TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure generally relates to intelligent building control, and more specifically, to intelligent systems that utilize camera views of the sky in connection with control of building systems (e.g., window coverings, electrochromic glazings, HVAC, lighting, and the like).

BACKGROUND

A variety of automated systems currently exist for controlling window covering systems, lighting systems, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, and the like. However, these systems may be limited in their ability to respond to rapidly changing local or micro-climatic sky conditions (such as moving clouds, sunrise, sunset, and so forth), or to effectively predict future sky conditions. Accordingly, improved intelligent building control systems are desirable.

Lighting systems are now utilizing LED technology, which can permit discrete adjustment of light levels and/or adjustment of color temperature at the fixture level. Accordingly, improved systems, including sky camera systems, which take advantage of these capabilities are desirable.

SUMMARY

In various embodiments, a method comprises calculating for a location of interest on a building, by an automated control system and utilizing a first camera image of the sky, a color temperature associated with the location of interest; and performing, by the automated control system, at least one of: (i) communicating, to a building management system, information regarding the calculated color temperature at the location of interest, (ii) activating a motor to adjust a window covering associated with the location of interest, (iii) activating a glass controller to adjust a variable characteristic of a glass associated with the location of interest, (iv) communicating, to a lighting control system, information regarding the calculated color temperature at the location of interest, or (v) adjusting, by the automated control system, a color temperature of a lighting fixture associated with the location of interest.

The foregoing statements are intended as a simplified introduction to the disclosure, and are not intended to be utilized to limit the scope of any claim.

