the site monitoring system can properly calculate and time the tinting and HVAC activation sequences. For example, if the window is tinted slowly, the HVAC activation may be earlier, if it is tinted quickly, the HVAC signal to act on may be delayed or slowed down to reduce the load on the system. ]

In certain implementations, the window, controller and/or sensor has the performance or response that it was inspected at an initial point in time and then repeatedly re-inspected. In some cases, recent performance/response measurements are compared to previous performance/response measurements to detect trends, deviations, stability, etc. Adjustments may be made, or services may be provided, as desired, to address trends or deviations detected during the comparison. The set of relevant parameters of the window, sensor or controller may be referred to as a "fingerprint" of the device. Such parameters include voltage response, current response, communication fidelity, etc., as described elsewhere herein. In some embodiments, the windows, sensors and/or controllers are inspected and optionally fingerprinted at the factory. For example, the switchable window may undergo an aging process during which relevant parameters may be acquired. The window exhibiting the problem may compare its current performance to the previous fingerprint to optionally determine if a problem occurred after shipment/installation or during operation. Fingerprints may also optionally be automatically generated when a commissioning device (e.g., installed at a site and initially detected and classified). The fingerprint may be stored in a memory associated with the window, such as in the pigtail. In certain embodiments, the site monitoring system may remotely and automatically reprogram memory in the pigtail (or other memory). Commissioning is described in PCT patent application No. PCT/US2013/036456, filed on 12.4.2013, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

In some embodiments, during commissioning at a new site, the site monitoring system compares the designed site layout to the actual commissioned layout to mark any discrepancies during commissioning. This can be used to correct devices, controllers, etc. at the site or to correct design documents. In some cases, the site monitoring system only verifies that all window controllers, network controllers, zones, etc. match between the design document and the actual site implementation. In other cases, an exhaustive analysis is performed, which may verify cable length, etc. The comparison may also identify installation issues, such as incorrect photosensor orientations, defective photosensors, etc., and optionally automatically correct such issues. As indicated, during commissioning, the site monitoring system may obtain and store initial fingerprints of many or all individual components in the site, including voltage/current measurements at the switchable optical devices for different device transitions. Such fingerprints may be used to periodically check stations and detect degradation in upstream hardware (i.e., wiring, power, Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS)) as well as in window controllers and switchable optical devices. U.S. patent application No. 62/019,325, filed 6/30 2014, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, describes the use of a UPS in a switchable optical window network.

While much of the discussion herein focuses on systems for detecting and diagnosing problems with networks of switchable optical devices, another aspect of the present disclosure pertains to site monitoring systems that utilize these capabilities: automatically collecting data, automatically detecting problems and potential problems, automatically notifying personnel or systems of problems or potential problems, automatically correcting such problems or potential problems, and/or automatically interfacing with building or company systems to analyze data, implement corrections, generate service tickets, and the like.

Examples of such automated features of the site monitoring system may include:

1. if there is a slow degradation in the current to the window (or other characteristic of the non-fatal problem of the switching current received by the window), the site monitoring system can automatically correct this problem by, for example, directing a controller associated with the window to increase the switching voltage to the window. The system may calculate the increase in voltage using empirical and/or analytical techniques that correlate changes in the current drawn or optical switching properties to changes in the applied voltage. The change in voltage may be limited to a range, for example, that defines a range of security levels for the voltage or current of the devices in the window network. The change in voltage may be implemented by the site monitoring system reprogramming one or more memories storing the tone transition instructions for the window in question. For example, a memory associated with the window in the pigtail, such as a window, is programmed from the factory to contain window parameters that allow the window controller to determine the appropriate drive voltage for the electrochromic coating associated with the window. If there is degradation or similar, one or more of these parameters may need to be changed and thus the site monitoring system may reprogram the memory. This may be done, for example, where the window controller automatically generates the drive voltage parameter based on stored values in a memory (e.g., a memory associated with the pigtail). That is, rather than the site monitoring system sending new driver parameters to the window controller, the system may simply reprogram the window memory so that the window controller can determine the new driver parameters itself. Of course, the site monitoring system may also provide the hue transition parameters to the window controller, which may then apply them according to its own internal protocol, which may involve storing them in an associated memory or providing them to a higher level network controller.

2. If there is slow degradation in the photosensor (or other feature of the sensor that causes less accurate readings), the site monitoring system can automatically correct the sensor readings before using the readings for other purposes, such as input for an optical device switching algorithm. In certain embodiments, the site monitoring system applies an offset within a certain limit to compensate for the photosensor readings. This allows for example uninterrupted occupant comfort and automatic adjustment of window tinting to improve aesthetics. Also, for example, the occupant may not be aware that any of these changes to the window and/or related components or software have occurred.

