JPH09178552A - Photosensitive unit for facility controlling illumination level of building - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a photosensitive unit for controlling the illumination level of a building having opening for allowing intrusion of natural light. SOLUTION: The photosensitive unit comprises a photosensitive element 6 arranged on a base 7. The photosensitive element 6 cooperates with an integrating optical system 8. A mask 9 for light transmission is applied to the integrating optical system between two conical angles θ1 and θ2. The photosensitive unit attenuates the sensitivity of for a light entering the integrating optical system between conical aingles αCmin and αCmax.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The subject of the invention is a light-sensitive device for buildings, which has at least one opening which allows the entry of natural light, in which case the device is It is intended to be placed within the reach of the user in order to deliver a quantity that is sufficiently representative of the overall level of brightness for the entire interior.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art French patents FR2676842 and FR2677872 relate to a system for managing the comfort of lighting in a building, which includes at least one window compartment space in which light is allowed to enter. What is provided with a light-shielding means and an artificial lighting device is described. These shading or lighting means can be electrically operated by a remote control device, which is generally installed on the work surface or side table. These devices incorporate a brightness detector intended to transmit the state of the illumination to the processing logic unit, which processing logic unit illuminates the shading and illumination means according to the given illumination setting. The command to increase / decrease is sent.

[0003]

However, these systems for lighting management do not take into account the fact that most shading means exert a non-diffusive effect. This is evidenced by the appearance of heavily illuminated areas and dark areas under direct sunlight conditions. Such areas appear, for example, in the case of front sunshades, screens or inter-panel shades. The resulting effect on the building may be considered satisfactory from the resident's point of view, in spite of the presence of these shading and strong lighting areas, where the resident is It is more sensitive to the overall level of illumination than the spatial distribution.

Due to their small size, the detectors are located in places that are directly intensely illuminated or are only illuminated by scattering from the entire surface. Since the illuminance of the surface directly illuminated by the sun is hundreds of times higher than the illuminance of the same surface subject to the brightness of the other surfaces of the room, the element detector is at two points separated by several centimeters. It produces very different values, in which case the overall level of illumination is the same.

When manipulating the front awning, the shadows may move and reach the detector, but if the measurements given by the detector are of excessive brightness, a closing command is issued. It should be done. In this case, the detector is suddenly dominated by a very large decrease in brightness, which logically leads to open operation. In this case, it is difficult to avoid the vibrational operation of the light shielding means.

Previously proposed solutions to this problem have been to place a lightness detector on the ceiling of the building so that direct sunlight does not reach the detector.
It is now prudent to have the brightness detector cooperate with the means of remote control of the shading means which must be accessible to the occupant. It is a further advantage that the detector is sensitive to the level of illumination in the vicinity of the user, for example on the work surface, the bedside table.

In view of the problems thus imposed, especially those with contradictory viewpoints, the object of the present invention is to produce a detector of small size, which enables a practical solution to said problem. It is to be.

This object is achieved by a light-sensitive device according to the invention, which device comprises at least one light-sensitive element cooperating with a weighted integrating optical system. , The optical system exhibits diminished sensitivity in the area between the two cone angle values αCmin and αCmax, the aspect of which is that αCmin is less than αSmin, αCmax is greater than αSmax, and αC is photosensitivity. It represents the cone angle of the cone with the element at the apex, and the spherical angles αSmin and αSmax represent the limits of the spherical part centered on the light-sensitive element and inside which the light-sensitive element can be directly illuminated by sunlight.

Since the weighted integrating optics system exhibits reduced sensitivity in areas where the detector can be directly illuminated by sunlight, the intensity of the direct sun rays sensed by the detector is Is smaller. The detector is therefore less sensitive to direct sunlight and reacts exclusively to the overall level of illumination.

Preferably, the weighted integrating optical system is made of injection molded material and the light sensitive element is embedded in the material of the optical system.

The invention will be described more clearly with the aid of illustrative embodiments represented in the accompanying drawings.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In the following description, all unspecified angle values are given for the vertical direction.

