Control of multiple intelligent umbrellas and/or robotic shading systems

• US 10,094,138 B2
• Filed: 08/11/2017
• Issued: 10/09/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2016
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ShadeCraft, Inc.
• Original Assignee: ShadeCraft, Inc.
• Inventors: Gharabegian, Armen Sevada
• Primary Examiner(s): Bousono, Orlando
• Application Number:
  US15/675,674
• Publication Number:
  US 20180187447A1
• Time in Patent Office: 424 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 17/02 Awnings , including rigid weather protection structures, e.g. sunroofs; Tarpaulins; Accessories for awnings or tarpaulins
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/13 Flying platforms
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/00 UAVs specially adapted for particular uses or applications
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/30 for imaging, photography or videography
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/20 Remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/31 generated by photovoltaics
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 80/00 Transport or storage specially adapted for UAVs
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 10/02 of flexible canopy materials, e.g. canvas ; Baldachins
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 12/2223 by screwing
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 15/02 Tents combined or specially associated with other devices
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 15/10 Heating, lighting or ventilating
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 15/28 Umbrella type tents
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 15/48 foldable, i.e. having pivoted or hinged means E04H15/405 and E04H15/46 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 9/34 on stationary objects or on stationary man-made structures
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2220/706 an electrical generator
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2240/911 already existing for a prior purpose
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0435 activated by remote control means
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0464 the sensor sensing the level of ambient illumination, e.g. dawn or dusk sensors
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/0004 Personal or domestic articles
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 : Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 : electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/042 : using digital processors G05B19/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 3/105 : Solar tracker
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/042 : PV modules or arrays of single PV cells supporting structures for PV modules H02S20/00
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2300/40 : wherein a plurality of decentralised, dispersed or local energy generation technologies are operated simultaneously
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 : using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 : of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/35 : with light sensitive cells
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 40/38 : Energy storage means, e.g. batteries, structurally associated with PV modules
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 99/00 : Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2823 : Reporting information sensed by appliance or service execution status of appliance services in a home automation network device-related reporting H04L43/065; arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom H04Q9/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4625 : Single bridge functionality, e.g. connection of two networks over a single bridge
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2841 : Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/028 : associated with devices performing functions other than acoustics, e.g. electric candles
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 : Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/00 : Circuits for transducers , loudspeakers or microphones
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/50 : Photovoltaic [PV] energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/72 : Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/728 : Onshore wind turbines
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 70/30 : Systems combining energy storage with energy generation of non-fossil origin

Abstract

A first intelligent umbrella including a first base assembly placed on a surface, a first support assembly connected to the base assembly, the support assembly to rotate around a base assembly and a first shading expansion assembly connected to the support assembly, the shading assembly further comprising one or more arms connected to the shading expansion assembly. The first intelligent umbrella further includes a wireless communication transceiver, one or more processors, one or more memory modules; and computer-readable instructions stored in the one or more memory modules, the computer-readable instructions executable by the one or more processors to communicate commands to the first support assembly to cause the first support assembly to rotate about the base; and communicate commands to the wireless communication transceiver, wherein the wireless communication transceiver to communicate the commands to a second intelligent umbrella.

Claims

1. A first intelligent umbrella, comprising:

a first base assembly placed on a surface;

a first support assembly connected to the first base assembly, the first support assembly to rotate around the first base assembly;

a first shading expansion assembly connected to the first support assembly, the first shading expansion assembly further comprising one or more arms connected to the first shading expansion assembly;

a first wireless communication transceiver;

one or more processors;

one or more memory modules; and

computer-readable instructions stored in the one or more memory modules, the computer-readable instructions fetched from the one or more memory modules and executed by the one or more processors to;

communicate first commands to the first support assembly to cause the first support assembly to rotate about the first base assembly; and

communicate second commands to the first wireless communication transceiver, wherein the first wireless communication transceiver communicates the second commands to a second intelligent umbrella to cause a second support assembly of the second intelligent umbrella to rotate about a second base assembly of the second intelligent umbrella.

2. The first intelligent umbrella of claim 1, further comprising:

the computer-readable instructions executed by the one or more processors further configured to;

communicate additional commands to the first shading expansion assembly to deploy the one or more arms to an open position and to communicate the additional commands to the first wireless communication transceiver, wherein the first wireless communication transceiver is configured to communicate the additional commands to the second intelligent umbrella to cause a second shading expansion assembly of the second intelligent umbrella to deploy one or more arms of the second intelligent umbrella to an open position.

3. The first intelligent umbrella of claim 1, further comprising:

a first audio transceiver and one or more first speakers;

the computer-readable instructions executed by the one or more processors further configured to;

communicate digital audio files to the first audio transceiver, which transfers the digital audio files for playback by the one or more first speakers; and

communicate the digital audio files to the first wireless communication transceiver, wherein the first wireless communication transceiver communicates the digital audio files to the second intelligent umbrella for audible playback utilizing a second audio transceiver of the second intelligent umbrella and one or more second speakers of the second intelligent umbrella.

4. The first intelligent umbrella of claim 1, wherein the first wireless communication transceiver communicates with the second intelligent umbrella utilizing a wireless local area network (LAN) communication protocol.

5. The first intelligent umbrella of claim 1, wherein the first wireless communication transceiver communicates with the second intelligent umbrella utilizing a mesh networking wireless communication protocol.

