Infrared cloud detector systems and methods

Abstract

Infrared cloud detector systems and methods for detecting cloud cover conditions.

1 - 46 . (canceled) 
     
     
         47 . A rooftop sensor system disposed on a building, the rooftop sensor system comprising:
 at least one infrared sensor; and   at least one ambient temperature sensor;   wherein the rooftop sensor system is configured to determine a cloud condition based in part on a sky temperature reading from the at least one infrared sensor and an ambient temperature reading from the at least one ambient temperature sensor.   
     
     
         48 . The rooftop sensor system of  claim 47 , wherein the rooftop sensor system is configured to determine the cloud condition based in part on a difference between the sky temperature reading and the ambient temperature reading. 
     
     
         49 . The rooftop sensor system of  claim 48 , wherein the rooftop sensor system is configured to apply one or more correction factors to the difference between the sky temperature reading and the ambient temperature reading before determining the cloud condition. 
     
     
         50 . The rooftop sensor system of  claim 48 , wherein the rooftop sensor system is configured to adjust the difference to account for humidity, an elevation of the sun, an angle of the sun, and/or an elevation of the building. 
     
     
         51 . The rooftop sensor system of  claim 48 , wherein the rooftop sensor system is configured to (A) determine the cloud condition is a clear condition if the difference is below a first threshold value and (B) determine the cloud condition is a cloudy condition if the difference is above a second threshold value. 
     
     
         52 . The rooftop sensor system of  claim 51 , wherein the rooftop sensor system is configured to determine the cloud condition is an intermediate condition if the difference is above the first threshold value and below the second threshold value. 
     
     
         53 . The rooftop sensor system of  claim 47 , wherein the cloud condition is determined to occur at a future time. 
     
     
         54 . The rooftop sensor system of  claim 47 , the rooftop sensor system further comprising, or in communication with, one or more window controllers configured to control tint of one or more tintable windows disposed in the building based in part on the cloud condition. 
     
     
         55 . The rooftop sensor system of  claim 54 , wherein the rooftop sensor system is configured to determine a tint state for one or more tintable windows disposed in the building based on the cloud condition determined and/or a calculated irradiance. 
     
     
         56 . The rooftop sensor system of  claim 55 , wherein the rooftop sensor system is configured to send instructions to the one or more window controllers to transition the one or more tintable windows to the tint state determined. 
     
     
         57 . The rooftop sensor system of  claim 47 , wherein the at least one infrared sensor is configured to generate the sky temperature reading based on infrared radiation received within its field-of-view and/or having wavelength above 5 μm. 
     
     
         58 . The rooftop sensor system of  claim 47 , wherein the at least one infrared sensor is configured to detect infrared radiation having wavelength in a range between 8 μm and 14 μm. 
     
     
         59 . The rooftop sensor system of  claim 47 , wherein the at least one infrared sensor comprises at least one of an infrared thermometer, an infrared radiometer, an infrared pyrgeometer, and an infrared pyrometer. 
     
     
         60 . The rooftop sensor system of  claim 47 , further comprising a light diffusing material between the at least one infrared sensor and an environment outside the building. 
     
     
         61 . The rooftop sensor system of  claim 47 ,
 further comprising at least one photosensor;   wherein the rooftop sensor system is configured to determine the cloud condition:   (I) based in part on the sky temperature reading from the at least one infrared sensor and the ambient temperature reading from the at least one ambient temperature sensor if a time of day is (i) between a first time before a sunrise time and a second time after the sunrise time or (ii) between a third time before a sunset time and the sunset time; and   (II) based in part on an intensity reading from the at least one photosensor if the time of day is between the second time after the sunrise time and before the third time before the sunset time.   
     
     
         62 . The rooftop sensor system of  claim 61 , wherein the time of day is a time at which the sky temperature reading, the ambient temperature reading, and the intensity reading are taken. 
     
     
         63 . The rooftop sensor system of  claim 61 , wherein if the time of day is (i) between the first time before the sunrise time and the second time after the sunrise time or (ii) between the third time before the sunset time and the sunset time, the cloud condition is determined based in part on a difference between the sky temperature reading and the ambient temperature reading. 
     
     
         64 . The rooftop sensor system of  claim 61 , wherein the at least one photosensor is configured to generate the intensity reading based on visible light received. 
     