1 and 2 represent a building 1 in which a light-sensitive device 2 is arranged on a table 3. The device 2 is capable of sensing direct sunlight between the angles αS1 and αS2, the angles αS1 and αS2 depending on the heights HBmin and HBmax (FIG. 1) of the window compartment space or at the extreme altitude of the sun. Value (FIG. 2) or a combination of the two.

These angles αS1 and αS2 are the angles αSm.
bounded by in and αSmax, the angle αSmin
Is the angle αS1 when the light-sensitive element moves in the building.
Represents the limit value of closure of the angle αSmax is the angle αS
It represents the limit value of opening 2. The volume of use of the device according to the invention varies from building to building. This volume keeps αSmin greater than αCmin and αSmax greater than αCmax at each point.

In FIGS. 3 and 4, the volume of use is for a weighted integrating optical system where the plane of attenuated sensitivity is limited by the angles αCmin = 20 ° and αCmax = 80 °, and the ray is zero. ° and 90 °
A decision is made about the sunlight that can be sensed between. In order to determine the volume of use of the device, in a vertical cross section of the building, a straight line 4 having an inclination αCmin with respect to the vertical direction and inclined with respect to the upper part of the window division space, and an inclination αCmax with respect to the vertical direction of the window division space. It is sufficient to follow the straight line 5 which is inclined to the bottom. If the device is located to the left of line 4 or above line 5, the sunlight will
Directly irradiate a part of the surface of the device whose sensitivity is not attenuated.

Therefore, these two lines determine the volume within which a particular device may be used.
A device with the above values αCmin and αCmax is
It has a much smaller volume of use V1 in the building of FIG. In contrast, in the building shown in Figure 4,
The volume V1 of this use is now larger.

In fact, the zenith height of the sun is determined by the latitude of the point, and in most cases (in cities or hilly areas) the sun's altitude at the horizon is greater than 20 °. Therefore, in such a location, for a device having similar angular characteristics as in FIGS. 3 and 4, the arrangement of buildings and window compartments would be such that the detector illuminated by the sun on the zenith or horizon. The danger of is no longer important.

In FIG. 5, the volume of use of a device with these same characteristics is of the same type as in FIG. 3, but is maintained such that the noon sun is always greater than 20 ° from vertical. It describes a building located at latitude and in an environment where the sun never appears less than 20 ° above the horizon. In such a case, the device can be installed anywhere in the chamber.

In FIG. 6, the volume of use of the same device is
Described for the same type of building that is under the same environmental conditions, but at a latitude closer to the equator and where the sun can be located at less than 20 ° from the vertical. In this case, the volume of use V2 is limited.

The device according to the invention must satisfy the following compromises as much as possible: ● The presence of a narrow, attenuated area, which allows
The light-sensitive element represents as much as possible the overall lighting of the building, at the risk of limiting the volume in which the device can be used, without the risk of exposing the light-sensitive element to direct sunlight. Allows for the transmission of information, ● The presence of a fairly wide area of attenuated sensitivity, which allows the device to operate in any area of the building without risking exposure of the light-sensitive element to direct sunlight. Be able to be placed in points.

FIG. 7 schematically shows a detector satisfying the above conditions. This detector comprises a light sensitive element 6.
The light-sensitive element is arranged on a pedestal 7 containing detector electronics that cooperate with a weighted integrating optics system 8. This detector exhibits a reduced sensitivity in the area 9 lying between the two values of the angles θ1 and θ2. θ1 (also for θ2) is chosen as a function of the weighted integral system 8 and the optical properties of the desired cone angle αCmax (also for αCmin).

As shown in FIG. 8, the law of sensitivity of the integrator can cause abrupt changes. The sensitivity is, for example, equal to 0.01 for the surface lying between the cone angles αCmin and αCmax and 1 for the remaining surfaces.
Can be equal to.

The law of sensitivity also has a gradually changing shape as shown in FIG. 9 with a steeper or less steep slope in going from the more sensitive to less sensitive areas of the device. It is possible.

