Multiple interacting systems at a site
Disclosed are platforms for communicating among one or more otherwise independent systems involved in controlling functions of buildings or other sites having switchable optical devices deployed therein. Such independent systems include a window control system and one or more other independent systems such as systems that control residential home products (e.g., thermostats, smoke alarms, etc.), HVAC systems, security systems, lighting control systems, and the like. Together the systems control and/or monitor multiple features and/or products, including switchable windows and other infrastructure of a site, which may be a commercial, residential, or public site.
1. A window control system, comprising:
a plurality of smart windows disposed in a building, at least one window including a sensor; and the window control system being communicatively coupled with a security system of the building; the window control system configured to:
control an optical state of at least one of the smart windows responsive to data provided by the security system, including one or both of (i) darkening the optical state of the at least one smart window, and (ii) transitioning at least one smart window to a clear state.
2. The window control system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is a transmissivity sensor mounted in or on a frame of the at least one window or mounted in or on a mullion of the frame.
3. The window control system of claim 1 , further comprising a lighting system, wherein the window control system, the lighting system, wherein the lighting system is configured to control emergency warning lights and/or emergency egress lighting responsive to data provided from the computer based control system.
4. The window control system of claim 1 , wherein the window control system is configured to adjust the optical state of the one or more windows to a dark tint state or a clear tint state in response to the data provided by the computer based control system.
5. The window control system of claim 1 , wherein darkening the optical state of the one or more windows is performed in response to the data indicating a lockdown event.
6. The window control system of claim 1 , wherein transitioning the one or more windows to a clear state is performed in response to the data indicating a burglary.
7. A building comprising:
a security system;
a window network including a plurality of smart windows and at least one processor;
the plurality of smart windows each integrating therein one or more sensors and at least one electrochromic window;
the at least one processor configured to control transmissivity of the at least one electrochromic window of each of the plurality of smart windows;
wherein:
the plurality of smart windows includes a distributed device network architecture in which a plurality of processors and the plurality of smart windows, each with one or more sensors, are distributed, the at least one processor configured to control the optical state of at least one of the plurality of smart windows responsive to data provided by the security system, including one or both of (i) darkening the optical state of the at least one smart window and (ii) transitioning the at least one smart window to a clear state.
8. The security system of claim 7 , wherein the one or more sensors include a transmissivity sensor mounted in or on a frame of an respective one of the plurality of smart windows or mounted in or on a mullion of the frame.
9. The security system of claim 7 , wherein the at least one processor is configured is configured to adjust the optical state of the one or more windows to a dark tint state or a clear tint state in response to the data provided by the computer based control system.
10. The security system of claim 7 , wherein darkening the optical state of the one or more windows is performed in response to the data indicating a lockdown event.
11. The security system of claim 7 , wherein transitioning the one or more windows to a clear state is performed in response to the data indicating a burglary.
12. A method of controlling the optical state of one or more smart windows in a building, the building including security system and a window control system communicatively coupled with the security system, the method comprising:
transmitting information from the security system to the window control system; and
adjusting the optical state of at least one of the one or more smart windows responsive to the information, including one or both of (i) adjusting the optical state of the at least one smart window to a dark tint state, and (ii) transitioning the at least one smart window to a clear state.
13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising
transmitting additional information from the security system to a lighting system; and
controlling emergency warning lights and/or emergency egress lighting responsive to the additional information.
14. The method of claim 12 , wherein adjusting the optical state of the at least one optically switchable window to the dark tint state is performed when the information indicates a lockdown event.
15. The method of claim 12 , wherein transitioning the one or more smart windows to a clear tint state is performed when the information indicates a burglary.
16. The method of claim 12 , further comprising controlling one or more door locks via the security system.
17. The method of claim 12 , further comprising triggering a burglar alarm or a fire alarm.