Operating control method of a motorized driving device of a closure or sun protection home automation installation, and related device

• US 10,107,033 B2
• Filed: 07/23/2015
• Issued: 10/23/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Somfy Activites SA (Somfy SA)
• Original Assignee: Somfy Sas (Somfy SA)
• Inventors: Mugnier, David
• Primary Examiner(s): DUDA, RINA I
• Application Number:
  US15/328,832
• Publication Number:
  US 20170218699A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,188 Days
• Field of Search: 318443, 318445, 318466, 318468
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 2009/6818 using sensors
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 9/15 with closing members formed of slats or the like
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 9/17 Parts or details of roller shutters, e.g. suspension devices, shutter boxes, wicket doors, ventilation openings
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 9/72 comprising an electric motor positioned inside the roller
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 9/82 automatic
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 9/88 for limiting unrolling
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 19/0046 characterised by a specific application or detail not covered by any other subgroup of G01R19/00
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2642 Domotique, domestic, home control, automation, smart house
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2653 Roller blind, shutter, sunshade

Abstract

A method for operationally controlling a motor-driven device for driving a home automated closure or sun-shading apparatus includes at least the following steps: —measuring (E21), via a measuring device, a first value of the strength of an electrical current passing through an electric motor; —determining (E24) a difference in strength relative to the first measured strength value after a period of time starting from the moment that the first strength value is measured has elapsed; —selecting (E25) one of the first threshold strength values on the basis of the elapsed time period; —comparing (E26) the difference in strength determined relative to the selected threshold strength value; and —determining (E27) the presence or absence of an obstacle or end of travel on the basis of the result of the comparison step (E26).

Claims

1. An operating control method of a motorized driving device of a closure or sun protection home automation installation, the closure or sun protection home automation installation including a concealing device including at least a screen, and a winding tube, the motorized driving device including at least an electromechanical actuator configured to enable winding and unwinding the screen on the winding tube, between a wound position and an unwound position, the electromechanical actuator including at least an electric motor, an output shaft connected to the winding tube of the concealing device, and an electronic control unit comprising at least a device for measuring an intensity value of an electric current passing through the electric motor, a memory storing a plurality of intensity threshold values, and a device for detecting obstacles and ends of travel during winding of the screen and during unwinding of the screen, said method comprising:

a first measure step for measuring a first intensity value of the electric current passing through the electric motor via the measuring device;

a first determination step for determining a difference in intensity relative to the first measured intensity value, after a period of time has elapsed beginning from the moment at which the first intensity value is measured;

a selection step for selecting one of the intensity threshold values depending on the elapsed period of time, among a set of intensity threshold values stored in the memory;

a comparison step for comparing the determined difference in intensity to the selected intensity threshold value; and

a second determination step for determining the presence or absence of an obstacle or an end of travel by the detection device based on the result of the comparison step.

2. The operating control method of a motorized driving device of a closure or sun protection home automation installation according to claim 1, the method further comprising:

one or more additional measure steps for measuring another intensity value passing through the electric motor via the measuring device, following the implementation of the first measure step for measuring the first intensity value passing through the electric motor, and

a third determination step for determining an evolution of the intensity value passing through the electric motor through the measure steps for measuring an intensity value passing through the electric motor,

wherein said method implements the first determination step for determining a difference in intensity relative to the first measured intensity value only when the third determination step for determining an evolution of the intensity value passing through the electric motor determines an increase in the intensity value passing through the electric motor.

3. The operating control method of a motorized driving device of a closure or sun protection home automation installation according to claim 2, wherein, in the case where, during the third determination step for determining an evolution of the intensity value passing through the electric motor, it is determined that the intensity value passing through the electric motor has decreased, the control method once again carries out the first measure step for measuring the first intensity value passing through the electric motor.

4. The operating control method of a motorized driving device of a closure or sun protection home automation installation according to claim 1, wherein, following the first determination step for determining a difference in intensity relative to the first measured intensity value, the control method comprises a fourth determination step for determining an evolution of the difference in intensity relative to the first measured intensity value.

5. The operating control method of a motorized driving device of a closure or sun protection home automation installation according to claim 4, wherein the first determination step for determining a difference in intensity relative to the first measured intensity value is implemented periodically, as long as the result of the fourth determination step for determining an evolution of the difference in intensity corresponds to an increase in the intensity value passing through the electric motor.

6. The operating control method of a motorized driving device of a closure or sun protection home automation installation according to claim 1, wherein the first determination step for determining a difference in intensity relative to the first measured intensity value is implemented periodically, as long as the result of the second determination step for determining the presence or absence of an obstacle or an end of travel is different from a detected obstacle or detected end of travel.

7. The operating control method of a motorized driving device of a closure or sun protection home automation installation according to claim 1, wherein the first determination step for determining a difference in intensity relative to the first measured intensity value is carried out periodically during a predetermined period of time beginning from the moment at which the first intensity value is measured.

8. The operating control method of a motorized driving device of a closure or sun protection home automation installation according to claim 1, wherein the first measure step for measuring the first intensity value passing through the electric motor is carried out after a predetermined period of time has elapsed beginning from the moment when the startup of the electric motor is commanded.

9. The operating control method of a motorized driving device of a closure or sun protection home automation installation according to claim 1, the method further comprising:

a fifth determination step for determining the rotation direction of the output shaft of the electric motor,

a sixth determination step for determining the position of the screen of the concealing device, and

a seventh determination step for determining several portions of the movement travel of the screen during the winding of the screen and during the unwinding of the screen,

wherein at least the first determination step for determining a difference in intensity, the selection step for selecting one of the intensity threshold values, the comparison step for comparing the determined difference in intensity to the selected intensity threshold value and the second determination step for determining the presence or absence of an obstacle or an end of travel are carried out during at least one portion of the movement travel of the screen, during the winding of the screen or during the unwinding of the screen.

10. The operating control method of a motorized driving device of a closure or sun protection home automation installation according to claim 9, wherein at least said first determination step for determining a difference in intensity, the selection step for selecting one of the intensity threshold values, the comparison step for comparing the determined difference in intensity to the selected intensity threshold value and the second determination step for determining the presence or absence of an obstacle or an end of travel are carried out during a startup portion of the movement travel of the screen, during the winding of the screen or during the unwinding of the screen, after reaching an end of travel.

11. A motorized driving device of a closure or sun protection home automation installation, the motorized driving device comprising:

an electromechanical actuator configured to enable winding and unwinding a screen on a winding tube of a concealing device of the closure or sun protection home automation installation, between a wound position and an unwound position, the electromechanical actuator comprising at least;

an electric motor,

an output shaft connected to the winding tube of the concealing device, and

an electronic control unit comprising at least;

a device for measuring configured to measure a first intensity value of an electric current passing through the electric motor,

a memory storing a plurality of intensity threshold values, and

a device for detecting obstacles and ends of travel during winding of the screen and during unwinding of the screen,

the electronic control unit being configured to determine a difference in intensity relative to the first measured intensity value, after a period of time has elapsed beginning from the moment at which the first intensity value is measured, select one of the plurality of intensity threshold values depending on the elapsed period of time, among a set of intensity threshold values stored in the memory, compare the determined difference in intensity to the selected intensity threshold value, and determine the presence or absence of an obstacle or an end of travel by a detection device based on the result of the comparison.

12. The motorized driving device of a closure or sun protection home automation installation according to claim 11, wherein said motorized driving device includes an electromechanical actuator having a brushless electric motor with electronic switching.