     
         65 . A method of controlling at least one tintable window disposed in a building, the method comprising:
 determining a tint state for the at least one tintable window based at least in part on a cloud condition, the cloud condition determined based in part on a sky temperature reading from at least one infrared sensor and an ambient temperature reading from at least one ambient temperature sensor; and   sending instructions to transition the at least one tintable window to the tint state determined.   
     
     
         66 . The method of  claim 65 , wherein the cloud condition is determined based in part on a difference between the sky temperature reading from the at least one infrared sensor and the ambient temperature reading from the at least one ambient temperature sensor. 
     
     
         67 . The method of  claim 66 , further comprising applying one or more correction factors to the difference between the sky temperature reading and the ambient temperature reading. 
     
     
         68 . The method of  claim 66 , further comprising adjusting the difference between the sky temperature reading and the ambient temperature reading to account for humidity, an elevation of the sun, an angle of the sun, and/or an elevation of the building. 
     
     
         69 . The method of  claim 66 , wherein the cloud condition is a clear condition if the difference is below a first threshold value and the cloud condition is a cloudy condition if the difference is above a second threshold value. 
     
     
         70 . The method of  claim 69 , wherein the cloud condition is an intermediate condition if the difference is above the first threshold value and below the second threshold value. 
     
     
         71 . The method of  claim 69 , wherein the first threshold value is between −5 degrees Celsius and −10 degrees Celsius and/or the second threshold value is in a range between −5 degrees Celsius to 0 degrees Celsius. 
     
     
         72 . The method of  claim 65 , wherein the at least one infrared sensor and the at least one ambient temperature sensor are disposed on a rooftop of the building. 
     
     
         73 . The method of  claim 65 , wherein the cloud condition is determined to occur at a future time. 
     
     
         74 . The method of  claim 65 , wherein the tint state is determined in part on the cloud condition and/or a calculated irradiance. 
     
     
         75 . A method of controlling at least one tintable window disposed in a building, the method comprising:
 determining a tint state for the at least one tintable window based at least in part on a cloud condition, the cloud condition determined from one or more of a sky temperature reading from at least one infrared sensor, an ambient temperature reading from at least one ambient temperature sensor, or an intensity reading from at least one photosensor; and   sending instructions to transition the at least one tintable window to the tint state determined.   
     
     
         76 . The method of  claim 75 , wherein the cloud condition is determined:
 (I) based in part on the sky temperature reading from the at least one infrared sensor and the ambient temperature reading from the at least one ambient temperature sensor if a time of day is (i) between a first time before a sunrise time and a second time after the sunrise time or (ii) between a third time before a sunset time and the sunset time; and   (II) based in part on the intensity reading from the at least one photosensor if the time of day is between the second time after the sunrise time and before the third time before the sunset time.   
     
     
         77 . The method of  claim 75 , wherein the at least one infrared sensor, the at least one ambient temperature sensor, and the at least one photosensor are disposed on a rooftop of the building. 
     
     
         78 . The method of  claim 75 , wherein the cloud condition is determined to occur at a future time. 
     
     
         79 . The method of  claim 76 , wherein the time of day is a time at which the sky temperature reading, the ambient temperature reading, and the intensity reading are taken. 
     
     
         80 . The method of  claim 76 , wherein the tint state is determined in part on the cloud condition and/or a calculated irradiance. 
     
     
         81 . The method of  claim 75 , further comprising applying one or more correction factors to a difference between the sky temperature reading and the ambient temperature reading. 
     
     
         82 . The method of  claim 75 , further comprising adjusting a difference between the sky temperature reading and the ambient temperature reading to account for humidity, an elevation of the sun, an angle of the sun, and/or an elevation of the building. 
     
     
         83 . The method of  claim 75 , wherein the cloud condition is a clear condition if a difference between the sky temperature reading and the ambient temperature reading is below a first threshold value and the cloud condition is a cloudy condition if the difference is above a second threshold value. 
     
     
         84 . The method of  claim 83 , wherein the cloud condition is an intermediate condition if the difference is above the first threshold value and below the second threshold value. 
     
     
         85 . The method of  claim 83 , wherein the first threshold value is between −5 degrees Celsius and −10 degrees Celsius and/or the second threshold value is in a range between −5 degrees Celsius to 0 degrees Celsius.