Since the brightness of the sun at sunrise or at sunset is smaller than that of the zenith sun, the inclination in the vicinity of the cone angle αCmax is, as shown in FIG.
The steepness can be less than the slope near min.

Between 0 ° and αCmin, the sensitivity is normal, so that, for example, illumination from the ceiling is
It allows integration between max and the selected angle of 120 °, for example the integration of lighting from the work surface and floor. This 120 ° angle can be varied depending on the aperture of the area of normal integration.

11-14 show some preferred embodiments of the process according to the invention, in which two
The value of 0 ° is the angle αCmin, and the value of 80 ° is the angle αCm.
Assigned to ax, these values correspond to a compromise regarding the building of a city in an industrialized country at a latitude of 45 °.

The various exemplary embodiments of the device according to the invention represent the angle-dependent sensitivity curves of different illuminations for different geometries, the sensitivity of certain angular sections also being attenuated. It can be corrected by attaching a mask for use. For clarity, the connections between the light sensitive elements and their electronics are not shown in the figures.

FIG. 11 schematically shows a device according to a first embodiment of the invention. The device comprises an element 10 that is light-sensitive in the upper horizontal plane and the lower horizontal plane.
This light sensitive element 10 comprises a spherical integral optical system 11 mounted on a pedestal 12 containing the electronic circuitry of the device.
Placed in the center of A mask 13 for light transmission is attached to the surface of the integrated optical system between cone angles θ3 and θ4. In this particular embodiment, the angle θ3
(Also for θ4) is the angle αCmin (αCmax
Also about).

Rays at an angle between 0 ° and αCmin and between αCmax and 120 ° are immediately diffracted upon penetrating the integrated optical system 11 and are then detected by the light-sensitive element 10.
To reach. Light rays incident at an angle between αCmin and αCmax will also arrive at the photosensitive element after diffraction, but in this case the intensity will be significantly reduced due to the mask 13 for light transmission.

FIG. 12 schematically shows a device according to a second embodiment of the invention. The device comprises a centrally located element 14 of an integrating optics system 15 in the form of a spheroid, the upper and lower horizontal planes of which are light-sensitive and which contain the electronics of the device. The pedestal 16 is installed. This optical system 15 is covered with a mask 17 for light transmission between cone angles θ5 and θ6.

For the above embodiment, 0 ° and αCmi
Light rays with an angle between n and between αCmax and 120 ° reach the photosensitive element 14 after diffraction upon penetration into the integrating optical system. αCmin and αC
Incidents at angles lying between max are first attenuated in intensity by the mask 17 for light transmission.

The apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG.
Is shown in The device comprises an element 18 whose upper and lower two horizontal planes are light-sensitive and centrally located in an integrating optical system 19, which is fixed to a pedestal 20 containing the electronic circuitry of the device. ing. The optical system 19 consists of two spheroidal parts 19a, 19b, which are symmetric with respect to the horizontal plane through the light-sensitive element 18 and are interconnected by a cylindrical part 19c. The upper spheroidal portion 19a is covered with a mask 21 for light transmission between cone angles θ7 and θ8.

Light rays at angles between 0 ° and αCmin and between αCmax and 120 ° reach the light-sensitive element 18 immediately after diffraction during penetration into the optical device. αC
Light rays with an angle between min and αCmax are attenuated in intensity as they pass through the mask 21 for light transmission.

FIG. 14 shows an apparatus according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. In this figure, an element 22 whose upper horizontal plane is light sensitive, and a pedestal 2 which contains the electronic circuitry of the device.
4 has an integrating optical system 23 installed on it.
The integrating optics 23 has differently shaped outer and inner surfaces that are symmetrical about the vertical axis.

The upper part 23a of the outer surface has the shape of a paraboloid of revolution with a focal point F1 and extends as a vertical cylindrical part 23b which extends as an annular part 23c. This annular portion is formed by rotating a circle with center F2 about the vertical axis of symmetry of optical system 23.