3. If the system detects that a room is occupied or knows that a room will normally be occupied, and the shading algorithm applies a shade after glare begins, the site monitoring system may automatically adjust the shading algorithm to start earlier when a room is occupied or predicted to be occupied. In certain embodiments, the glare is detected by a photosensor located in or outside the room in which the glare occurs. The algorithm may use occupancy sensors located in the room.

4. When the system detects a difference in tinting times for different windows in the same facade, this can cause all windows to be tinted at the same time, and optionally to the same tint level (if the occupant wants to tint the entire facade at the same time) by automatically adjusting the ramping voltage parameter.

5. The site monitoring system may detect a window controller that is out of sync with other window controllers for a group of windows in a zone or facade. The description of fig. 18A-H contains a detailed explanation of such an example. The system may then automatically bring the windows back into synchronization by adjusting the applied switching voltage or by taking other corrective action within its control.

The remote monitoring system may collect and use local climate information, site lighting information, site thermal load information, and/or weather feed data for various purposes. The following are several examples.

Weather service rating: there are existing services that rely on weather feeds/data to sell and/or enable their services. For example, "intelligent sprinklers" and even landscaping companies that use conventional sprinkler systems use weather data to program their watering patterns. These weather data are typically local, e.g., zip code based data, and there are multiple sources of weather data. In certain embodiments, the remote monitoring system uses the actual data it collects to rate the predicted weather service for any given area. The system may determine which is the most accurate and provide the service rating dependent on the weather feed. Any given weather service may be more accurate depending on the geographic region, e.g., weather service a may be optimal in san francisco, but not as good in Santa Clara Valley (Santa Clara Valley) (better in Santa Clara Valley service B). The system can provide a rating service that identifies which weather feed is more reliable in a given area by collecting its actual sensor data, performing statistical analysis, and providing the customer with valuable intelligence. This information is useful to entities other than sites; examples include sprinkler companies, companies using or controlling solar panels, outdoor venues, any entity that is dependent on weather.

Weather service: the site monitoring system may collect sensor data for a large geographic area in real time. In some implementations, it provides this data to the weather service so that the weather service can more accurately provide the weather data. In other words, weather services rely heavily on satellite images and larger sky pattern data feeds. Information from one or more sites with widely deployed switchable optical devices and associated sensors can provide real-time ground information about the sun, clouds, heat, etc. Combining these two data can achieve a more accurate weather forecast. This approach can be seen as creating a sensor network across countries or other geographical areas where multiple sites exist.

The consumer behavior is as follows: indirect data from the end user mode may be collected, for example, by knowing the time and manner in which the end user colored or bleached an optically tintable window in any geographic location or region. In certain embodiments, data collected by the site monitoring system is analyzed for patterns that may have value to other consumer product suppliers. For example, "heavy-duty colorant" may indicate: rejection of sun/heat, the fact that there is a high level of sunlight, the need for more water in the zone, a well-timed zone selling more sunglasses, etc. Likewise, "heavy-duty decolorant" may indicate a relative trend that would be useful to suppliers selling, for example: sun lamps, tea, books, heating pads, boilers, body drying cabinets, and the like.

The window controller and/or site monitoring system of the present disclosure may be used in conjunction with a Building Management System (BMS), which is a computer-based control system installed in a building that monitors and controls the mechanical and electrical equipment of the building, such as the ventilation, lighting, power systems, elevators, fire protection systems, and security systems described above. In some embodiments, the BMS may not be present or the BMS may be present, but may not communicate with the master network controller or communicate with the master network controller at a high level, such as when the site monitoring system communicates directly with the master window controller. In these embodiments, the master network controller may provide, for example, enhanced: 1) environmental control, 2) energy savings, 3) flexibility in control options, 4) improved reliability and usable life due to other systems that are less dependent on and therefore less maintained, 5) information availability and diagnostics, 6) efficient use of personnel, and various combinations of these, as the tintable window is automatically controlled. In these embodiments, maintenance on the BMS will not disrupt control of the tintable window.

In certain implementations, the BMS may communicate with the site monitoring system to receive control signals from one or more systems in the site network and transmit the monitoring data. In other embodiments, the site monitoring system may communicate directly with the master window controller and/or other systems in the site network to manage the system.

