Sunlight intensity or cloud detection with variable distance sensing

Abstract

Certain aspects pertain to a cloud detector comprising a first detector module directed to a first region of the sky and a second detector module directed to a second region of the sky. Each detector module has a tube enclosing one or more sensing elements. The one or more sensing elements of the first detector module are configured to take weather condition readings from the first region of the sky. The one or more sensing elements of the second detector module are configured to take weather condition readings from the second region of the sky. In one aspect, the cloud detector is configured to detect cloud cover based on these weather condition readings. In some cases, the one or more sensing elements comprise an infrared radiation detector (e.g., thermopile) for measuring infrared radiation intensity and a photosensor element for measuring sunlight intensity.

1 .- 48 . (canceled) 
     
     
         49 . A method of controlling one or more building systems, the method comprising:
 determining a weather condition using satellite data; and   using (i) the weather condition and/or (ii) input from a clear sky irradiance logic to control the one or more building systems.   
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein the satellite data includes infrared data. 
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein the satellite data comprises one or more satellite images. 
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein the satellite images are based on infrared wavelengths and/or visible light wavelengths. 
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein the one or more building systems includes an electrochromic window control system. 
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 49 , further comprising using the weather condition and/or input from the clear sky irradiance logic to determine tint decisions for controlling tint in one or more electrochromic windows. 
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 54 , further comprising delaying transitioning of the one or more electrochromic windows based on bias settings. 
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 54 , wherein the one or more electrochromic windows are in a building. 
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein the weather condition is determined using the satellite data and one or more sensor measurements. 
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein the weather condition comprises (I) a cloud condition and/or (II) a weather forecast. 
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 49 , further comprising determining a density of a least one cloud from the satellite data. 
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 49 , further comprising determining an amount of extraterrestrial radiation transmitted by at least one cloud from the satellite data. 
     
     
         61 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein the satellite data includes data of movement and evolution of at least one cloud. 
     
     
         62 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein the satellite data includes top view data of at least one cloud. 
     
     
         63 . The method of  claim 49 , further comprising:
 using the clear sky irradiance prediction logic to determine one or more tint levels for one or more electrochromic windows in a building; and   overriding the one or more tint levels based on the weather condition.   
     
     
         64 . An apparatus for controlling one or more building systems, the apparatus comprising at least one controller configured to:
 determine a weather condition using satellite data; and   use (i) the weather condition and/or (ii) input from a clear sky irradiance logic to control the one or more building systems.   
     
     
         65 . The apparatus of  claim 64 , wherein the satellite data includes infrared data. 
     
     
         66 . The apparatus of  claim 64 , wherein the satellite data comprises one or more satellite images. 
     
     
         67 . The apparatus of  claim 66 , wherein the satellite images are based on infrared wavelengths and/or visible light wavelengths. 
     
     
         68 . The apparatus of  claim 64 , wherein the one or more building systems includes an electrochromic window control system. 
     
     
         69 . The apparatus of  claim 64 , wherein the apparatus is further configured to use the weather condition and/or input from the clear sky irradiance logic to determine tint decisions for controlling tint in one or more electrochromic windows. 
     
     
         70 . The apparatus of  claim 69 , wherein the apparatus is further configured to delay transitioning of the one or more electrochromic windows based on bias settings. 
     
     
         71 . The apparatus of  claim 69 , wherein the one or more electrochromic windows are in a building. 
     
     
         72 . The apparatus of  claim 64 , wherein the weather condition is determined using the satellite data and one or more sensor measurements. 
     
     
         73 . The apparatus of  claim 64 , wherein the weather condition comprises (I) a cloud condition and/or (II) a weather forecast. 
     
     
         74 . The apparatus of  claim 64 , wherein the apparatus is further configured to determine a density of a least one cloud from the satellite data. 
     
     
         75 . The apparatus of  claim 64 , wherein the apparatus is further configured to determine an amount of extraterrestrial radiation transmitted by at least one cloud from the satellite data. 
     
     
         76 . The apparatus of  claim 64 , wherein the satellite data includes data of movement and evolution of at least one cloud. 
     
     
         77 . The apparatus of  claim 64 , wherein the satellite data includes top view data of at least one cloud. 
     
     
         78 . The apparatus of  claim 64 , wherein the apparatus is further configured to:
 use the clear sky irradiance prediction logic to determine one or more tint levels for one or more electrochromic windows in a building; and   override the one or more tint levels based on the weather condition.   
     
     
         79 . A non-transitory computer readable medium for controlling one or more building systems, the non-transitory computer readable medium, when read by one or more processors, is configured to direct operations comprising:
 determining a weather condition using satellite data; and   using (i) the weather condition and/or (ii) input from a clear sky irradiance logic to control the one or more building systems.   
     
     
         80 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 79 , wherein the satellite data includes infrared data. 
     
     
         81 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 79 , wherein the satellite data comprises one or more satellite images. 
     
     
         82 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 81 , wherein the satellite images are based on infrared wavelengths and/or visible light wavelengths. 
     
     
         83 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 79 , wherein the one or more building systems includes an electrochromic window control system. 
     
     
         84 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 79 , configured to direct operations further comprising using the weather condition and/or input from the clear sky irradiance logic to determine tint decisions for controlling tint in one or more electrochromic windows. 
     
     
         85 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 84 , configured to direct operations further comprising delaying transitioning of the one or more electrochromic windows based on bias settings. 
     
     
         86 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 84 , wherein the one or more electrochromic windows are in a building. 
     
     
         87 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 79 , wherein the weather condition is determined using the satellite data and one or more sensor measurements. 
     
     
         88 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 79 , wherein the weather condition comprises (I) a cloud condition and/or (II) a weather forecast. 
     
     
         89 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 79 , configured to direct operations further comprising determining a density of a least one cloud from the satellite data. 
     
     
         90 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 79 , configured to direct operations further comprising determining an amount of extraterrestrial radiation transmitted by at least one cloud from the satellite data. 
     
     
         91 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 79 , wherein the satellite data includes data of movement and evolution of at least one cloud. 
     
     
         92 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 79 , wherein the satellite data includes top view data of at least one cloud. 
     
     
         93 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 79 , configured to direct operations further comprising:
 using the clear sky irradiance prediction logic to determine one or more tint levels for one or more electrochromic windows in a building; and   overriding the one or more tint levels based on the weather condition.