The inner surface has a hemispherical upper portion with 23d as the center F1 and extends as an annulus 23e, which rotates a parabola with a focal point F2 about the vertical axis of symmetry of the optical system 23. It is formed by
It is dimensioned such that it is located above the focal point F1 of the paraboloid of revolution 23a.

An outer annular portion 23c and an inner annular body 23e.
Meet on the pedestal 24. The light-sensitive element 22 is located at the focal point F1 of the paraboloid of revolution 23a.

The mask 25 for light transmission has a cone angle θ9.
And a parabolic surface 23a between the edges of the parabolic surface and a cylindrical portion 23b of the outer surface of the integrating optical system 23. The mask 26 for light transmission is a ring member 23.
For e, it is attached to the inner surface of the integrating optical system.

Light rays at an angle between 0 ° and αCmin reach the light-sensitive element 22 immediately after diffraction during penetration into the integrating optical system.

A ray at an angle between αCmax and 120 ° reaches the photosensitive element 22 after two reflections,
The two reflections were covered, one on the reflecting surface formed by the annulus 23e on the inner surface of the optical system 23 and the other on the mask 25 for light transmission along the tracks between the tracks 27 and 28. It is formed by a part of the paraboloid of revolution 23a.

FIG. 15 shows an apparatus according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention. The device comprises a photosensitive element 29 and an integrating optical system 30 fixed on a pedestal 31. The optical system 30 is symmetrical about a vertical axis passing through the center of the photosensitive element. The optical system comprises a conical or pyramidal upper part, which extends as a convex annulus fixed to a pedestal at the base and is made of light-diffusing plastic. Mask 32 for light transmission
Is an integral optical system 3 between the cone angles θ10 and θ11.
It is applied to the outer part of 0.

A modification of the embodiment of FIG. 15 is shown in FIG. This variant comprises a light sensitive element 33, a weighted integrating optics system 34, and a pedestal 35,
These are similar to the previous embodiments. This variant further comprises a mask 36 for light transmission arranged inside the optical system 34 around the light-sensitive element 33. The mask 36 is intended to attenuate the intensity of light rays incident at an angle between the horizontal plane and the cone angle θ12. The device has a cylindrical shape with the axis of symmetry of the optical system 34 as the axis of symmetry and a circular cross section if the optical system is conical and a square cross section if the optical system is pyramidal.

The optical system 34 additionally comprises a reflector 37 on its inner surface, which reflector is arranged such that rays incident at an angle greater than θ 13 are focused towards the light-sensitive element 33. .

Depending on the characteristics of the place in which the device according to the invention is intended to be used, the mask for light transmission can have zero or non-zero light transmission.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing various angles of incidence of direct sunlight irradiation, in which a detector installed on a work surface of a building and irradiated through a window division space is controlled by this irradiation. .

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG.

FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of the volume of use of the device according to the invention in different buildings for different angles of incidence of direct sunlight irradiation.

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG.

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG.

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating various laws of light sensitivity of a device according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG.

FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG.

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of an apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram of an apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram of an apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram of an apparatus according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a schematic view of an apparatus according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a schematic view of an apparatus according to a modified embodiment of the fifth embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 ... Building 2 ... Photosensitive element 3 ... Table 4, 5 ... Straight line 6 ... Photosensitive element 7 ... Pedestal 8 ... Weighted integral optical system 9 ... Area of sensitivity attenuation