Fig. 9A and 9B depict examples of building network block diagrams. As described above, such networks may include any number of different communication protocols operable over a local data bus, including BACnet and CANopen. As shown in the first example of fig. 9A, the site network 900A includes a master network controller 903A, a lighting control panel 910, a BMS 905, a security control system 920, and a user console 925. These various controllers and systems at the site may be used to receive input from and/or control the HVAC system 930, lights 935, security sensors 940, door locks 945, cameras 950 and tintable windows 955 of the site. As shown in the second example of fig. 9B, the site network 900B is communicatively coupled with the master network controller 903B, and, similar to the site network 900A, includes a lighting control panel 910, a BMS 905, a security control system 920, and a user console 925, which may be used to receive input from and/or control HVAC systems 930, lights 935, security sensors 940, door locks 945, cameras 950, and tintable windows 955 of the site. In the example shown in fig. 9B, the master network controller 903B may be incorporated into a site monitoring and control system, such as the site monitoring and control system 800 described above in connection with fig. 8. The master network controller 903A and the master control network 903B may operate in a similar manner as the master network controller 603 described in connection with FIG. 6.

In some cases, the BMS 905 may communicate with and receive instructions from a site monitoring and control system (such as the site monitoring and control system 800 described above in connection with fig. 8) for controlling the tintable window. In other embodiments, the network 900B may communicate with a cloud-based master network controller 903B by way of the internet to control tintable windows in a building.

The lighting control panel 910 may contain circuitry to control interior lighting, exterior lighting, emergency warning lights, emergency exit signs, and emergency floor exit lighting. The lighting control panel 910 may also contain occupancy sensors in the room of the site. The BMS 905 may contain a computer server that receives data from and issues commands to other systems and controllers of the site network. For example, the BMS 905 may receive data from and issue commands to each of the lighting control panel 910 and the safety control system 920. The security control system 920 may include magnetic card channels, turnstiles, electromagnetic-actuated door locks, surveillance cameras, burglar alarms, metal detectors, and the like. User console 925 may be a computer terminal that may be used by a site manager to schedule the operation of control, monitoring, optimization, and troubleshooting of the different systems of the site. Software from Tridium corporation may generate visual representations of data from different systems of user console 925. In some embodiments, BMS 905 may receive data from and issue commands to a respective primary control network 903A or 903B.

In some cases, site network 900A or 900B may operate according to a daily, monthly, quarterly, or yearly schedule. For example, lighting control systems, window control systems, HVAC and security systems may operate based on a 24 hour schedule that takes into account when people are at a site during a work day. At night, the station may enter an energy saving mode, and during the day, the system may operate in a manner that minimizes energy consumption of the station while providing occupant comfort. As another example, the system may shut down or enter a power saving mode during the vacation.

The schedule information may be combined with the geographic information. The geographic information may include the latitude and longitude of a site (e.g., a building). In the case of buildings, the geographical information may also contain information about the direction in which each side of the building is facing. Using such information, different rooms on different sides of a building may be controlled in different ways. For example, for an eastern room of a winter building, the window controller may indicate that the window has no tint in the morning so that the room is warmed up due to sunlight shining in the room, and the lighting control panel may indicate that the lights are dimmed due to sunlight shining. The westernward window may be controlled by the occupants of the room in the morning because the tint of the west-side window may have no effect on energy savings. However, the operational modes of the eastern and western windows may be switched at night (e.g., when the sun is on, the western window is uncolored to allow sunlight in for heating and lighting).

Fig. 10 is a block diagram of components of a system 1000 for controlling the functionality (e.g., transitioning to different tint levels) of one or more tintable windows of a building (e.g., building 501 shown in fig. 5) according to another embodiment. System 1000 may or may not be communicatively coupled with a BMS (not shown) or may operate independently of a BMS or with a building that does not include a BMS.

Similarly, for the system 600 described in connection with fig. 6, the system 1000 includes a window control system 1002 having a network of window controllers that can send control signals to tintable windows to control their functions. The system 1000 also includes a cloud-based master controller 1003 in electronic communication with the network controller 606. Predictive control logic, other control logic and instructions for controlling the function of the tintable window, sensor data, and/or schedule information about a clear sky model may be communicated by the network 606 to the network controller 603 over the internet. In the example shown, the network controller is communicatively coupled with the local window controller by a local data bus (e.g., a CAN bus). In another example, the master controller 1003 may communicate with a BMS (not shown) to allow the BMS to send instructions for controlling the tintable EC devices/windows to the tintable windows over a local data bus.