6. The first intelligent umbrella of claim 1, further comprising:

a first lighting assembly;

the computer-readable instructions executed by the one or more processors further configured to;

communicate third commands to the first lighting assembly to activate lighting elements in the first lighting assembly; and

communicate fourth commands to the first wireless communication transceiver, wherein the first wireless communication transceiver communicates the fourth commands to the second intelligent umbrella to activate lighting elements in a second lighting assembly of the second intelligent umbrella.

7. The first intelligent umbrella of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving mobile device generated commands from a mobile communications device; and

the computer-readable instructions executed by the one or more processors further configured to;

communicate the received mobile device generated commands to the first support assembly to cause the first support assembly to rotate about the first base assembly based at least in part on the received mobile device generated commands.

8. The first intelligent umbrella of claim 1, wherein the first wireless communication transceiver communicates third commands to a third intelligent umbrella to cause a third support assembly of the third intelligent umbrella to rotate about a third base assembly of the third intelligent umbrella.

9. The first intelligent umbrella of claim 1, wherein the first wireless communication transceiver communicates third commands to the second intelligent umbrella to cause the second support assembly to rotate about the second base assembly in a synchronous fashion with respect to the first support assembly rotating about the first base assembly.

10. The first intelligent umbrella of claim 1, further comprising:

a power cable, the power cable coupled or connected to the second intelligent umbrella.

11. The first intelligent umbrella of claim 1, further comprising:

at least two power cables, the at least two power cables coupled or connected to at least the second intelligent umbrella and a third intelligent umbrella.

12. The first intelligent umbrella of claim 10, wherein the power cable is housed in the first base assembly, and coupled to a rechargeable power source;

and wherein the power cable exits out from a section of the first base assembly.

13. The first intelligent umbrella of claim 1, wherein the first wireless communication transceiver communicates with the second intelligent umbrella utilizing a cellular communications protocol.

14. The first intelligent umbrella of claim 1, wherein the first wireless communication transceiver communicates with the second intelligent umbrella utilizing a two-way personal area network wireless communications protocol.

15. The first intelligent umbrella of claim 1, further comprising:

a first audio transceiver and one or more first speakers;

the computer-readable instructions executed by the one or more processors further configured to;

receive a first audio file and a second audio file;

communicate the first audio file to the first audio transceiver, which transfers the first audio file for playback by the one or more first speakers; and

communicate the second audio file to the first wireless communication transceiver, wherein the first wireless communication transceiver communicates the second audio file to the second intelligent umbrella for audible playback utilizing a second audio transceiver of the second intelligent umbrella and one or more second speakers of the second intelligent umbrella.

16. The first intelligent umbrella of claim 1, further comprising:

an environmental sensor assembly;

the computer-readable instructions executable by the one or more processors further configured to;

communicate third commands to the environmental sensor assembly to capture measurements of an area surrounding the first intelligent umbrella; and

communicate the captured measurements to the first wireless communication transceiver.

17. The first intelligent umbrella of claim 1, the computer-readable instructions further configured to:

communicate an additional set of commands to the first wireless communications transceiver, the first wireless communications transceiver further configured to communicate the additional set of commands to the second intelligent umbrella to cause the second intelligent umbrella to perform an action that is different from the second support assembly rotating about the second base assembly.

18. A first intelligent umbrella, comprising:

a first base assembly placed on a surface;

a first support assembly connected to the first base assembly, the first support assembly to rotate around the first base assembly;

a first shading expansion assembly connected to the first support assembly, the first shading expansion assembly further comprising one or more arms connected to the first shading expansion assembly;

a first camera to capture images of an area around the first intelligent umbrella;

a first wireless communication transceiver;

one or more processors;

one or more memory devices; and

computer-readable instructions stored in the one or more memory devices, the computer-readable instructions fetched from the one or more memory devices and executed by the one or more processors to;

communicate first commands to the first camera to cause the first camera to be activated and to capture the images of the area around the first intelligent umbrella; and

communicate second commands to the first wireless communication transceiver, wherein the first wireless communication transceiver communicates the second commands to a second intelligent umbrella to cause a second camera in the second intelligent umbrella to capture images of the area around the second intelligent umbrella.

19. A first intelligent umbrella, comprising:

a first base assembly placed on a surface;

a first support assembly connected to the first base assembly, the first support assembly to rotate around the first base assembly;

a first shading expansion assembly connected to the first support assembly, the first shading expansion assembly further comprising one or more arms connected to the first shading expansion assembly;

a first sensor assembly to capture sensor measurements in an area around the first intelligent umbrella;

a first wireless communication transceiver;

one or more processors;

one or more memory devices; and

computer-readable instructions stored in the one or more memory devices, the computer-readable instructions fetched from the one or more memory devices and executed by the one or more processors to;

communicate first commands to the first sensor assembly to cause the first sensor assembly to capture the sensor measurements in the area around the first intelligent umbrella;

communicate the sensor measurements from the first sensor assembly to the first wireless communication transceiver; and

communicate second commands to the first wireless communication transceiver, wherein the first wireless communication transceiver communicates the second commands to a second intelligent umbrella to cause a second sensor assembly of the second intelligent umbrella to capture a sensor measurements of an area around the second intelligent umbrella, and wherein the first wireless communication transceiver communicates the sensor measurements from the first sensor assembly to a mobile communication device.