Method for Determining the Effects of the Wind on a Blind

• US 20080163685A1
• Filed: 01/08/2008
• Published: 07/10/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Somfy Activites SA (Somfy SA)
• Original Assignee: Somfy Sas (Somfy SA)
• Inventors: Lapierre, Stephane
• Granted Patent: US 8,050,885 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/514.05
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 10/0618 whereby the pivot axis of the articulation is perpendicular to the roller
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 10/0659 Control systems therefor
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 10/0692 Front bars
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/71 responsive to temperature changes, rain, wind or noise
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/40 Protection E05Y2400/50, E05Y2400/52 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/00 Application of doors, windows, wings or fittings thereof
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/106 for garages
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 2009/6863 sensing wind speed

Abstract

A method for determining the effects of the wind on a blind (1) or the like that is provided with a sensor means (231) for measuring the effects of the wind in a first measurement direction (X₁) and in a second measurement direction (Y₁), the two directions being different, the method comprising the following steps:

• • collecting, from the sensor means, a first signal representative of the effects of the wind on the blind or the like, in the first measurement direction;
  • collecting, from the sensor means, a second signal representative of the effects of the wind on the blind or the like, in the second measurement direction;
    which comprises the step of:
  • processing these signals so as to provide a secondary signal representative of the effects of the wind and independent of the orientation of the sensor means in a plane defined by the two directions, in order to obtain uniform sensor detection sensitivity irrespective of the orientation of the sensor.

Claims

1. A method for determining the effects of the wind on a blind (1) or the like that is provided with a sensor means (231) for measuring the effects of the wind in a first measurement direction (X₁) and in a second measurement direction (Y₁), the two directions being different, the method comprising the following steps:

collecting, from the sensor means, a first signal representative of the effects of the wind on the blind or the like, in the first measurement direction;

collecting, from the sensor means, a second signal representative of the effects of the wind on the blind or the like, in the second measurement direction;

which comprises the step of;

processing these signals so as to provide a secondary signal representative of the effects of the wind and independent of the orientation of the sensor means in a plane defined by the two directions, in order to obtain uniform sensor detection sensitivity irrespective of the orientation of the sensor.

2. The determination method as claimed in claim 1, which comprises a preliminary step of positioning the sensor means, the orientation of the sensor means being unimportant provided the first and second measurement directions are parallel to a plane chosen for measuring the effects of the wind.

3. The determination method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the secondary signal is the intensity of the resultant of the signals representative of the effects of the wind over the various directions or the intensity and the direction of the resultant of the signals representative of the effects of the wind over various directions.

4. The determination method as claimed in claim 1, which comprises a preliminary step of determining axes (X, Y) specific to the blind or the like, and wherein the secondary signal consists of components of the resultant of the signals representative of the effects of the wind along these specific axes.

5. The determination method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the preliminary determination step comprises a sub-step in which a mechanical action is exerted on the blind or the like, a sub-step in which the sensor means determines the direction of this action and a sub-step in which this direction is used in order to define one of the axes specific to the blind or the like.

6. A detection device (13) designed to be secured onto a blind (1) or the like, comprising a sensor means (231) measuring the effects of the wind in at least a first measurement direction (X₁) and a second measurement direction (Y₁), the two directions being different, which comprises physical means (231, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26) and software for implementing the method as claimed in claim 1.

7. The detection device (13) as claimed in claim 6, wherein the sensor means comprises at least one accelerometer (20, 21).

8. A device for protecting a blind or the like, which comprises a detection device (13) as claimed in claim 6.

9. The protection device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the signals are processed in the detection device or in an electronic control unit (12).

10. The protection device as claimed in claim 8, which comprises means (27, 12) for issuing a command for the blind or the like to be retracted when the secondary signal or one of the components of the secondary signal exceeds a predetermined threshold.

11. A method for determining the effects of the wind on a blind (1) or the like provided with a sensor means (231) for measuring the effects of the wind in a first measurement direction, in a second measurement direction and in a third measurement direction, the three directions being different from one another, the method comprising the following steps:

collecting, from the sensor means, a first signal representative of the effects of the wind on the blind or the like, in a first measurement direction;

collecting, from the sensor means, a second signal representative of the effects of the wind on the blind or the like, in a second measurement direction;

which comprises the following steps;

collecting, from the sensor means, a third signal representative of the effects of the wind on the blind or the like, in a third measurement direction;

processing these signals so as to provide a secondary signal representative of the effects of the wind and independent of the orientation of the sensor means, in order to obtain uniform sensor detection sensitivity irrespective of the orientation of the sensor.

12. The determination method as claimed in claim 11, which comprises a preliminary step of positioning the sensor means, the orientation of the sensor means in space being unimportant.

13. The determination method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the secondary signal is the intensity of the resultant of the signals representative of the effects of the wind over the various directions or the intensity and the direction of the resultant of the signals representative of the effects of the wind over various directions.

14. The determination method as claimed in claim 11, which comprises a preliminary step of determining axes (X, Y) specific to the blind or the like, and wherein the secondary signal consists of components of the resultant of the signals representative of the effects of the wind along these specific axes.

15. The determination method as claimed in claim 14, wherein the preliminary determination step comprises a sub-step in which a mechanical action is exerted on the blind or the like, a sub-step in which the sensor means determines the direction of this action and a sub-step in which this direction is used in order to define one of the axes specific to the blind or the like.

16. A detection device (13) designed to be secured onto a blind (1) or the like, comprising a sensor means (231) measuring the effects of the wind in at least a first measurement direction (X₁) and a second measurement direction (Y₁), the two directions being different, which comprises physical means (231, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26) and software for implementing the method as claimed in claim 11.

17. The detection device (13) as claimed in claim 16, wherein the sensor means comprises at least one accelerometer (20, 21).

18. A device for protecting a blind or the like, which comprises a detection device (13) as claimed in claim 16.

19. The protection device as claimed in claim 18, wherein the signals are processed in the detection device or in an electronic control unit (12).

20. The protection device as claimed in claim 18, which comprises means (27, 12) for issuing a command for the blind or the like to be retracted when the secondary signal or one of the components of the secondary signal exceeds a predetermined threshold.