Visible Light Sensor Glare Detection for Motorized Shade Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing load control systems for managing motorized window treatments often inaccurately control shades due to 'noise' glare conditions, such as reflections or small high-intensity light sources, leading to unnecessary adjustments and energy consumption.
Innovation Solution
A visible light sensor processes images to determine the position and intensity of glare sources, using pixel grouping and luminance thresholds adjusted based on image resolution to accurately identify glare conditions and control motorized window treatments effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If window sensors detect high light conditions to control motorized window treatments, then glare prevention is improved, but false detection of noise glare leads to unnecessary control adjustments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by analyzing the spatial distribution and characteristics of detected light sources. Instead of treating all high-light conditions uniformly, the system evaluates each detected source's position, intensity, and duration to determine whether it represents actual glare requiring treatment adjustment or noise to be ignored. This selective approach improves detection reliability while reducing unnecessary control actions.
2Extent of automation
If the system controls motorized window treatments based on predicted sun location, then automatic glare prevention is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements self-service by using sensor data from the actual environment to automatically adjust window treatments without requiring pre-programmed sun position calculations or complex predictive algorithms. The sensor-based detection and response mechanism allows the system to adapt autonomously to real-time lighting conditions, simplifying the control logic while maintaining high automation levels.
3Measurement precision
If the visible light sensor processes all pixels in an image to detect glare, then detection precision is improved, but processing time and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the image processing task into targeted regions rather than analyzing all pixels uniformly. The system focuses computational resources on areas where glare sources are most likely to occur or where high-luminance regions are detected, thereby maintaining detection precision while significantly reducing overall processing time and energy consumption.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system provides precise control over motorized window treatments, reducing unnecessary adjustments and energy consumption by accurately distinguishing between relevant and irrelevant glare sources, thereby enhancing occupant comfort and energy efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
A visible light sensor may process an image to determine the position of a glare source. The visible light sensor may process the pixels of the image to determine whether a glare condition exists. The visible light sensor may compare the luminance of the pixels in the image to a glare condition threshold.
Data Source
AI summary
A sensor and/or system controller may process an image multiple times at multiple resolutions to detect glare conditions. A glare condition threshold used to determine whether a glare condition exists may be based on the resolution of the image. When the resolution of the image is higher, the glare condition threshold may be higher. The sensor and/or system controller may organize one or more adjacent pixels having similar intensities into pixel groups. The pixel groups may vary in size and/or shape. The sensor and/or system controller may determine a representative group luminance for the pixel group (e.g., an average luminance of the pixels in the group). The sensor and/or system controller may determine a group glare condition threshold, which may be used to determine whether a glare condition exists for the group of pixels and/or may be based on the size of the group.