Fig. 11 is a simplified block diagram of a building site interfacing with a cloud-based monitoring and control system, according to some embodiments. In the illustrated example, the building site 1100 includes an electrochromic window 1155 that is communicatively coupled with a window controller 1110. In the example shown, window controller 1110 is communicatively coupled with CAN manager 1120 by means of a CAN bus. In some embodiments, CAN manager 1120 may be implemented on an on-board host device. CAN manager 1120 CAN include CAN interface (I/F)1122 communicatively coupled with the CAN bus and network API 1124 communicatively coupled with network client 1103. The web API 1124 may be configured to receive and process HTTP instructions received from the web client 1103. In some instances, network client 1103 may be or include a primary network controller 1003. Alternatively or additionally, the network client 1103 may include a human operator interface, such as one or more consoles that may be configured to be accessible using workstations, portable computers, mobile devices such as smart phones, and to present information about the functionality of the devices in the site.

Fig. 12 illustrates features of a CAN manager according to some embodiments. In the illustrated example, in addition to the network API 1124 and the CAN I/F1122, the CAN manager 1120 also includes functional module blocks such as a window parameter control block 1121, a CAN bus monitoring block 1123, and a debug block 1125. The window parameter control block 1121 may be configured to execute instructions received via the network API 1124 to change the tint state of an electrochromic window. Such instructions may be executed, for example, by setting parameter values on a window controller (not shown) communicatively coupled with CAN I/F1122 via a CAN bus. The CAN bus monitoring block 1123 may be configured to monitor the health and status of devices in communication with the CAN bus, particularly the electrochromic window and any sensors and controllers associated with the operation of the electrochromic window, by way of the CAN I/F1122. Such monitoring information may be stored locally and/or uploaded (periodically or on-demand) to the network client 1103 (not shown) by way of the network API 1124. In the example shown, CAN manager 1120 optionally includes a debug block 1125 by which a network client CAN manage the debugging of the electrochromic window as described above.

Fig. 13 is a flow chart showing an example of a method of monitoring and/or controlling a remote building site using a cloud-based system. As described above, each site may include an electrochromic window network and window controller and at least one network controller. At block 1310, method 1300 may begin by receiving, at a cloud-based system, data from at least one network controller regarding a function of a respective network. In response to the received data, at block 1320, the method may end by sending data and/or control messages from the cloud-based system to the at least one network controller.

It should be appreciated that the techniques described above may be implemented in the form of control logic using computer software in a modular or integrated manner. Based on the disclosure and teachings provided herein, a person of ordinary skill in the art will know and appreciate other ways and/or methods to implement the disclosed techniques using hardware and a combination of hardware and software.

Any of the software components or functions described in this application may be implemented as software code executed by a processor using any suitable computer language, such as Java, C + +, or Python, using, for example, conventional or object-oriented techniques. The software code may be stored as a series of instructions or commands on a computer readable medium, such as a Random Access Memory (RAM), a Read Only Memory (ROM), a magnetic medium such as a hard drive or floppy disk, a magnetic disk, or an optical medium such as a CD-ROM. Any such computer-readable media may reside on or within a single computing device and may exist on or within different computing devices within a system or network.

Although the foregoing disclosed embodiments have been described in some detail for purposes of clarity of understanding, the described embodiments are to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive. It will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that certain changes and modifications may be practiced within the scope of the appended claims.

Although the embodiments of the foregoing disclosure for controlling illumination received through a window or building interior have been described in the context of a light switchable window, such as an electrochromic window, it can be appreciated how the methods described herein can be implemented on a suitable controller to adjust the position of window shading, window drapes, curtains, or any other device that can be adjusted to limit or block light from reaching the building interior space. In some cases, the methods described herein may be used to control the tint of one or more optically switchable windows and the position of a window blanking device. All such combinations are intended to be within the scope of the present disclosure.

One or more features from any embodiment may be combined with one or more features of any other embodiment without departing from the scope of this disclosure. Further, modifications, additions, or omissions may be made to any of the embodiments without departing from the scope of the disclosure. The components of any embodiment may be integrated or separated according to particular needs without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

While preferred embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described herein, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that such embodiments are provided by way of example only. The present invention is not intended to be limited to the specific embodiments provided in the specification. While the invention has been described with reference to the foregoing specification, the description and illustration of the embodiments herein is not meant to be construed in a limiting sense. Numerous variations, changes, and substitutions will now occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the invention. Further, it is to be understood that all aspects of the present invention are not limited to the specific descriptions, configurations, or relative proportions set forth herein according to various conditions and variations. It should be understood that various alternatives to the embodiments of the invention described herein may be employed in practicing the invention. It is therefore contemplated that the present invention shall also cover any such alternatives, modifications, variations or equivalents. It is intended that the following claims define the scope of the invention and that methods and structures within the scope of these claims and their equivalents be covered thereby.

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