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A light-sensitive device for a facility for controlling the lighting level of a building having at least one opening for allowing the incidence of natural light, the lighting being adapted to deliver a value representative of the brightness of a location. A device intended to be placed at the location requiring a weighted integrating optical system (11; 1;
5; 19; 23) in cooperation with at least one light-sensitive element (10; 14; 18; 22), which is between the angle values αCmin and αCmax of the two cones. It has an attenuated sensitivity in the range, where αCmin is less than αSmin and αCmin is less than αSmin when αC represents the cone angle of the cone whose apex is the photosensitive element.
Is greater than αSmax and spherical angles αSmin and αSm
ax represents the limit of the sphere centered around the light-sensitive element, in which the light-sensitive element can be directly illuminated by sunlight. Sensitive device. 2. The device comprises an element (10), the element (10) being on a pedestal (12) containing an electronic device of the device, the upper horizontal plane and the lower horizontal plane being light-sensitive. Located in the center of an integrating optics system (11) having the shape of the sphere to be mounted, a mask (13) for light transmission in the sphere is provided with two cone angles θ3 on the outer surface of the integrating optics system (11). The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus is mounted during θ4. 3. The device comprises an element (14), said element (14) being on a pedestal (16) containing an electronic device of the device, the upper horizontal plane and the lower horizontal plane being light-sensitive. Integral optics system with spheroid shape installed (1
5), the mask (17) for the transmission of light in the spheroid is arranged in the center of the spheroid,
Device according to claim 1, mounted on the outer surface of 5) between two cone angles θ5 and θ6. 4. The device comprises an element (18), the element (18) being on a pedestal (20) containing an electronic device of the device, the upper horizontal plane and the lower horizontal plane being light-sensitive. Centered on a fixed integrating optical system (19),
The device consists of two spheroidal parts (19a, 19b), which are symmetric with respect to the horizontal plane through the photosensitive element (18) and are connected by a cylindrical part (19c), in which case , The upper spheroid (19
Device according to claim 1, wherein a) is covered by a mask (21) for light transmission between two cone angles θ7 and θ8. 5. The device (22), wherein the device is mounted on a pedestal (24) whose upper horizontal plane is light-sensitive (22) and which is symmetrical about a vertical axis and which contains the electronics of the device (22). 23), and the optical system (23)
The upper part (23a) of the outer surface of the has the shape of a paraboloid of revolution with a focal point F1, which paraboloid (23a) extends into a cylindrical part (23b), which is central F
An annular portion (23 formed by rotating a circle with 2 about the vertical symmetry axis of the optical system (23).
c), the inner surface of the optical system (23) forms a hemispherical upper part (23d) with a center F1, which hemispherical upper part forms a parabola with a focal point F2 into the optical system. It extends to an annular surface (23e) formed by rotating around a vertical symmetry axis of (23), and the annular portion (23c) of the outer surface and the annular surface (23e) of the inner surface extend to the base (2).
4) encountered above, in which case the mask (25) for reflection transmission is between the edge of the parabola (23a) and the edge of the parabolic revolution (23a) and the outer surface of the optical system (23). 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that it is mounted on the cylindrical part of the optical system, the mask (26) for reflection and transmission being mounted on the annular surface (23e) of the inner surface of the optical system (23). . 6. The integrated optical system (30), wherein the device is symmetric with respect to a vertical axis passing through the center of the light-sensitive element (29; 33) and the light-sensitive element fixed on a pedestal (31; 35). 34), wherein the integrating optical system has a conical or pyramidal shape in the upper part, the conical or pyramidal part being a convex annulus fixed to the foundation part; 2. Device according to claim 1, which extends by means of a pedestal (31; 35). 7. A mask (32) for light transmission has two cone angles θ10 and θ outside the integrating optical system (30).
7. The device according to claim 6, which is arranged between 11. 8. A mask (36) for light transmission is disposed inside the optical system (34) around the light-sensitive element (33), the mask (36) for light transmission comprising the optical system (34). A light-sensing element has a dimension such that it attenuates the intensity of light rays that pass through it at an angle between the cone angle (θ12) and the horizontal plane and that is incident at an angle greater than the additional cone angle (θ13). 7. A device as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that a reflector (37) intended for focusing towards is arranged on the inner surface of the integrating optical system (34). 9. A weighted integrating optical system (1
1; 15; 19) are made of injection molded material and the light sensitive elements (10; 14; 18) are optical systems (11;
15; 19) embedded in the material according to claims 2-19.
An apparatus according to any one of the above. 10. The device according to claim 6, wherein the optical system is made of a light diffusing plastic.