Multi-sensor having a light diffusing element around a periphery of a ring of photosensors

Abstract

Various implementations relate generally to a multi-sensor device. Some implementations more particularly relate to a multi-sensor device including a ring of radially-oriented photosensors. Some implementations more particularly relate to a multi-sensor device that is orientation-independent with respect to a central axis of the ring. Some implementations of the multi-sensor devices described herein also include one or more additional sensors. For example, some implementations include an axially-directed photosensor. Some implementations also can include one or more temperature sensors configured to sense an exterior temperature, for example, an ambient temperature of an outdoors environment around the multi-sensor. Additionally or alternatively, some implementations can include a temperature sensor configured to sense an interior temperature within the multi-sensor device. Particular implementations provide, characterize, or enable a compact form factor. Particular implementations provide, characterize, or enable a multi-sensor device requiring little or no wiring, and in some such instances, little or no invasion, perforation or reconstruction of a building or other structure on which the multi-sensor device is mounted.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus of sensing sun radiation for adjusting tint of one or more tintable windows of a building, the apparatus comprising:
 a rigid structure having a closed circumference, the rigid structure configured to connect to a mast disposed externally to the building and connected to the building; and   a plurality of photosensors disposed in the closed circumference, the plurality of photosensors configured to (i) sense the sun radiation, and (ii) generate data used to control tinting of the one or more tintable windows of the building, the rigid structure configured to enable the sun radiation to reach the plurality of photosensors;   the apparatus configured to operatively couple to a control system that: (i) utilizes the data to control tinting of the one or more tintable windows; and (ii) provides instructions to modify functioning of the apparatus.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a microcontroller. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions comprise instructions to calibrate one or more photosensors of the plurality of photosensors. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions comprise instructions to calibrate at least one sensor other than photosensors of the plurality of photosensors. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a memory device. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the closed circumference of the rigid structure comprises at least one light diffusing element. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein at least one photosensor of the plurality of photosensors is positioned towards an interior of the rigid structure relative to the at least one light diffusing element. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a network interface configured for communicatively coupling the apparatus to the control system. 
     
     
         9 . An apparatus for sensing sun radiation for adjusting tint of one or more tintable windows of a building, the apparatus comprising:
 one or more controllers configured to:   (I) communicatively couple to a radiation sensing system, the radiation sensing system comprising: (a) a rigid structure having a closed circumference, the rigid structure configured to connect to a mast disposed externally to the building and connected to the building; and (b) a plurality of photosensors disposed in the closed circumference, the plurality of photosensors configured to (i) sense the sun radiation, and (ii) generate data used to control tinting of the one or more tintable windows of the building, the rigid structure configured to enable the sun radiation to reach the plurality of photosensors;   (II) direct the radiation sensing system to sense the sun radiation;   (III) utilize, or direct utilization of, the data to control tinting of the one or more tintable windows; and   (IV) provide, or direct provision of, instructions to modify functioning of the radiation sensing system.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein at least one controller of the one or more controllers is part of a hierarchical control system. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the hierarchical control system comprises at least three levels. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the one or more controllers are configured to utilize, or direct utilization of, the data to model shadows and/or reflections. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the one or more controllers are configured to transmit, or direct transmission of, a request to the radiation sensing system for the data. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the request is made periodically and/or responsive to a trigger condition. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the instructions to modify the functioning of the radiation sensing system are provided periodically and/or responsive to a trigger condition. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the one or more controllers are configured to determine, or direct determination of tint values for the one or more tintable windows. 
     
     
         17 . A non-transitory computer program instructions for sensing sun radiation for adjusting tint of one or more tintable windows of a building, the non-transitory computer program instructions, when read by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors operatively coupled to a radiation sensing system, to execute one or more operations comprising:
 (I) directing the radiation sensing system to sense the sun radiation, the radiation sensing system comprising: (a) a rigid structure having a closed circumference, the rigid structure configured to connect to a mast disposed externally to the building and connected to the building; and (b) a plurality of photosensors disposed in the closed circumference, the plurality of photosensors configured to (i) sense the sun radiation, and (ii) generate data used to control tinting of the one or more tintable windows of the building, the rigid structure configured to enable the sun radiation to reach the plurality of photosensors;   (II) utilizing, or directing utilization of, the data to control tinting of the one or more tintable windows; and   (III) providing, or directing provision of, instructions to modify functioning of the radiation sensing system.   
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory computer program instructions of  claim 17 , wherein the operations further comprise utilizing, or directing utilization of, the data to model shadows and/or reflections. 
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory computer program instructions of  claim 17 , wherein the operations further comprise transmitting, or directing transmission of, a request to the radiation sensing system for the data. 
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory computer program instructions of  claim 19 , wherein the operations comprise transmitting, or directing transmission of, the request periodically and/or responsive to a trigger condition. 
     
     
         21 . The non-transitory computer program instructions of  claim 17 , wherein the operations comprise providing, or directing provision of, the instructions periodically and/or responsive to a trigger condition. 
     
     
         22 . The non-transitory computer program instructions of  claim 17 , wherein the operations comprise determining, or directing determination of, tint values for the one or more tintable windows. 
     
     
         23 . The non-transitory computer program instructions of  claim 17 , wherein at least a portion of the operations are executed by a device that is configured for remote accesses 
     
     
         24 . The non-transitory computer program instructions of  claim 23 , wherein at least a portion of the operations are executed by a device that is remotely accessed. 
     
     
         25 . A system for sensing sun radiation for adjusting tint of one or more tintable windows of a building, the system comprising:
 a network configured to:
 (A) communicatively couple to a radiation sensing system comprising: (a) a rigid structure having a closed circumference, the rigid structure configured to connect to a mast disposed externally to a building and connected to the building; and (b) a plurality of photosensors disposed in the closed circumference, the plurality of photosensors configured to (i) sense the sun radiation, and (ii) generate data used to control tinting of the one or more tintable windows of the building, the rigid structure configured to enable the sun radiation to reach the plurality of photosensors; and 
 (B) transmit (I) directions to the radiation sensing system to sense the sun radiation, (II) instructions to control tinting of the one or more tintable windows based at least in part on the data, and (III) instructions to modify functioning of the radiation sensing system. 
   
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the network is configured to utilize a transmission control protocol (TCP) to communicate diagnostic information and/or for firmware upgrades associated with the radiation sensing system. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the network is configured to transmit communication abiding by a vehicle bus standard protocol. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the network is configured to utilize a wireless communication protocol to receive and/or transmit signals. 
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein the wireless communication protocol is associated with a wireless personal area network. 
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the network is configured to transmit communication abiding by a communication bus protocol. 
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein the communication bus protocol facilitates upstream communication and downstream communication. 
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the network is configured to transit the data to a remote server and/or database.