Patents by Inventor Tomoko C. Sekiguchi

Tomoko C. Sekiguchi has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8456729
    Abstract: An automatic daylighting method adjusts a window covering to block direct sunlight from entering the room through a window when the exterior sky condition is a sunny sky state and, subject to blocking direct sunlight, provides a desired daylighting interior light illuminance level and, if possible, a desired interior solar heat gain through the window. To prevent window covering oscillation, a delay may be used when the sky condition changes from a sunny to overcast state. The covering control may be based on various factors including interior light illuminance entering the window, a room heating or to cooling mode, whether the room is occupied by people, whether occupants have manually operated an adjustable window covering, and the exterior sky condition. The method may also detect an interior temperature level, e.g., to determine a heating or cooling mode of the room.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: The State of Oregon Acting by and through the State Board of Higher Education on Behalf of the University of Oregon
    Inventors: Gordon Z. Brown, Tomoko C. Sekiguchi, Thomas D. Northcutt, Jeffrey A. Kline, Dylan M. Lamar
  • Publication number: 20110164304
    Abstract: An automatic daylighting method adjusts a window covering to block direct sunlight from entering the room through a window when the exterior sky condition is a sunny sky state and, subject to blocking direct sunlight, provides a desired daylighting interior light illuminance level and, if possible, a desired interior solar heat gain through the window. To prevent window covering oscillation, a delay may be used when the sky condition changes from a sunny to overcast state. The covering control may be based on various factors including interior light illuminance entering the window, a room heating or to cooling mode, whether the room is occupied by people, whether occupants have manually operated an adjustable window covering, and the exterior sky condition. The method may also detect an interior temperature level, e.g., to determine a heating or cooling mode of the room.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2010
    Publication date: July 7, 2011
    Inventors: G. Z. Brown, Tomoko C. Sekiguchi, Thomas D. Northcutt, Jeffrey A. Kline, Dylan M. Lamar